Waiting for autumn’s reviving touch
Whew! After writing 16 posts about Portland gardens, each containing scads of photos of summer-lush and richly blooming borders, I’m somehow ready for a return to my own Death Star-blasted garden. August is my least favorite gardening month here in Austin. I’m over the heat. I’m over the humidity. I’m over, over, over summer.
And yet there’s love, still, for the garden as it patiently — much more patiently than I — awaits the reviving touch of fall.
Last evening I strolled through the front garden at sunset, taking a closer look than I’ve done in weeks. The trio of ‘Burgundy Ice’ dyckia (two are replacements after the cold snap last winter) is looking quite sharp.
The west side of the driveway-island bed is looking good too despite my neglect. ‘Color Guard’ yucca, gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida), Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima), wavy prickly pear (Opuntia), ‘Powis Castle’ artemisia, and Vitex agnus-castus don’t ask for much except sun and an occasional deep watering to look their best, even in summer.
In the shade of the live oaks, heartleaf skullcap (Scutellaria ovata) has gone to seed, leaving a trio of Texas dwarf palmettos (Sabal minor) to strut their stuff. They’d look better if I trimmed back the spent skullcap, but oh well.
A different view. Those sabals are putting on some height this year! Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii), one of my few dependable summer bloomers, screens the street behind the palmettos.
Here’s the long view across the front garden and Berkeley sedge lawn, as seen from my neighbor’s yard (the fence runs along the property line). I think I’m going to Outlaw Gardener-up that bare spot in front of the giant hesperaloe (Hesperaloe funifera) — maybe a few colorful Mexican gazing globes?
And here’s the long view as seen from the curb: a garden of deer-resistant grasses, salvias, yucca, and herbs. The caged tree at left is a young possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua), which I’m still protecting from deer. Every day I tell myself to get out here and whack back those autumn sages (Salvia greggii) by one-third, for better shape and fall bloom, but every day laziness wins out. Maybe tomorrow.
Stepping back about 15 feet into my neighbor’s driveway, you can see how her garden and mine blend together. I planted this for her a few years ago, and we share the decomposed-granite path that runs between our gardens from the street to the fence, and which continues into my garden. (She opted not to continue it around the back of her bed to her driveway, but that could be added later to reduce even more lawn and improve accessibility.)
Taking stock, I see that the ‘Whale’s Tongue’ agave has grown tremendously, but three Gulf muhly grasses (Muhlenbergia capillaris) have not thrived. Two have been removed, and the last one needs to go. My neighbor planted a softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia) to fill the gap; I would not have chosen to place the yucca so close to the agave, but after all it is her yard to play in. Her salvias, like mine, need a good whacking. It’s a bit crispy and could really use a deep watering, but overall this is typical for a largely unwatered, native-plant garden in August in central Texas. Fall rains will perk it up.
I’m not sure anything will perk up this poor, gnawed-to-a-nub ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia. I received two beautiful plants from the Sunset Western Garden Collection following the 2013 San Francisco Garden Bloggers Fling. I’ve had good luck with this plant in shade, and I added the freebies to my new side garden with high hopes. From the start, however, the deer have chomped them, although they’ve never touched more-established mahonias along the front of my house. Frustrating.
Despite the challenges of August and Bambi, I know I will delight in being outdoors again soon. Just one month to go until the happy gardening month of October! How about you? Are you enjoying or hurrying along these last weeks of summer?
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Despite the heat and drought, your garden looks good.
I’m very frustrated with mine. But, too hard-headed to give up.
Let’s hope for a mild, damp fall and winter.
End of summer is a frustrating time for most Texas gardeners, I’d venture to say. We’ll feel renewed hope and interest when that first cool front hits. Rain sure would help too. —Pam
Your post is lovely as usual…cool and blue in this hot time of summer. Love all your photos and yes, we patiently await the return of fall. My garden looks pretty good for the season. Come visit!
Good cheer,
Lucinda
Lucinda, your garden always looks delightful. I don’t know how you do it! Thanks for the invitation. I’d love to come by when the weather cools off. For now, I’m hunkered down inside, writing and trying not to think about the fact that my eldest child has left the nest. —Pam
The color guard yuccas scene – yowza! And what precisely looks so “Death Star-blasted”? To me it’s as lush as one can expect for the summer dormancy – jealous.
