The combination of heat and drought is proving deadly even to some well-established and drought tolerant plants. I've irrigated as much as I can afford, but have had to let some beds live or die on their own.

Much as love my hydrangeas and Japanese anemones, I am seriously considering taking them out, and perhaps the ginger lilies also. The amount of water I have to put on the hydrangeas each week would probably be sufficient to keep two or three other beds going with enough water to survive, if not thrive, for 3 or 4 weeks.

Even the day lilies are in dire straights.

The drought is not nearly as prolonged or as yet severe as was the case a few years ago, but most zone 7 garden plants are not "built" for an entire late spring and summer of temps consistently in the mid-90's to low 100's.