258: Slowing down, easing up

(Drooping in the heat.)

It is a hot and humid day here in the Bogs.  Sultry.  The humidity is so thick that the air is hazy and lenses (camera or glasses) will fog up.  It is the kind of day to take it slow and take it easy.

The flowers in the sky (hot air balloons) are making regular appearances again, usually around sunrise or sunset.    That’s when the breeze dies down, near sunrise and sunset.  I’m guessing that makes for better flying (floating?) conditions.  I wonder if it’s cooler up there in the sky than it is down here on the ground.

Last night's sunset

Back to the heat.  And humidity.  I am not a fan.  Nope.  Never was.  I am a cool-weather gal.  Heat and humidity make me lethargic.  It’s a backwards version of SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder).

Drooping in the heat. The sepia version.

Normally on a day like today I would stay indoors, turn on the air conditioning when I couldn’t stand the heat anymore, and not give a thought to the great outdoors.  However, there is weeding to be done in the garden and a commitment I have to meet to get outdoors so out I went.  Into the breach, to paraphrase and borrow from Shakespeare.

Bittersweet nightshade. Found near the cattails at the back of the pond.

I took it slow.  I took it easy.  I strolled around the pond at a leisurely pace, in no hurry to get from Point A to Point B until the deer flies and mosquitoes showed up to keep me company.  Thankfully the breeze came along and chased them off, and I was able to resume my slow and easy walk.  The insect repellent helped as well.

Weeds in the asparagus bed

Once around the pond and then it was up to the garden to do a little weeding.  I took my time, working on the asparagus bed for a little while and then moving on to the plot with the tomatoes.  Everything is growing well, including the weeds (as usual).  Several weeks ago it seemed as if Spring was moving in slow motion, the plants and flowers slowly growing and blooming.  Now it’s as if someone hit the fast forward button.  The plants and trees are having big, hurried growth spurts.  They obviously don’t mind the heat and humidity.

Today's view of the pond from the shade of the purple maple

There is no shade in the garden since we had to have the old elm trees cut down (they died of Dutch Elm disease; you can read about that here and here — the second link is probably the better one as it is a tribute to the trees).  After having the sun beat down on me for a while, the best thing to do was seek some shade.

Branches draped across the path

Under a tree, in the shade, is the best place to be if you’re going to be outdoors today.  After the heat of full exposure to the sun, the shade is cooling.  The breeze is refreshing.

Looking up into the old maple tree

I sat in the softness of the grass, under the old maple, and stared up at the leaves dancing in the breeze.  It was a good place to rest and relax.  To slow down and ease up.

Happiness is sharing a bowl of cherries and a book of poetry with a shade tree.  He doesn’t eat much and doesn’t read much, but listens well and is a most gracious host.

~ Astrid Alauda

Finding sunlight in the shade of an old oak tree

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