Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Last Gasp From the Summer Garden

 Fall Crocus are the signal that Autumn is around the corner. It has been an unusually hot and dry Summer here in Portland and the garden reflects it.
 The Rose of Sharon didn't seem to mind the heat but I don't think any of the plants enjoyed having to drink the purified city water any more than we liked paying for it!
 The sun baked the color right out of the Hydrangea but a few blooms persevered. I can't help but wonder why a few blooms stayed fresh and blue.  Maybe they opened later?
 I showed you the new grapes in this post.  They LOVED the hot weather and they grew twice as high as we were expecting.  Once the leaves drop the pruning and training will become.
 We even got one tiny little cluster of grapes!  I think they love their new home.
 The old, reliable 4 o'clocks just wander around wherever they want and don't seem to mind much of anything.
 Sorry for the poor picture.  Rudbekia putting up with Queen Anne's Lace that isn't supposed to be there but sometimes I kind of love it.
And then there are the tomatoes.  They are thriving and producing more than we can use.  The summer squash did well, too.  Everything else succumbed to the heat.  Vine ripened tomatoes make the garden worth the effort.

6 comments:

Art and Sand said...

With our drought, my garden is quite sad lately.

Enjoy your lovely end of summer flowers.

oldgreymareprimitives said...


Lost about 40% of my plants/trees due to sprinkler issues and disease over the past year. Recovering nicely now but I do miss my trees : (
soooo envious of vegetable gardens

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

Your garden is looking a whole lot better than mine...at least you have a harvest, lol. This drought has really taken its toll on my plants. Only a handful have survived the summer's heat and nothing new was planted in the ground this year. Here's hoping for an end to this soon!!!

Maggie said...

Wish I lived down the street from you....I'd take some of those tomatoes off your hands! Nothing better than home-grown tomatoes. I've tried, but have only one tiny area that gets enough sun, so I really don't bother any more:-( My hydrangeas are toasted, too. Crazy summer here! I'm usually such a summer-loving girl, but I must admit I'm looking forward to Fall.

laurie -magpie ethel said...

I got two tomatoes this year. TWO! My hydrangeas also baked out with the sun...pity...still pretty but I miss that color.

Celestina Marie said...

Your garden is gorgeous Kathy. I love your hydrangeas. I had not one hydrangea bloom the whole summer. The bush was huge and green but no flowers at all. Nothing better then fresh tomatoes.
Have a great weekend. cm