This drawing of my granddaughter Charlotte by my sister-in-law Rosana perfectly captures the Summer we have together picking flowers, berries and watching the clouds float by.
The dog days of Summer arrive this month when the potential for unrelenting heat, afternoon thunderstorms, and extreme weather define each day. It is the hot counterpart to February, when the cold weather and cabin fever begins to wear on even the most stoic.
Favorite Summer crops such as corn and watermelon are harvested locally. In the North, the lakes and oceans have warmed so even the timid will take a dip into their refreshing waters. Change is in the air, where the vibrant green of Spring leaves has given way to a duller and deeper green that anticipates Fall. But such thoughts are discarded in deference to outdoor picnics and long evening walks in the presence of countless winged insects, especially fireflies that light up the darkness of a moonless, hot night.
