Saturday, August 6, 2011

Why I love Moonflowers

You give them a little bit of water... that's it, and they reward you with crisp white stunning flowers.  Nothing beats the sight when the bush is loaded.  Most I've ever had was 128 flowers at one time.  Pretty impressive for a bush whos flowers only bloom one night.

Sweet August

Or scorching hot August.  Today the most evil corporation in the world(AT&T)finally showed up to finish the work they started first week of July. 
July 5th a giant hole was dug in our front yard.  The guy from AT&T told me a few days, a week tops.  Well that was a load of manure.  For a month we've had our front yard dug up, a sheet of plywood covering the hole, and the very attractive orange utility fencing.  They even places a note on it.  Work to be completed no later than July 15th 2011.  I guess it took a little bit longer than the few days we were quoted.

I will say the independent contractor that dug the hole was very nice.  As soon as the AT&T tech had finished their work, the hole was filled.  Next day they came back and replaced the sod ruined by plywood and dirt. 

 

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Soaker hoses

Do you love them or hate them?  I'm kinda on the fence.   During the drought I have used the soakers exclusively in some areas, and the plants seem to get sad quicker than areas I use my small sprinkler on.  Also the small sprinklers only have to be on an area 5-10 min, where as the soaker hoses for well over 30min.
Some seem to work slightly better than others. The smooth ones are still working like they did when I got them last year.   I have found them at the Home Depot. The non- smooth style gets clogged in no time so they are really not cost effective, though they are significantly cheaper than the smooth ones. Either way, in some areas they seem to work, in others, not so much.  I don't think I'll get anymore anytime soon.  Selective watering with the hose and my mini sprinklers seem much more effective.

Another excruciating year it seems.

A guaranteed constant is that time flies. Well in reality, it moves at a steady pace, though you never seem to have enough of it.

After an excruciating cold and dreadful winter, we got to the scorching hot summer. 100+ degrees with no end in sight, and no rain. That's right...nada, zip, zilch.

Over the course of this summer I have come to a conclusion... Rocks ROCK! That's right. They beat the cold, the heat the drought, need no maintenance and no fertilizers or insecticides. Rocks are great.
Texas is in an exceptional drought. Currently the third worst in the history of our great state.
Sadly enough I have decided to "kill" off certain plants. Mainly the ones that need water.
Even the ones with moderate water needs. We'll just stick with the basics. Heat tolerant, drought tolerant AND cold tolerant. That's right. After this awfully cold winter we had, my Aloes and Agaves decided to perish. Really to bad, because I have never watered an agave, so they really would have worked well.
I have been checking the VERY XERIC section at high country gardens.
So much for my love of dahlias. They have all perished in the drought. It is not even possible to water enough IF you left the sprinklers on 24/7. Rainwater is desperately needed, nothing is better than rainwater.