by 9am.

I just planted a beautiful clematis a couple of weeks ago and it is looking a bit stressed, even though it only gets sun from 7am-1pm.

We have had some rain, but when it comes it comes as torrential flooding downpours that beat everything up.

Even the stuff of the porch dries out fast.

My sedums, snapdragons and dianthus are the only ones unfazed by this wacky weather.

It's going to be a long summer...

I should fill the yard with every possible zone5/6 plant in the High Country Gardens catalog with the X'ed out raindrop symbol next to it (the species that MUST have dry conditions).

If I plant all cactus, it no doubt will start raining like the wet side of Maui or Kauai.

Just keeping stuff alive is the thing.....this is going to be brutal

Most of my containers are 14" and up, many are tubs/barrels. So once a day does it. The few smaller things like impatiens baskets and bags are in the shade and still once a day does it.

Oh yeah, seems like I've got enough drip irrigation parts sitting on shelves in the garage to water a small farm in California. I just never have gotten around to installing it.

Hope springs eternal, maybe eventually.

you get the picture!

Can't sleep late! Plants must be watered early!
Can't go out for an early dinner! Plants might need more water!
Can't forget to check each and every plant daily for bugs/disease/some special need it might need met!

I am supposed to go out of town for 10 days in August and I'm already nervous that my housesitter won't be able to keep everything alive b/c I'll feel funny asking him to become a plant butler for a week and a half. "Yeah.. Imma need you to water 2x AND ask each and every growing thing what you can do to make its life more comfortable on daily basis. And don't forget the 25 houseplants and rooting cuttings!"

Sad but true: The first thing I think of when we get a weekend invitation during the summer: "Who will water the plants???" (The beloved pets can go to then kennel which they think is the Ritz b/c the food is free-flowing and the staff babies them to the point of absurdity.)

She had someone else come in the mornings, and me in the evenings. So it didn't seem to be quite as bad for either of us. If you can find more than one person to help out, they can watch out for each other and not feel as burdened.

just be sure that the helper is confident enough to actually do what they need to do! We've had some timid garden sitters who "don't want to kill or hurt anything" - hence underwatered and unpicked garden was found upon return!

Mulch all around the plants and mound it up around the pots. Wet the straw and it will cool down the concrete and help maintain the moisture in the pots.

took an hour to do everything - back yard, deck, big garden, driveway garden with all pots. Now off to the farmers market!

I don't know if this is kosher, but this is where I get all my drip supplies.
ww.dripworks.com

scratch...actually I enjoy doing the daily walk through, since it is mostly research - lots of new/breeding/trial varieties.

I would put straw on the concrete and set the plants on the straw and mulch all around the pots and up to the brim. Don't cover the stem. Water the pots and the straw all around. I'll bet you can skip 2pm. If you get bugs, spray the straw with pennyroyal, cedar or some strong essential oil. 1 oz per a couple of gallons. It will send them away. If you need to eradicate, add some dish soap.