So, here we are in a horrible state-wide drought.

What is growing well for you? What is truly standing up to this Texas heat and weather?

A friend gave me some pass-along NOID gingers, and they are blooming happily! The Texas Sage is also looking quite comfy. Other than that, I'm spending over $100/month for water, and the garden looks awful.

You need to move to KY, with all the rain and heat we've had, the crabgrass is growing like crazy!!!

Oh, yeah, that's what we need! Crabgras! The native Rock Rose (Pavonia lasiopetala) does good, will bloom repeatedly with water once in a while.

As much as I hate the stuff, I have to admit that Bermuda grass greens up fast after I water it. I'm using it as a lure to keep the majority of the grasshoppers away from my more desirable plants. There are so many grasshoppers, I haven't had to get the grass mowed in quite a while. The lantanas are surviving both the drought and the grasshoppers.

Got my utility bill today. Last year at this time, I had used 1900 gallons of water. They say THIS year in the same time frame...I've used 6300 gallons. Say WHAT?!? I know I put in three new beds. But my lot is 60x120, I NEVER water the east side, back, or small patch of front lawn that is left. So maybe I'm watering the new stuff a lot more than I have ever before and am not realizing it? Hmmm...Even so, much is suffering. However, several of the roses (Heritage, Fourth of July and Pope John Paul II) are doing okay. The purple Lantanas, Daylilies, Frosted Curls Carex, Mexican Feather Grass, three kinds of Dianthus, Nana Coreopsis, Dahlberg Daisy, Santolina Ericoides, Cislano Salvia, and, surprisingly, the "June" Hostas are doing very well.

Hibiscus and plumerias are loving the heat. Succulents too. Colocasias and alocasias are happy, as long as they get water. Bromeliads have been moved to semi-shade, doing well. Most of the tropicals, in fact, are fine. Brugmansias are extremely unhappy. The salvias, bonesett, most perennials out front are wilty and make me want to put a sign up that says, "But You Should See My Backyard!"

I cannot water much of my plantings. The established old garden roses are doing okay, the citrus trees are setting fruit as usual, the native grasses in the pastures are outperforming either Bermuda or Bahia, but the nettles are thriving beyond all expectations!

The Black-eyed susans have been faithful bloomers up until this week. But the Flame Acanthus, John Fanick Phlox and Native Carolina Phlox and both still blooming away. I think it is only because I changed the watering scheldule. We have the clay soil and cracks in this area that keep water from absorbing well. A friend in Irving said she runs her system 3 minutes at a time which is about all the soil can absorb at a time (makes sense). Then starts over; with all zones running 5 times. DH decided on setting ours at 5 mins with three rounds. It seems to work very well and things are beginning to perk up .

My Flame Acanthus is doing well, but the phlox plants look really sad!

Debra- I believe you. Our well is measured separately from our house electricity. Last year we used $20, this year for July was $75. And we have dead maiden trees, barely alive grass, and struggling flower beds. BUT- that's why I started this thread. I was getting rather distressed and depressed focusing on our brand new gardens that are dying.

Here's what is doing well:
Vitex is in full bloom for the second flush.
Firecracker bush- these stay little for us here, but it is in full bloom and is stunning.
The bat-faced cufias are thriving, as are the Flame Acanthus
The Muskogee crepe myrtle is the one of ours that is doing the best. The rest are surviving well (except for Sarah's favorite (also Trish's favorite)- it didn't make it)
The bananas, canas, and the tapioca trees are doing very well. Not the ears, though.
The rock rose is doing well for me also...believe it or not, I lost some Texas Sages! I decided that's when you know it's bad.
The Salvia Greggiis are doing well, but not the other salvias. The annuals went ka-poot long ago
The drought winner at my house this year is the datura. No joke- it was a volunteer under the soffet where it has not received one drop of water this year, and it is blooming it's head off and taking over the walkway.

Sheila, like those photos.

Trish, oh, wow. Weird how one will do well and the others don't, isn't it? What you wrote reminded me I have dwarf Cannas that are as healthy as any I've ever seen. Very little extra water, too. Weird, weird, weird.

Well, for two weeks basically nothing outside my house was watered (thanks to the 19 year old more interested in making our dogs fat and playing games 20 hours a day and reprogramming my thermostat). My Cereus is thriving, plumis were definitely wilting (but perked right back up after a good soaking) tomatoes are dead, some epis are doing fantastic (I need to divide one - it's outgrowing its pot!) my hibiscus are probably toast, brugs are surviving (barely) plumbago is pretty crunchy but still alive somehow, and the lantana is still alive with no problems.

It looks like one of my rose beds is a lost cause. The other is definitely not at the top of it's livelihood so I'll probably go out and fertilize this evening. I'm afraid to look to close at anything else out there.

Here - natives are going nuts, cowpen daisy has not stopped, dantura are the biggest in years, the sages area all doing well, asters all doing well, hollyhocks and the native sunflower family members, non natives - Iris still growing, 4 oclocks still going, grasses still strong, canna in the area with some shade are doing well no shade small, castor beans HUGE, Sweet tader vines doing great, and the water lilies are going nuts right now...