Yes, it's finally hot here in the Pacific Northwest. It's our first heat wave of the season. We had been below normal all of June and July, but now it seems we're catching up. The bad part for me is that I'm just not used to it! Yesterday I went to Skydive Snohomish and got in three good jumps and left around 3:00pm. I had sweat pouring down my face and back as I packed my parachute, but the skydives made it worthwhile. It got to 86 degrees F there and today is expected to get to 91. It never cooled down much during the night, and I woke a couple of times, tossing and turning, trying to find a more comfortable position. It was the unaccustomed heat.
The garden is enjoying all this heat, and as you can see here, so are the critters! That's a kale leaf, or was one some time ago. I harvested one whole kale plant this morning and we'll enjoy what the pests left behind. Just look at that blue sky behind the leaf; it's already hot and it's not even noon. However, we've got cooling marine air coming in tonight. It's one reason I like to live here; it doesn't stay hot for long. Usually.
I caught a glimpse of my first delicata squash hiding under the bush. There are plenty of blossoms, which I hope will become squash as well. You'll be seeing their progress before I finally get one ready to cook. The Internet tells me I'll be harvesting these sometime in September, most likely. This little squash might not make it that long. I've got so much to learn about gardening. The monster plant is growing so big and fast I can almost see the tendrils creeping along, looking for more space. Next year it will get MUCH more room! This growing your own food business is an education...
:-)
at least you get a touch of summer, finally! enough to make you appreciate the cooler, rainier days, i suppose. :)
ReplyDeleteSweaty day! I'm in my coolest possible outfit, out of sight of everyone else.
ReplyDeleteThe corn in the garden loves it, though, and I finally feel like we're part of the rest of the country - even for just these two days.
When you're not used to it, the heat is unbearable. I find that every time I get to Tennessee and so far I have never got used to it! no, not even a tiny bit. I'm glad you got your sky dives in though (if that's what you like!) but I'm much more interested and impressed with your vegetable growing. (smile)
ReplyDeleteSkydiving when it is 86°F? Some people go to great lengths to cool down.
ReplyDeleteThe garden continues to be a source of wisdom and fascination, as well as sustenance. Good for you!
Watch those squash grow now in the warm weather!1 You are becoming quite a Gardener!! We finally got a bit of a break from the heat..I am tired of sweating continually all day long. Glad you has a good jump day:)
ReplyDeleteHi Jan,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is a good reality check for what is going on in our neck of the woods. WE have recently done Hannegan Pass and Church Mountain (not to the top). Roger and our daughter climbed Ruth Mountain last weekend. Where are all the bugs? I think we better keep quiet about them. Glad to see where you have been. We are heading to Mt Rainier this week. Dorothy
glad you got your touch of the heat...and that it will change rather quick for you...a healthy breeze made the 93 today feel more in the 80s and was nice...ugh on that leaf, its rather eaten...
ReplyDeleteOkay, that's two days over 90 here, that's enough, on to fall. A Portlander twittered this morning that she was shaking her fist at summer. I'm with her. Glad your jumps went well and your garden is looking good.
ReplyDeleteGrowing food is an interesting hobby. There's always something new that pops up.
ReplyDeleteWe are hot here but four or five days I can handle.
I so agree with you DJan! I complain about the heat almost the moment it gets here, but know it won't be long before it cools off. We so rarely get more than a couple of hot days in a row!
ReplyDeleteThe garden is looking great! Ours is not as prolific as usual. I don't think it's getting enough water lately, even though my husband is watering daily. It's just dried out quickly. Plus, it got off to such a slow start.
I'm heading for the coast tomorrow, so I know it will likely be nice and pleasant weather!
I am really, really not a fan of heat. I am glad that you got three good jumps in. Your garden is looking great. And yes, gardening is always an education.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet it did get a little warm while you were dressed for skydiving. At least the marine air will give you a break. We hit 101 today and looks like the rest of the week will be in the nineties. I've been over here long enough now that it doesn't bother me so much. But when we were house hunting here we did make sure to get a house with central air.
ReplyDeleteHow fun is that! I can sense your enjoyment of your garden. The summer temperature range here in Hawaii is mid-70s to mid-80s with a high of about 88. I usually turn on our a/c when it hits 83. It was very humid on Sunday, a typical summer day in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteOur heat wave is still coming n going. Its the humidity which makes your entire body and every spore sweat - yikes - will it ever end. We have not had aheat wave last as long as this, however, we are not overcome by it with gardens, etc as are surrounded by water. Gee, DJan, if you had done a couple other skydives, you might have lost 2 pounds. ha,ha Nice to see your garden in full bloom and one thing about gardening - there is always more to learn. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteLove the fact that you put the map in this post. The temperatures have been blazing this year. I never thought I would see temps like this in the Northwest.
ReplyDeleteI smile as I see the "squashling" (I just made that word up...but it sounded so appropriate to me as I look at the precious fruit in your photo.) Our garden is long gone...but looking at yours brings back sweet memories. Enjoy!!
Hugs,
J.
It's fun to see you take up gardening! You can't beat fresh and homegrown...:)
ReplyDeleteI already saw big squash at the Farmer's Market. But it is so fun to grow our own. Things are really heating up your way. 90 is my perfect temp. Anything between 85 and 95 I love. I'm just plum crazy I guess!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Great bear sighting!
I have grown to really dislike seeing red on the weather map!
ReplyDeletestay cool
your garden continues to be wonderful
The burst of heat should be great for your garden! Just the idea of jumping out of an airplane scares me. The idea of doing it in the heat...wow, you are one hardy woman.
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhhh, my. That IS hot for The Pacific NW. And most homes have no A/C there either.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is really coming along wonderfully.
Sweat? Oh heck, that's part of living here....as you know.
I just turned on the TV local news and heard "whoever thought 80 degrees was cooling off!" If was officially 82 here today, but with a cool, cloudy morning, for walks and working. I like an excuse for a lazy afternoon.
ReplyDeleteLOL...it "cooled down" here to the mid 90's...and we are ecstatic !!!!
ReplyDeleteGardening is an adventure, isn't it ? You're doing a bang up job though...try a mixture of a few drops of dish soap and cayenne or garlic and spry it on those leaves and critters will usually leave them alone.
I'm so proud of you!! lol
Dear DJan, I so enjoy what you share with us about your first gardening venture. The squash does seem to like it down there on the ground, shaded by those gigantic leaves.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your heat doesn't stay around as long as here in the Mid-West. When I moved here three years ago, I had ceiling fans installed by a handyman and they have made all the difference to my sleeping at nigh.
And I'm so lucky/blessed to be able to afford to run the air conditioner all day and night. Peace.
I'd have squash if the pigeons would eat the flowers the minute they burst out. I just have frizzled stalks left.
ReplyDeleteLike you, heat absolutely finishes me off. Skydiving might be an answer but I think I'd better stay in the coolest part of the garden while it's hot.
I usually come back to life in September, but we've had no heat in England this year and I needn't even bother to find my shorts.
We're even unseasonably hot over here in our little part of Italy. It's a dry heat but still…! Keep cool and good luck with the squash. Zucchini here is awesome.
ReplyDeleteLucky you! How wonderful to have vegetables straight from your garden. We're getting some heat here in Hawaii too.
ReplyDelete