The Yard in August

The first week of August was a continuation of the dreadful heat wave and drought...but at last some rains fell--so welcome and refreshing.  The response was immediate--greening lawns, fresh flushes of flowers, and plants given up for dead assuring us of the resurrection.

Portulaca is both a bedding and a container plant.

Evidence of drought marks the rejuvenated dogwood.

CREPE myrtles tower from 10 to 15 feet beside the pool.

The emerald ash-borer is a pest--but so pretty.  

Oregano is a spreading perennial here....but struggled in the drought.

Surprise lily-- a gift of my BFF from 2nd grade!

This is the only plant that liked the conditions.

More surprise lilies on the way.  Mary Jane was my first friend in Fort Smith, and we have been in touch for 57 years of
friendship and sharing.  These bulbs came from her family garden in Fort Smith, following her dear Mother's death.

 God alone knows what the blogspot program will do with this post.  It has no rhyme or reason that I can discern, but I hope you can see the renewed flowering in my yard, which gives me such joy.  The 'happy tree' is a mango (grown from a seed) that clearly loves the heat and humidity.
It lives inside each winter.

July in the Yard

The unrelenting heat and the continuing lack of rainfall (just 0.37" this month) are very hard on our plants.  I am trying to water enough to keep things going, but inevitably we are going to lose a few things.  The things that get shade for part of the day seem to be faring best, along with the plants that most-resemble weeds!

  
Crepe myrtles bloom over a period of weeks and are brilliant splashes of color.  These can grow very tall and seem impervious to the heat and drought.








In a burst of enthusiasm, I planted a trumpet vine next to our fence.  It's been wildly successful.  I plan to cut this back severely once winter arrives.

 Close-up of one bloom-cluster.  The brilliant color is so striking!

  

The rose 'Little Pinkie' also seems to thrive in adverse conditions.  It continues to bloom and grow.

  

Obedient plant (a misnomer given its habit here in Arkansas) has been stunted by drought (thank heavens!) and is blooming early.  Once the blooms are finished I plan to use Round-up on these invasive plants, though I have little hope of eradicating them entirely.

And the wonderful black-eyed Susans (which I usually just call Rudbeckia)-- given to me by a quilting friend-- are likely to spread, but are more welcome than the obedient plant.   I am very grateful for the flowers that can thrive under such adverse conditions and make the spirit of Summer so cheerful.

Fall comes to Conway

The severe drought is having an impact on our part of the state; trees that normally blaze up in Fall colors are simply going brown.  (Others are blazing up in fact, as wildfires proliferate.)  However, people with lawn sprinklers are faring a bit better.  






There are some bright spots in our own yard, in fact.  This volunteer is one I have protected from harm and nurtured along for several seasons as it has grown.  While I haven't watered too much in the yard (it's sink or swim, I'm afraid) we did make sure that The Brave Little Dogwood got weekly attention. 

Here you can see its color developing from one week to the next.  


There is a second volunteer dogwood behind the live oak that shades this area.  

Poison ivy also turns an attractive bronze-red, but I patrol the yard and eliminate that when it inevitably appears.  (Birds love its berries and 'import' the seeds.)




I have one other favorite here in the yard--also a volunteer. 

Do you know this tree?  
(DH continues to baffle me by not recognizing any common trees, let alone those that are less-often seen.  I have patiently shown him the distinguishing features of dogwoods and redbuds--both distinctive even when winter-bare, but he contends that 'they all look alike.'

Hint:  its roots have been used for tea or as flavoring for root-beer.

Does this close-up help?  
Notice that the leaves may have two or three lobes OR just the single 'standard leaf shape.'  And isn't the color pretty?







If you guessed SASSAFRAS, you know your trees!
This sapling is now about 6 feet tall.  I believe it will do well and ultimately shade the corner of the yard.  

I hope that Fall is lovely where you are!