A hot month

From the July chapter of my book, A Therapist’s Garden.

July is the month of heat, homemade ice cream, and the desire to remain cool. It is an ironic time, as the weather and gardens have flipped into high gear after a long stasis. The warm evenings find fireflies illuminating the background for all the nocturnal creatures. Torrential rains are both common and fleeting, as the heat of the day helps to release accumulated moisture in a loud and boisterous thunderstorm that comes and goes with the flick of an eye.

Summer vegetables—peppers, tomatoes, and beans—have come into their own. Depending upon moisture, the grounds will look lush with growth or parched with thirst. Strawberries have already left most gardens but have been replaced with blueberries, wineberries and raspberries. There is much to look at and eat.