Lisa, I feel the same way. It actually hurts me to see them so thirsty. I sneak in the dark to the newly planted ones with a bucket of water. Can you move the potted ones of yours in some shade for the time being.

On a brighter note, the sugar apple fruit on the tree from you is as big a child's fist. I can't wait for it to ripen. :o)

I came in a while ago complaining that it's like the Sahara Desert out there. All rain for the last 2 or 3 weeks has avoided this place. The ground is too hot to walk on barefooted in sunny areas. I wonder how the plants roots can take it?
I do water all my new plantings, pots and whatever's suffering the worst each day.
As long as golf courses are green, there are still impatiens growing around gated communities and municipal buildings, I don't feel guilty about my hand watering as needed.

As far as charging more, our rates did go up within the last year, pretty substantially I think.
When this "water crisis" was first talked about earlier in the year, I recall having discussions to the effect that it seemed a ploy to raise rates.
It really doesn't seem that the seasons have changed all that much. There are just a lot more people using the resource now.
There are alternatives to using groundwater for everything, but all costs more money. Deep wells into more saline water, desalinization, reverse osmosis, condensation, recycling gray water for irrigation.
There was that meeting last week in Lake Worth, I think, about pumping some recycled water from their proposed RO facility into the ocean. The utility company claims it's totally safe water. Environmentalists claim it will kill the reefs. My question is "if it's totally safe, why not use it for irrigation at least for public lands?"

End of rant.

I agree, Treefrog. Why not use that "totally safe" water to irrigate city property. I'd love to have a water reclammation system. I've got rainbarrels on Gene's list of "honey-dos". I found a great aricle on how to build them, and connect many of them together. I posted about it - it may have moved to the second page by now.
Here's the link if you're interested:
http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/adams/audrey/water_barrel.htm

Anyway, my garden get watered twice a week, unless we luck into rain. Plants in containers, I admit, I have to water them every other day. And they look like death on that day they're not watered.

There's a little cloud cover right now. It's just enough to give me wishful thinking... and give the plants a small break from the sun.

Hang in there, Lisa! The rains are bound to come at some point.

Chris is out watering right now. It doubly sucks for us because we have containers for the majority of our plants. Some are doing ok, others are wilting and we'll duck out and spray a bit on them in the evening sometimes. It's just ridiculous. :( :( We don't water the lawn, just the plants!

Arrrrggghhhhhhhhh I am having the same Sahara feeling! We did run the soaker around the pool beds last night and this morning I hosed off my planters and pergola plants by the new pavers. Lisa, should I water my Pom?? I know you said to not water before but it is terribly dry and I think it would like a sip. I don't want to loose the fruit it finally mustered. My maple is wilting too so I am going to soak it in the morning.

Cindeea,
Here's my opinion. Yes water the pom. As long as the soil drains quickly it will enjoy a drink.
I had to move mine (in a pot still) out of direct sunlight into high shade and watered it well. It looked so much happier today. Pots get way too hot and dry. I need to plant it.

Thanks froggy! I will give it a drink. It is in ground above the wall Dennis built up for me so I can have level ground to walk on. The soil drains well there and I appreciate your input, bud! Plus, along with all the fruits it is growing, I am getting more flower buds too!!

I had no idea. Our neighborhood must been in the center of the bullseye. We got rain and hail yesterday. I haven't watered in a month. I thot everybody was under water.
I hope the rain gets to you soon. I'll do a little rain dance....it looks the same as me swatting away mosquitoes.

Oh Man! I just spent a 1/2 hour planting up some new goodies I got for the empty planters on the pavers and I am sopping wet. IT IS SO DANG HOT I AM WILTING! I have to go jump in the pool. They are predicting only a 30% chance of rain this afternoon and tonight. Where's that rain dancer?? I can't move I am stuck together.

I'm in an area which has received nice rain. Two and a half weeks ago I got 5.2", then 4" four days later. A few days ago we got 2" over two days. None in the last 4 days. The plants have been extra happy since then. Hope the rain gets you all very soon.

Still no rain here. I waited all day for the sun to go down, my plants I watered yesterday morning were all wilting again. Bless his heart, I started on one side of the house, and then met Dennis mid way in the front yard. He decided to help me drag hoses and when I met up with him he was all muddy from watering AND WEEDING the front bed. I tell ya, gonna make a gardener out of him yet!

Today I checked the radar several times.
Nice rain to the south of me.
More rain to the north of me.
All day sun overhead here scorching my desert sand yard again!
Guess I need to plant more nopales (opuntia), and dates.
Any other suggestions?

Yesterday I counted, yes counted, 12 raindrops in a 2-foot square of concrete. Wife said it was the house sweating.

Treefrog, I'm north of you, so where's the rain? lol Nothing here. :o(

Got a nice shower this morning. Looked very stormy in Martin County. Heard a bit of thunder too.
I went out after the rain (hoping to get more) and spread a bit of fertilizer and did some pruning til it got Hot hot hot and steamy.

I thought it just must be my place not getting rain, but I guess not.

Yeah!! We got rain! DH said it rained about 2AM with lots of thunder (I've become a sound sleeper in my old age!) Then it started again about 8AM and continued for a couple of hours. I'm a very happy gardener!

I got exactly 9 minutes of a downpour this morning. So much for the tropical wave they have been talking about.

..."rain to the left of me, rain to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle again!"