This year’s abnormally high temperatures, along with the lack of rain, have affected all gardens in a negative way for sure.

Although we don’t really care about our so-called lawn, it’s been sad to see long-established shrubs, such as rhododendrons and azaleas, with their drooping leaves and dead branches. Much time has been spent in hand watering the soil directly so that their roots could absorb some moisture.

Amazingly, weeds have flourished, especially the goutweed, the common purslane, and spotted spurge. And let’s not forget the Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora), which is an invasive monster, which sadly I planted years ago when I didn’t know any better. I was taken in by how pretty and fragrant the white flowers were and how quickly the vines grew. It’s an endless chore to yank them up whenever I see one.

The small vegetable garden has been neglected because the frequent 95-degree days kept this gardener indoors. However, hand watering, either early in the morning or later in the day, has helped the perennial chives, rhubarb and the lovage survive.

Three plants make up our “tomato crop” this year. Gone are the days when we would have up to 20 tomato plants, all grown from seeds by us. Anyway, the crop includes one ‘Early Girl’ and two ‘Husky Cherry Red’ plants (which hubby found at a local store), the latter being new to us. It’s been a love affair since we’ve been very pleased with their delicious “fruits,” as have the rascally, naughty squirrels.

Both types are hybrid, indeterminate varieties, which will gift us with their “fruits” throughout the whole growing season. We’ve never really cared for determinate varieties that ripen all of their tomatoes at once.

On a positive note, the Zephirine Drouhin roses are blooming again. The pink climbing rose has no thorns and has a nice fragrance. The fact that the four bushes grow on two arches near our cellar door insures that they get watered often, as our busy dehumidifier needs to be emptied several times a day.

And, our beautiful, friendly hummingbirds are still visiting their feeder outside our kitchen window. Soon they’ll be heading south and I won’t be making their fresh nectar until next year.

On September 22 the Autumnal Equinox arrives. Soon it will be time to take care of all my end-of-summer tasks.

Sigh!