Door greeters
During Austin’s infernal summer at least the porch plants are looking good. Coppertone sedum spilling out of a Pot Inc. hanging planter even matches the door color — Benjamin Moore “Wasabi”, if you’re curious.
Most of these were grown from cuttings, like the Coppertone sedum, blue chalksticks, and ghost plant. I may have grown the ‘Bloodspot’ mangave from a bulbil.
In the baking-hot courtyard near the front porch, a whale’s tongue agave is thriving and starting to really fill out its tractor-rim container. After record freezes across two recent winters, I’ve given up on having Mexican grass tree in the tall pipe planter. Now I’m growing native wheeler’s sotol, which is much more cold hardy. In the small pipe planter, I’m trying to reestablish ‘Frazzle Dazzle’ dyckia after the original plant succumbed to the same freak freezes. The metal grid is there to keep curious deer from pulling up the plant.
I have nothing positive to say about the weather in Austin this summer. It’s brutal. It’s joy-sapping. But the plant survivors will keep surviving, I hope. As this mural at the Domain shopping center says, Let Love In. And rain, please!
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Digging Deeper
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Your door greeters are charming, Pam. I hope your weather is turns the corner soon. I can remember 3-day stretches of temperatures of 103 and above but nothing like you’ve experienced this year. Sadly, climate change is likely to catch up with all of us absent some dramatic changes I find it hard to believe political leaders world-over are capable of making.
Thanks, Kris. We’re entering the traditionally hottest part of the summer, so despite Texas’s extreme head start this year, I don’t expect to see relief until mid- to late September. It’s the endurance phase now.
I’ve heard so much about the heat wave in Texas, but since you are familiar with The Death Star, I didn’t realize that it would affect you so deeply. But your garden full of succulents seems well prepared for the heat. I hope you see a cooldown before long.
Thanks, Robin. I’m counting the days to late September/early October, when the first breath of fall will cool us down a smidge. The Death Star seems worse every year. Last summer was bad. This summer is worse. It takes a toll, but once October rolls around, the joy will return like it always does.
A tough summer. At least you still have some beauties in your garden to enjoy.
Best wishes for some rain!
Right back at ya, HB!
I think of you whenever I hear the Texas weather. At the PacNW coastline, we are at least still civil, although so dry. Hang in there.
Thanks, Jane. Here’s hoping for rain for us both.
Beautiful entrance & courtyard Pam! This summer has been positively brutal (we’re in San Antonio). After last summer’s brutal extended heat I added more of the survivors/thrivers to replace those that died from either the heat or (once again) froze. So happy I did! TX Kidney Wood, Baja Fairy Duster, Desert Globe mallow, Russian Sage, Desert Willow ‘Bubba’, ‘Bells of Fire’ Esperanza, Vitex. Had great luck with Fireworks Gomphrena even though it’s tender it’s worth planting! Any suggestions for other plants for us would be appreciated. Happy Gardening
It’s good to have more of the survivors. I didn’t know Russian sage would thrive in our heat + humidity, so that’s good to know it works for you! Like you, I’ve been pleased with how ‘Fireworks’ gomphrena holds up all summer. It may technically be an annual, but mine came back this spring, whether from the original plant or seed, I don’t know.