There have been rumours that a smidgeon of the wet stuff might, and I emphasise, “might” be on its way. For this I will be grateful, although it will be a drop in an ocean of want. Things have progressed beyond wilting and irritating watering marathons into horror. This morning there is the scent of smoke in the air. How some people cannot acknowledge the seriousness of the situation is a complete mystery. I am amazed by the foolishness of my fellow humans and the apparent ease that they believe convenient untruths. Habitats, native flora and fauna, livelihoods, homes, ourselves and are neighbours are all in jeopardy. It is not about getting a healthy suntan. Some, unfortunately, are still relishing the bronzing opportunity.
SoS is about our gardens and our lives around these sometime oases. The truth is that I am loathe to venture out into my garden these days. I don’t have the resources to irrigate my whole garden, there will undoubtedly be fatalities, but I believe these losses are insignificant considering the catastrophic destruction already rent in the country. These times are extraordinary in the land of fair to middling.
I wasn’t going to be doomy and then it happened, I couldn’t help myself. If you would like to share other SoS perspectives, likely more jolly, from across the world pop over to Jim at Garden Ruminations, I’m sure there will be a smile somewhere.
We had better get on before we are all despairing.
Salvia ‘Neon’ is ticking along quite nicely, although very leggy. Again the pink is not remotely like real life.
I’ve got a few zinnia in a planter which get the odd dribble of water. I’m a big fan of these annuals. They are possibly not a fan of me.
In the front, I loathe to call it garden as it more like a corridor, amongst the ferns and hostas there are a three pots of begonias. They are doing just fine with a little help from spent kitchen water. Sometimes it pays to loiter close to a kitchen. In my experience, it is often a good choice.
A hypericum hedge, in situ when we arrived, has recently had a trim. I’m not a big fan of St John’s Wort, for ridiculous reasons. No sign of stress here though. Cut me and I will flower.
New Guinea Impatiens, again in the front, never let me down.
Rosa ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, like most of the roses is doing ok, in the flowering department anyway.
Forgive me my grouchiness, I know I am preaching to the choir. Please humour me and tell me a joke.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Its cool enough, or rather cooler and I may make a lemon meringue pie! Got to have something to take my mind off the devastation. I am taking your cue of staying close to the kitchen, but I think that is getting completely the wrong end of the stick. I am going loopy with the heat and drought!!!! And the worry for the wider world. Meantime that Hypericum is saying ‘carry on’ to us all. Big hug Sis.x
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Thanks Sis, much appreciated x
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Regardless of the drought, you have some lovely flowers to share.
The only joke I know is this one I’ve shared before…
A butterfly, ladybird & bee are playing plant charades. It’s the bee’s turn. After doing the whole words/syllables thing she simply stands there. Doesn’t move at all. After several minutes the others admit defeat & ask “okay, what was it then?” She sighs. “Astilbe!”
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😋 🐝 😂
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This never fails to make me laugh!
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Hole in one! Thanks for that.
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Sorry, my late father was the joke-teller, but methinks they were usually too rude for an SoS audience anyway!
I share your despair, seeing people’s homes & farmers’ crops destroyed by fire puts losing a few plants into perspective. I have vowed to concentrate more on plants that have coped better this year and perhaps allow self seeders to thrive more.
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It is definitely made us consider our plant choices. As for the jokes, could you just whisper one of your fathers best?
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I have had 2 deeply depressing conversations this week, one with someone who thinks Trump is very intelligent and a great businessman who has done so much to enrich America. The other was with someone who thinks there is no such thing as climate change, it is all is a conspiracy theory. I did ask why he thinks that as a roofer, he knows more about the subject than 99% of the world’s scientists. But he wouldn’t shift. I give up. Now you know why I prefer to talk about lemon meringue pie.
You have some pretty things to cheer you up. I am not usually a fan of begonias but that one is lovely. I can’t love the hypericum though, it is to me, what Cotoneaster horizontalis is to you. And I don’t know why. Generous flowering, bright sunny flowers but…
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Honestly, it is amazing that people cannot see what is in front of their face. As for the T word, I am a peaceful woman but he makes me seethe with fury.
I am fond of LMP and begonias but as for CH ……. (more seething) 😂
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Gardening is mostly optimism. “That’ll look lovely when it grows” has carried me a long way.
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Me too!
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What’s a bee’s favorite flower? A bee-gonia.
Well you did ask!
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Quite brilliant, thank you.
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hope you get some rain soon
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Thank you, a little arrived.
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It’s very disappointing to hear some conversations. Despite all the fires in the UK and elsewhere, a local was heard saying yesterday’s emergency warning was nanny stating and he would be lighting a fire later!
Despite that and the drought, there is still beauty to be found as you show here. Thank you! Your flower photos are lovely, bright, positive and cheering.
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I can’t believe what some people think and your examples are shocking. Idiots (in my opinion only, of course).
I agree, we have to focus on the beauty and not the beasts.
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Keep positive and keep finding the beauty! 🙂
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I want to know your ridiculous reasons for not liking Hypericum. I don’t like it either but all my reasons are excellent. So excellent I ask myself why I have two sorts in the garden.
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When we lived in Bristol about the only things that were in the garden when I moved in with OH were three large hypericum shrubs and an apple tree. I planted the rest with a variety of beautiful things but had to work around these monsters which for some reason were sacrosanct. When we moved to our present home I was “thrilled” to find a fine hypericum hedge at the front of the house. It flowers beautifully, OH keeps it trimmed, it gives us privacy and I hate it. Daft really.
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