July is Just Extreme!

 

There was one perfect summer day 

we spent at Jessica's Garden & Lobster Shack.

It was in the mid-80s, low humidity, 

hot in the sun, cool in the shade.

The grass was green. Her plants looked healthy.

But that was it, so far...

I emptied 5 inches of rain from the rain guage

after last Sunday's huge storm. 

I had dumped 4 inches previously, and a couple of half-inches 

and single inches in between.

We've had two heat waves of three days 

above 90 degrees.

The plants are soaked and soggy--

and heat stressed at the same time.

I've also been battling whiteflies in the dahlias,

and Japanese beetles 

in the roses and other perennials.

I've sprayed them with Neem oil,

cut back stems and removed  leaves.

Good news.

They are making a come back.

And I can't keep up with deadheading

the daylilies.

What will August be like?

These poor plants--

and exhausted gardener!

So thankful for that perfect day.