Hurricane Dean and the Garden

Still working on cleaning up the garden space. There was some recent relief from the extreme heat and humidity, when the remnants of Hurricane Erin recently brought some rain and cloudiness to the area, after many days of 100 degree weather. Hurricane Dean may also bring some relief from the hot weather here, but I fear it may also bring much agony and destruction to those areas that are directly hit by it. Hopefully, the hurricane will not be as strong as predicted, and spare heavily populated areas.

Hot and Humid Gardening

The last two weeks have been so hot and humid, that it almost makes me want all that rain back. The temperature was 102 degrees today, with an heat index of 117 degrees in the shade. The heat has brought most outdoor activities to a halt, so nevertheless, the garden is still pretty much a mess. We were able to do a little cleanup work, but it's small, compared to the work that lies ahead. So, much for the summer garden! Yet, onward we go, we are already starting to plan our fall garden. We will not let this funky weather get us down!!

The latana plant (above) is one plant that does seem to thrive in hot and dry conditions. It provides a pleasant bit of color when we step outside to the patio. It's always bright and cheery, so it makes us want to be too, even if it is blazing HOT.

To get anything done outside, including a walk with the puppies, you have to get up pretty early around here. At 7 AM, it's already usually hitting at 80 degrees. Therefore, we have been trying to go to bed early, and get up early. I'm starting to feel like some frontier farmer that must work with the daylight - early to bed, early to rise. We do take comfort, though, in knowing that a great part of the country is in this current heat wave. Misery does like company:) KEEP COOL!!

Gardening is a Healthy Workout

I've been a little blue about the garden. All the rain, then heat and humidity, then some more rain and heat - well, you get the picture. This type of weather pattern can wreak havoc on a garden. So, I was looking at some pictures from earlier in the spring, when I was getting my seeds started to plant later in the ground. I realize that it is alot of hard work, but despite the sometimes disappointing results, it is well worth it. I started gardening not only to get fresh, organic fruits and vegetables to eat and enjoy with family and friends, but also because there is nothing healthier than getting a good sweat outside in the dirt. I really am gardening for health - my physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, and even financial health. Gardening does all that, and more.

I was reading in the July/August 2007 issue of HEALTH magazine, that "gardening burns around 340 calories per hour for a 150-pound woman, and strengthens the muscles throughout the body." I don't know a woman, or for that matter, a man, who is concerned about their health, that wouldn't enjoy burning calories like that. Kudos to: Gardening for Health.