I say try more tropicals! :) Much easier than veggies. Saturday morning market is opening back up, you can give the farmers some love.
We all go through phases. I struggle in this heat to keep my stamina too. Just wait, that first cool weekend and you'll be refreshed in spirit.

That was how I was all summer. This was just a terrible awful gardening year. And I do mean the whole year. First it hadn't cooled off by November, than it rained heavy for a month, than it got super cold, and then hot.

But my mojo and optimism are back. Hope you get it back too. A lot of good came of last year. My white fly was eradicated by the cold, my whole place just seems healthier and more organic. Take a couple of weeks off and hopefully you will get your mojo back.

Michelle

If you want to take a break from veggies. One idea would be to plant the veggie beds with plants that attract beneficials. It will be nice for the future and is also nice now. Plant curly and flat parsley, nasturtium, dill, borage etc.
This summer I filled my beds with marigolds and it really seemed to work well.

You're right...this entire year has been bad. My one 'fail proof' veggie - tomatoes - well, failed. I planted six or seven times - grew from seed- all died or had to be put out of their misery. I tried again in June, but the seeds didn't even germinate.

The cooler weather will probably put me back in the groove. I'm thinking just herbs and flowers this year and buying my produce instead of growing. It had to be a tough one for farmers too.

I say if you don't feel it, don't do it. Go to a botanical garden just to relax, maybe that will inspire you. Or try something new on a small scale, such as a small area with some containers of pretty flowers and foliage, maybe a bench or bird bath, etc. I know what you mean about the heat, the older I get the more difficult it is to deal with it. Be patient and it will come back to you eventually.

I think it is the heat too. It is hard to get in the mood to garden when the mosquitoes are biting and sweat is running down your face. When the cooler weather arrives I think you will find yourself interested in gardening again.

Wow! I was just looking through the posts thinking the same thing and then I found this post. I've been doing the bare necessities for my flowers. It's been too hot to garden and I'm usually out there no matter what. I do go out and search for lubbers almost everyday. One thing I did was chop the heck out of the roses after I lost the battle of the blackspot. They are just too much work. They've got to go.

Amazing! I'm glad I'm not the only one.

We've been here 11 months and all my gardening is in containers inside the pool cage. Over the winter I grew 2 tomatoes and a bush cucumber and raised the perfect amount for us...just for eating.

I haven't had much luck in the blooming plant category. I never had a problem with buggy or diseased plants at home but down here it seems nothing thrives for me because of bugs and spiders. My Jasmine is covered in tiny bumps on the wood and leaves. I've sprayed with Neam's every week. It helps but hasn't eliminated the problem.

I've lots to learn. :)

Gardening should be fun, when it's a chore, just slow down. Maybe veggies aren't your thing. I don't have the success with them the others have, but I get enough for me and DH so that's ok. Herbs are wonderful and I even dry some.

Julie, I don't worry so much about the black spot and do nothing but fertilize them with the rest of my plants. If the bush is still flowering, it doesn't matter to me if the leaves aren't perfect. I would enjoy the roses until the bush dies on it's own. Pick yourself a bunch and bring them in, you don't have to see the black spot then. :o)

SPF, last year was a bad year for many of us with the veggies, both the fall and spring season. I've moved more toward flowering plants for comfort and that's made all the difference this summer...you should know, the morning glory you gave us is where we started the transition. Brenda (Junglegal) is right, if you want some inspiration go see her place, it's amazing and she's less than a mile from you....

We all take breaks at times and this is your time. BTW, I have about 10 more tomato seedlings than I need and they are already potted for the final phase in their double-buckets. If you'd like to "borrow" a few of these buckets and some cages call me. I also started 28 cuke seedlings and 18 squash seedlings yesterday, way more than I need so in 7-14 days they'll need to be potted-up unless I throw out the excess....

Tom

SPF,

This isn't the best picture but these are YOUR morning glories this morning!

Tomatoes looking for adoption....

