The heat has been brutal and my garden is starting to show the wear and tear of the temperature extremes. I have lost a few plants which bums me out but in conditions like this it is survival of the fittest even if you’re watering and setting the sprinklers.

This morning early I was able to do a little light pruning and deadheading, but then the temperature and humidity climbed so fast I stopped and went back inside. 

A lot of my flowers are still quite pretty and spite of the high temperatures, but when you step outside the overwhelming sound you hear is the cacophony of the symphony of cicadas.

And one thing that seems undeterred by the heat and humidity is the poison ivy. This is by far my worst year ever for poison ivy. I had a poison ivy removal service come out and dig out a huge chunk of it but I have so much more to get removed. But at least the vines that were producing seedlings from the seeds – poison ivy has male and female vines – have been removed so hopefully that will slow down. 

My roses are really suffering in this weather. It is so humid that black spot is rampant and it is too hot to spray anything, so the best I can do is keep the leaves and debris cleaned up under the bushes.

I have lost two young azaleas to blight. Also a result of the high humidity in particular.

Anyway sign me looking forward to rain and cooler temperatures.