Summer on the wane
Pink phlox with pink-edged Aloe striata in the background
If you’re a central Texas gardener, the title of this post will either give you hope or drive you insane.
If you aren’t already.
We’re hanging on by the skin of our teeth here, waiting for the heat and drought to break. But over the past few weeks I’ve noticed a change in the quality of the light. Have you? The sun is still blazing, but it doesn’t seem to be trying as hard to kill us. The light is softer, more golden. Dusk comes earlier.
There’s hope, people! The first cool breezes from the north won’t likely reach us until October, but we can hold on until then. Right? Right!
In the garden this morning, I snapped a few images of this and that, whatever caught my eye. Enjoy.
Agastache neomexicana
The bloom stalk on the softleaf yucca (Y. recurvifolia), a Texas native, is about to emerge from the leaves. Yucca Watch continues.
Beavertail prickly pear (Opuntia basilaris)
Flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii), a Texas native and hummingbird magnet
Various succulents in an old chip-and-dip bowl
Glowing leaves of Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus drummondii), a Texas native for shade or part sun
Dyckia brevifolia ‘Moonglow’
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
The Beaver Tail looks more like Bunny Ears to me. It is a nice cactus. Hang in there Pam. You will make it to fall. Then I hope that you get lots of cool air and rain.
It does look like a bunny with those two fuzzy “ears” on top. Believe me when I say it’s not soft though. 😉 —Pam
There’s definitely a change in the air, and the angle of the sun. Places are shady now that weren’t before in the weeks previous. It is still hot, and dry, but the sun, and plants, are trying to tell us that change is a’comin’. 🙂
Frances
I bet you see it even more than I do, Frances, being considerably farther north than Austin. —Pam
Sunrise is later for sure. This summer does seem neverending, doesn’t it? And not in that great way when you’re in school, like a desperate Groundhog Day kind of way. I don’t mind the heat, it’s the dry that is getting to me!
I’ve never loved the heat, but you’re right—the drought is really taking a toll on gardeners and gardens alike. —Pam
Please Lisa do not pet that bunny. There is nothing worse than getting those little hairy thorns stuck in your skin. They are impossible to pull out, you can only wait for them to rot.
Pam, I hope your cooler, moister weather will be coming soon.
I’ve gotten stuck by this prickly pear several times since first picking it up and bringing it home. Boy, those little hairs are the devil to pull out. —Pam
Summer is on the wane here in the midwest, too. It’s still dark-ish when I leave for work, and I have less time in the garden in the evening. We barely had a summer here, so I don’t know if I’m ready!
I am sure that many northern gardeners feel as you do about summer, Carol, especially this year when the NE was so cool and wet. What an unusual summer for us all. —Pam
I thought the same thing Lisa did…Bunny Ears not Beaver Tail! I love the changing angle of the sun, more plants are beautifully back lit; like Turks Cap in your garden. Later the winter light that enters our house is beautiful, the walls glow and it feels warm and cozy! But right now it’s muggy and buggy! Pam, I hope you get a reprieve from the drought soon. gail
Muggy and buggy is what we have too, Gail. Let’s hope the weather changes soon, for us both. —Pam
We have only moved to the hill country near Canyon Lake about three months ago. It has been a struggle to do any landscaping but we are trying. I will take some photos tomorrow since your photos made me feel cooler and better that some things do survive in this 50+ days of 100+ degrees this summer. May God shine a little less on us and send rain and clouds for a while! Thanks for your blog, it inspires me each day!
Pamie, things do indeed survive, but they’re not always pretty as they do it. Still, the agaves and other hardy succulents rarely let me down, and this is their time to shine. Thanks for your kind compliment. —Pam
I gardened for about two hours this morning and did not die so there is hope after all. 🙂 The new shaded areas are making the plants just a little perkier. Now if it will only rain. **doing a rain dance** Unfortunately only watering one day a week is going to be really tough on the babies.
I’m doing a rain dance too, Shannon, though my legs are getting awfully tired. —Pam
Interesting. I have noticed more of a golden glow in the sunrises and sunsets. And I am having a really hard time getting up in the mornings…good timing with the start of school, huh?! You really did capture that light in your photos … did you see it in the air first or see it in the photos first?
I’d been noticing it in the mornings, so I went looking for it today. —Pam
Sometimes I cruise your blog just for the pictures. Great photos, especially the Turk’s Cap with the light playing among the leaves.
It’s no cooler in our part of the Hill Country but you’re right, the days are shorter. Thanks for the hopeful tone. Our choice is to have hope or not and the first is easier in the long run.
It puts us in a much better mood for our families too, doesn’t it? 😉 —Pam
The days are getting shorter, and I could have sworn I felt the slightest coolness in the breeze yesterday evening!
Me too, Caroline! —Pam
I feel as if I am about to die here in Florida. I can’t imagine your alls heat though in Texas.
Jake
It’s not the heat so much as the drought, Jake. Hang in there until fall. —Pam
Pam, I’d heard a couple of people mention this week that they’d seen a change in the light. I didn’t agree at the time but this morning I do. It’s subtle but it’s there. There’s even been a breeze with a hint of cool to it! 42 days till October 1st.
Yes, I’ve felt that occasional breeze too, Cindy. —Pam
Keeping my grass-stained fingers crossed for you all that summer is truly on the wane.~~Dee
Thanks, Dee. My fingers are crossed too. —Pam
As usual pam, FABULOUS photos!
we’re hoping for a nice el nino here in Calif. We are also in our third year of drought but not nearly as hot as you folks.
Here’s to a good El Nino weather pattern for us both, Cheryl. —Pam
Pam, promise me you’re sure we’ll have cool breezes and the kiss of dew on the leaves again? I’m not hanging on so good. My hubby is going to ship me off if I don’t stop whining. I hate this constant above average temps and below rain. Even my succulents want a drink.
I’m praying we won’t have another scorcher in Oct. I’ve known many years we don’t get much let up before Nov. I pray for relief for all draught areas.
hilary love seeing your pictures and reading your blog
Thanks so much, Hilary. And yes, I venture to promise that we will have cool weather and rain again. I’m not sure I could go on if I didn’t believe that myself. —Pam
Hey, Pam! Do you have your striata in the ground?
Yes, I do, Linda. I’m hoping it will prove hardy. —Pam