triple digit refreshment

a contradiction if ever there was one.  No I have not suffered a touch of heat stroke nor are my brain cells frozen from sticking my head in a bucket of ice water.  I know the only thing refreshing about 100 degree temperatures is a cool body of water!  Short of that, there is the garden at dawn & thus the post title. 

It takes drastic temperatures (like what we've been experiencing) to get a total non-morning person out of bed at dawn!  I must admit ~ the photography at this hour can NOT be beat.  Nothing like soft new light to make even the most parched garden look "almost" refreshed.

Asiatic Lily 'Elodie'

or more correctly "what was supposed to be 'Elodie.'"   Other than the color, it does not appear to be 'Elodie' at all since it's not double. :-(

Still, whatever the name, the light pink blooms appear almost ethereal in early morning.

Even a hot red like Monarda 'Jacob Cline' looks cool at that time of day.

Amazing the difference 8 hours later.

Me, a bonafide heat lover, is starting to wonder if I truly am....

Our state tied it's all time record high today (105) and I think I felt every single degree in trickling water droplets down my body.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate ~ that's our new mantra.  It's hot, it's windy & maybe you've heard ~ our state is ON FIRE.  Eight different fires in all & I'm wondering if it won't stop there?

Photo above NOT refreshing!!  (taken from my front yard)

Let's try a look at David Austins 'Jubilee Celebration' instead:

Maybe, just maybe, in this strange weather year, July will be cool & rainy.  At this point, I say surprise us ~ hopefully I won't be sorry????

 

 

Comments

[Dana]

Awesome photos as usual! The one of the fire is so scary! Hope you are surviving the smoke...

[Gail]

Kathleen, What a summer it's been and continues to be! Thank you for heading out in the heat to take your fabulous photos.

[Victoria]

My niece lives in Denver and she says she's burning up. We've all heard about your fires but that's too close to home!
We've always loved early mornings and evenings for viewing and photographing our garden. Luckily we are morning people (I start work at 5AM most days).
At least your garden looks great.

[Janet, The Queen of Seaford]

Those fires are so frightening, hope the weather turns and rains come. Your heat temperatures are incredible!!
Love your lily even it isn't a double.
(I hate getting up early)

[tina]

I had heard Colorado is on fire. It's so awful! Hydration for everything is in order for sure. Beautiful photography-dawn makes it all look great!

[Lona]

So scary Kathleen to have so many fires nearby. I have seen them on the news and it is just heartbreaking. I wish we all could get some of Florida's rain.We have had two days of a cool off but back into the nineties by midweek. Nothing like your temperatures though.
Well the petals and color looks like Elodie but it is missing the double petals. Maybe it is just a fluke and they will be alright next year when it blooms. Anyway it is still lovely.
Your Lavender is so pretty and I love that shot. Mine all died over winter in one of our mildest winters. Strange. LOL!
Stay safe.

[sweetbay]

I'm not a morning person either but so wish I was! I agree the early morning light can't be beat! Your photos are so lovely.

How far away are the fires from you? We've gotten unbelievable smoke from peat fires near the coast, over 2 hours away. From the smoke I would have guessed 2 farms away!

[Grace]

Oh, this just makes me so sad, Kathleen. My heart goes out to you. I pray you get relief soon. If it's any consolation, your photos are amazing. Take care.

[Jennifer]

Hi Kathleen, It may be hot, but your dawn-lit images look refreshingly cool. It was wonderful here on Monday and Tuesday. Breezy and no humidity. Perfect summer days! Then today, the heat and humidity returned. We are not quite as hot as you, but almost!