I stay inside!

Seriously though, get out early in the am or late in the pm. Even those times are hot right now though. It was 80 when I walked the dog this morning at 7:30. She & I were both miserable.

I'll never have to put up with the extreme heat that a lot of you have to deal with. I'm supposed to stay out of the sun and the heat period, so over the years I have planted a Robinia tree which now shades a good portion of the garden. I grow Fuchsias in a shade house, I have a small koi pool and planter enclosed by lattice walls and a fiber glass roof. I also have a wisteria covered pergola, an elegant name for a few posts and 2x4's, which gives a bit of shade. I have a couple of flower beds that are exposed to the sun but most of my small garden compared to some of yours has some shade at some time during the day. Now don't laugh now, I've have a Halogen light on a pole and a very long extension cord so I think you will be finding me in the garden into the wee hours citronella candles burning to keep the mosquitos at bay, watering, deadheading Fuchsias, and doing other odd jobs.

Annette

I really feel for all of you in the south that are suffering those high temps and no rain. We have gotten a bit of a reprieve from it all this week. Normally we are well over 100 in temps this time of year.

I garden early morning and late evening after the sun has dropped below the western trees. I also put a cool wet towel around my neck to sop up the perspiration and to wipe my face with when it starts dripping onto my glasses thereby leaving me pretty much blind lol. I don sunscreen in the morning and bug spray at night so by 9:30 PM I'm ready to hit the showers.

If it helps any just know that it won't last much longer. It's evident that fall is on it's way here in the north.

MeMo

Last night after 10 pm, heat/humidity was 88F/66%. That's a heat index of 98.
The heat index right now is 105, and it's not yet noon!
Most other places it at least gets cool at night.
Plants are especially stressed when there's no nighttime cooling.

Folks, I felt a lot cooler when I didn't know about 'heat index,'
but I always recognized that feeling of walking out into
a warm, damp blanket or in daytime, searing heat on my arms.

Very little gardening goes on here in this weather.
What does happen is in short periods with
longer periods in the cool house, drinking water.

Nell

MeMo, unfortunately fall in the deep south seems to be coming later every year. I can remember about 10 years ago you could expect that first drop in humidity and slightly cooler temps the end of September, then it became early October, mid-October ... the last couple years it seems like it's the end of October before we start to get relief. It doesn't help that I'm getting older and less tolerant, LOL!

It's terribly HOT here to. Drought conditions are getting worse. I do my gardening in early mornings on weekends and late evening through the week. I always wear a large straw sun hat with long sleeves. My great-grandfather-in-law never wore short sleeves, he always wore long sleeve shirts as he said it keep the heat and humidity out. I've tried it and it works to some extent and I don't get sunburned.
Having to water my flowers twice a day and garden about 3-4 days a week to keep everything alive in this 110 degree index.....need rain badly!

It is cool, cool, cool here, barely 68 deg. Is it really August?! We are supposed to warm up this weekend, so sayeth the weather guessers. ; ) Come on out! I'll make up the cottage guest room and you can help me eat the ton of avocados a friend just gifted me.

I hope y'all get some relief and soon. Isn't this tropical storm time for some of you? I barely watch the news and generally just tune into the local weather stuff, so I'm not really aware of what's going on weather-wise lately around the country.

Diana

Oh, Diana! That is torture! 68 degrees? And avocados? (You know they are selling ratty old beat up avocados at the grocery stores here for $1.79 EACH!!!)

I can only garden on weekends - and then it is just a mad game of "catch-up" - because of my work schedule. I have to get an early start because it really heats up fast. It is already almost 80 when I roll out at 5:30 a.m.

I wear a big straw hat - wide brim to protect my neck and ears. And I tie a cloth diaper around my head under it to catch some of the sweat that IS blinding, Memo. NO photographs allowed. This is NOT a fashion statement. As the others have said...long pants and plenty of cover. I long for shorts and tank tops but I know I would fry.

I work til I begin to feel nauseous and dizzy and then head for the cool. Sometimes I can make another short run later but seldom for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day so far this year at close to 100. I work midnights and sleep mornings if I'm not babysitting the grandson. I usually go out once I wake up and have a caffine shot for energy. Today was so hot that I waited until after 4 pm before I could make myself go out.