Oh, you’re too kind, David. Everything looks shriveled and sad to me except the yuccas, agaves, sotols, and grasses, which are thriving. Maybe I should give up on the flowering perennials and just go with an evergreen garden. —Pam
Your garden is looking very good in August, after a hot summer under the Death Star. Mine needs reviving now too, and so do I. We’ve had a hotter summer than I like here, and right about now a lot of my perennials that looked good two months ago really need cutting back so they can renew their foliage, and maybe produce a second flush of flowers. It’s hard for me to get up much enthusiasm for that task though, since I’ve been gardening non-stop here since about February. I always poop out in mid-summer.
It takes an effort of will to get out there in the heat and trim fall-blooming perennials, doesn’t it? But they always look so much better for the effort. Maybe tomorrow. —Pam
I’m pretty much “done” with summer too. We should be cooling off now.. if we don’t it will be even harder for me to get back on the plane after a few days in Portland next month. LOL
Your yard always looks amazingly lovely and I love the way your garden and the neighbors’ flow together. the purple heart is the perfect adornment for your little planter.
Thanks, Cheryl. I hope you have a great visit to Portland and come home energized for your own garden. —Pam
You are quite the inspiration. I’m so happy my BFF turned me onto your site.
And I’m happy you stopped by and took the time to comment, Cynthia. Thanks for visiting! —Pam
I don’t think it’s laziness that is winning out over whacking back the salvias, it’s just the heat. I’ve been feeling the same way. I can barely do all the things I want to do outside. By 9:30 I’m blinded by my own sweat. I knew that nice cool-ish summer weather couldn’t last here! Things are looking pretty good at your place. Nice to see how well my old cactus is doing! 🙂
Heat and laziness, perhaps, Jean. Yes, your wavy prickly pear is thriving! I have given away a number of pads myself. —Pam
Summer is back here in a vengance. Heat and humidity makes me a garden gazer from inside. Most if faring well tho since we have had, until now, a mild summer. I have several of your yard plants as potted plants here. I have to bring them in during winter. Oh tohave a greeen house. One can never stop dreaming.
That’s true, Lisa. You really do need one though, with your love of succulents and cactus. Call me an enabler! —Pam
I’m so ready for fall (then again, I was ready a month ago)! I have to admit, even though I hate the sun and heat, this is about the laziest time of the year in the garden…aside from winter. There is something nice about not feeling guilty about sitting inside for a while 😉
The problem is that I DO feel guilty, Scott. The weeds never stop growing, and I really do need to get after that trimming. —Pam
Pam, I’m with you. I’m done with summer too. I can’t wait for the first rain of fall, although I’m afraid that’s still a few months ago.
Your garden looks awfully good for August! It’s clear you selected your plants very thoughtfully, with the dog days of summer in mind.
I tried Muhlenbergia capillaris for a few years but they never thrived here. I still don’t know why. They look sooooo good in plant catalogs!
I planted a ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia in a large pot this spring but it hasn’t done much. It’s under a bay tree, mostly shade, but I thought that’s what it wants. I’ll give it another year…
Isn’t it strange about the M. capillaris? It’s native here (though we’re on the western edge of its range, I think), and I have a picture of it thriving in a heat-blasted median in Phoenix in my book (courtesy of Noelle/AZ Plant Lady). And yet it just will not thrive for me. Ah well. I’m really loving pine muhly these days. —Pam
I’m dying for some Autumn weather because it is so hot out there. I can’t stand to weed more than 10 minutes, and it really shows. :-/
Ha ha, I know just what you mean, Jenny. It’ll come though. Eventually. —Pam
Despite the heat and drought there your garden is looking good Pam! We could do with some of your heat there as it’s turned cold here and we nearly even had a frost last night…in August.
That is incredible, M&G! And here I thought England was so mild. I assume that near-freeze was highly unusual? —Pam
My gopher plants are so leggy. I forgot to prune them after flowering. Do you think I could prune them now in August in Austin?
Sure, Arin. Just prune off the long, leggy branches. Leave the shorter branches, which should be clustered in the center, so they can bloom next spring. And be sure to wear protective gloves and goggles to keep the sap off your skin and out of your eyes. —Pam
Things look good, Pam. But it is so darn hot–I’m also so done with summer this year–whine, whine. Your sabals are lovely-I wish I’d planted some years ago, but alas, never did. I’ve never had much luck with Gulf muhly–I’ve given up and will simply enjoy those in other gardens. Just hang in, a little longer.
