Do you like vines? There are a few that will thrive in dry conditions. Sweet autumn clematis, honeysuckle, and Trumpet vine. I have all three of these and they are looking good. None have been hand watered and the rain has passed us by, once again!

For those of us who are suffering from dry conditions this year, the following groundcovers tolerate this well. Plumbago, candytuft, epimedium, lavender, liriope, thyme, santolina, thrift, and wintergreen. The plumbago and epimedium are beautiful this year in the garden. I guess that it is true they don't mind it dry.

If you are looking for fall color here are some ideas. Colchicum, Fall asters, Solidago, Japanese anemone, plumbago, Russian sage, cimicifuga, helenium, helianthus, coreopsis, chelone, hibiscus, tiarella, heuchera, caryopteris, tricyrtis, rose of sharon are just some of them. There is still time to plant and remember to mulch new plantings.