More heat, no rain

It is sounding like a broken record (for those of you who know what vinyl sounds like when it's broken) with our weather in Southern Wisconsin.  There is no vacation time without lining up a neighbor to tend to the garden while you are not.  Clouds built up on the horizon Friday to give some a tease while most sat dry after they passed.
I have found it necessary to take two things with me while watering.  I need a bucket to pull the weeds as the ground gets soft from the water and scissors to dead head everything that is going into survival mode and trying to produce seed.
Normally a single cutting on my herbs prevents them from flowering and seeding.  I think this is the fourth time I have trimmed the thyme, oregano, and mints this year...so far.
It is also necessary to dead head flowering annuals so they do not give up and stop flowering all together.  If plants start putting the effort into seeding, they slow or stop producing flower heads.
I have seen large amounts of seed production by trees this year.  Everything is going into survival mode by trying to reproduce.  The linden trees produced the largest seed brackets I have ever seen.  They looked like large white flowers laying around the trees and in the streets.  They sure have blown around in the wind with the large sails they have on their seeds.
If the grass is yellow but the weeds are green it is all about the roots.  Many weeds have a good tap root and are pulling up moisture from levels below the grass zone.  Some of the really annoying ones like burdock and thistles can be stopped in their tracks before they seed over your whole garden.  They are starting to flower now so cut them down to the base.  This will kill the plant all together in most cases.  Stop weeds from seeding whenever possible.  If you don't have time to weed the whole garden, pull out the ones that are flowering and seeding first. Do what you can as you can to save yourself from a bigger problem later.
If you are on water restrictions or your well just can't keep up anymore set your priorities in the garden.  Save the trees first.  Shrubs are easier to replace and will grow to size much more quickly than your shade trees.  I would save my vegetable garden before my flowers.  Grass is on the bottom of my list.  Choose wisely.  

Summer Lull

The garden is filling in and the pots are starting to look like show pieces.  With all the heat and dry weather, it has taken quite a bit of sprinkling to get to this point.  I am thankful for a husband who likes to take the time to move the hose around the yard during the day while I'm at work.  The plants are getting their moisture but have time to dry their leaves before bed time.  All gardeners should have a night shift worker for their watering.
I have hit the bottom of the barrel.  I have been reserving my rain barrel water for dipping my water cans in for my potted plants.  There is a bit more in there, but I have to move the can around to scoop it out now.  They say we have a "chance" of rain Saturday night.  We are not holding our breath.  Dark clouds moved over last Saturday with not a drop for our plants.  90's are predicted temps for the weekend once again.  It is almost 4 weeks since we had rain.
Some of my annuals are coming to the end of their bloom.  I will talk more about my reseeding annuals as the seed pods set and I can get some pictures for those interested in what to look for in their own gardens.  The larkspur in the picture above has green pods at this time.
I was thrilled to catch a gold finch perched on top of my "wild" sunflowers tonight.  They don't frequent my feeder but are stunning with the yellow of the sunflower and their arched bodies reaching for the seeds below their feet.  The thistles are also starting to bloom and seed now.  It is a good source for finch food, but they sure are not welcome in the lawn or garden.  Soon the finches will be gathering the down of the thistle to line their nests.  I still remember the early morning bird walks during my college summer school.  Dr. Hardin pointed out the finches up and down flight patterns as they dip and rise with the beat and glide of their wings.  I identify the finches in flight from this characteristic today.
No tomatoes yet, the fruit is setting.  I have enjoyed a couple of small zucchinis.  The chipmunks started eating the ends so they had to get picked earlier than planned.  Moving the strawberry planters into my new vertical tower has meant more strawberries for me the last couple days.  The chipmunks had too easy of access in the last locations.  They are also close to the hose, so the plants look less droopy than they have.
Time to move the hose...again.

Heat and No Rain

We have been watering a lot here in the Midwest.  After we got our 2" downpour which filled both rain barrels to over-flow, we have had nothing since.  I have drained out one barrel and am half way down the other.  This does not include all the water that has flowed out of the city water tap as well.  It is very dry everywhere we go.  Corn fields which were stunted by too much rain in the low spots last year are the best looking areas this year.  The crest of the farmer's fields are turning brown and moving downhill in yellow streaks.  It does not look good for the corn or soybean crops this year if we don't get some significant rainfall soon.
On the upside of life we have been enjoying the backyard birds this season.  The wrens fledged another bunch of babies from our backyard bird house, the sparrows in the front.  I have been enjoying a family of chickadees that found some natural shelter to raise their young, but have been teaching them to forage at my new squirrel proof peanut feeder that was a Mother's Day gift.  Up to six birds will be in there at the same time munching away on the peanuts inside.  The woodpeckers have also been hanging around more this summer with the new feeding station.  The cardinals are too large for the openings but have been doing some ground feeding in competition with the large population of chipmunks.  With all the holes they have been digging, I half expect to find the garage sinking overnight.  Piles of dirt are building up all over the yard from their burrowing.  I am not happy when the plants are uprooted from this activity.  I keep replanting and watering in the poor victims of rodent abuse.
The peas are almost done, I did leave a small group that was green and holding on to a few flowers and pods yet.  The ancho peppers were next to the variety that completely yellowed out so they and the Slenderette beans have more room and light to grow.  
I ran some soaker hoses through some of the beds to do some deep watering around the beans and onions.  The onions have really taken off in this heat.  I under-planted lettuce by the pole beans and in a couple of other empty spots.  The lettuce in the shady areas is definitely faring better than the lettuce with more light exposure (heat is also a factor).  The lettuce under the beans is also benefiting from the deep watering from the soaker hoses.
Enjoy the summer while it lasts and enjoy a cold drink in the shade.  Gardening seems to just be getting started, but I know we will be nearing the end sooner than I like.