Cindi mentioned wind and the difficulties it poses on establishing hydrangeas in a recent thread. Wind has next to nothing to do with roses - except for making them more difficult to photograph. Still, wind is affecting my garden, too.
Within thirty miles of where I live, 900 firefighters are battling the Gladiator fire. It has consumed roughly 15,000 acres. In its first week it pretty much raged out of control, fanned by wind, high temperatures, drought, and extremely low humidity. It all means that sparks travel far and ignite easily. But recently the news is that it is something like 20 percent contained and the amount of new forest consumed by its flames decreases every day. Yesterday it was merely 650 acres: a few days before it was 2000. The chance that it will reach us where we live is still very small. Still, DW and I spent a few minutes yesterday making a list of what we would take with us if we were to leave. What happens to the fire and whether it reaches us will depend - to a significant degree - on how the wind blows.
The wind has another undesirable effect. Right now iris and dianthus are sending out huge amounts of delicious scent, but the wind is sweeping it away quickly. Even the most fragrant of roses seems scentless in this wind. To smell the roses means to cut them and bring them inside. Somehow, I prefer to enjoy them in the garden.
