Summer is in full swing in Virginia. The hot, humid days are here. I must admit to really not liking the really hot days in the garden. Daily watering is a necessity for pots that quickly dry out when the temperatures soar over 90 degrees. June is in the rear view mirror. We received almost eight inches of rain during that month! Our gardens certainly enjoyed the moisture and I certainly liked not having to water. Along with good things, bad things happen as well. Our city sits along the Rappahannock River. Occasionally when we get so much rain, and rain up stream, the river floods. Last weekend was one of those times.
This is our city parking lot that extends to those crepe myrtles you can see. When we were downtown, the city was towing cars out of this area before the river crested.
To the right of the parking lot you can see the river has encroached behind the Center for Creative Arts. The river is actually in the distance!
Sadly, this garden is flooded as well.
A lot of folks along this street had flooded basements.
And completely flooded gardening sheds!
As well as parks totally underwater.
The water completely covered the street. Thankfully, within a few days the water receded and the cleanup began.
In my own little garden the flowers are enjoying the summer temperatures.
The Balloon flower is a perennial that really likes this spot in the garden.
I do not grow many orange flowers in my garden, but this Kwanza Daylily was given to me years ago and its double blooms are very attractive and quite hardy.
These red daylilies are a favorite of mine. They were a gift from a friend years ago as well.
The vinca in the brick planter is really taking off in the hot weather. Last year we had trailing vinca here and I must say I prefer it to the upright.
This red hibiscus is really old. I bring it inside for winter and of course return it outdoors when all danger of frost leaves our area.
I hope you have a good week ahead and enjoy your Forth of July celebration. Be safe and find JOY in every day! ♥
Your daylilies are gorgeous! We did not get any of that rain last week up our way. I will be watering my pots tomorrow morning again, too.
ReplyDeleteDaylilies are so easy to grow, Cathy. They are so forgiving of neglect, but still reward with blossoms. And best of all don't need supplemental watering. I'll be thinking of you while I water tomorrow, also. ♥
DeleteFire and water are terrifying! In southside VA, I'm battling the heat wave and being so glad I'll miss hell...not a joke! The lilies are lovely; I've some to plant but the earth is stone hard...it's always something, isn't it Martha Ellen?
ReplyDeleteSandra, it's really something when we live in the same state and have such extreme issues! Thank goodness for God's grace and love. Have a good Forth! ♥
DeleteEek.. sorry about the flooding in your area. The idea of flooded basements is awful. Your garden flowers are beautiful! I have a red hibiscus like yours that I've babied and held on to for a long time. Love it! Enjoy your July! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteTeresa, it's been a long time since we've seen the river like that--very scary! Have a wonderful Independence Day. ♥
DeleteYour flowers are beautiful, but my goodness what a mess with the flood water. I hope you are far enough away from it? Yes, that arduous task of watering the pots has commenced, and is why I am trying to do away with so many pots. At the moment, I'm recycling my grey water for that purpose.
ReplyDelete~~~Waving~~~Deb in Wales xoxo
Thank you, Deb! We are quite a bit higher in elevation of the river to experience that kind of flooding. Grayden did watch our basement like a hawk. The sump did fill with water, but worked just fine sending the water on its merry way. Now, I wish I had that water to use on the potted plants! Good for you on recycling grey water. I try to remember to do that, but forget! Have a happy week! xoxo ♥
DeleteI was so sorry to read about the floods, my heart went out to all those affected.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is a long and nasty job that takes its toll on a community. ♥
DeleteWow that’s too bad about the flooding. I’ve noticed even up here that the lake levels are high. Clean-up must be a daunting task. Your flowers are looking great. I love the pretty designs that daylilies come in. A good thing too about daylilies is that some of the creatures like voles don’t bother them. That orange one is beautiful and so summery! I have a blue campanula that blooms out by the woods each year and is blooming right now. I find it interesting that some plants like this are blooming at the same time up here and in your area. Have yourself a wonderful 4th!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz. The voles do leave daylilies alone, thank goodness! We now are having issues with moles! They are everywhere--at least they are doing a good job of aerating the lawn. Since they are carnivores they leave the plants alone as well. It's always something in the garden to keep me busy. Enjoy your Independence Day! ♥
DeleteYour garden looks amazing. I love the peachy looking daylily. The reds are always beautiful. You are a tad behind us in TN. our daylillies have stopped blooming and the blooms have fallen off. Yes, we are getting up in the high 90s here with the feels like of over a 100s. I DON'T LIKE THOSE TEMPS! Sorry about the flooding. Nashville saw its worst in 2010, 17 inches of rain in a couple of days and the water had NO WHERE to go. Not seen anything like that here in our area before. Take care, stay cool.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pam. I do love the garden, but not today! It's so hot. Your temperatures sound just like our's! Maybe this hot, humid snap will leave and we can get back to enjoying the outdoors.
