As promised here are some pics of my garden plants having suffered from the lack of rain (and watering). With the recent rains, they are slowly recovering.
Epimedium ‘Kodai Murasaki’
Hydrangea paniculata 'Sundae Fraise'
Heuchera 'Black Beauty' (no longer black or beautiful)
Persicaria virginiana
Styrax japonicus 'Fargesii'
Astrantia major ‘Shaggy’ Foliage only marginally sunburnt and keeps flowering
I'm hearing radically differing reports of how established hydrangeas have fared without water in high heat and drought. Some have triumphed, others withered. I don't know the impact of sun aspect, soil type, plant variety... but it's striking how different people are assessing their performance this summer in harsh conditions.
We have now the hosepipe ban from today. I suppose like the one or other gardener, I gave the garden yesterday its monthly longer soak of water. From now on, the plants have to cope with what is collected from excess water. I had waited until yesterday less because of the hosepipe ban, but because I trusted windy.com that promised rain all over the south west for Monday, but it was a total failure. I will stick with Yahoo weather and the metoffice. At least, they are honest and show the reality which is sunshine for the next days and no rain. There will be most likely no change in the pattern in the next 3 months. This drought started for us here in the NE of Wiltshire in Autumn last year when we had no storms in the 4th quarter of 2021, and hardly rain from October to February. I was wondering where this figure "worst drought in 500 years" comes from and found this interesting article. https://www.sciencealert.com/hidden-hunger-stones-reveal-drought-warnings-from-the-past One can imagine what such drought without our globalised trade caused back then if the harvests failed.
Hose pipe bans in areas of North Devon, Holsworthy and Bideford and all of Cornwall. I’m sure some people will still use them though, they have already said that although they’ve threatened a £1000 fine, they probably won’t carry that out!
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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I had waited until yesterday less because of the hosepipe ban, but because I trusted windy.com that promised rain all over the south west for Monday, but it was a total failure. I will stick with Yahoo weather and the metoffice. At least, they are honest and show the reality which is sunshine for the next days and no rain. There will be most likely no change in the pattern in the next 3 months. This drought started for us here in the NE of Wiltshire in Autumn last year when we had no storms in the 4th quarter of 2021, and hardly rain from October to February.
I was wondering where this figure "worst drought in 500 years" comes from and found this interesting article. https://www.sciencealert.com/hidden-hunger-stones-reveal-drought-warnings-from-the-past One can imagine what such drought without our globalised trade caused back then if the harvests failed.
I ♥ my garden.
I've been doing that for weeks now, garden would be dead I suspect without.
I ♥ my garden.
I’m sure some people will still use them though, they have already said that although they’ve threatened a £1000 fine, they probably won’t carry that out!