Dog Days of Summer, Indeed

Hot, Hot Hot!

Waking up to this weather report this morning was a very unplepasant surprise. We suffered some fairly high heat already this summer, but now it comes back with a vengence.

The Dog Days of Summer is an ancient term, described by Webster as as...

1 : the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere
2 : a period of stagnation or inactivity

Jerry Wilson goes on to add a bit more explanation...

In the summer, however, Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the dog star. (More on his site)

For me, this heat arrives just when I am already wishing for cooler temperatures. I can take a day or two of 100+ temperatures, but an entire week...no thank you! It looks like I might just have to abandon the garden and spend my week at the beach. (I wish)

Today, though, I will check all the irrigation and make sure everything gets the water it needs until the heat abates.