With so many in our community having wells, the drought has brought concern to everyone. I am so grateful to have a rainbarrel. My old whiskey barrel actually has the leader from the gutter going into it. A good rainfall fills it right up, then I cover it with an old garbage can lid. From time to time, I notice little things squirming around in it. I have identified them to be mosquito larva. A drop of mineral oil or dish soap in the barrel makes enough of a film to smother them and won't hurt the plants I'm watering. 

I've noticed it's not as buggy this year. Thankfully, there are hardly any slugs. As far as aphids, beetles, and such, I'm not sure if the dry conditions or the 700 or so ladybugs I acquired and tossed into the garden have kept the pests at bay. Perhaps it's a combination of both. 

I have been diligently deadheading. I'm keeping my plants more compact _ water doesn't have to reach as far on shorter stems. On ornamentals, I'm cutting back severely stressed branches but avoiding heavy pruning until damper weather arrives. I will do some light organic feeding at this time as well. 

I am really enjoying my begonias and geraniums this year. I have a fairly shady yard so these two favorites are quite often prone to fungus. This year they love the dry conditions. Some other drought-tolerant favorites are annual - portulaca, flowering vinca, cleome, and cosmos and perennial - dianthus, yarrow, montauk daisy, and butterfly bush.

Autumn topics next!