Alas, spring has given way to summer. In my youth, summer meant a break from school, sleeping in, and sometimes a chance to swim in a neighborhood pool. Those are bygone days, not just the loss of youth but the unrelenting heat, smog, and wildfires that are all too common in California in this age of climate change.
I raced to finish planting the curb garden this week, then dressed it with three inches of garden mulch to retain water. I’ll miss the cooler days of spring and the chance of a rain shower. The next four months will be hot and dry.
Following is a gallery of photos taken on or near the summer solstice.
Garden succulents (they don’t mind the heat):
Flowers in bloom include wild Iris, abutilon, hydrangea, and nasturtiums.
It’s time to shift my interests to indoor activities, like card-making, reading, and puttering around the house between client appointments. The garden is such a draw, though. I’ll step out to do something small and realize an hour or two has passed. Life among the greenery and dirt is soothing and joyous.
Garden views, garden greens: Patio table, garden swing, garden bench, and fence line.
I celebrate every inch of green, along with every drop of water that comes our way.
Gardening Nirvana 
You have a lovely garden, Alys. I adore those velvety-red nasturtiums! Enjoy the lazy days of summer. :)
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Thank you so much, Eliza. I hope your heat wave has passed so you can return to a more comfortable season.
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Thanks, Alys. The heat has abated somewhat but the humidity is very oppressive and lingering. I’m sure a break is on the horizon, however!
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I hope you have a more comfortable Independence Day. I’ve been somewhat gloomy this week, and our oppressive heat and spare-the-air days seem to be adding to my dread.
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What a shame that it’s this hot. The idea of summer being a time to tend to indoor activities seems so counterintuitive to us northerners. Your garden is so beautiful.
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Thank you, Jane. It didn’t used to be like this, but after years of extreme drought, horrific fires, and intense heat, it’s hard to feel good about the moths ahead. Thank you for your kind words about the garden.
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You are well prepared for what is to come. I do hope it will be more comfortable than predicted.
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Thank you, Derrick. I hope so, too.
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Alys, I love seeing pics of your garden and enjoy reading how you describe things. Happy Summer!
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Thank you! I’m unsure who this is, but your comment is appreciated. Thanks for sharing your kind words.
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Your Spring sounds like our Summer and only if we’re lucky. 🤣
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Our climates are quite different. I long for rainy days, whereas you are problem good and fed up with rain most of the time. I’m just not cut out for the heat; the smoke from fires is bad for everyone. I hope you get more sunshine, Lynn.
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I’m surprised that you have nasturtiums. Aside from the fact that I think the wild violets have killed mine, they don’t seem to like summer here as it is normally dry.
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Mine are coming to an end. They self sow and flourish throughout the early spring months.
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That sounds about right
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Your garden looks cool and relaxing, Alys. Succulents are the only kind of plants I’m comfortable planting this time of year. I hope your temperatures up north were cooler than those we experienced in the southern part of the state this weekend. I’m only midway through spreading my own stash of mulch – and I expect I’ll need still more before I can call it “job done.”
https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/
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Thank you, Kris! It’s lovely being surrounded by green, and it’s wonderful to have succulents in the mix that don’t mind the heat. They get by with so little water, too.
Our state is swapping temperatures as we return to another heatwave, poor air, and a new wildfire two hours away. I hope you have a safe and tolerable week ahead.
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Gorgeous garden ❦
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Thank you, Cindy! 🌺
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I always like scenes from your garden. So refreshing after this high desert view. We received a short break from the heat this week. Monsoon season is off with a whimper but at least the cloud cover hand a bit of humidity are helping. It’s interesting how our concern is during the summer months because we all know the risks. I don’t even sew in the middle of the day because lights and machines create heat. Looking forward to seeing what new cards you create. I love them all. Stay cool.
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Thank you, MH. I would be challenged living in the dessert with that kind of heat. I’m glad you’ve had a bit of humidity, but I wonder if that makes it feel worse? I need to post some of my cards. The days seem to fly by. I know you can relate.
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When the heat is high like never before, the humidity does make it harder for me to breathe. High desert is so different than the desert floor. I’ll take this over Phoenix or Tucson any day.
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We’re in our rainiest month but I’m certain they’ll be days that are too hot. Today, it was 25C but it’s currently raining outside. This is the normal. Warmish day followed by a thunder storm. Even 25C or 77F feels too warm for me. My garden requires little maintence but I generally head out really early to water if the days forecast will have heat. In Calgary, they are banned from yard water right now due to the failure of a giant/important pipe. It’s an early warning that infrastructure is aging. They’re in for possible 4 more weeks of major restrictions. Growing anything, especially food is changing in a major way, worldwide.
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Sorry to take so long to respond to your comment. I think 72F with a breeze is about perfect. It’s rarely that way, but a gal can dream, eh? It was 105F yesterday and 103F today. We’re under an excessive heat warning, spare the air alerts, and there is already a major wildfire two hours north. Sadly, I know you can relate to that.
I’m sorry to hear about the challenges in Calgary.
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BTW, it’s Petals Boomdee Daye. WP is so weird.
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I’ll say. Thank you for letting me know it’s you, Boomdee.
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Your garden is a lovely retreat, with so much greenery! Love the succulents. 😃
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Thank you, Cathy. Fortunately, they don’t mind the heat, but a few have scorch marks from the hot sun. I love the variety and the novelty of each one.
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You have a beautiful succulent collection. I’m crossing my fingers the fires are few and easily controlled this year, but like here, I think that may be a vain hope. It’s still winter here, but they’re already putting out the fire-season advisements online.
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Sadly this is our new reality. Predictions are grim, and the worst of it is still months away. Sigh.
I’ve grown fond of succulents over the past several years, and I’m learning new things, too. The biggest surprise has been all the different ways that they flower.
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Your efforts really show, Alys. Your garden areas are inviting, in summer heat as well as cooler days. Here in SoCal we went from “June gloom” and all day marine layers and no sun to almost triple digit heat, and it all changed overnight! I think some cooler evenings might call your name and bring you back out to enjoy your beautiful environment! 😉
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Debra, the weather here also seems to have changed quickly. We’re at the start of a nine-day heat wave. I raced the clock this morning to do a few things when my neighbor approached and jokingly commented that I had about six more minutes before the heat settled in. He was right! I hope you’re finding cooler weather, and I hope, too, that your Oakland family is doing well. xo
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Such an amazing garden you have, I so enjoyed the photos! It’s been strangely hot and humid here in my section of Colorado and I am looking forward to some slightly cooler days (and back to our drier climate!) :-)
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Thank you, Tierney. I enjoy the serenity of all that green and the chance to tend to this space. I’m sorry to hear about your heat and humidity. That is never a nice combination. We’re at the start of a nine-day heatwave, and the wildfires have begun. It was 104 yesterday.
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