Maybe planting a sabal is like planting the proverbial tree, Tina: the best time to plant one was 20 years ago; the second best time is now. —Pam
Hi Pam,
I’ve got the summer gardening fatigue and so does my garden. Portland was my first Fling and it was amazing, but overwhelming too. I came away with so many great ideas. I’m grateful for the wilting summer gardens only in that, it’s not a time to move any plants, which is giving me more time to consider a better long term solution.
So glad you “Flung” this year, Jenni! Touring that many great gardens is like visiting an idea factory, isn’t it? —Pam
I’m ready for autumn too! Although SoCal’s heat isn’t turned up to the level that you experience in Texas, it’s hot enough to fry some plants, especially as irrigation has been reduced in response to the drought. I’ve got holes all over my garden and my fingers are itching to get started with my fall planting (with more drought-tolerant selections, of course).
Yes, me too, Kris. I’m adding more drought-tolerant shrubs and succulents this fall — and just praying we get an El Nino (wet) winter. —Pam
Pam, you’ve struck a chord with all of us gardeners! I think everyone is ready for summer to go away!!! The only way to work outside now is to start as soon as the sun comes up and as the day goes on you don’t notice the heat as bad. If you go out too late you just want to turn around and get back in the a.c.! I found a wavy prickly pear in Dripping Springs to add to my garden. I love your yours!
Melody, if you’d like a start of another, I’d be glad to bring a couple of pads when I see you this fall. Just say the word. —Pam
Oh, the contrast. Here in New England I am seeing early signs of fall (helped along by a very dry August) and I’m dreading the end of summer. Fall is not a gardening season it’s a brace-yourself-for-winter season. If only we could have your winters and my summers.
Sounds like we both need to move to San Diego, Diana. Just kidding. Yes, each place has its challenges, for sure. Our best gardening season is ahead of us, and yours is drawing to a close. Here’s to a glorious fall for both of us! —Pam
I just got back from Chicago where I’m always surprised to see a lot of the same plants as we enjoy here only everything there still looks so very lush. Oddly enough though they had a wet late start to “summer” the sumac and Va. creeper there are already showing the start of fall colors to come. The sumac is always redder…
I’m ready for cooler weather but not sure I’ve gotten my perennials ready. Guess we’ll be seeing a lot of “weren’t trimmed when they should have been” salvias around town this year!
The impact of a shorter summer, and more rain, on the same plants we can grow here is always eye-opening. In Portland, the perennials are lusher, taller, and happier. However, the agaves, which they love as much as we do, are much smaller; they just don’t get the heat and sun that they really want. Of course as gardeners we want it all. —Pam
Where did you find your blue heart?
Bob Pool at Draco Metal Works made it for me, Audrey. —Pam
Dallas has had a great summer so far. Still under water restrictions but with more periodic rain than usual my garden really has stayed ok. But now the heat has come on and I have also become neglectful. So now I am catching up on all the housework I did not do when I was in the garden earlier this summer! Looking forward to fall as I am putting in a new bed. Got plants at a great sale. Just waiting for a cool breeze!
We’ve really had a good summer too, so I shouldn’t complain. But I do anyway. 🙂 —Pam
“Sweat blinding epidemic hits South” may soon be a headline if we gardeners insist on working in that heat! However, I agree that we’d never know you hadn’t been slaving away in yours had you not told us. Just gorgeous as always.
I was blinded this morning, Vicki. 🙂 I guess it’s good that I’m finally getting out there to do a few things. The garden needs it! —Pam
Pam,
It’s so nice to see those hills full of something that doesn’t have to be mowed. (I did the mowing).
I wrote about my summer angst too! http://peachesandprosciutto.com/2014/07/under-a-texas-sun.html/
My son did the mowing until he left for college a few weeks ago, and each year he had less and less to mow! Now I’m mowing the last little semicircle of lawn by the front door. It’s not bad at all, but I’m sure glad there’s not more. It was never an easy yard to mow with all the trees and slippery berms. —Pam
I missed seeing your garden 🙂
Everything looks incredible!!!
I’m back, Heather! Thanks for dropping in. 🙂 —Pam