Beginning of Autumn In My Garden....

yes the rain is a relief isn't it?
Your garden has recovered quickly, not sure what mine will be like, but I've not done much for weeks now.

If yours is anything like mine was Eileen it was not possible, anything apart from keeping things alive would have caused more harm than good, apart from deadheading the ones that were flowering, even those weren't many, I saved the lawns by collecting my waste water, the earth was packed solid so even the weeds weren't growing, I know that was a good thing but I always say that if the weeds won't grow then nothing else will either...

We have been so lucky here, only a few days of the really hot weather and even had rain but my sister down in Kent, lost most of her plants.

It's lovely seeing the garden come back to life after the rain. Your garden is looking lovely.

It was really bad here Jen and yet only a few miles away they were getting some rain, my son is in Boston and he was shocked when he came for a visit and saw how dead our lawns and fields were looking, typical for here though we either get all or nothing, never had to put a hosepipe ban in force though so I think people were like me and being careful....We spent a few days at Rutland Water about a month back, I cannot remember it ever being so low, there were hundreds of birds sitting on banks in the middle that I have never seen since they started filling it up.....It is lovely to see it reviving, our plants are so resilient, a lot just went dormant for a while, very confusing for them as some don't know whether they're coming or going, bit like me at times....

I agree with your last statement Linclass, the plants are just starting to grow again now they have water, but we’re into September, so we’ll just have to hope for a long mild spell before winter sets in & they have to go dormant again.
You seem to have your work cut out, filling in the gaps &
thinking about replacements. I’m still hoping that my pink flowered Strawberry will start to grow, but it is very shallow rooted & was burnt to a crisp :-(

Its surprising on balance that we haven't lost more really. I think I've lost two Helianthemums and my veg crops were pretty near disaster but its grand to see how things are responding to a few days rain isn't it? I did my best with grey water but the garden is too big to survive on that. it makes you understand why people in hot dry countries go outside and dance in the rain when it comes!

Lincs it is amazing how much alike our weather patterns are even though I am across the pond from you. I have been using water out of the tap to keep the garden hydrated but it is treated water and it keeps the plants alive and in flower somewhat. Then, the last several days it has rained and cooled off. The untreated natural rain water has seemingly energized my garden plants and now they are growing and flowering full bore just like yours. Looks like you are going to get a grand finale to the growing season.

Looks like it's been resurrected with the showers in recent days, Sue. Definitely can see your plants are looking well again and bouncing back.
I'm a fan of summer and autumn...love the hot sunshine and long, balmy evenings..
However, not so keen on extreme temperatures and the garden being destroyed! I'm seeing some things here being given a second coming!!! Thank heavens...

F'few it was the shallow rooted ones that suffered the most, as you know I did change things a few years back to make my gardening life easier, best decision I have made in recent years, although the perennial flowers themselves were shortlived, some not even lasting more than a day, I've cut the phlox down by half, might get another flush of flowers as they have bounced back now the ground is moist again, my dahlia's are gorgeous, full of flowers as are the cosmos and japanese anenomes, in fact weird as it seems the pink ones are the best they have ever been.. Won't take long to fill the remaining gaps in the raised bed, it has helped in a way as I've been able to already add new bulbs for next year, a job I usually end up doing when its cold and I'm balancing between my autumn flowers, this time I was able to see where they were needed....

Hi Stera, I know what you mean, my waste water was used mainly near to the house, much too far to keep carting it right down the bottom it had to fend for itself, not as young as I used to be, I definitely had a garden of two halves this year but its recovering well.. I too thought I'd lost a Helianthum but I cut out all the dead bits gradually, when I saw the new green shoots I gave it a proper prune, now has a new lease of life Stera, give it a try on yours.....I chuckled at your last comment as I spent an evening wandering around in the dark when our rains started, Harriet and Pepper accompanied me, they were not best pleased...LOL..

That's right L'strife, every little helps when things are getting desperate, its a good feeling to look out now and see it looking lush again, I admit I was getting quite despondent last month , I'm hoping for a very long and colourful autumn and very short winter....

Hi Kate, yes its a pleasure to look out on now, shame the nights are drawing in isn't it, I too love to be outside on a nice evening, used to be alright with the heat and could work in it for hours on end, could never just sit and sunbathe though, cannot handle it now, this year there was no respite even in my shady areas, I was literally hiding away indoors, poor dogs didn't realise how harmful it was for them, I placed a guard across the patio doors to force them to stay inside during the day, silly girls would lie in the full sun otherwise.. Thankfully we are getting a proper amount of rain now, its even being good and mainly falling overnight, how about that !!!!!!.. ..

Hiya M'land, its just like a rebirth, really colourful now and a pleasure to look out at even when its raining, I'm determined to add more bulbs this year, most shopping was being done online for the last couple of years so I missed out on buying them, going out to do my shopping again now so I keep adding a few to my grocery shop.....

Looking lovely :-))