Summer is a loitering gossip
For summer there, bear in mind, is a loitering gossip, that only begins to talk of leaving when September rises to go. —George Washington Cable
Cable was writing about New Orleans’ sweltering September, but his description applies as well to Austin. Though I’m thankful for the cooler mornings we’ve enjoyed lately, the afternoons are still uncomfortably hot.
As Hurricane Ike spirals nearer, looking as if he will make a direct hit on the Texas coast and swirl up across Austin this weekend, the weather in advance of the storm has grown hotter and muggier. Still, Ike may bring us some much-needed rain, which is both good and bad. Good for the garden. Bad for enticing prospective buyers to come look at our house.
I’ll take the rain anyway. Gardens come first.
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
We are hoping for Ike to send his calling card in the form of rain to us too. I hope you get
a buyer soon.
Thanks, Lisa. And I hope you get some rain soon. —Pam
Yes, it’s a double-edged sword. I want the rain for the garden, but of course we have soccer mid-day! I am fantasizing about a COOL day with a steady rain where I am stuck inside. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?!
It sounds heavenly, Diana. We may not see that kind of rain until late October or November though. —Pam
Ah, the twin curses of the South. Hurricanes and oppressive summers that don’t actually end.
Austin is too far inland for hurricanes to do much damage, though we are prone to flash flooding. Most of us actually rather look forward to them because they may bring us some rain—though I don’t wish their destructiveness on those in the storm’s path. —Pam
And I hope Summer loiters for a while yet. 🙂 I hope Ike passes you by without incident.
If I could send you the rest of our summer, I would do it, Nancy. So long as you’d send us some of your mellow Canadian days. —Pam
In San Antonio we will be getting hit too of course. Yesterday we had some rain even though it was not for a long time but got everything pretty wet, I’m not sure if last nights rain was from Ike or not. Your garden will look great for all those coming after the rain!!! By the way is that mexican oregano in the first picture? Whatever it is it’s a great show.
Yes, that’s Mexican oregano. I hope San Antonio comes through the hurricane with no damage, if it does sweep across south-central Texas. Here’s to rain but no strong winds. —Pam
Hi there! I think your garden looks outstanding! Its so pretty! Have a really nice day!
Linda
Hi, Linda. Thanks for your kind words. I hope you have a wonderful day too! —Pam
I think your garden will look just as good, if not better, after the rain as long as we don’t get 12″. I am more worried about the wind they are forecasting. I watched the news last night but didn’t see anything about guerrilla gardening. From the comments I guess people have different opinions on the subject.
I’m sorry about the news story that wasn’t, Jenny. I watched too and was surprised and disappointed that it didn’t air. I posted an update on it last night and included a link to a post about guerrilla gardening in Austin at Renee’s Roots. —Pam
Hi Pam, you have lots blooming even before the rain comes. Have you been watering to make the garden pretty for prospective home buyers? If so, good idea! We could use more rain, but they say Ike,(my grandfather’s name) will pass us by. Your garden looks luscious with those ice cream colors.
Thanks, Frances. Yes, I’ve watered once a week for the past couple of months. In a normal summer I can go about every 10 days without seeing the garden suffer, but this summer has definitely not been normal. Also, we had mandatory watering restrictions this year, with designated days for watering—which, ironically, caused me to water more than usual so that I didn’t miss my day.
It does look like ice cream colors, now that you mention it. I wonder, though, if your ice cream shop is having an impact on your thinking? 😉 —Pam
Sure hope you get some much needed rain but not the bad stuff. We are getting some rain now but we sure don’t need it. We haven’t dried out from the other one or is it 2 ago.!!!!
Your garden sure looks good. Autumn is always pretty to me.
Thanks, Lola. I wish for you some dry weather to enjoy the beginning of autumn. —Pam
Thinking about the great state of Texas as Ike heads your way.
Thanks, Robin. It looks like Austin will end up on the safer (western) side of the storm since now it’s projected to hit Galveston. I have family and friends in Houston, and I’m keeping them in my thoughts. —Pam
Too many people think summer ends with Labor Day. Not true. We have 70 degree days until October. It’s been beautiful here. Your garden still looks great to me!
Oh, how wonderful that 70 degrees must feel, Jane Marie. And I bet you have deliciously crisp nights? We’ll get a taste of that in mid-October. Can’t wait! —Pam
There are rumors of rain coming up here in my neck of the woods, too. But I’m not looking at any forecasts, don’t want to get my hopes up, only to be dashed again. Your garden looks good, as always!
Thanks, Carol. I hope you get a little rain out of the storm. It’s amazing that it could reach as far north as Indiana. —Pam
Good luck with it all…rain at night and clear for open house buyers. The garden looks wonderful. Gail
Thanks for the good wishes, Gail. —Pam
Beautiful combo of the agave with the… Mexican oregano! (Just learned that from the comments.) Thanks for sharing.
Thank YOU for visiting and commenting, Heavy Petal. (I just love your blog name.) —Pam
Here we abide with humidity most of the summer, but there is something frighteningly unique about the high levels when a hurricane is pushing tropical air up from the south. Combine that with the dramatic clouds and it is a sure sign something is coming. I hope the only thing you get is much needed rain.
At this point it’s looking like less rain for Austin because the hurricane path is projected to our east. I worry for Galveston and Houston, but I do wish we could get some rain out of this. —Pam
Batten down the hatches! Love that picture of the bench and blooms. Serenity Now! Or, the lull before the storm. Hope you get the rain and not the high winds.
They’re battening the hatches in Houston (my sister lives there), but here? Not so much. Our roads are filled with coastal evacuees, and our shelters are filling up, but they’re not anticipating much wind or rain for Austin. —Pam
So true, Pam. We own a paving company, and I’m always torn in wet years because rain = no work. However, I can’t stand my garden dying from lack of the wet stuff. Love the quote.~~Dee
Gardeners put their gardens first, don’t they, Dee? 🙂 —Pam