Summer Doldrums

Dog Days?
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This is "Baby", who lives down the street:
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Southern California has so far avoided the terrible heat most of the rest of the country has been suffering through these past three weeks.  July 4 here was a heavenly 70F, and the sea breeze has been steady.  
'Fourth of July':
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We're due for some heat the next few days, but moderately so--the high 80's, which has been the overnight low for a lot of places.  The heat will sweeten up the tomatoes...
'Italian Stripe':
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...and hopefully kill off the string algae that's been plaguing the pond:
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It will toast the roses, so I'd better enjoy them now:
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While the Hydrangeas are already somewhat toasted.  Repeat blooming hydrangeas do have an odd fault.  Rather than a uniformly toasty crop of flowers, new growth pops right through the old.  Can it be called a fault, or just a quirk?
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The pond is still rather cool, so the koi are happy, despite the string algae, which miffs the koi owner much more than the koi:
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The summer doldrums have arrived early this year.  I have no inclination to deadhead the hydrangeas, or pick tomatoes, or water the blueberries.  I'll enjoy the perfume of 'Casablanca' lilies instead.
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Plants take a rest in the heat, why should not gardeners do the same?

Comments

  1. String algae is almost beautiful, when in someone else's pond. :-)

    I have what was labeled as 'Fourth of July' rose too, but it barely has any white in it so I doubt the ID. Does your rebloom much? Mine doesn't.

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    1. String algae: sigh. FOJ repeats rapidly for me as long as I deadhead it. It took a few years before it did that.

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  2. It's funny, yet quite understandable, that as you are already in the summer doldrums, our summer in Portland is just starting up. I have one tiny tomato, so far. I'd adore to have something as lovely and far along as your 'Italian Stripe' - it's gorgeous to a tomato-starved gardener.

    I bet the puppies spend a lot of time lying on cool stone floors - you could join them!

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    1. I hope you get some tomatoes, and the 'Italian Stripe' is delicious as well as beautiful. The pups do love the cool stone floors, but if I were to join them I'd get my hair pulled, pockets picked, shoelaces chewed off...

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  3. I hope your roses survive the heat, they look great now. Do your Casablanca lilies smell citrusy or spicy? I am looking for some lilies to plant next year...

    P.S. The puppies are adorable.

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    1. 'Casablanca' smells...floral more than anything else. I can smell the fragrance 10 feet away and love it. Unfortunately it makes the DH gag--he describes it as "cloying". :(

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  4. Glad to share the wealth of heat with you...I mean, enough warmth to ripen tomatoes. Seems roses there also prefer the 65-85F stuff?

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    1. Yes, 60 or 65F to 82F seems to be the sweet spot for roses. Hope you get some cooler weather soon. An overnight low of 90F...yikes. At least in your high desert it cools off somewhat at night.

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  5. Lovely dogs!!

    The koi look stunning as well, very clear water, hopefully our pond will achieve that level of clarity once complete.

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    1. Gaz, thanks! The pond has a sieve instead of a settlement chamber, clarity is excellent. I think your pond will probably be better! Mine is too small.

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  6. Looks pretty good for summer doldrums! Love those Casa Blancas. I used to have a lot of them but the voles ate all the bulbs over the last couple winters. I do agree that a mid summer break would be kind of nice. I'm having to ramp up the watering chores here though so no break for me.

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  7. I adore Casa Blanca, and need more of them. Luckily no voles here, just gophers. Stay cool while you are out watering in that heat!

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  8. Great selection of pics! The koi don't mind the algae, only us humans do :)

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