This is the time of year when my gardening is in the early morning or evening and it is a good time to take photos, as well. My time to get things done and to enjoy the outdoors is very short. During the day, I will look out my window and think .... I really would like to be outside tidying up my garden. However, that thought does not last long when I step outside and I'm reminded of the hot temperatures.
There are some plants that don't seem to mind the heat and actually thrive as the temperature climbs.
Esperanza/yellow bells or Tecoma stans loves the heat and has a long lasting flowering season from early spring through the fall. It is pest resistant, which I have really come to appreciate more after seeing all the pests on my sunflowers and tomato plants.
Here it is next to my zinnias and blanket flowers. It can reach 15-20 feet in height. However, I will cut it back after it blooms, so it will remain compact. These look very pretty in containers, as well.
Blackfoot daisies or Melampodium leucanthum loves the heat and is showing pretty blooms.
These little blooms on the Mexican narrow leaf zinnias attract butterflies. When the weather heats up is when they really start to show their stuff. I love all the shades of pink flowers.
My new little garden buddy, Toby doesn't seem to notice the heat while having fun with the water hose.
There's no place like Austin, Texas! In this gardening blog, I have tried to focus mainly on native and adapted plants for Central Texas! I think it is the true secret to a successful garden in this great state!
16 comments:
Dear Amy, I find, almost whatever the season or the weather, that the early morning or evening are the most enjoyable times in the garden. Early in the day, there is the promise of what is to come and in the evening it is time to enjoy a glass of wine and relax [always making the promise to achieve more tomorrow].Bliss
And, how Toby has grown!!What a siply adorable companion to have in the garden.
Toby is a cutie pie! I agree about your comments for early and evening times in the garden. The heat these days is forcing me out of the midday sun. Love the photos of Toby. UDG
Amy: I feel the same way here in Florida. But usually I only can do the evening gardening anyway since that will be the only free time that I have after the work. Now even the weekends are limited to morning and evening gardening... I love your yellow bells, looks so pretty! Wonder if I can find some here. I am trying to find some compact sun loving perennial plants for my sunny spots. Your Blackfoot daisies sounds like a good candidate too. Is it an annual plant?
Hi Amy. Oh no, someone sent me Yellow Bell seeds and I planted them in a little pot. I may have to rethink this plant and find a bigger pot to over winter it. LOL!
It is lovely though.
Your zinnias are so pretty and they do get better as they grow in the summer heat.
Your puppy is so cute. I remember an old dog I had once use to try to bite the end of the hose. Toby is having fun and cooling off. So cute.
Hello Amy
Lovely quirky blog. I am in love with your dog.
Hello, Edith ~ I agree, you have to take time to just enjoy. Toby has grown quite a bit. He likes to crawl under our leather chair and now he can barely fit. :)
UDG ~ Hello, I was outside at 7:30 A.M. and could feel the heat rising. I don't believe I want to wake up too early to garden. Thanks for visiting.
Ami ~ Hi, I think the evening is the best time.
Zinnias love the sun, too. The blackfoot daisies are perennial. If you go to Lady Bird Johnson site it has a lot of info about them.
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MELE2
They tend to get leggy, so I just cut it back. I planted mine last spring and it has about a 2 foot spread. Also, Mexican petunias are compact and tough as nails! You could search my blog for them. Also, blanket flower or fall asters might be candidates.
HHG ~ Hello, it does get big and I think you will love it in a container. Toby loves to bite the end of the hose, too. It takes two hits of the water and he is drenched!
Catharine ~ Hello, thanks for visitng my blog and your nice comment!
ugh, I think the exact same thing every day!
I like those Zinnias. They are the greatest shade of pink. So at least in the heat you can grow those. I guess there has to be some kind of reward for living in all that stifling heat!
Rosey
I love early mornings in the garden. (And your garden buddy is adorable!) :-)
Toby looks quite the character and a fun garden companion. Early mornings are best before "life gets in the way"!
I've caught myself waving at my plants through the window...you have some great plants here. You new friend in too cute in the garden hose.
I love my Tecoma stans and thankfully it is happy even when I neglect it in the summer. I also have a gardening friend named Toby...but he seems to like digging holes lately :-(
Such lovely flowers...and not all wilty like I am in the heat. I'm with you, it's difficult to be outside, no matter how much you want to be, when the mercury is high enough to make the thermometer explode! I think Toby seriously has the right idea...and he's so gosh darned cute while he's keeping his cool! :)
Toby is a doll and looks like so much fun!
I love the Tecoma stans! The color is amazing and the leaves seem a nice sort of green as well. I had never heard of it here in the Netherlands and will start looking for it.
Your dog is a realy cutie....
Everyone is moaning about the heat, but I'm sat here with grey skies and green tomatoes. It doesn't matter where you are, you always want someone else's weather.
Oh, and their money!
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