The ground is parched, the garden plants are thirsty, the lawn is crispy brown in the hot, dry places in our yard. The NH Drought Map shows us only at "Moderate Drought." It feels and looks worse, "Severe" at least. When I plant vegetables in May and keep at the weeds through June, the plants are lush and look to be in the right places. August was rough, with so little rain and hot days. Now, in early September is the time to assess where to plant vegetables next year (as some things didn't work) and begin converting more flower beds to drought-tolerant plants.
Each year I tell myself not to plant too many annuals as they require constant watering, especially this year. And each year I do it anyway. One annual plant that exceeded my expectations for beauty and grit is a coleus that I purchased as seedlings from a local nursery and planted in pots. Known as the Chocolate Covered Cherry Coleus, it has grown tall and lush and beautiful in its red and purple and green-edged foliage.
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| Chocolate Covered Cherry Coleus |
Gardening guides say to cut back flower stalks of annuals and perennials during the growing season to encourage more growth. I was about to do this to these coleus in early August, when I noticed bumble bees and hummingbirds visiting the tiny blue flowers. So, I've left them all and enjoy seeing the pollinators as well as the lovely arrangement of the flower stalks. This is one annual that will stay on my 2026 planting list.
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