Here’s a picture I happen to take just before I left.

Pardon the bright sun, but here’s the same area this morning.

Hmm...actually this picture looks better than the reality.

I watered everything heavily just before I left for Bakersfield. Things were already looking “not so great”, because I have had some hip problems over the past couple months. The Sweet Peas and other spring annuals were finished blooming, and setting seed when I left. When I left they at least had some green to them, but now they are completely brown. My once beautiful Sweet Peas now look like this.

They’ve surely dropped enough seed to ensure next springs display, and can now be removed. I’m thinking they’re giving ‘Princess Charlene de Monaco’ on one side, and ‘Abraham Darby’ on the other, some relief from the brutal sun, so perhaps they should stay in place a while longer. Who am I kidding? I have absolutely NO desire to do anything outdoors during this heatwave! That’s a handy excuse to leave them until we get a cool spell. (Who knows when THAT will be:(

My sons did turn on the drip irrigation system twice, during my absence, thank goodness! They also hand watered the container roses/plants twice, but I can see that the container plants are really suffering the most. I’m really considering removing my ‘Boule de Neige’ rose entirely, after Jeri recently told me hers bloomed ONCE IN 5 or 6 years! If she didn’t have enough chill for it back then, I surely don’t have enough here either. With temperatures getting warmer every year, I’m not feeling very optimistic about seeing my ‘Boule de Neige’ covered in those beautiful snowy clusters anytime soon. I fear I may never see a single bloom, EVER, with all the problems I’ve had with this rose. ‘Boule de Neige is looking pretty unhappy today. Before I left town, I had even placed sheets of cardboard around the outside of the half barrel it’s planted in, to shield the roots from the heat.

Boule de Neige this morning. Notice the dead grass. I prefer to use my water for roses, thank you:)

Here are a few pieces I cut off to photograph indoors. I’m about to give up on this rose. Despite treating it systematically for midge twice, I think these burnt tips look midge damage. It could be heat/sun damage, but I have a sinking feeling it’s a combination of both:( I’m grateful Boule de Neige is potted and on my concrete patio, rather than in the ground. Still, I thought I gave it enough poison to kill everything in that container, including the rose itself! Does anyone have an opinion as to what sort of damage this is? It sure looks like midge damage to me, but it only returned now, during this heatwave and my sons minimal watering. The tips looked fine when I left, about 10 days ago.

Another unhappy camper in this heatwave is Duchess de Brabant. Still, she keeps blooming, even though she hasn’t been deadheaded, and is in full sun all day long.

That’s Evelyn behind the Duchess. Evelyn actually seems to be holding up quite well. She needs to be deadheaded, but other than that, she looked almost happy!

Rev H. d’Ombrajn is planted in an excellent spot, and is very happy! This is amongst its first blooms! I love having this rare little bourbon from Cliff. The blooms are so much lighter than I expected.

I have lots more pictures to post, including some good performers, under the circumstances. I’ll submit these and take a little break. Boy, it’s hot out here already! Lisa

Cream Veranda is looking terrible. I suspect it might have not been watered, or watered very little. I’ve taken the baskets down, and put them in the shade.

Honestly, that damage just looks to me like it's roasted. (But I don't have a clue what midge looks like.)

I'm not going down the hill for any reason -- It's hot enough up here. And I'm watering, too . . . but I can't do anything about the blooms. Things that were just ramping up for a good flush of bloom now look like potpourri ... and it's not pretty. "Jesse Hildreth" should look like this:

But instead, the blooms look like this:

The only defense is picking them in bud:

Lisa, your photos could be of my garden, and I haven't been anywhere, plus no heat wave to match yours. No hip problems, either, but a cranky back, so deadheading is slow. I honestly don't know how you grow anything in that kind of heat. My daughter in Pasadena says her roses, hydrangeas and veggies were all toast after the 117˚/119˚ day. Like you, she spends a lot of time in her garden and it's always pristine. She says it's not necessarily the lack of water, but the heat is like an oven, so they either bake or boil. Don't blame your sons too much; it's not healthy to be out in those temps.

BTW, isn't it you who has the 'moon arbor'? Have you decided what you're going to do with it? I see them now and then and always think of you.

