I'm amazed at all the colorful photo's Sharon. It really is hopeful and reassuring that even in driest conditions we can still have a rainbow of color in our gardens. Wow!

I've been through that drought thing too and it's scary and no fun. Sad too.

It was an eye opener for me too, Vic. I was so depressed by all the brown it took awhile to see those little pockets of color. So with a few grasses here and there say behind the yarrow with a low grower in front, it would be a pretty corner. I could have a lot of pretty corners with what I already have. And if I added a bit more yarrow, more varieties of it and sedum, that would be even better. It's almost like starting with a clean slate, but I'm careful about even thinking along those lines, don't want another drought.

The drought of 2012 was depressing. I remember it well! The only upside was the lack of need for mowing! The plants listed here as well as the ones shown in 'The ATP Top 50 Xeriscapic Plants' are very attractive and should be considered for dry spots (and drought conditions) when possible. Great topic & well done Sharon!

Now you know what it is like here in summer!

Thanks Leon, we aren't likely to ever forget that dreadful summer! And Anna, it was a well learned but very bitter lesson. You do indeed have my sympathies.

canadanna said:Now you know what it is like here in summer!

Same here .... argggggghhhh

Lyn

Great article as usual, Sharon. The summers in AR are hot and dry, and we also get watering restrictions during the worst of it.

fire on the mountain


This was this morning. That's my roof. We are hot, dry, and smokey today.
And the helicopter serenade continues...

Be so so safe, DD. Such scary news coming from out your way.

We are okay,



cactus and rocks

Yep, I knew it!! Cactus and rocks! Yep. Told you so.

Nah, we have sludge-water irrigation and lawns and pretend that we don't live in the desert around here.


lily in the smoke (Sarabande)

To be honest, July has been a scorcher and I've killed and tortured a few precious plants (and some grass) with some rather epic irrigation failures...

Beautiful lily even in the smoke.

Better to lose them from epic irrigation failures than from utter neglect. I have been guilty a time or two of the latter.
Guilt ridden even now over that 35+ year old rhododendron I didn't notice suffering during the drought. No resurrection for that one.

Dirt ....

Be safe.

Lyn

Lyn, it's dry where you are, you be safe too.

Sharon ....

It's very dry. Thunder in the high country kind of makes me a bit nervous. No fires reported, yet.

Lyn

It's very lush, green and lovely right now in my world, so I have a lot of worries saved up. Since I'm not using them for myself, I've been sending them out to those friends in all the dry spots, Texas, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California. . . so many dry, hot areas. But I'll never forget two years ago when I was too frightened to sleep most nights. Low water, excessive drought, fire warnings. It seemed never ending. Warnings and more warnings.

So yes, I do worry. Not that those worries will do a bit of good, but it might help knowing that others are thinking and wishing there was something to do to help.

Rain Dance?
for the kind without lightning...

Thank you Sharon
Last night was particularly worrisome. This fire is close and got pretty raucous overnight, with the wind coming down the canyon. The mountain was a-glow and the power was out. Not such a good time.
But don't do any extra worrying on my account--we are all good here

Sharon ...

Thank you. No need to worry about me, either .... glad to hear you are good, Dirt.

Smiles,
Lyn

@dirtdorphins and @RoseBlush1 Y'all be safe. Thinking about all those who are in danger tonight -- there are so many fires in the west....