SMC, I feel your pain. If some of those are new, little plants, what I often do is drag a larger potted plant, lawn chair (if in the back yard) or something else to provide temporary (but full) shade while the plant gets settled in.

I saw this "easy shade cage" posted on another forum several years ago and have used the idea several times. It is so easy!

If they are large or established plants just suffering because no water, I get that, too. We're having the same problem- but not to the extreme that you are. I hope you get some rain today!

Silvia, your photos are so pretty! You go all the fun places. :)

Carol

Carol that shade cage is so simple thanks for the idea.

Glenn, You're welcome. I wish I could take credit for the idea. I use them mostly for fully-rooted cuttings that need to get into the ground, but will not be able to tolerate the permanent home without some help.

For example, I water-root quite a few bloodleafs - they are soooo easy to root in water - and they transfer to ground so easily, too. They can tolerate some direct sun after they have been in the ground for a week or so. But they can't take any direct sun in those first few days... they get a tent. :)

PS. Sounds like Oprah: YOU get a tent and YOU get a tent and YOU get a tent! LOL

Thank you Carol, we went to the garden and flower show. While I saw fantastic displays, I was only paying attention at possible combinations that maybe I can put in my garden.

Remember one time we had a thread about inexpensive begonias? well, yesterday I saw a nice combo of sun hostas with the begonias. I have both in my garden now but not together.

Silvia

I think I was so worried about getting the bulbs too wet that they did not get enough water... everything started growing so nice and it all went to hell in a hand basket .... but ppl said that bulbs in florida would be difficult AND I planted them about 3 months late. Some things are still alive but so many have died or at least the long leafs have all browned... wonder if I should dig them up and try again in the fall. (the ones that dont have bugs that bit a hole in them and made a house out of it.)

Hi Sylvia,

what is your dark purple plant with the yellow flowers?? I love it!!

Hi Melochia

I bought that plant at the Leu Garden's sale, it did not have a tag but I also like it when I saw it. The flowers close when it is dark and they open in the light. When I bought it, it was only showing the purple leaves and the next morning was covered with yellow flowers. I keep it in the porch with the succulents, begonias, seems to like it, maybe someone can id.

Silvia

Carol, I love your bed with the bloodleaf and Wendy's Wish salvia. Beautiful! Silvia, that is a really pretty plant. I wish I could help with the id, but I don't know. Maybe you could make a plant id post and Eric from Leu gardens might answer us!

SMC, I had a horrible infestation of some bulb fly (Narcissus Bulb Fly?) in some bulb beds I had taken for granted for years! I had three big beds of spider lilies (hymenocallis). Came up every spring, bloomed beautifully, and required zero maintenance by me. I noticed in early February that they were not sending up new leaves. I pulled one up and up came half of a bulb - a sticky, gooey, red mess of larvae and larvae waste. It was disgusting. I ended up having to lift and throw away all three complete bulb beds. Every single bulb is gone. It was a disaster.

I remember seeing the photo of one of your bulbs with a big maggot/larvae-thing in it. I hope you don't have whatever pest I had.

Here's my spider lily bed in better days (2013):

Thanks, Anna! I model my "garden" after photos of yours. I love everything you have and I just try to copy.

Carol

Today I had to leave the house very early for a blood draw. Then I went immediately to get something to eat and some COFFEE! When I got back home I was still not feeling great so didn't go out to water and when I went to get the mail at around 4 it was awful out there. When I looked at the thermometer on the air conditioning thermostat it said 98 degrees - at 4:00! So after dinner, just awhile ago, I went out to check things and there were some herbs in containers that were completely shriveled up. I don't like to water at night but I did, I hope I'm not going to lose them. I've seen where they were drooping late in the day but not this bad.

I have some new transplants from the death racks I got Easter weekend... I have to waters them almost every day it seems!

I'm in Sarasota and I don't think we've had rain since October. Its like a desert here.

We don't have a sprinkler system so the lawn is gone. I struggle to keep the shrubs and flowers watered each day.

I feel for the birds and butterflies. Each time I spray the hose, butterflies start appearing flying through the spray. We have two shallow bird baths and I have to fill them at least 3x a day. I'm so amazed how the little birds fly down while I'm spraying the bird baths with water. They line up in the trees waiting for me to finish.

I feel so sorry for them. They are so thirsty.

Jane