The storm, that seemed so certain to drench the garden, was a near miss. The rumble of thunder came close, but the storm split and then broke apart as I watched in dismay.

Oh well, the garden is not dry after repeated rainfall in recent weeks, but as I dug to plant a hydrangea in what I thought to be a safe distance from the huge beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’) in the front garden, the soil was quite dry. No doubt, due to the beech’s extensive shallow roots and dense canopy of foliage, but a warning that I should’ve watered as I planted the hydrangea along with a clethra (Clethra alnifolia) and ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius, below) in this last week of August. I’ll be certain to water today as another spell of mid-nineties with low rainfall probability is forecast. Hopefully, nature will take over after this.

With few exceptions, the garden looks as good as it did going into summer’s heat. I’m disappointed that several Japanese maples (Acer palmatum and others) injured in a spring freeze have not fully recovered, and the Gordlinia (x Gordlinia grandiflora, below) has lost several large branches. Soon, these will be removed, but why bother in ninety degree heat? The dead branches will still be there on  a seventy degree September afternoon.

A recent transplant of a clump of the Chinese fairy bells Disporum longistylum ‘Night Heron’, below) has been successful with a single deep watering. The various Disporum and Disporopsis in the garden are easy and trouble-free, but this one was planted where it was barely seen. It deserved a spot where it could grow to its full height. I’ve recently ordered several additions with varied heights and variegations to add into small gaps in the shaded front and side gardens.

With semi-regular rainfall, I’ve been encouraged to plant and transplant in recent weeks. A variegated Fatsia (Fatsia japonica ‘Camouflage’, below) was obscured by a large leafed hosta. I found a better place for it where it will be seen, but also with a part day’s sun where I think it will be happier.

There’s a hot week ahead with lesser chances of rain, so I’ll take a break from planting, but I have a summer full of ideas that I’ll start working on as soon as it cools off a bit.