Dog days of summer

What exactly are the dog days of summer? I've always heard that they are the hottest days of the year when the heat make dogs go mad. Dog days are actually associated with the Dog Star, Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog). At certain times of the year, Sirius is in the sky at the same time as the sun and ancients believed that it caused hotter weather.  According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, this period lasts 40 days, beginning on July 3 and extending through August 11.

As much as I despise the summers in Alabama, this one has not been as bad as some. In fact, this week has been almost pleasant and today it was possible to stay outside for longer than 10 minutes without feeling that you'd stepped into your own personal sauna. We have also received adequate rainfall although people in some neighborhoods have not. It is very hit and miss and whatever forces are responsible, I thank them! Our ground is actually damp from rains a few days ago. And the weathman says cooler temperatures are on the way. I love it!

There is not much going on in the garden but lots of green. Weeds are abundant and the holly hedge from hell needs to be trimmed. If this nice weather continues, I'll get out and tackle it before I have to head back to work in a few weeks.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy