Summer thinking

August 10th 2009
Just under two weeks until the Garden Tour. The rain came and wet the earth nicely. Thirsty roots in hard clay soil waiting patiently through our hottest days on record. There is no irrigation system that is adequate when it gets that hot and dry for so long. A couple of good soakings with the hose help immensely to water the back sides of shrubs and in between spaces that the irrigation doesn't reach. The rain came last night, so by 8 pm tonight the ground was perfect to go and weed. Nice and moist but not saturated, dandelions coming up with nearly full roots in the loose soil. I used the evening as a chance to go at the Morning Glory along my fence line again. That is the second time this year but I should have done it two weeks ago. It is very good at wrapping around stems so tight you pull a plant apart just while trying to get the morning glory off of it. My next strategy will be to plant larger shrubs and small trees so they won't get covered up so quickly and they will be easier to free. The best method is to cut the Morning Glory vines every 12 inches or so along the stems of other plants so that you can pull it off in sections without stripping the leaves off or breaking the preferred plant.
Soon I will be getting around to cutting most of the burned foliage out of the garden. Despite watering fairly consistently I ended up with many burned plants. The plants I put in about a month ago have done very well with regular watering and all the sun and heat. The garden will be a good representation of a Seattle August garden. The Asters are just getting started and most of the Fuschia's have come through unscathed. The Sedum look great and the ornamental grasses are full and billowing. The burned and dry leaves begin the transition into our true Western climate Fall Season. The Summer drought stresses the plants so that many of the natives are already going dormant.
I will go out and get a few pictures in the morning.
With the hours of daylight becoming more precious by the day, Fall seems so strong in the air. I was out until I could not see the thorns on the rose as I removed the weedy vines from it's fragile branches, joined of coarse by an evening chorus of tickling mosquitoes and, a shame, it was just past nine o'clock. Not yet ready for Fall I will thoroughly enjoy the coming weeks of warm sun and burned gardens, Morning Glory and Mosquitoes because one of my favorite things about Seattle is it's entirety of Seasons. Every Season is so full you are ready for the next when it comes time. Now is the time of Summer. Fruit is ripening and faces are red. Warm skin, white wine and so many things to do sleep is just another thing on the list.