Be Cool

Best wishes for a cool weekend, wherever you may be ... [Ravennaside Fountain, Natchez, Mississippi]

The Long, Hot Summer

I'm sure you can understand and sympathize when I say I have not enjoyed this summer because of the unbearably hot and humid weather we've had to endure. I've planted and replanted flower beds and urns two or three times, trying to find some variety of flowering plants that wouldn't cower and shrivel under the relentless rays of the sun. Some of you may remember the beautiful Bougainvillea I planted in May. Well, it has been on what I call "death row" for several weeks now, and, I'm sad to say, finally succumbed to the heat yesterday. After I took that picture, I put it out of its misery and set it out for the trash people to carry away this morning. The sun-loving Lantana I planted in my urns didn't fare much better ... And our watermelon Crape Myrtles have suffered, too, producing only a few faded, sparse blooms ... ... in comparison to the profusion of flowers they usually have this time of year. Variegated Jasmine, May 16th ... Same Jasmine plant on August 5th ... Isn't that sad! After digging up and replacing withered flowers a couple of times, I finally decided to just "go green," and bought two large Asparagus Ferns for my urns and some variegated Liriope for the flower bed around our waterfall area. So far, they're doing well and I hope to keep them healthy enough to be able to save them over the winter. Ahhh ... doesn't the word "winter" sound wonderful! I'm sure come January, we'll all be wishing for some of this August heat, but wouldn't it be nice if we could have just one winter day in August!

Keeping Cool

I haven't been out taking many pictures lately because of the unusually high temperatures we've been having here in Vicksburg. The heat and humidity literally take your breath away, and there's a stifling haze hanging in the air.

These last sultry days of summer are often called the "Dog Days of Summer," which originates from the ancient belief that Sirius (the brightest star in the heavens besides the sun), also called the Dog Star, was somehow responsible for the hot weather.

I just want to hibernate inside, and I find myself already looking forward to Fall (I know ... we still have lots of summer left, but it doesn't hurt anything to wish, does it!).

In hopes of helping to stay cool, I'd like to share some of my "cool" pictures today.

Like this shady mountain path ...

And these two chairs just beckoning someone
to come sit in the shade of that old oak tree.

I can remember the cool, overcast spring
day when I captured this dogwood tree.

This tiger at the Jackson Zoo was
staying cool, happily soaking in his pool.

Avery was cool in her pool, too!

My little girl statue, dipping her toes in the cool water of our pond.

Pansies in our February "snow."

I love blue flowers in the summertime, because no
matter how hot it is, they manage to "keep their cool."

I hope you can "keep your cool" today, too!