My skin is still tight from the soil dried upon it. Laptops could use a little more earth about them. It’s a magical season, this summer. It feels stolen. People speak in hushed tones. No one wants to break the spell. No one wants to jinx it. People don’t dare voice their appreciation too boisterously for fear the stifling leaden blanket of heat be pulled over their days as punishment. I finished listening to Brene Brown’s series of talks called The Power of Vulnerability. She speaks to catastrophizing as a coping mechanism (that ultimately robs us of the ability to appreciation joy). People are catastrophizing the weather. They’re neglecting to enjoy it. Afraid to enjoy it. Relish in it. Open their pores to it.
I am working on not being one of those people. Not defaulting to staying indoors. Rushing from air conditioned car to air conditioned house to air conditioned work to air conditioned store. Yes. It is July. Yes, this is Central Texas. But no, it is not so hot as to induce the annual cabin fever creating behavior. It’s glorious. and I’m out in it every chance I get.
I often struggle with the “leave the pests, the predator will come” philosophy as I watch the aphids grow in number day after day on the fennel’s flower stalks. And today, the philosopher was right.
The fennel and the caterpillar in the fading sun light.
The succulent’s sunscreen has grown thicker.
Sweet potatoes pushing beyond bounds.
Such a lovely shade of rouge.
Rougey’s neighbor.
Yet another avocado making a go of a second life.
plumdirt 
Both Rouge and her neighbor look a bit scary. But probably I am conditioned to fear the unfamiliar. The summer weather here in Missouri is unfamiliar too-rain rain, grey grey.I actually worry about the missing heat!
The farmers there are having a hard time getting their hay on schedule, I hear. Hopefully it all works out for everyone!
Your first few sentences grabbed me. Weather talk always fascinates me. When it’s winter, people want summer. When it’s summer, people want winter. When it rains for a day, people wonder when the sun will reappear. Weather never seems to make us happy. That being said, I would love some rain — the rainy season in South Florida has been dry, and we have a 15″ rain deficit. Last year, there was a surplus. Such is the weather. Love the photos of your succulents and dragonflies!
People are curious creatures. I’m glad we’re finally catching up on our long time drought. The reservoirs are finally filling up to the point where the trees that grew on the islands (neither of which were supposed to exist) are under water. I hope your area gets enough to sustain the ecological needs.
Thank you! I enjoyed taking them.
Wonderful points about enjoying the moment and even better photos of your garden “friends!”
Thanks! Now to find out how to keep the invasive grasses from being so friendly…
They do like to snuggle with the proper plants!
lovely photos!:-) I complain about our heat but I know you have some really hot weather! I go out in the morning and ride the river early and garden early but I do venture out in the late afternoon when the sun passes over a bit. I can’t imagine not being outside. Your sweet potatoes look beautiful compared to mine this year:-)
I’m starting to wish I were a morning person! Bedtime has moved later now so my gardening window is nearly non-existent before night falls.
My husband is starting to plan a summer vacation for next year someplace more temperate (with plans to try and do so every summer.)
Illinois does get hot! I have family up there and y’all’s heat isn’t anything to shake a stick at.
our humidity is awful! I bike in the morning on the Mississippi River and we get out early for by mid morning you are drenched in this humidity!
It’s so very hot, but I still go out and work in it. Neighbors all think I’m nuts. Did the ‘change of season’ gardening, prepping beds for pumpkin, greens, and the like. Took me all of an hour to do it this year, with bags and bags of leaves/clippings already at-the-ready. The beauty of no-till gardening.
As for insects, there’s no easy answer. I am more of a naturalist in that regard, monitoring only to keep things better ‘balanced’ between species so no one thing gets the upper hand; it worked for me this year as well as last. Who knows what next year will bring?
Your dragonflies made me smile. Lions of the garden! They have obviously found their ‘perches.’ Funny that we can call avocado a ‘weed’ in Texas, right? LOL I’ve given many trees away, but may put one in my yard’s espalier soon. Cheers, A!
Ha! I never thought of the avocado trees as weeds, merely volunteers š