You know it's summer when ...
- the wallflowers are only still there because you want to save the seeds.
- however long you spend deadheading the surfinia, when you turn round two minutes later there are more to do.
- you spot the first flowers on your tomato plants.
- you suddenly realise you're under attack.
... and the hot humid afternoons are punctuated by low growls of thunder and sudden, torrential rain.
Summer has arrived. Temperatures last week were up to about 28-29°C (82-84°F) on a couple of days, and though it's now down to about 23°/24° (73-75°F - average for the time of year) it already feels as if the humidity is starting to rise - 61% this evening. Not a problem yet, but I've already warned the family that the annual "oven strike" is about to start - no more roast dinners till the autumn. It's been a shock - two weeks ago I was saying that we still had the heating on and it was teeming with rain. Well, it still is - but we've changed from constant cold, wet downpours to hot, humid storms. Early this year - they're par for the course in June and July, but less so in May. Oh well, at least no-one's going to be worying about water shortages this year ...
13 comments:
I think the annual oven strike will now begin here, apart from an early morning cake bake sometimes, as it got rather hot this afternoon with chicken, roasties and yorkshire pud! Your top photo surprised me as I hadn't realised that we'd got lots of wallflowers!!!
Great post! The summer is steaming up here also! In the mid 80's and humidity in the 70 range.
ripped out all our wallflowers today - we have new babies (livingstone daisies)to go in their place and no patience to wait for seeds, haha
While I may fuss every now and then over my remote location, I am certainly glad for its cooler climes. Let the growing season continue!
Hi,
You have a very wonderful and informative blog. But for the number of flowers you mention here it does not look like a balcony garden, more so a full fledged garden. Regularly read it and am learning a lot from here. How do you manage to plant so many flowers in a balcony.
I have my first tomato flowers too which means aphids can't be too far away. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the flowers could come without the unwanted visitors?
Around my neck of the woods, we know its summer when the inside fires become outside fires, oven dinners become grilled delicacies, and the smell of grass lingers in the humid afternoon air. Not much rain yet for us in NY, we'll take some of yours! Beautifuk flowers, by the way!
Our annual oven strike is in full swing already, as are my efforts to find meals that are cold enough to feel like eating them midday. We reached 100 F/38 C today with the heat index, and we're having about two weeks of this August-like weather now. Our low tonight will be your average high temp, about 76 degrees. I garden at dawn. (Sigh.)
Still, part of me does like it hot! Hope you enjoy, too, Sue. Your balcony is looking good. :)
I really love summer and I love taking snap shots of flowers in macro. I love staying in the garden and tending flowers. sheds
You know it's summer when you are spending more time with your garden hose than your significant other! :)
I have stumbled across your blog through another fellow gardeners and I was wondering if you had an email address that I could contact you through. I've fallen in love with your site and I'm learning a lot of new things about gardening through you! So thank you for that :) You know so much! And have so much wisdom to share! Hope to hear from you soon :) And I've become a follower as well!
You know its summer when you have to quit working the garden because mosquitos won't leave you alone :)
Yeph its certainly summer.
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