The Drought of 2012

 

Submerged Lythrum, September, 2011

Officially, a drought is an extended period of below-average water supply in a particular region, often created by inadequate precipitation (either rain or snow). That’s how it began for us in the Midwest:  less snowfall than usual this past winter, an exceptionally dry and warm April, and no significant rain until May. Then disaster struck. June, normally a glorious month, with temperatures in the low to mid 70s, blasted in with weeks of temperatures exceeding 100°F during the day and staying in the high 80s to low 90s at night—and no rain. July temperatures continued in the 90s during the day, and no appreciable rain until the end of the month.

Lythrum surrounded by weeds, August, 2012

Perennials flagged; bloom periods were shortened. Even with supplementary watering—sometimes deep, daily watering—the guard cells surrounding plant stomata were in lock-down mode to conserve water. The barest amount of photosynthesis probably took place. Even the ever-tough daylilies bloomed for less than two weeks.

 

 

A pond at the forest preserve, September, 2011

Newspapers have published a fair number of photographs showing drought-stricken corn fields and lightly-laden barges trying to navigate a much shallower Mississippi River. Sometimes, though, understanding the reality of how much moisture evaporates into the atmosphere requires a more local and personal experience.

 

A former pond at the forest preserve, August, 2012

For me, the shock occurred a couple of weeks ago, when temperatures finally moderated enough to enjoy an outing to my favorite bird-watching locale, a forest preserve just three miles from my home. Normally, the preserve’s two large ponds are home to migrating and seasonal ducks, egrets, several types of herons, and an assortment of birds. Suddenly, the water was simply gone:  two to three feet of water had simply evaporated, and, in its place, nothing but weeds.

I don’t know when the waterfowl left or whether the forest preserve management has plans to restore the ponds. What I do know is that an entire small, but valuable, ecosystem was destroyed right in my neighborhood. We humans will find a way to manage the effects of the drought, I suppose, but the impact on wildlife remains unknown.

Plant of the Month: Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’

Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’

Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ is one of those long-blooming perennials for which gardeners can be grateful. Beginning in June, ‘Zagreb’ produces a starry profusion of clear yellow flowers throughout the summer, as long as it has adequate sunlight and moisture. ‘Zagreb’ is tolerant of light shade, but will not bloom as prolifically in shade as in sun. Contrary to some published information, the plant will re-bloom  without shearing—sporadically during July and abundantly during August.

‘Zagreb’ grows 12”-18” high by 18” wide. It has a mounded habit and is, in many ways, a more attractive plant than Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’. ‘Moonbeam’ is a taller plant, growing 18”-24”. The flowers are produced only at the very top of the plant, while ‘Zagreb’ creates the appearance of being covered in blooms. ‘Zagreb’ is hardy in Zones 3-9, while ‘Moonbeam’ is hardy in Zones 4-9. ‘Zagreb’ spreads by rhizomes and seeds, whereas ‘Moonbeam’ is a sterile cultivar which only spreads by rhizomes; however, ‘Moonbeam’ can still colonize aggressively.

Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ is a member of the Asteraceae family, and the verticillata varieties are commonly known as Threadleaf Coreopsis. It is the delicate, needle-like leaves of these coreopsis that are so useful for providing contrast in the garden. Plant ‘Zagreb’ 15”-18” apart in well-drained soil and divide in spring every three years, unless you prefer to let the plant colonize. ‘Zagreb’ is a deer-resistant variety, is unperturbed by winter road salt, and has no observable insect or disease issues.

Insect Pests: Earwigs

Earwig Damage on Basil

A mild winter and a warm spring resulted in a bumper crop of earwigs this year. Earwigs like cool, dark, damp places. Outdoors, earwigs are primarily nocturnal, so it may take a trip outside in the evening with a flashlight to confirm that the pest chewing on your plant leaves is indeed an earwig. During the day, earwigs may be hiding under leaf litter or in any cool crevice, including the siding of houses.

Kenosha, Wisconsin Garden Walk, Part 1

This gallery contains 32 photos.

This Saturday, July 14, is the annual Secret Garden Walk of Kenosha’s Four Seasons Garden Club. If you are within driving distance of Kenosha, I strongly recommend attending this event. Garden walks are an excellent source of inspiration, as well … Continue reading →

Kenosha, Wisconsin Garden Walk, Part 2

This gallery contains 48 photos.

More beautiful gardens from the talented Kenosha gardeners. As a reminder, if you click on any one of the photos, the others in that gallery will become available in slideshow sequence. To exit the gallery, click once more in a … Continue reading →

Gourmet Seeds

Seed packet image courtesy of Content in a Cottage

One of the most popular blog posts here continues to be the series on the American potager, so I gather that many readers are planning or considering an ornamental kitchen garden. Therefore, as a follow-up post, here are a few items to consider planting for a true gourmet garden, as well as some interesting seed sources to provide those items. Some of you may already be familiar with Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa, for open-pollinated varieties, or with Seeds of Change in California, for totally organic seeds; but smaller seed purveyors can offer planning tips and ideas that often are not available from larger companies. The only company in the following group I can recommend from experience is Renée’s Garden Heirloom Seeds; the others simply seemed interesting due to the type of seeds offered. Ergo, caveat emptor.

Lilac Powdery Mildew Treatment Reminder

If you haven’t started treating your lilacs for powdery mildew, don’t delay. Now is a good time to start with your first horticultural oil spray, with the second spray at the end of July or the beginning of August, if you’ve decided to use this particular method of treatment (see Powdery Mildew on Lilacs). Yes, it really does work. I tried it last summer, using a 2% solution, and had no problems with powdery mildew. Start by spraying any interior leaves, moving to the lower leaves on the outside, and finally spraying the upper leaves on the outside to ensure that none of the oil mixture drips on you during application. Make sure the temperature is not going to exceed 85°F and that no rain is forecast for 24 hours.