Summer 2012 recap: Rain Rejuvenates Gardens for late August Color!

What a strange gardening season this year has provided thus far. Here in Michigan we started out with an unusually warm March. So warm in fact our flowers, flowering trees and fruits got an entire month of an early start!

But then we hit a set back. In April, tender growth got bit by frost. Leaving many stunted until late May. It wasn't until early June that the plants made a positive comeback. Except the fruit trees. Cherries and apples trees lost their blossoms, and most didn't recover. (Expect prices to be high on these Michigan fruits this season.)

Still it was the heat that did in many gardens in this summer. The almost 100 degree days and weeks in July, without rain proved to exhaust any hope of having a beautiful garden; or for this year anyhow. For myself, since I have limited water resources, I lost a half dozen perennials, and many hostas burned up in July.

Still after keeping up my clients gardens, I would come home and made my way around my own garden. Cleaning up foliage that had dried up. Deadheading entire plants. Just hoping for some kind of reasonable look. But I admit, it was a sad sight.

But Mother Nature (ie: GOD) never ceases to amaze me. In early August we received six inches of rain in three days! It took another week or so, but I started to see hope. What an awesome site to see plants heal and rejuvenate themselves! Today in the garden I saw Stella d'ora daylillies blooming again, though on short stalks, my baby's breath began flowering again, and even the balloon flowers are creating new blossoms! The one plant I have not see come back as strong as I would have thought, is my lavender. My normal tried and true drought resistant plant only bloomed once so far. But there is hope.

Still just two weeks ago, I was dreading putting the garden to bed early in September... and now? I think we may be able to squeeze another month out of enjoying blooms in our gardens.

Thanks Mother Nature for keeping us on our toes!

How to keep a fall-ish garden looking fresh:

• Deadhead
• Clean if fresh. Prune off dried or dead foliage or leaves munched on by the critters.
• Plant. Mums and asters add color for late fall color.( Note: Most sold at box stores may not make it as a true  perennial,  though most sold at local nurseries will over winter in Michigan.)
• Have patience. With this crazy season, who knows what fall will bring.