Summarizing the Season
Becky, 48
Dallas, Texas
I had a lot of fun this year with gardening. The summer in Texas was not as hot as usual, and my plants lasted longer. I enjoyed the flowers and plants I put in big pots on my back porch. They are still healthy and beautiful. I used a lot of coleus this year, and I will definitely add it next spring.
Claudia, 60
Gainesville, Fla.
Plants that work well in the spring and fall usually succumb to our summers. This year, March, April and May were extremely dry in north Florida. I felt bad about using so much water, but we had put so much energy and money into mass plantings that we felt they needed the irrigation to get established and grow. In early September, I bought a few large baskets to start our fall. At the end of September and early October, we had daily rains that practically ruined the new baskets and caused disease in some of our flowering plants that survived the summer.
Annuals and perennials are always subject to the rains, or lack of rain, and to the heat. This year, I tried “forget-me-not” Victoria Blue and blue Platycodon. Not only did they survive the heat of the summer, they had several flushes of color. It is always trial and error to see what is going to work and give several weeks or months of color. The joys of gardening come from the surprises each year.
Theresa, 36
Phoenix, Ariz.
My overall 2007 gardening season went just as planned. We get super excited in October, when the cool weather kicks in and we start planting (mainly edible plants, tomatoes, herbs, carrots, etc.) It looks fantastic up until May, then everything slowly dies. I know there is a way to keep the plants going throughout the summer I have friends who have awesome gardens at 110° F. We will start planting again soon. We’ll buy the plants already blooming and not the seeds, just to get a jump start.
Donna, 45
Bethesda, Md.
In late October, the summer plants are still in bloom; we have had such a warm fall. The water bill is high to keep plants going since we are in a drought. We can’t water the lawn, but we keep the flowers watered.
I have recently planted the fall plants that should last till the first frost. We’ve lost a couple of rhododendron bushes, but we haven’t replaced them and probably won’t until the spring. I really won’t do much with the garden until spring. But overall, it’s been a good year.
Luis, 74
Rockford, Ill.
Our garden benefited from ample, well-spaced rains for most of the summer. Growth overall was lush, and flowers were bountiful. Pansies lasted much longer than usual. Not having to water very often allowed more time for other garden chores. However, this was the year of the emergence of the 17-year cicadas for six weeks in May and June. Many of our trees were severely damaged. Much of August was excessively warm and humid, and the last two weeks brought an overabundance of rain. The petunias didn’t fare well; they slowly dwindled, and some died. Mildew was a problem on the pulmonarias. My new disease-resistant roses, though, did very well.
Cooler weather has arrived, and leaves are turning color. Mums, asters and goldenrod are in bloom. It’s time to finish planting my bulbs… and start planning for next year (without cicadas)!
Paquita, 55
Redlands, Calif.
I planted only two vegetables: tomatoes and eggplant. They showed great green growth, but the fruit burned with regularity. I thought that I had set the planter where the afternoon sun would not get it. But I guess it is the noonday sun that is the most damaging. That must be a triumph of angle over duration. Anyway, it was something learned also learned that I do not like eggplant in any case.
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