DeleteI can't imagine 17 inches of rain in a couple of days--that's terrible. So much damage is done by water. Happy July! ♥
Your double orange daylily is such a beauty, your garden looks very nice. I'm so sorry about the flooding in your area, we use to have floodings along the rivers too, but not this year. It has not rained for two months, very unusual for our wet country, and it's hot..... I put several times aweek the sprinklers on, especially for the grass. The water comes from the canal in front of the house with use of a pump. Hope we get soon some rain, that saves me a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteWish you a happy month of July, enjoy the summer!
The weather is certainly different for all of us this year, Janneke. It's nice you have a water source so close to your garden. I imagine the canal is at a low point as well. I do hope rains come soon for you! Have a nice week ahead. ♥
DeleteOh my gosh, what flooding that was. I have been in this area and really never thought about it flooding this bad. People cleaning up their basements, what a mess. That's terrible.
ReplyDeleteI must be doing something wrong with the tropical hibiscus. Mine does not make it to the next season , it dies. Is there any special that needs to be done with them when brought in?
Love your header. Beautiful color.
I was out today working in the yard and drinking plenty of water but the headache was awful when I came back in. The heat index in Ashland today was 106 with a temp high at 96.
Will cut grass this afternoon.
I see your windchimes and it reminds me I need to fix mine back together, love the soft sounds in the breeze.
Take care in this heat and Happy July 4th!!!
betsy
Betsy, the flooding certainly took a toll on a lot of folk's properties as well as parks. The park that most folks view the 4th of July fireworks was completely underwater! The city has been doing a cleanup as well as volunteers working to get it ready for the forth.
DeleteI bring my two tropical hibiscus inside for the winter. They sit by a heated basement window and I make sure it is watered occasionally. They must be 15 years old by now and they are worth the trouble of bringing them inside. Sometimes if they are too large, I give them a pruning before I bring them inside. I also fertilize them when they go back outside and if I think of it a shovel of compost on the top!
We were outside for a little while watering and taking care to empty and refresh the bird baths. It's brutal outside today. I hope you are okay cutting grass in this weather. Our's will be tended to tomorrow, early. Happy Independence Day! ♥
What a beautiful garden you have!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have had very humid and hot days here lately!
I hope the flooding is finished. I know about cleaning flooded basements.
Have a cozy evening, my friend!
Billie Jo, unfortunately we know about flooded basements as well. But we've never experienced the river flooding our's. Thank goodness! Stay cool, my friend and have a wonderful Forth! ♥
DeleteObviously the rain has been a good thing for your gardens for they are so lovely. The daylilies are really putting on a show, the orange one for sure. I do like a bit of orange in my landscape. Hot sticky July isn't my favorite month either, but there's always something to find joy in. Happy Independence Day!
ReplyDeleteJuly is usually a doozey around here and this year is no exception. I really hate hiding inside in the AC, but am ever so thankful to have it! Have a wonderful Forth, Chip Butter! ♥
DeleteHappy July Martha Ellen! Your flowers are absolutely lovely! I'm glad someone is enjoying the rain! ♥ Stay cool and have a happy 4th!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Danielle. Have a great Independence Day with your family! ♥
DeleteMy thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible flooding, Martha Ellen. I know that the effects of flooding last long after the cleanup ends. Just the sight of more rain clouds approaching can be so upsetting after such a disaster.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking lush and lovely, my friend! I love that we grow so many of the same perennials. :) It has been hot and sticky here, too. The mosquitoes are having a party in my garden this week... and they are hungry! Just another reminder of the very wet weather we've also been having in the Midwest.
Wishing you and your family a sparkly, old-fashioned Independence Day! ♡
Hello Dawn, you are so right about lasting effects from flooding. Our town has a few small businesses affected that I'm not sure at this point will be able to recover. Small businesses run on such a tight margin to begin with and then to have their items destroyed is heart breaking.
DeleteI like thinking that we both grow the same perennials! We have been emptying our bird baths every couple days trying to keep the mosquitoes at bay! Unfortunately they are viscous here as well. I've noticed they don't seem as bad in the early morning, at least to me.
Have a wonderful Independence day, dear friend. ♥
Thank you and I hope that you enjoy the holiday as well. My flowers don't seem to be enjoying the heat. Typical Maine flowers. Ha! Even though well watered, they god limp around three every afternoon. By evening, they perk up again. I am sorry for the flood damage your community is dealing with. Hope that it doesn't happen again.
ReplyDeleteVee, I've always enjoyed seeing the flowers in New England. They always seem so healthy and not under stress like our southern gardens. I guess with the heat wave you are experiencing your plants are in shock.
DeleteHappy Independence Day tomorrow, my friend. ♥
It's always so awful to see and experience flooding.
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK we have had some very hot weather, so I do hope that when the rain eventually comes (and I'm sure it will) areas do not experience flooding … but we shall have to wait and see.
I thought your flower photographs were lovely, wonderful colour.
All the best Jan
Jan, I've heard about your hot weather. Hopefully the temperatures will moderate soon. We're back to very hot, humid, and dry weather. Have a great week. ♥
Delete