I've lived up and down SW Ontario's peninsula my entire life, so I'm no stranger to humidity. In these parts hot, soupy days at the end of July are the norm; if they
don't happen each year people start grumbling things about us not having had a "proper Summer," myself included. Do not, however, mistake me for a fan of this sort of thing. Sun and heat are one thing - air one can swim in? That's another matter entirely.
My friend Matt recently returned from a trip to the Southwestern United States - somewhere I've never been. He described the dry heat of the desert as being almost sneaky - perspiration wicks away from one's body so quickly that one doesn't even realize that they've been sweating - until it's too late. Dangerous if one's not used to it or ill-prepared for it, or both. "I almost missed the humidity," he said.
Well, that makes one of us - though I don't hear the garden complaining. Humidity means happy plants and happy plants mean lots of happy bugs. And I know all too well that lots of happy bugs means lots of plump feathery birds which means lots of sleek happy raptors - all of which makes me happy, so I suppose I should, in the words of Joy Turner, just "quit my bitchin'."
I've lived up and down SW Ontario's peninsula my entire life, so I'm no stranger to humidity. In these parts hot, soupy days at the end of July are the norm; if they don't happen each year people start grumbling things about us not having had a "proper Summer," myself included. Do not, however, mistake me for a fan of this sort of thing. Sun and heat are one thing - air one can swim in? That's another matter entirely.
My friend Matt recently returned from a trip to the Southwestern United States - somewhere I've never been. He described the dry heat of the desert as being almost sneaky - perspiration wicks away from one's body so quickly that one doesn't even realize that they've been sweating - until it's too late. Dangerous if one's not used to it or ill-prepared for it, or both. "I almost missed the humidity," he said.
Well, that makes one of us - though I don't hear the garden complaining. Humidity means happy plants and happy plants mean lots of happy bugs. And I know all too well that lots of happy bugs means lots of plump feathery birds which means lots of sleek happy raptors - all of which makes me happy, so I suppose I should, in the words of Joy Turner, just "quit my bitchin'."
10 comments:
My husband is from Chatham and when I first went there for a visit in the summer I was overwhelmed by the humidity. Nothing like it anywhere else in Ontario...
They're talking about the humidex going up to 50C today (over 120F). I don't remember ever having a humidex this high in southern Ontario (I'm outside of Toronto, but I grew up in Sarnia). Feeling hot hot hot!
As a resident of the SW US desert, I have to say that your friend is definitely correct. The dry air is deceptively hard to live in, especially if you aren't used to it. Fortunately, having grown up here, I am used to it and know how to deal with it, so if you stick me in a place with even low humidity I am thoroughly miserable.
-+Love the flowers today, the rain has ruined our roses. That first poppy is wonderful.
The Southwest can have monsoon rains which makes for even kookier weather as the arid climate causes any water from the thunderstorms to disappear within minutes. I can't stand muggy summer weather but as a coastal Northern Californian I'm really not used to hot weather at all. My only complaint is that my foggy neighborhood is too cold to grow tomatoes easily.
I hate muggy weather - give me Arizona any day! Dry heat agrees with me (although maybe because since I'm a singer I'm very conscious of staying hydrated.) But humidity is definitely better for the garden. Your roses are breathtaking!
I had to laugh! It's all so relative. I grew up in D.C. where the summers were always in the high 90's , both temperature (Farenheit)and humidity (wet!) I now live in the south of Portugal where the temps are a touch cooler and typical summer humidity was in the 30's. (Winters, for the record are very high humidity. No snow to blot it up.) This year our humidity has been hovering for two months in the 50% range and I think I'm going to melt! Of course there are very few massive green shade trees here to help you feel cooler.
On to nicer things. That poppy in your first photo is absolutely spectacular. I love it. Is it a particular variety or from one of those random mixed seed packs? I've never seen one like it. The last time I bought a random pack my husband threw it on a dirt pile and we had poppies of all shapes and sizes, including pale pink and pale blue minis. They are so wonderful.
More beauties! You certainly capture it perfectly!
I love your garden pictures. You really have some lovelies!
Your poppies take my breath away,they are gorgeous! I have so many questions for you about them. I live near Boston, bought plants, they are still alive, but only one bloomed. Did yours grow from seed or plants?Do you do anything special to them? Besides knitting your wonderful patterns,your garden is beautiful!! Thank you for sharing the pictures,I am enjoying them since mine don't grow...Wendy
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