WITHERING, STIFLING, SUFFOCATING HEAT

Today,  Aug.2, my yard usually would be filled with brazen naked ladies who parade about my yard, front and back with only a eye-catching trumpet flowered covered bonnet on their slender body of a single stem. [Picture from previous year.]

Naked Ladies in Our
Formerly Benign Neglected
Front Yard

Nor have I seen any Naked Ladies in my area to date. There is still time, but peak weeks in my area have always been last 2 weeks in July and first 2 weeks in August.

In a previous post I mentioned unusual turning of leaves of a ditch weed known a sumac (not poisonous variety), a common colorful bush-like weed that exists in a number of varieties throughout U.S. It usually turns yellow to orange to red with a rather large seed head in mid-to late September in my area. 

Sumac, 2009- -Notice varying 
shades of yellow, orange, red
and no seed head yet in sight.

Sumac is turning color now. I further checked several areas near me to see if there was some reason other than heat. In some areas it appears the Arkansas highway mowers may be spray killing some where the mowers cannot clear right-of-ways and intersections. However, I have seen sumac which appeared to be on private properties as well as some green sumac with fully formed seed heads.

Sadly, I am seeing many native trees dying or already dead.

It seems paradoxical to have had flood levels of rains two consecutive years, and at least this year, followed by severe heat and drought.

Meteorologists and other specialties that study atmosphere of the earth and nature's response to various conditions claim changes in temperatures of the oceans directly affect the conditions such as the U.S. Specifically, the warming or cooling of the southern Pacific Ocean near the equator cause conditions named La Nina or Lo Nino and determine more severe summers or severe winters. at higher or lower latitudes.

The same specialists along with geologists and archaeologists also bring into account global warming. In September we will be touring a couple of archeology sites where effects of climate show a different life form once in existence.

I remember a similar Arkansas summer when we moved to here in May 1980 from Texas. It was transitory moved in that at times we were in a Texas apartment and other times, in Arkansas, setting up our manufactured home, or in a local motel.

Snoopy (spayed female), our first German
Shepherd bought in Morocco.
I am not sure who took this photo nor
exactly where we were living, except
except it was NOT in Baltimore.

We had our first dog, an aging German Shepherd female, named Snoopy. Once, while we all were in the Texas small apartment, the temperature was 110 deg.--no idea what heat index was.

The entire complex's air conditioning system failed--not for a few hours--for a couple of days, All three of us, yes, dog included, laid on the floor with oscillating fans moving air across our bodies wrapped in wet towels, Needless to say we were scantily clad.

My husband was finishing his job as a mechanic at a marine business which was closing due to a divorce settlement, if I remember correctly.

I am no expert, only an observer for my tiny part of the world. However, I know all nature is cyclic. Even this concept is Biblical, such as the oft quoted Ecclesiastes 3 with which I now sign off:

A Time for Everything

Naked Lady bud before opening -2009

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
² a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

and further in the same chapter:
¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. ¹⁵ Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.


I interpret "fear" to mean respect. Verse 15 to be the Biblical equivalent of "history repeats itself." Hence, 1980 and 2011 are easily included in this cyclic nature.

[Photos, except as noted, and opinions are mine, and only that, opinion.]

FOTO FRIDAY

FOTO FRIDAY may need to be retitled LOOKING FOR NOAH or WAITING FOR THE ARK!!!

We had 4 inches of rain from about 10 p.m.Thursday to early this Friday a.m. Parts of town claimed 6 inches.

The cold front which collided with a much warmer front moved south of us and is drenching the rest of Arkansas, while moving eastward. Earlier in the week we had 2 inches 0f rain, so now, Friday, we've had 6 inches and one more day to go. The forecast is for at least two rainless days...wait and see is the key.

Update on Small Town Tragedy:
The weapon used in the murder/suicide did not belong to the alleged perpetrator. There is nothing to gain by speculation but to let the law enforcement agencies do their job. The only other clue printed in news releases is the manager's office gave the appearance of a scuffle occurring at some point.

Before this horrific event, there had been two restaurant break-ins and several residences. Small change or portable items of value were taken while larger items of much greater value were not. These events. some of which have been solved, point to the difficult economic times. However, in a small community where 55% of 2000+ population are above age 60, anxiety and vulnerability levels elevate with news of petty lawlessness or catastrophic events.

I shopped in the grocery store today and so did others. The store was closed for two days, and reopened Thursday. Employees were helpful. A local minister was located outside the building, seemingly to help those who need some counseling.

NOW A FEW PHOTOS-not anything special today. However, brief excursions between showers captured a few items of interest. I was impressed there were still wildflowers in full array. I missed several shots as I would have had to climb in and out of our open drainage ditches--not a good idea for 73 yr old 4'10" old lady with double knee prostheses.

Raindrops on Deer Netting
If this photo will enlarge, it looks more like tiny floralettes around each intersection of the netting material. The camera was perpendicular to the netting so the drops actually magnify the intersection of the netting.

Dogwood Assume Autumn Color
I have 3 Dogwoods, two of which indigenous to property: one with red berries, one without, which may indicate male/female dogwoods side and side. The third dogwooda pink/red) was planted this spring after we lost 8 mature trees the 1000 -year ice storm.

Poison Ivy Displays its Coat of Many Colors

Despite being a nemesis to most of us, poison ivy arrays tree trunks, fences, and
the ground in this vacant lot with color,ranging from yellow to crimson.

Red, White and Blue
I spotted these little delicate flower
next to the fire hydrant on my block.

Delicate White Flowers Macro
These are the same flowers as above by fire hydrant.

Sumac - Early Harbinger of Autumn*

Measles?
I am known for not always focusing on the 'perfect' subject. Everything is perfect in the Creator's creation. We are the viewers with the imperfect eye.

The Redbud leaf under the post title has not begun to change to its usual yellow. Something has eaten the lower half of the leaf. It was taken at the same time and after the same rain shower as the deer netting.

*I am not a plant expert. This appears to be sumac. Usually sumac is found in clusters. There were a few sumac-like shrubs on this vacant lot.