nature, Photography

August Retrospective

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August is usually very hot at its start and becomes cooler towards its end. Not so this year, here at least. Our opening temperatures were somewhat lower than usual but as the month progressed, we became consistently hotter, especially over the last couple of weeks. Nevertheless, as summer winds down – it officially ends on September 22, just over three weeks from now – here’s a look back.

August 2’s lovely rain-pink hydrangea.
August 4’s gingko biloba …
… and frolicking fish.
The Snowbirds, the Canadian military’s aerobatic demonstration team …
… put on a terrific show …
… while later summer flowers – like anemones – began to put on their own show …
… including sunflowers …
… and mountain hydrangeas.
Wine grapes began to hit their stride …
… as the days became hotter and hotter …
… somnolent and slow.

We’re still in slo-mo as it remains very hot, so our summer may linger past its official end date.

Happy Sunday.

nature, Photography

August 29’s Friday Fleurday

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I love watching the colour progression of hydrangeas as they move through the summer.

The photos above and below are from mid-July when this large, gorgeous hydrangea shrub was in its creamy white stage.

Since this is a vanilla fraise (strawberry vanilla) hydrangea however, it has now begun its seasonal change to pink.

The photo above shows the gentle start of a blushy-pink tone but as time goes along, this colour strongly asserts itself.

I like this colour contrast between the blue sky and the rosy pink hydrangea.

It’s amazing how wonderfully these flowers last and change over a period of about two to three months.

These hydrangeas will eventually fade to brown but for now they look lovely in their cream and rose pink late summer dress.

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

Purple Power

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Lavender loves the Okanagan Valley weather and has been growing and developing well all summer; it’s now being harvested and sold at shops or markets or it and its products are being processed and packaged for distribution all over the world.

Do you see the bees?

The glorious scent of the lavender stalls at the Penticton market can be detected far and wide.

The bees adore these plants and settle on them in their thousands, it seems. Like humans, they can’t stay away from that beautiful summery perfume and, of course, the lavender nectar.

For a while it was seen as a very old-fashioned fragrance but its sheer loveliness and usefulness has thankfully overcome that stigma.

According to aromatherapy principles and medicinal practice, lavender isn’t just a pretty-smelling face. It’s a very relaxing and calming scent that promotes sleep while a topical application of lavender oil can help heal minor wounds and a lavender tea can calm an upset stomach. Pretty great for such a simple plant.

Happy Thursday.

nature, Photography

It’s Warm!

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We’ve been experiencing some late August heat with temperatures in the 35ish range (96ish F). Usually we are more around 30ish (86ish F) at this time in August but if there’s one thing that most of us are noticing it’s that the weather patterns are wonky almost everywhere, it seems. Droughts in places that are usually wetter and rain in places that are usually drier!

Unlike my younger self, I just don’t handle heat very well any more. It’s not that my interior temperature regulator has retired, it’s more like it’s gone into a coma. I definitely get hot easily. I can also get cold easily. Ugh.

But I really don’t like to be hampered by this malfunction and so I gravitate to the shade, preferably near one of the two lakes that are nearby. The lake breezes are usually nice and the temperature probably a degree or two cooler. You can also swim in there too and that always helps, even though the lakes have warmed considerably!

In any case, these are some cooling water views that I’ve enjoyed over the last week or so. I hope you enjoy them too, especially if you need to cool off.

Happy Tuesday.

Reblogs

Reblog: The Survivors

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We finally have some rain. It is supposed to continue through the night. It has been a long dry summer with only a couple of short showers to get us …

The Survivors

In spite of the drought, here are some beautiful garden pictures from Jenn at Still Bitchy After Sixty. Please click the link above to see more of her garden photos.

Sometimes, life is like that.