"When swallows fly low, rain is on the way."

--anonymous

The garden is burned to a crisp.

We have had temperatures over 100 for the last four weeks and no rain...until the night before last, just as we were going to bed, the it finally finally came. Not just a sprinkle, not a little drizzle, but a beautiful downpour that lasted several hours. As I moved into another room to sleep (husband snores) I stood by the front window for a moment to watch it come down. It may have rained again last night, not as heavily, but things still look wet.

So I have definitely lost some plants -- a hellebore, curly willow, some irises -- I am trying to take it all in stride, remember that part of the beauty of gardening is the process. And who knows what will come up next year?

I toiled so hard this spring, and now that it's midsummer, it's all just maintenance, filling some pots, taking stock of what needs to happen in the fall and spring.

I plan on planting more in the fall (as opposed to mostly in the spring), to give the plants a season or two to settle, as I have found that things I planted last spring for the most part didn't come up until this spring, a year later.

After all my careful watching early in the season, some things did finally emerge, despite the blistering heat -- pastel glads, hollyhocks, cannas, callas, caladium -- and some things definitely did not. Am still waiting to hear back from the company I ordered them from, to get replacements. I am collecting a large number of succulents these days.

Successes: have been pleasantly surprised at the caladiums -- I planted a few bulbs in early May and a ton of red and green plants have emerged all over the area I put them in. More callas have come up than I remembered planting (only one has bloomed so far) -- have them in seven different places! The hydrangeas all over the yard have put on quite a show, I have about 10 different blooms/colors, will continue to add more each year. I have had yarrow grow really well, as never before (but no blooms). The japonica that I transplanted in several places has really taken off. Have added a few new beds that I am excited to add to.

A benefit of the heat: "distressed plant" sales at local greenhouses! Have picked up several lantana, mandevilla, geraniums, etc. that I am usually able to bring back to life.