Hurricane broms looking for adoption, they're growing about a foot out over my deck so a third of them have to come out.

Tom

SPF, if you ever want to try more tropicals, I am always thinning the herd. You are more than welcome to drop by. Tom is being too kind. The garden is still recovering from this odd ball winter.

TOM...WOW!!...those MorningGlories never look that good in my yard! You must water yours...;-) Be really careful with those Ruebellia...very hard to kill and the 'non-invasive are 'invasive'.

I want to get rid of my Flame Vine which is in a large pot/container. It would look great in that front space of your yard on a trellis. Hummingbirds love it. Let me know if you want it.

JungleGal: I'd love to see your garden. It sounds beautiful. Plus, it seems that we are practically neighbors!

I forgot mention, I have a new family member. As most of you know, I lost 3 of my older cats in the span of 3 years. I volunteer for a local shelter and was asked to "Foster" a 3-week old kitten. He was found abandoned, orphaned, no siblings and smaller than the little stuffed duck they gave him for company. Who can say 'no' to that? I was supposed to give him back....har har....he's now 12-weeks and a crazy kitten.

Anyway, meet Saffron:

TOM...WOW!!...those MorningGlories never look that good in my yard! You must water yours...;-) Mine look nothing like that!

Be really careful with those Ruebellia...very hard to kill and the 'non-invasive are 'invasive'.

I want to get rid of my Flame Vine which is in a large pot/container. It would look great in that front space of your yard on a trellis. Hummingbirds love it. Let me know if you want it.

JungleGal: I'd love to see your garden. It sounds beautiful. Plus, it seems that we are practically neighbors!

I forgot mention, I now have a new 'family' member. As most of you know, I lost 3 of my older cats in the last 3 years.

I also volunteer for a local cat rescue shelter and was asked to "Foster" a 3-week old kitten. He was found abandoned, orphaned, no siblings and smaller than the little stuffed duck they gave him for company.

Who can say 'no' to that? I was supposed to give him back....(yeah, right...).

He's now 12-weeks and a crazy kitten!

Anyway, meet Saffron:

I am always in the mood to see cute kittens. Tom-Maybe you can "foster" your tomatoes:)

Sorry...I didn't know I posted that twice. The system gave me an error message and I hit 'submit' again. Darn!

SPF - Pickles says hi to Saffron, they're almost identical but he's got about 70 years on the kid.

I know what you mean about the Ruebellia, while it does not seed it is throwing off rhizomes that I have to keep control over.

Thanks for the offer of the flame vine but we're perfectly happy with the perennial monring glory.

Tom-Maybe you can "foster" your tomatoes:)

Too funny Amber, I will be giving away a lot of tomatoes though....

Tom

LOVE that ginger-boy, he is the cutest ! All my fur-balls are senior-citizens now, the youngest is over 10...that is my passion, kitties !... Tom, your morning glory is gorgeous, wish I had a fence or something to plant it to climb on.... sally

You know, the really interesting thing is we seem to be getting good regular rain. Or, since I'm not actively gardening, it just "seems" that way.

I did plant basil back in April(?), which has flowered and gone to seed, then set baby basil. I am now on a fresh crop which took no effort on my part.

By the way, Saffron says tell everyone 'hello!'.

You know, the really interesting thing is we seem to be getting good regular rain.

Oh no "we're" not! I've watch all these storms pass either down you and Sally's way or just north of me, we've had very little rain at my place in the last two weeks :-( Maybe I need to bring all my veggie seedlings to you!

Tom

LOL...it's always like that isn't it? ;-)
Last year, I'm running around with the hose trying to keep everything 'alive'. This year - live/die - whatever.
Now, I have stuff planting itself and even getting watered on it's own!

I can relate I find it very hard in this heat to spend the day working outside at the zoo than go home and find the inspiration to work in my yard which is about an acre and a half. Than I mentally kick myself for letting it all go and not really caring. Heres an idea how about a swap and clean up the hosts garden party, put my name at the top of the list thats one I could have lol.

Katie