I roll up a bandanna,wet it, and tie it up around my face and slide it up into the edge of my hair to keep the sweat out of my eyes. I sometimes roll one up, wet it, and tie it around my neck also to help keep me cooler.

I want to plant more trees closer to the house to help lower the temp. The drought is really hurting everything.
The grass is crispy; the veggie garden is hanging on with soaker hoses; the trees, flowers, and shrubs are hanging in with hand watering.

Since we just moved to this place last April (to be closer to the grandkids) most everything is brand new and isn't deep rooted enough to handle such prolonged drought without extra watering.

DH is starting to worry about the well since rain has been almost nonexistent this summer. But, I can't bear to see everything drooping. So I water and pray at the same time.

We are going on vacation next week and I intend to drive home midweek to water. We are going to mulch deeply and give everything a deep watering the day we leave. Before next year I want to lay soaker hoses and put them on timers.

But, I still handle the heat better than I can deal with the bugs. They eat me alive. I even had a fly worry me to death while I was trying to water tonight for Pete's sake!! Can't use bug repellant due to allergies.

Still, all things considered, I'm a blessed person and love love love my garden. It is worth all of the blood,sweat, and tears!! Ah, the dreams I have. So many of y'all have such awesome gardens and I drool all over the screen while I'm dreaming and planning.

Thanks for posting all of those before,during,and finished pics. That's what keeps me going.

Betty

I work til I begin to feel nauseous and dizzy and then head for the cool.

Linda, you're waiting too long to take a break if you're nauseous and dizzy. Those are the symptoms of heat exhaustion which precedes heat stroke. Be careful girl!!!

Linda, natal is right, those are signs of heat exhaustion! Your body has a harder time cooling itself down when it is hot and humid. There are also medications that can interfere with the cooling process, such as allergy and high blood pressure meds. Make sure you drink something that helps replace the electrolytes your body loses while doing strenuous activities. I know it can feel like a nuisance to stop every 5-10 minutes and drink something but it could save your life if you have to work in the heat. And we don't want our garden buddy getting sick. : )))

Now about those avocados -- whoa, $1.79, that's pricey! I think they're around a dollar out here. Which is a good thing because I tend to eat one a day and don't always have a supply from friends. I see you are in Z8 so it's probably too cold for you to grow one. I know they will not live in my Z8. We get down into the teens and some single digits in the winter.

Betty, it sounds like you are making the best of your situation. I hope all your gardening dreams come true and that you share pics with us as you progress towards those dreams. : )

Diana, blowing cooling breezes your way!

Natal and Diana, whoops! You're right! I hadn't really thought about it - just trying to get things done in the very limited time on weekends...further limited by this insane heat! I guess it's just as well I didn't mention the pesky muscle cramps, huh?

Thanks for your concern - I'm really touched! And I'll be more careful.

Yesterday at church we had to move all the plants in containers as the work men are putting in water lines to the garden (yes, I do feel sorry for them!!) - after 2 hrs I got COLD very chilly and a cold sweat. So be careful everyone. Today I had to work until 12:30 outside. I came home wringing wet as it is not just the heat but the extreme humidity and smog out there. Normally I go back in later in the day to water...FORGET IT. I told them I am not going back to work on hot pavement again today for the 2nd day in a row. We were registering 100 at 10 am in the garden center because of reflective heat. Can you imagine at 5:00? We are having to run out every hour and mist down several plants that have such severe leaf curl that they will die from lack of transpiration!

Thankfully I am inside for the rest of the day now. Please pray for a bit of rain for us in the south east! Food crops are struggling and our gardens are so sad. I fear for elderly and babies who don't have access to air conditioning.

GGG

I keep a can of evian mineral water spray in the fridge..or a plastic water spray bottle with a fine mister would do fine too - during hot days I regularly spray my face as I work - it's such a pick me up. If using the canned spray, you can put it in one of those insulated beer can holders and take it with you in the garden to keep cool..

Great minds think alike! Go out early, I wet a hand towel then stick it in the garage freezer. When it's frozen I put it around my neck. Wheeooo. That'll cool you off.
I'm usually back in by 11:00 or 12:00. Lunch and maybe a teeny nap then I cleaned out closets that have been waiting for me. I actually feel somewhat organized. Found shoes I forgot I had.

Hearing thunder now, hope for a little more rain,
georgeanne