Though we water the flower beds almost daily through this summers heat and drought, my once healthy and vibrant clematis finally succumbed to these unhappy conditions. How sad we were to see it brown out and shrivel remembering the many years we enjoyed its gorgeous blooms.
I didn’t get a photo in its dead, twig stage but here are a few from this past spring as it flowered all the way to the second story of the house.
It was sad to pull off all of the dead leaves and cut the vines back to the ground. Well, we thought, we did enjoy it for a long time.
then…
look what I noticed…
I am hoping some of our other trees and plants will recover as nicely.
For those of us who’d rather not send a small fortune to the township for water usage, this is how our gardens look.
This one saddens me the most. This Japanese Maple was planted when it was just a few feet tall. About the same height as Abbey at the time. So, it became known as Abbey’s tree. The first few seasons it was nibbled ruthlessly by our resident groundhog. (a wire enclosure helped keep nasty rodent at bay) It spent this summer with the hose on slow-drip trying to keep it alive. It is not looking good right now. I am so hoping we haven’t lost it completely.
Even the Eastern Redbud is filled with dried and browned seed pods that should be nice and green.
This Saturday we received rain for the first time in ages.
Not nearly enough.
Not nearly enough.
There we are… South Jersey… in the red… excessively dry.
Gardening hasn’t been much fun this year but the heart of the gardener is always looking forward!
Joining Susan @A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday!
Dry is a part of life where I live so watering ina neccessary thing. I knew it was hot in your area, but I didn't realize that so much suffering was going on! Plants have a ay of bouncing back…I hope all yours do…I try and plant as many drought torrerent plants as I can….that helps us here!
It is always so disheartening when Mother Nature withholds moisture. Here's hoping for a wet winter for you.
It's so sad to see your beautiful garden parched like that, I am sure you are heartbroken. Those photographs are truly stunning, your photograph of your clematis is gorgeous.
Hope you get some rain soon.
Enjoy your day~
Nancy
This summer has been so dry ~ we're in the severely dry area and my yard looks similar to yours.
Thanks so much for sharing…its nice to know we're not alone with our tired out gardens!
I'm so glad that your clematis is coming back (it's flower is beautiful!) and I sure hope the Japanese Maple does as well. I would be so sad if I lost mine! My Sweet Autumn Clematis has been such a blessing this year…it's the only bright spot in the garden this year!
We're praying for rain in all those yellow, orange and red areas!
Ooooh this is a sad dilemma. We have been just the opposite and are praying that with all the colder weather, our potatoes will grow. They will start harvesting the end of the month and we grow huge russets here, so we'll see. Praying for some moisture in your area, LDH.
I wish I could have sent some rain down your way this summer. We have not had to water our garden at all for the first time in many years. It has been quite wet and quite skeetery up in WI.
Oh Sweetie…
What a beautiful share. You still have some life there, it just isn't apparent at the time. Be patient sweet friend. Sometimes life is hidden beneath other things, and we have to look deep to find it.
I love that your clematis did survive. The heat has been hard on everything this year, especially here in the desert. This is the hottest that it has ever been in the 26 years we have been here. It is unbelievable. We are still having 100 degree temps here, and I am SO tired of it this year.
Be patient I have a feeling your little maple will bounce back (Abbey's tree). It too is resting from the heat exhaustion, it will bounce back, we are thinking positive thoughts on this one.
Have a beautiful Wednesday sweetie. Many hugs and so much love, Sherry
We are parched here in Indiana too. My poor garden is pitiful! It is so sad to see the trees and shrubs looking so dead. I don't think our autumn will be very pretty this year.
Mother nature sure hasn't been nice to her children this year has she. Lets hope everything in your garden does as well as the Clemantis.
Wow! I thought we were dry! It was 91 here today and it's going to be 92 tomorrow. I don't think I have any grass left – it's either dirt or weeds. I couldn't water enough this year. Hopefully things will green up soon.
Georgia had its hottest summer on record this year. We lost a few azaleas and a few trees in the woods died too. A few Springs ago, our Japanese Maple got frost-bitten very badly and never really recovered. Then the following Spring, it did just fine. Maybe your tree will come back just fine next year. That clematis of yours is a beauty!
I guess I never realized you were in Jersey! I don't know where I thought you were-but not there-lol You don' SOUND like you're from Jersey ;>)
We are lucky enough to be able to water from the Bay with a big pump. It is allowed because it is used a groundwater and returns unto itself.
This year we never even started it up because we had so much rain that some of our plants were flooded out. Yep…feast or famine!
I hope everything comes back next year. Diana
Wow, that is dry. Wish I could send you some of our moisture. We're having a beautiful, sunny day today but everything is still pretty soggy from the last few days (Washington weather!) Your clematis is amazing. How great it is surviving.
Great shots.