We had the bad drought here in TN last year too.

My Peonies didn't bloom as well as normal.

The coneflowers look great though with more blooms than ever, but not as large blooms as before. Maybe the drought did hurt them a little bit.

Hydrangeas look better than ever this year so the drought didn't effect them one bit. My lilies look good though. Can't say the drought hurt them.

Overall, these plants all toughed it out. I did water mine regularly last year. It was a nightmare trying to save everything.

I'm just down the freeway from you, Kevin, so my experience might not count... but I thought that the cool, wet spring we just had has impacted my garden more than last year's drought did.

Everything was about four weeks behind, and I was concerned that I might've lost a lot of plants. But then with the first heat in late June, lots of things suddenly burst into bloom all at once. My asiatic lilies are just now forming buds, so they're still running late, but everything looks lush and healthy.

Last season was a struggle, but things pretty much found their own way to survive and do reasonably well.

Like deeje, some things are a little behind here farther north, but many really came into their own after a long, cool and wet spring. The forget-me-nots are starting to drop their seeds now so I feel safe in cleaning out many of the spent plants. Noticeable "failure", the tall bearded iris had nice foliage but few blooms although the Siberians are still going strong. Oriental poppies were good. Lilacs were loaded and azaleas were heavy bloomers - dropping the last flower yesterday. Stella d'Oro's started blooming June 30, the peonies yesterday. My first Asiatics opened today and the Orientals and tigers are all budding out - and the lilies are normal heights. Daylilies, other than Stella, are throwing out scapes all of a sudden. The feverfew, nepeta and Veronica, dianthus, and salvias look the best they have in a few years. Deer snacked on the phlox, but they've come back lush; and the balloon flowers are right on target. A couple of hostas took on a life of their own and could reach the size of Mini Coopers.

All in all, I'm pleased so far this year. Yes, we could use some more rain, though, and there doesn't seem to be any in the immediate future.

A safe and happy 4th. of July to all!

We had one of the worst droughts in history here in North Carolina. I had planted a large, new garden in the spring 2007, so those plants were not established. I was very surprised by the survival rate, but I had planted for drought tolerance, so I guess I had gotten them watered in pretty well before the drought started. I mostly lost new variety coreopsis, some new variety coneflowers, one type of agastache.

We're not getting much rain right now, so I'm getting concerned, especially since we had a stretch of 100+ degree days already. Next week's forecast looks promising for rain.

Cameron

Regarding perennials, how they perform *once fully established* really has more to do with current season's conditions than prior seasons. With a lot of woodies, conditions during prior season(s) would have more of an impact, I would imagine, especially those whose buds are set the previous year.

We've been through very dry summers here in Michigan, but this year has been great in terms of rainfall! Not too much, not too little - just perfect. Things are very lush and full for the most part, and best of all I haven't had to water even once!!! (outside of my potted clay planters on the patio, of course).

Oh, and last night we had a good, soaking rain in my area. I heard storms blew through some parts of the area, but where I am it rained steadily for at least three to four hours, I think even more (was raining when I went to bed).

Which means I don't have to spend all afternoon dragging the hose today to ensure all my plants will be in tip-top shape so I can show off to my guests tomorrow LOL!!!! Especially Anabelle hydrangeas - everyone's Annabelle that I've seen this year are gorgeous!!

But, after my big 4th of July show-off every year - I just let things be for the most part. I have neither the time nor desire to be bothered watering, watering, watering, and I figure the plants will okay in the long run. If I do plant anything new, I will keep up with the watering of that, but other than that - the plants are on their own for the most part from July onward. I've even let my annuals turn to toast in years past outside of my geraniums in the front, which I can easily water with the watering can. Plus it's expensive to water!!

My garden looks pretty well. I did water last year, but not a lot. Nothing got crispy, but most of the beds only got heavy water once a week. Too many beds!

In the fall I laid a LOT of soaker hose. Spliced pieces to make it all fit the biggest beds, then put leaf mulch over it. Made some soaker hose rings on a hose, on the shrubs along the fence, to ensure they could get enough water, with the large oaks close to them. Put down some shredded wood mulch too, on the rings around shrubs. Added more mulch this last week, heavy layer over the soakers in two beds that I ran out of time with last fall.

So I have watered some during the 3 weeks of no-rain in late May. Soakers seem to be working pretty well, mulch keeps the moisture available to plants and bushes. They all LOOK happy despite the dry time. Other folks around our town had rain, just not us. My mom is south of us, said it was like a short, daily scheduled rain for weeks.

We are getting adequate rain at the moment, just can't get the hay cut and dried to put up. First cutting is WEEKS behind now. Not much nutrition left, but still needs cutting so 2nd cutting gets coming along.

My Peonies were nice, just not great like last year. Iris were OK, but not the good show I expected. Other small plants, wild phlox, were terrific, great color, numerous flowers on the plants. Roses are coming along, looked great on the old-fashioned bushes. Steady bloom on the new ones from fall planting, Carpet roses, Knockout, Showbiz, Vetrans Honor, with flowers large and long-lasting. Lilies look great, normal flower quantity, normal heights. Daylilies just starting. Flower stems appearing overnight. Lilacs were poor, with other bushes good and bad. Elderberry just started but MANY blooms, should be a good show. Various Hydrangea just budding up. Delphiniums are terrific, along with the double Hollyhocks.

We have a well, so I water when I have the time, if I feel it is needed. I worry most about my big trees. So when I water the gardens, the trees get a good drink as well. I go for longer water time, not as often. Clay dirt helps hold the moisture if mulched well. I am hauling water to 10 new trees in the field. I think I have lost 2, but one root is still green, may resprout (I hope!). The remaining ones seem happy with water twice a week, if no rain during the week. Staying green. May water more as the season gets warmer.

Every year is a challenge to some part of the garden!! I know that the plants really jump when the heat goes up. I LIKE the 70F temps instead of muggy heat. Sure get a lot more done outside. Picked strawberries last week, they were GOOD!