Gardening in the Heat of Summer

We are experiencing the dog days of Summer, here in Southern California. At this time of year, it's usually too hot for me to garden, so I take a break. I'm finding that if I water the fruit trees at night, they seem happier. Something about having their roots cool while we are sleeping seems to relieve some of their stress. On the one hand, the stifling heat is a challenge, but on the other hand, the sun does a wonderful job of ripening the fruit.

The pomegranates are getting bigger. I'm a bit concerned, because many of the small ones are starting to split. I wonder if it's because I didn't thin the fruit? Maybe it's nature's way of reducing the number of pomegranates on the tree, so that the ones that survive will grow larger. I'm not sure. It could also be my watering schedule. I'm keeping an eye on them. The tree itself looks healthy, and I love the size of it. It's just magnificent!

I'm harvesting rosemary today to dry for cooking. It's also nice   in an herbal  tea to mop the floors. I use it all the time is soups, for grilling lamb, and to season baked chicken. I may even make a batch of soap with it! It looks so pretty and natural in homemade soaps. I like the texture and fragrance that it adds.

This is the first year that I have had a couple of limes develop. They are so pretty. It's taken the tree a few years to produce fruit. Gardening and fruit growing requires a lot of patience. The tree is only three years old. I bought it at Costco a few summers ago. I also purchased a grapefruit tree and planted it next to the rosemary bush, in my driveway. I love seeing things growing as I pull my car or bicycle into the cottage driveway when I arrive home.

I've had all kinds of wonderful birds visiting. Yesterday my favorite woodpecker returned to his giant poplar tree. He is just gorgeous! He used to stop at the hummingbird feeder, and hang upside down. Maybe I should get him a new one. I had an ant problem with the last one, and got rid of it. For now, he seems to be munching on insects on the trunk of his favorite tree. There are also happy sparrows splashing in the birdbath, shy mourning doves stopping by for a drink of water, and colorful gold finches snacking on the sunflowers that have gone to seed. They are such a pretty bright yellow, just like the flowers themselves.

Carlie has been helping herself to a drink of water each time I refill the birdbath. She's funny. She acts like it's her own personal  water dish. I have found some volunteer plants, as well. There's a watermelon that came up from a seed in the back orchard, this mystery plant in my window box, and a pumpkin sprout in the front potager garden. I'm excited to see what blooms and develops! How is your garden doing?