A Kansas Country Garden - Fourth Week of July

The Surprise Lily, Lycoris squamigera, makes a sudden, but very welcome appearance.

You won't be seeing my garden at its best this week. A string of 100+ degree days takes a toll on the flower garden. And on humans and animals. We all whimper and wither a bit in the heat. While people and animals must have access to plenty of water, I'm not willing to pour unlimited amounts of water on ornamental plants. We've got a drought going on here, folks! 

A container of vinca and salvia adds color to the garden.

I do hand water almost every day. Most plants in containers need daily watering. The exception is the succulents who seem to most at home in our hot, dry weather. They would protest more if were always damp and do better drying out before watering. I've had to water some established shrubs and trees. Normally, I would not. The loss of several established shrubs to last summer's heat and drought was a warning not to neglect them. Some plants simply do dormant during this heat and drought. They aren't pretty, but they'll be back. And I can wait.

An assortment of coleus grace this container under the redbud tree.

A pale pink hibiscus begins its bloom.

Though tropical looking, hibiscus does relatively well in the dry heat.

Old fashion phlox suffers in the dry heat--but it will be back next year.

A low growing zinnia continues to bloom.

Dahlberg daisies grow no more than about 5 inches.

This rudbeckia is one a few flowers grown from seed this year.

This lantana is a vibrant red and is unfazed by the blazing heat.

Another photo of a Surprise Lily--which photo is better? The top one or the bottom one?