Lisa, thanks for posting this, my garden looks very similar, and though we have had heat, nothing like what you are dealing with! Moses, your story is comforting (though please, please do the hip replacement asap! My sister waited way too long, by the time she had it she was practically immobile. After, it was like a miracle! She felt so much better.) I broke my right arm a month ago, and I can hardly do anything! (laboriously typing this w/ lh). The weeds are crazy, and though I do what I can one-handed there's no way I can keep up. DH helps but since the poor guy has to do everything around the house (I cant do any of my regular stuff - cant cook, clean, drive and do the shopping, etc.) so I dont like to ask him to do anything extra. I also cant do my musical work, so I'm getting behind on projects and going nuts! On top of everything else I feel like such an idiot: the way I broke it was I was out on my daily run - an activity I have been doing for 20 years!! Beautiful June day, no ice or rain (and I'll run in those conditions) and somehow I just tripped and fell. Anyway, its comforting to hear that your garden survived: I'm kind of writing this season off and just trying to keep smaller, newly-planted roses from being swamped. And I owe some people some cuttings through the mail, so am hoping by the end of the week to be mobile enough to pack them up safely!

Jeri, your Jesse Hildreth always makes me happy! What a classy rose he(?) is. Another rose I wonder if I could squeeze in somewhere. At least in this weather, there’s no “should I cut these buds for a vase, or should I leave them to look pretty in the garden?” Just like you’re doing, it’s “cut ‘em quick, or they’ll be toast!”

This heatwave is really miserable. I keep imagining how the firefighters must feel, battling those wildfires in this heat while wearing all that heavy clothing material. I shouldn’t have the audacity to complain, when I think about that. Bless them, for all they endure for US! I think we’re supposed to cool off tomorrow. I hope we all will be getting some lower temps soon. I feel sorry for those without A/C. They must be having a hard time sleeping at night. It almost always cools down significantly after 5pm, here. Last night, it stayed pretty warm all night long. I’m not used to that. In the summer and fall I often begin my gardening work at 5 or 6pm, continuing until dark.(Sometimes long after dark, with the help of my trusty headlamp. Boy, I love that thing.) Last night I watered in the dark, but it was still so warm that I started feeling sick. I’m like a DA rose in the high heat, wilted, miserable, and VERY thirsty:)

Mr. Moses, thanks for your words of encouragement. I feel like I’ve been doing so little in the garden lately, but I must still do more than I realize. I was gone only about 10 days, but what a discouraging sight to return to. Those few minutes of “here and there” spot watering, weed pulling, and deadheading, really do make a big difference! Either that, or I’d become “blind” to the unsightly spots over time, and I was shocked by seeing it with “fresh eyes”, upon my return. (I’ve decided I’m definitely going with the former:)

I didn’t realize you were headed for a hip replacement surgery as well, Mr. Moses. Just like you, I’m trying to plan around my rose’s needs, more so than my own. To be incapacitated at any point between June and early November, would spell disaster here. You’re details and mine are exactly opposite, of course. You want to prepare everything for winter survival, while I need to be prepared to keep my plants alive through the long, dry summer. Opposite hips too, mine’s the left.

Here’s another reality picture. Evelyn’s normally perfect blooms are frying to a crisp! These just opened, but I failed to cut them in time.

Evelyn is a dry heat loving rose, though this is a little too hot and dry for her liking. Still, champion that she is here, she’s still making new buds.

I’ll add more in a bit. Once again, my Louise Odier never ceases to amaze and impress me. I’ll take some pictures when I dare venture out again. Lisa

Oh Lisa, I hope it cools down soon for both you, and your roses.

Its been horribly hot up here as well, we got a break Friday & Saturday, but it was icky today again. My roses were melting. Those that didn't melt, crisped.

Your Evelyn still looks gorgeous, crisped and all! If the cold comes here, I'll try and send it your way :)

Lisa, your post reminds me of when it is raining hard and the dogs need to go outside for the bathroom and they don't want to go--they just look at me, asking me to fix the weather for them because they don't want to be rained on. I can't fix it! And yet I feel that I must apologize to them. And here you are apologizing for the weather. I wish that I could fix it for you!

About 30 years ago when I was stationed at Edwards AFB we had a number of days over 105 degrees F but it didn't seem that bad because it was a dry heat. That same temperature at 90% humidity is unbearable. Here in FL with our daily torrential downpours, it's nice and cool! The only downsides are that some of the roses are drowning and the weeds grow a foot per day.

Flowers, probably the only reason I have the nerve to post such ugly photos, is that I feel like I have a handy excuse! Things might look nearly as bad, if I hadn’t gone out of town, in all honesty. I’m seeing newly opened buds shriveling within hours. The boys said everything looked fine until Friday afternoon, when they looked out the window, and said “Oh sh*t! Look at Mom’s garden! We better do something, fast!” Oh well, it doesn’t look like anything won’t recover, as long as this heatwave subsides. Yes, I have the “tunnel arch”, but still haven’t placed it yet. I’m undecided about placement, and my hip has postponed any large projects. I do hope your back feels better soon. Things like that are SO pesky!

