Drought versus no drought

Yes, the extreme drought is affecting my garden. The photo above is from August last year with the same plants (tomatoes, peppers, assorted basils, and alyssum) as the photo below, which is from this year. One addition is a chamomile plant spilling over off to the side. I water pretty much every day because the heat dries out the garden beds. The mulch is the paper used to cushion deliveries inside of boxes since there is no grass to collect. The plants are smaller, and the yield will be less. However, I'm happy we'll get food, even if it isn't the normal amount. It will still be delicious.

I can't leave you with this sad photo, so I'm adding a brag photo (below).Hurray for wave petunias!

Update on native plants, back deck, and veggies

With our heat, the geraniums and petunias are flourishing on the back deck (above). We've seen all kinds of bees, at least one hummingbird, and a sphinx moth. They also take a lot of water. I'm using the rain barrels to avoid city water (expensive and not as good for plants), but I have to tip them to get the last drips out. Rain is predicted for the weekend, and I hope it makes it here. 

Next to the deck (above) I've planted zinnias from saved seed and marigolds (no blossoms yet).

I love the bright color of the zinnias (above).

Above is a mini pepper that I bought from the greenhouse. They ripen earlier, so this is the second.

Above is the rudbeckia I grew from seed last year. Two of the plants have blooms. 

Can you see the bee on the anise hyssop (above)? They love this plant.

I planted this white coneflower last year, it survived, and it thrives. It was such an awful, icy winter, so this will be a good future plant choice. I'll leave you with a native coneflower (below). I'd say planting for bees is a success.