Irene, thank you -- cute. The same advice would go for a lot of things we plant in the spring forgetting how hot and sunny it's going to be in mid summer.

I like this borrowed from the Australian site that Omar linked in the 'devil's hand' post:

So what is y'all's New Year resolution for your garden this year?

Tthanks, it was really a reminder to myself to not let my art supplies go dormant and to start painting again. ie, 'don't leave my crayons in the sun.' I should have phrased it better.... but your post was way better. i will definitely follow your advice. Thanks, Ragna. My resolution for the garden:

I really need to stop all the plant buying,... 'Ya think?' lol.

I am going to try to find a happy medium between my lack of order and a total controlled (and boring) garden.

Omar

Omar, your garden could never be boring; especially while you are in it ... :-)

Texas gardeners, we'd love to hear your gardening resolutions for 2019!

Specifics, if they are in the plan, would be helpful as well.

Roselee, yes, I can defintely see the difference. I love the new look of your deck though I always loved the 'old' look. too! it was so full of inspiration and wonderful, unique items. A big hug and welcome to JILL!

Don't leave your crayons in the sun......

Or unwatered plastic pots on the sunny patio :( .. . . had a couple melt badly this year. A first, so guess just previously lucky about getting dead or empty pots hidden away in the shaded side yards.

The Passiflora lutea is climbing into the crape myrtle crown, Aristolochia tometosa has "swallowed" the gas meter, and 'Princess Diana' Clematis texensis is smothering the Agarita. So one resolution is to finish up the trellises begun last year. I've seen the passionvine reach across a 2 or 3 ft gap before, but am still amazed it could grow the vertical ~6 ft here without support or being blown over:

The jackmanii clematis had become a mounded wasp nest haven around the mail box post, so had more motivation to get this one trellis done:

Still may have become too much vine for the small post, so'll probably be digging out a few more roots.

Thanks, Bostedo. i had no idea plastic pots would melt in the sun. We will move them into a shady shed ASAP.

To never EVER plant anything but tried and true performers. If it doesn't make it through the winter (without covering/moving) or didn't make it through the summer heat, it's not getting planted in my yard or down at the cabin ever, ever again. I don't care HOW much I like the plant. I'm so tired of wasting money on things that just die on me.

When we moved our potted plants to irrigated shade before heading out for vacation in late August, five or six empty/inactive pots were left on the unshaded pool deck between west and south facing brick walls. Likely the hottest spot on our lot and believe the high temps hit 108°F while we were gone. Of the four or five different size pots deformed by the heat, only this one is still around to confirm it was polystyrene (#6) - not sure all the others were, but seems likely:

Assume this means the dry pot approached the ~212ºF flow temp for it to deform like that.

Unlikely to happen to a pot containing a plant being watered and otherwise well cared for. Though any time in shade is still probably a good thing for most plastic pots since repeat exposure to UV and/or extreme temp cycles can eventually cause them to weaken and crumble.

“To never EVER plant anything but tried and true performers.”

Yeah, right.

Omar

Oh...woe is me! I have just received two garden catalogues in the mail today. I only want one of each! Beautiful, gorgeous, outstanding, plants and veggies! I keep telling myself to put it in the recycle bin.... so far, it has not worked. Oh no,...There goes my resolution. And then, they are offering 'free shipping' with orders over $49.00! How many gorgeous plants can I bypass with such temptations? Or, better yet, how many plants can I order with only $50.00?

Bostedo, thank you for describing the plastic pots that melted in the sun. I read online that polystyrene (#6) is what Styrofoam packing material is made of. My black nursery pots are marked with a 5 within the recycling symbol. My decorative plastic pots are not marked. Some of my old favorites have cracked.

As for New Year resolutions we are all at different points on our garden path and I find all your goals interesting at whatever point you are on yours and would like to hear about them.

As for me, due to my age and especially after experiencing the many weeks of disability due to the fractured femur this spring, I'm definitely in the 'tried and true' camp, but am enjoying this 'camping trip' as much as I have anything in the past.

I'm seeing the design wisdom of repeating some of the tried and true plants around the garden as well as concentrating on ornamental trees and shrubs and using only a few favorite perennials such as phlox and a couple of cannas, and easy care annuals like gomphrena and begonias. This may be the last year for anything that needs to be taken into the greenhouse. We shall see how that goes.

My current project, other than pulling weeds, is spray painting all my garden tools florescent pink so I can find them with just a glance and don't have to tromp all over the yard looking for something.

Speaking of weeds, what has been even more problematic this year than the usual winter weeds are good plants coming up everywhere! This includes larkspurs, Mexican feather grass, white wine cups, even Crawford lettuce. With so many to pull my dilemma is whether to thin them or try to eliminate them entirely. Whatcha' think?

Happy gardening in 2019! Again, we'd like to hear about your goals, and the new plants you intend to try. Or if you're keeping with the 'tried and true' which of those you are keeping.

Ragna, if you pull up those volunteer wine cups, are they of a size that's shippable? I would love to have some for the Wood County arboretum - we're almost done rebuilding the existing beds from the 2017 hog damage, so we're ready to expand!! I can pay for shipping...

Lin, I sent you a message ...

Hi, Ragna, fyi,....I need a new keyboard. I will get one today as soon as i am able, I ordered some new varieties of zinnias and a planting tower... there went ny $50. lol it is too difficult to type with this board, so I won't go into much detail.

Irene, one can't go wrong with zinnias! Post photos when they bloom! Is the planting tower to grow vines on, or plant things in vertically?

t i'll be ordering again... ii saw some really pretty vines.

The tower is for in house planting ....yes, i will post some pics.... i can't wait.