or
How Helianthus annus, Basil, Verbena, Lantana, perennial petunia, Salvia, Duranta, rosemary, dill, fennel, lima beans, catalpa trees, morning glories, peach trees, pear trees, canna, milkweed, plum trees, and non-hybrid lilac survived outrageous abuse!
I have too many lovable but
demanding four-legged and two-legged creatures in my home insisting "Feed
me, love me, bathe me, groom me" to do the same things for flora and fauna
in my yard.
I decided my yard would
be planted with perennial bulbs and plants, -- with the exception of antique
own-root roses, jonquils, iris, scilla, herbs and assorted vegetables -- that
would
~ provide as much support as possible to the entire life-cycle of butterflies,
and
~ be drought- and heat-tolerant.
(For example: Lantana, verbena, lilac, catalpa trees, pear trees,
milkweed, canna, salvia...
Crucial biennials include parsley, dill, and fennel.
Detailed plant lists at The Xeriscaping Patch
)
If I didn't have bad timing I wouldn't have any timing at all...
I planted all of the above and much, much more, and hoped the weather would
be kind until they were established...just in time for the Texas 1998 Heat
Wave and Drought AND our town's water emergencies in July/August resulting
in watering bans.
How utterly depressing. What could survive that? It was too hot to weed, or
go outside period. I couldn't water even if I could drag my wilted body outside.
Recently it cooled off to a mere 95 degrees so I ventured outside...
What do you know, but there were plants alive and THRIVING without care, in
triple digit heat, with little water. And they were all swimming in butterflies
and bees .
Listed here in descending order of vigor are the plants that survived heat, drought, neglect and my grandfather's dog:
The Neglectful Gardener's Top Plants List
helianthus annus -- side-of-the-road-Sunflower
milkweed -- ugly name, gorgeous flowers
basil
"Buff Beauty" antique
own-root rose
"Penelope" antique
own-root rose
lantana
verbena
perennial petunia(?) Ruellia sp.
salvia
zinnias
cypress vine
duranta
dill
fennel
lima beans
catalpa trees -- gorgeous white orchid blossoms
morning glories
peach trees
pear trees
canna
coneflower
plum trees
non-hybrid lilac
cosmos
The bees were happy, catepillars
were happy, butterflies were happy, and flowers abound with no coddling from
me. That's my kind of garden!
The best way to achieve this, that I know of, is to survey the vacant lots,
and roadsides in your area and note which plants are thriving and flowering
without care.* I've noted these in my diary to help create a year-round
flowering garden suited to my area. I don't think my friend Leisl knew
about my nature diary when she introduced me to The
Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith
Holden . She just instinctively knew that Edith Holden and I would jive!