Frances, you poor girl! I hope that cast only has two more weeks before it can come off, and your arm is healed. I imagine that by now, it doesn’t hurt too much anymore. It’s probably more awkward, irritating, itchy, and hot! You’re definitely doing the right thing. Just keep things alive, and let yourself heal. There’s no sense in trying to do more than you’re really capable of yet, and setting back the healing process, or hurting something else because you’re over doing it, or overcompensating. Isn’t it crazy how we often manage to escape dangerous situations unscathed, and then get injured doing something routine? I hear of incidents like that so often. Don’t be too hard on yourself, it could happen to anyone. I applaud you for running daily! It sounds like torture to me, even before my need for a new hip:)

I can’t resist bragging on my Louise Odier. The drip irrigation doesn’t reach her, and my sons said they didn’t give her a DROP of water while I was away. Other than needing to be deadheaded, she looks great! I’m not sure how Louise Odier manages to do so well here. I’m beginning to think she’s planted over an underground water source. LOL I know that’s not really possible, but she’s always blooming. Since these are “honestly photos”, I’m taking these pictures “as is”, no removing of old blooms, no tidying her up. This is Louise Odier this afternoon, after a good watering last night. Before that, she’d gone unwatered for a full 10 days.

Call me crazy, but I even kinda like the way this one looks fried to a crisp! Lisa

Did I ever mention how much I love my Louise Odier? LOL

Wow! Louise Odier looks wonderful! That's impressive! Hang in there, luckily today seems a bit cooler than the last 2 days. Take care out there!

My roses had plenty of water but still wilted. Also fried raphiolepis, Eugenia hedge, a fuschia but not the begonia which was right next to it. It was a tough day, Friday. My yard thermometer in the shade read 115.

Lisa, I agree that hanging basket rose looks cooked. The only thing you could have done to prevent it would have been to put it where it wouldn't have received any direct sun. The temps most have been enduring the past few days are Arizona, Palm Springs and Death Valley temps. Just the other day, Los Angeles was 113. Death Valley was 112! Trying to keep anything looking good, much less alive, with heat spikes like that is a real endeavor. Much of the time, an unsuccessful one. Just keep them watered and don't cut anything back. That friend top growth can help insulate the wood below it like frozen tips can help prevent further freezes. It will be safer to cut them back once the chances of these spikes are past. I'm sorry you had to return to that. Welcome to "rose growing"! Even with the best of help, who have the best of intentions, taking a "vacation" from your garden can be "rewarded" with some very startling surprises.

Cedemus, I host visitors from Edwards (and Holloman) regularly.

They always laugh at how green things are around here

This is heartbreaking but you take such a good care of your roses and I'm sure you'll bring them back to their health and loveliness.

Your Louise Odier is a miracle! No wonder she inspired me to get mine. Gorgeous.

This heat wave is insane! Friday and Saturday we saw it climb to 113F in OC! I’ve been flood watering the plants at 7am with light air misting and then again watering/misting at 9pm. My plumeria was scorched with black singe marks on the top leaves which then flopped over. I have tried to save the new leaves on my roses by misting otherwise they will totally fry!

Jubilee Celebration and Firefighter still making blooms, but they are protected under the pergola with an umbrella over JC. I don’t know how people garden in the Southwestern states where these temps are normal for summer time!

Btw Lisa, what is the beautiful nodding white rose in your before photo?

9pm and still 80F here! I know many of you are accustomed to hot summer nights, but this is very unusual for us, unless we are having Santa Ana.

Kim, I normally do take those baskets down and into the shade in temps like these. I forgot to ask the boys to take them down. One Cream Veranda basket looks better than the one shown. I’m not sure why, unless one was watered, and one not. BTW, my precious Annie Laurie McDowell from Ingrid looks totally unfazed by this heatwave. It was nearly to dark for pictures, but she’s looking great!

I have the budded one safely tucked away in the shade. I bet she’s happier with better water vs. Bakersfield water.

Ingrid, ‘Wild Edric’ is doing great! I missed much of these blooming, but more buds are forming, and the foliage is healthy and holding up well. The blooms didn’t crisp nearly as much as I’d feared.

