Hot, dry, and back at home

One of two clumps of thyme in the new planting in crevices between boulders in the shade above the circle (writing) patio is barely hanging on after two week of heat and dryness. Thyme prefers a sunnier exposure, but if it survives, it will be ideal trailing over the rocks. I knew the shaded spot was questionable but didn’t factor in the recent heat and lack of rainfall while my wife and I traveled.

The brown remains if thyme can be seen beneath the hosta. If it revives, the two will work together with no problem.

With only bits of green remaining, I’ve transplanted a few miniature hostas as a just-in-case, and it’s likely these were better suited from the start. Both hostas were divisions from larger clumps, and I’ve dug hostas often enough to know there’s not much worry about digging them in summer. If there’s no rain, I’ll give them a sip of water a time or two, then they’ll be fine.

‘Sagara Nishiki’ is partially shaded, so it survived the heat and lack of rainfall. A red leafed seedling similar to ‘Burgundy Lace’ suffered in a smaller pot.

Two Japanese maples in pots have a lot of brown leaves from going dry in the recent heat spell, but I expect they’ll survive. The dozens of Japanese maples in the ground haven’t suffered at all (below), and all are just beginning to show the fading color that is typical of red leafed maples by midsummer. Occasionally, I wonder if fading would be reduced by regular summer irrigation, but most have thrived for decades with only rain, so there are no plans to change now.

The ‘Moonrise’ Japanese maple planted late in autumn in part sun has grown with unexpected vigor. It shows no stress from the heat and dryness.

The county sent out notice of water restrictions a day after the koi pond was refilled. Typically, thunderstorms will keep the large pond topped off through the summer, but there were several hot, dry weeks until yesterday’s downpour. The sunnier the spot, the more evaporation, so while most of the garden will be okay without, I hope we get back to regular afternoon storms.

A few plants in the new rock gardens are struggling, while most are thriving in the gravel and sand soil mix. I have little experience with many of the plants, so I’m certain that a few won’t make through the heat of summer, no matter how much or little rain we have. If something doesn’t make it, I’ll replace it in September if there’s any room since several are happily spreading.

I am perturbed only when a storm approaches as I monitor the radar. Skies darken and rumble, only to have the storm veer to barely miss the garden. Yes, that’s summer.