Saturday, July 23, 2011

Wilted Plants, Wilted Gardeners


 It's too darn hot and way too dry. Even this black eyed Susan is wilted in this heat. I wouldn't even consider showing you a picture of the wilted gardeners at this point.


 For days Ed has spent his morning carrying water one watering can at a time  to try to rescue the suffering. The watering has to be done on a triage basis. We have a good well and we want to keep it that way.  The plants have to deal with it. He watered the summer sweet and cardinal flower yesterday. They look better this morning, but the relief is temporary. We need rain.


I gave up spending time in the sun  and 90 degree heat several days ago. I'm a pale delicate flower  who wilts easily. I've been watching the hummingbirds flit around the trumpet vine from inside the cool house. I even got a good look at a bright blue male indigo bunting sitting on the railing outside my kitchen door. Now the heat has gotten to Ed. The garden is important to us. We love our plants, but they are expendable. Ed  is not! Perhaps the heat will break and we will get some rain. It seem surreal here in Upstate New York to think of temperatures in the eighties as cooling off.

6 comments:

Netty said...

I know just how you feel! We have been having record temperatures and no rain since June 24th. We are on a well here and I have been watering the plants that have been suffering the most. But that means I have to go out in the heat myself. They say there is a chance of rain Monday, but sadly that may be too late for some of my plants. Hang in there ...

GirlSprout said...

It seems like the heatwave won't ever end. My callihoe (wine cups) were so sad this year. Despite watering, they would be all dried out when I came home from work. Hope we both see some rain soon!

HolleyGarden said...

Your post is exactly what my garden looks like, and what I feel like. You're right - people need taking care of in this heat. The garden can wait.

Sheila said...

I agree with your strategy of triage and avoiding the garden ... What will survive will survive the heat. Otherwise it doesn't belong in the garden.

Joyce said...

This has been a wickedly hot July. Our plants look just the same. Just be careful in this heat.

Katie said...

I am so sorry that y'all are suffering in the heat. We are mostly used to it, but temps in the 99 to 100 degree range with high humidity will have me sipping passion tea lemonade and watching the birds pant! ( we make sure they have plenty of water ). Take care of yourselves -- don't overdue it. Katie in Alabama's deep south.