These temps are crazy, aren’t they? We cross posted, jjkoc. That rose is ‘Joan Fontaine’, and it has held up amazingly well in this heatwave. Joan Fontaine looks like a David Austin rose, and I may have read she was bred from a DA. I forgot which one, though. I took a few pictures of her this evening, because she was the most bloom covered rose in the garden today. It was already pretty dark, so these pictures don’t do her justice. I’ll take more tomorrow morning. She’s about 3-4? years old, and has really come into her own over the last year. She’s a good one, and shows zero signs of heat stress today. That’s pretty amazing considering this is the third day of this terrible heat, AND she’s in full sun all day long!

Sorry these were taken just a few minutes too late, thus the flash went off. I’ll take more tomorrow, because I’m really impressed by her performance. Those are some spent blooms, in the first photo, but none fried. I haven’t deadheaded anything yet, and I’m trying to “keep it real” in all the pictures in this thread. Other than the old blooms, every single one of them looks fresh and lush. I can hardly believe my eyes! Lisa

vesfl, I’m glad you got yourself a Louise Odier! I had no idea that she’d be such a superstar. I hope you’re enjoying yours already.

Socks, Interesting that your begonia held up so well! I’m glad you reminded me. I have a tuber I STILL haven’t planted. I better check if it’s “still good”. I’m going to look up raphiolepis. I’m completely unfamiliar. Any pictures? :). Lisa

A couple years back when we had unusually high temps here - just under or over 100˚ all summer, my husband came home with some of those tall tripod farm type sprinklers from the feed store. They not only watered my garden, but kept the air a few degrees cooler. I noticed when I was outside, even in areas where the sprinklers didn't reach, it was cooler when they were on. They have timers and easy to hook up to a hose and not expensive. We haven't had to use them so far this year, but I feel like they're a bit of insurance to have on hand in case it gets terribly hot again this year. They saved my roses that year.

Annie Laurie McDowell is a rose I plan to have. Maybe too tender for here, but I am determined to try. Lisa, I'm happy to hear she can handle the heat. I almost hate to say it gets hot here after the kind of heat you're having, but our summers are a lot like So. Calif. normal summers.

Thank you, Lisa, for posting the pictures of your garden in stress. And I just hate that you guys have this kind of dry heat right now while things are already so difficult. I also worry about all those firefighters. I know, too, how hard it is to see something you’ve nurtured suffer, but the photos and descriptions are very helpful. I’ve had some “fried” blooms on some of my roses, but couldn’t figure out what was going on. (Or what I was doing wrong!) The discussions about temperature limits, irrigation, and petal thickness have really helped me learn about my own roses, and hopefully care for them better. I am constantly searching the forums for all my various plants, and the detail with which this one shares is unprecedented, and extremely appreciated. :-)

I hope the heat wave breaks soon... your roses have lovely blooms, even in the heat.

Today is much better. The temps shouldn’t get above 88F, here today. What a relief!

Here’s some daylight pictures of ‘Joan Fontaine’. As I said, she’s held up very well during the heatwave. I haven’t deadheaded anything, so these are “au natural”. At least her blooms didn’t fry!

The thrips do like her, but that’s my only complaint. She also has good fragrance for me, and is excellent for cutting.

Homage a Soupert Et Notting, yesterday.

Today

Kind of fried, even though it’s planted in afternoon shade. It was only planted this past January, however. I’m hoping once the roots are better established the blooms will hold up better. It’s got fragrance to die for! Lisa

Lisa, overall I think your garden held up surprisingly well. Most of the damage is cosmetic, and quite a few of the roses held up exceptionally well such as Louise Odier, Joan Fontaine, Duchesse de Brabant, Evelyn and, thankfully, Wild Edric. I'm just glad you're safely back after a very eventful trip.

Thanks for sharing about Joan Fontaine! I’ve never read anything about that rose. It’s very pretty and seems like robust in heat too boot!

Lisa, I am glad you reach home safe and sound. I just can't believe how some of your roses held up so well. I am so impressed with LO, Annie Laurie McDowell, Wild Edric, JF, Evelyn, Dutchess de Braband.

I am glad today it is not so hot. Hopefully, your roses will recuperate from the heat.

Your LO is so green and lushious and not being water for 10 days. Now, I have to get LO :)

Jin

I feel your pain Lisa. I only left for 3 days to Florida for work this past weekend. I soaked everything before I left. I was most concerned about the 4 young roses that I just put in the ground in the last week.

It wasn't that bad since the trip was short, but with 100+ degree heat over the past days (and continuing) I spent a lot of today deadheading tons of crispy blooms that looked beautiful before I left. Probably would have looked pretty darned similar had I been here through those days, but still a little shocking to come back to. There is something about that tender loving care that they get daily, and you can definitely see the difference when it's missing.