Drought has been called the “slow motion disaster”. Tornadoes, hurricanes and floods happen in a matter of minutes or hours; drought unfolds over days, weeks and months. This drought of 2012 is truly historic; some compare it to 1930 dust bowl. In Illinois, all but three counties have been declared disaster areas- Cook County is one of those that has avoided disaster status because of the few meager rains we have received.
Many people have irrigation systems, most others have dragged hoses around to keep their gardens alive. We at NPL have been watching and warning our customers to Water, Water, Water. Amazingly, many gardens are looking great; perhaps plants like the seemingly endless supply of sunshine and 90+ degree days if you can give them water!
Several years ago we had a project where we planted 60 street corners near our office here in Evanston with perennials and ornamental grasses. These corners are at the street intersections, sort of a “no man’s land”. Nobody actually owns these corners, they are the City’s property, nobody has watered them, the corners are just here for the neighborhood. The most wonderful thing is that during all this hot, dry weather they have continued to flower and flourish. We think everybody should know what these incredibly hardy plants are, and should consider them blessings in any garden.
Hosta species, Hosta spp., come in hundreds of varieties, from the miniature ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ to the magnificent ‘Blue Angel’ (shown above), which grows 4 feet wide by 3 feet high. Most varieties perform very well in the shade garden; certain varieties like ‘August Moon’ and ‘Sum and Substance’ tolerate sun.