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A Gardener's Notebook: The latest incarnation of my column detailing the trails and tribulations of my garden. Join the list and ask your own questions about gardening Subscribe

Once I left Ohio 14 years ago I never thought that I would have to deal with cabin fever again. California, of course, has a way of proving so many things wrong. Just when I should have been spending more time doing the final preparations for the this weekend’s baby shower I am stuck inside listening to the air conditioning struggle against the 100+ heat. Instead of thinking about weeding, mulching and deadheading the only image I can conjure up is that of an electric meter spinning faster and faster. Add in to the equation a 2-year-old that really needs to get outside and run around and you have all the makings of a good case of cabin fever.

The bare minimums

Like most of you, my August has turned into a scorcher. Of course, in Southern California we don’t even dream about rain before December, but most of the U.S. seems to be trying to keep up with our trendsetting ways. Instead of warm summer rains everyone seems to be working hard just to keep the dust down.

In my garden this involves ducking out long enough to turn on the clock timers that run the drip and soaker irrigation systems. Early in the morning or during the evening hours right after dinner the temperature drops enough to allow me to do the necessary hand watering. I am going to have to bite the bullet this week, though, and put on my coolest hat and LOTS of sunscreen so I can pull the weeds, trim a few scraggly azaleas, blow out the last few leaves and get a lot of mulch applied to the flower beds

Of course, those of you trying to salvage a vegetable garden have a lot more work on your hands. Watering alone can take up much of your time. While the need for deprives the weeds of rainwater it seems a devil’s bargain. With a vegetable garden you only need to get the plants through to harvest time.

In an extremely heavy drought you also have to worry about keeping the backbones of your garden, the perennials, alive until winter sets in. In their weakened condition, if the drought doesn’t kill them the winter might.

I have heard from some people who are losing perennials to the high heat and little rainfall. This can be very distressing as you find yourself with a damaged garden through no fault of your own. It is often impossible to save everything in your garden when everything is struggling. Sometimes the only consolation you can find is that you will be able to rebuild your plantings once the drought passes. Again, it is a devil’s choice deciding which plant lives and which plant dies.

Despite all this hardship the seasons do eventually change, even here in California. We might not like what we see when we look out on our garden, but sometimes hardship can lead us on to greater things. Perhaps you will be able to find more drought-tolerant species to fill the holes, improving the strength of your garden. Maybe you will discover a beautiful new plant that you had never thought about planting. Whatever your Summer and Fall bring, always remember that the seasons are an endless cycle and Spring will come again.

What was happening a year ago (or more) in my garden? August 15, 1999 A Little Bit of This and That August 1996 Refurbishing an older garden (1st AGN Column)