Send some this way. It's darn right chilly here. I'm so sick of foggy windy depressing days. I want some summer!

Edna

It is now hot and dry in Mississippi also Caroline. Heat index of 115 and no rain in sight. Last night at 9Pm, the temp was 97. Put the sprinkler on some plants late yesterday and that helped for the time being. Probably be scorched by this afternoon. I am staying inside as much as possible. Suppose to be this way all next week. I am afraid that I will loose a lot of plants this year. I just cant water them all. I guess this too will pass.
Barb

We had rain last night and it's so much more comfortable today. DH and I weeded the garden this morning while the ground was wet. It's still overcast, so the moisture is staying in the garden.

I wish we could build an aquaduct to send water your way.

This is a crazy year for weather. Who knows what's next. A lot of the tree leaves are yellow and fell in the rain like it's fall already.

Take care.
Cameron

Caroline, after most of my plants frying, even the Fuchsias in the shade house got hit. The thermometers in some places in the garden were registering high 90's and even as high as 100, I know, you're saying that's nowhere near what we've had to deal with, true, but these temperatures are not what we are accustomed to. Is it a sign of what's to come, or is this just a freak year.
Today the temperature is at this moment 68 and I'm loving it. It has cooled right off here and usually after the first cooler temps we have in August we USUALLY don't get really high temperatures again. I was just wandering around my disaster of a garden, can someone tell me why the couch grass and weeds are thriving and looking so good and everything else is looking so sad? Is this mother nature telling me to plant not necessarily more drought tolerant, but definitely more of our native plants? Knowing me, I will not follow what old mother nature is so blatantly pointing out I should be doing, so, you will probably find me here again same time next year, whining and complaining about my garden. At least now that it has cooled down I can get out and do some cleanup instead of having to hide in the house.
I sincerely hope that cooler weather and a few good rains come your way. The plants might look so hot right now and if they haven't kicked the bucket there's always next year. I know it's newspaper, newspaper, newspaper and mulch, mulch, mulch for me from now on, these are the only spots in the garden that seem to be hanging in.
Hope you all get some relief soon, play it safe, stay indoors. There's always next year and as gardeners go we will all be planning new strategies. Give up gardening, never.

Annette

Hi Caroline, been there, done that! We had a couple of days last week with temps reaching 41C too (106F). These temps are not uncommon here during Summer, especially over the last few years, but they usually don't last more than a couple of days. Then we go back to our normal Summer temps, which are within the 30C - 35C (86 - 95 F) range. Contrary to yours, our hot weather is dry, which makes it more bearable to us (if you can call 41C bearable by any book), but takes a toll on the plants. Those which are not well adapted to the climate, or are still establishing themselves, simply fry. This afternoon I pruned a couple of branches on the star jasmine, which is still not well established and got hit during last week's heat wave. Hydrangeas, even those in the shade, are toast.

This sort of weather, hot dry Summers, accounts for the almost total absence of herbaceous perennials in my garden. I find they simply hate this part of the year. I garden mostly with flowering shrubs for that matter and I'm glad I do. My garden still looks lush and green in the middle of August, despite not having many flowers at the moment, so I'm happy with that. And can hardly wait for cooler temps so that the Fall colors may again grace my little piece of land.

Take heart, this too will pass and you will have learned a lot about what makes it or not.

Eduarda

Edna: chilly foggy sounds good about now! But I do remember our year in The Netherlands and I was so depressed by the rain and dark after a short while. Here is a SUNNY wish for you.

Barb: yep I saw that MS was getting it too. I sure hope you donot lose any plants ! Positive vibes in your direction.

Cameron: YEAH !! I am so glad you got good weather. Push it down here please.

Annette: I am hoping all your plants recover. I am glad the weather has changed for the better. It was 90's two years ago August when we were up there in Vancouver but it was very cool at night and dry so it was quite pleasant.

Eduarda: I am glad your lush garden cont. It is such a pleasure to look at your wonderful pictures. What flowering shrubs do you use besides the roses? I am curious what all does well there. I have the book I mentioned in another post that tells of Natives for the Southeast so I am planning on that direction I think for next year...but I love flowering shrubs. I have noticed the Rose of Sharon is blooming everywhere and shows no effect in this heat so I am definitely adding it. Caroline

Caroline, I consider August the worse month in my garden. Still, currently blooming, though not spectacular, are plumbago, oleander, begonias, crape myrtle, lantana, buddleia, lavender (blooms year round here), some liatris, coneflower, Joe Pye Weed and petunias. My neighbors bougainvilleas, hibiscus and trumpet vines look their best at the moment too. Can't beat these three for color in August here (which reminds me I need to get some of those!) Roses are taking a break for the most part, but Heritage (an Austin) has surprised me with a couple of blooms. The agapanthus are nearly done. I harvested the first fruits of my strawberry tree this week. Yummy! Looking good with the promise of Fall harvest is the quince tree and the firethorn hedge is already fat with berries (still green at the moment). On the more flowery side, I'm having hopes that my Autumn Joy sedum will bloom soon, together with the Mexican sage and the mums.

Keep safe everyone!
Eduarda

Oh my gosh Caroline ~ Do stay inside as much as possible and drink plenty of water. Our real feel right now is 105. I was out earlier sweating while moving some potted shrubs and it was miserable out. I wanted to put them beside our screened porch as we lost shade from two pine trees that were in the neighbor's yard and died, and now the sun blasts into our space. Florida has lost lots of pine trees, they are standing dead all over the place, and that means we've lost a lot of shade. A combination of some kind of beetle and Hurricanes Jeanne, Francis and Wilma is the cause. We lost 4 pine trees and most of another huge shade tree.

We have hot steamy weather down here anywhere from 6-9 months, whereas a lot of you only have a few days, weeks or maybe a couple of months. So, hang in there and your cool weather will be upon you before you know it. We won't see a change until the end of Oct. maybe Nov.

If any of you have to do some outside work, take plenty of breaks and keep your body filled with fluids. All of our gardens will have to survive more or less on their own while we keep cool. We can always plant more seeds, etc. later. We don't need to be collapsing from heat stroke.

FlowerLady

Dog days. Hurricane season. Lightning.

NOAA radar shows a fat cloud sitting just at the county line, less than a mile away. We can see the rain in the distance. It isn't moving on the radar screen. Drizzle here, the kind where a cloud just kind of settles over us, but no downpour. It's no cooler, just hot heavy air to breathe that wraps you like a blanket if you venture out. The dog and I stick our noses out the door and retreat.

Hurrying to upload my post before the cloud moves to obscure the satellite beam.

Drink up, water only. Wear cool layered clothing and a hat.

Nell

Flowerlady, similar scenario here. We had to cut down a few pines that were struck by lightning and with them went the shade for the screened porch. We're not-so-patiently waiting for the new porch to be finished and when it is will be hanging bamboo shades to provide a little relief from the late afternoon sun. If you live near a Cost Plus World Market they're on sale right now.

Here is a link that might be useful: World Market