So, our temps have been hovering around 110 to 114 degrees for days now, with no rain in sight. Not a good time to plant anything. Most of my garden time is spent trying to save those plants that seem to be suffering the most. I did brave the heat and repaint the wall surrounding my pool area :-) This blue makes it feel a little bit cooler.
The Vinca in this pot couldn't even take this extreme heat. I can't believe the Sweet Potato Vine is still hanging in there.
I took a trip to the garden center at Lowe's. I actually went looking for some water plants. No luck with the water plants, but I did find this Obelisk trellis on clearance :-) Yay! I think I will try to train the pesky blackberry vine around this. I love the berries, but that vine gets out of control and the thorns are vicious!
Do you see the bee?? There are at least 50-60 of them in this area of my pond, but they don't hold still long enough to get a picture of them. Plus, I don't feel like holding still very long in the area to take a picture of them. Especially after my nasty bee sting in my armpit a couple of weeks ago while fishing with the hubby. Ouch! I think these bees are really thirsty due to our excessive heat and are drinking up as much water as they can. I can hardly blame them.
Ruellia. A plant that grows VERY well here in the desert. Although I like this plant, it can sometimes be a pain in the butt! One plant can turn into MANY all over your yard. For those of you who live here in the desert and have a tough spot in your yard that you just can't grow anything, plant one of these. I promise it will survive! I spend a lot of time pulling up little Ruellia's. I think I will start to replant them in pots and give them away to people in the neighborhood.
For instance, the ones above were not planted by me and they will soon be pulled up. I waited a little bit too long to get around to this, so I may need to use a shovel. I must admit that the flowers do make for a pretty walk down the path and the hummingbirds love them :-)
Sorry to have been away so long. I've been really busy in the studio.
Michelle
Wow....talk about hot!!! I hope it cools down for you soon and you get some rain! Does the temp drop at night....or does it stay in the 90s at night?
ReplyDeleteThat is hot! I can't imagine more than the couple of days over 100 we had here. How did you have the energy to paint, it makes me sweat just thinking about it :)
ReplyDeleteI love that obelisk, I saw them at Lowe's last week, but not on sale or I would've gotten one. I may have to think of an excuse to leave the house while our company is here.
Amazing how hot it is where you are. I've never experienced anything like before. Hope it cools up a bit soon for you. -Jackie
ReplyDeleteYou were 'away' for just 10 days...not 'long' at all! I feel the same way if several days go by...almost 'guilty' for not being on top of it! In reality, it's ok to post just a couple of times a month and people will still remember you! I almost stopped blogging because I've been feeling like I don't do justice to Blotanical or to people who follow me; but I've since had a change of heart and realize I set my own expectations too high for myself!!
ReplyDeleteYour weather sounds HOT! Ours was in the high 90's w/high humidity today, and is expected to be that way all week. The weather up to this point has been unseasonably mild, which has been a nice change from the humidity we usually have for the entire summer!
Isn't it great to see bees, after learning that their population seems to be dwindling.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI am loveing your new garden blog. Hang in there with those high temps....your yard is looking great.
ruth
Love the blue wall! I painted my back wall the same! I'm dealing with ruellias in a small courtyard area. I like to keep them confined-I like the area for wildflowers! Yours look pretty around the path.
ReplyDeleteGreat buy on the obellisk--but you lugged it out to the car in the heat wave? May it bless your garden!
ReplyDeleteYou give me hope it's possible to grow even in the hot season--every year, everything has baked in the summer so now I'm reduced to growing September-May. I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteOh, the ruellia sends shivers down my spine. I have found it to be so invasive!! My neighbor gave me 3 seeds one year and in short order the plants were taking over my beds. And you can't just pull them. You have to dig and dig and dig. Years later I am still finding remnants. I love the dwarf variety Katie's Ruellia. Still spreads some, but much easier to keep under control.
ReplyDeleteOh that poor Sweet Potato! It's alarming how the heat is getting higher these days. We've been doing some renovation in our house to protect ourselves from the heat. Anyway, I love your garden. It's so beautiful. Do you have a porch there? I saw some supplies in a hand forged iron hardware that my husband and I visited yesterday. I'm thinking of putting a table and a couple of chairs in our garden under a huge picnic umbrella.
ReplyDelete