I go back and forth on all this - I will be 66 end of the week. I just got through 2 years of intensive careing for my mother who was bedridden and living with us. The gardens got a lick and a promise - hubby did most of the work tho. Mom passed in February so I thought now it is my time to devote 24/7 in the gardens - started out great then we hit this 50+ days of Heat Indexes of 100-110 and no end in sight. I found I really can't take the heat like I use to so the gardens suffer again. I will always have flowers and always have more than I can handle but that being said yes I am going to scale back some - add more shrubs (hydrangeas, viburnums, camellias, ect) and go for lower maintenance. I love starting my annuals from seed and taking note of what is doing good in this oppressive heat - I have some real standouts - blackeyes susans, megellan zinnias, vinca, caladiums and coleus. Fussy plants are getting the heave-ho. This has been a great thread - I had no idea there were so many of us 'seniors'. It was very theraputic reading other gardeners responses because I was thinking I was losing interest because I wanted to scale back and was feeling bad about 'old age' setting in -. I was feeling that life was passing me by. In the last 10 years I retired, moved to a different state, lost a husband of 38 yrs, moved my mother in with me, met and married a wonderful man - now it is time to garden :) thanks for listening ...... Lynne

This is a great thread and it is one I have been following earnestly since it began. Here is what is still blooming in my garden as of August 13, in no particular order: Lycoris chinensis Patrinia scabiosifolia Verbena bonariensis Echinacea 'PowWow Wild Berry' Calamintha nepetoides Allium 'Millenium' Allium 'Summer Beauty' Allium nutans 'Pam Harper' Agastache 'Blue Blazes' Agastache 'Blue Fortune' Agastache 'Golden Jubilee' Agastache 'Purple Haze' Hibiscus 'Summer Storm' Hibiscus 'Plum Crazy' Lilium speciosum album Lilium speciosum rubrum Phlox 'David' Phlox 'Old Cellarhole' Phlox 'Jeana' Phlox 'Caspian' Phlox 'Peppermint Twist' Phlox 'Mile High Pink' Helenium 'Mardi Gras' Geranium 'Rozanne' Geranium wlassovianum Rosa 'Quietness' Rosa 'Jude the Obscure' Rosa 'Rose de Rescht' Silphium perfoliatum Gladiolus 'Carolina Primrose' Gladiolus 'Bolivian Peach' Gladiolus 'Boone' Thalictrum 'Splendide' Thalictrum 'Hewitt's Double' Perovskia 'Blue Spires' Eupatorium 'Little Red' Nepeta 'Joanna Reed' Geranium 'A.T. Johnson' Knautia macedonica Solidago 'Little Lemon' Salvia 'Black and Blue' Geranium 'Blue Sunrise' Scabiosa ochroleuca Angelica gigas I have included plants in the above list whether they are in full bloom or have just a smattering of blossoms. We finally have pleasant temperatures and rain in my neck of the woods, and I think I can hear my garden sighing in relief. Here is a list of plants I have that still have not bloomed and/or are currently forming buds: Various sedums Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' Solidago 'Fireworks' Various asters Various Korean mums Aconitum 'Barker's Variety' Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' Artemisia lactiflora 'Guizhou' Various colchicums Various autumn crocus Helianthus 'First Light' Salvia azurea 'Nekan' Allium 'Sugar Melt' Allium tuberosum Allium thunbergii 'Ozawa' Allium thunbergii 'White Form' Scilla autumnalis Lycoris squamigera For the past couple of weeks, I have been putting in as many late blooming hardy chrysanthemums and asters as I can find and afford. Without a doubt, gardening will become more challenging in coming years due to climate change. Included below is a photo of the stunning Lycoris chinensis:

I second bmrbabe's technique of taking a picture of the project, then tossing the project itself. I did this when I was in art school. The space-eating school project was gone, but in case I ever needed to prove I did it, I had photo evidence. TS, one of the things that helped me the most when digging out of my clutter was to establish a regular Goodwill run. I stopped in at my local thrift store as part of my errands every Saturday. It didn't really take that long. From what you've said in other threads, it doesn't sound like there are many thrift stores where you live--but have you considered taking a bag with you to work? There are quite a few thrift stores in midtown Manhattan--just check your phone book. It's easier to itemize, too, if your donation isn't large. Those grocery-bag donations every Saturday added up to quite a lot of clutter gone from my apartment and a big break at tax time. Concretenprimroses, with overcoming the inertia, I've found it helps to have a goal. Like, "Work is having a dress clothes drive for Dress For Success (or the Cinderella Project or Materials for the Arts--find a charity that inspires you!). What can I find in my closet--and what can I inspire my family members to donate--for this worthy cause?" It also helps to relate the cause to moments in your life when you needed help, or someone you know needed help. I also try to keep an ear out for those around me. One of my friends still thanks me and my former roommate for giving her our stash of ugly-to-us blankets when she was broke and cold after moving to NYC from Kentucky. Anybody have a stash of Beanie Babies? Halloween is coming and those things make great Halloween giveaways!

Oh, what beautiful pictures! I really must get ‘Bolero.’ It’s enchanting. Seeing what is still going strong in y’all’s gardens gives me fresh ideas on what to add to mine. :) Still a few things blooming out here. Windermere, so fragrant that this bee just can’t wait until it opens: Gilded Sun: Mr. Lincoln and his extravagant sepals unfurling: Rosie the Riveter: