96F with a heat index of 107. We received about 1 3/4″ of rain yesterday morning so the humidity is up to about the ‘soup’ level. The older I get the harder the heat is to take. Just about 10 years ago I used to work outside all day in this stuff. If I tried that now I would be recouping (hopefully) from a stroke in short order.
As I said in my last post the mosquitos are unbearable. They found West Nile virus a few miles from here so I have yet another reason to stay out of the garden. If it weren’t for the B1 I take everyday I would be an itchy mess. B1 won’t help with WN but at least I will not be itching (afaik) should I end up with it.
One row of Roma beans have gone to seed. I didn’t get out to pick them soon enough so I decided to let them go for a seed harvest. A few of the purple peas? from my Great Aunt Mallie that I planted way back in the early spring finally came up. I’ll save those for seed too.
I did a little weeding this morning, nothing major. I have noticed a monarch just about every morning in my strawberry patch. I’ve let the milkweed vine go in there specifically for them and I found a second instar larva in there this morning.
I’m originally from the Albany, NY area. I’ve lived in NJ for over 20 years but I have never acclimated to the hot and humid summers here. As I get older, I tolerate it even less. But I do love the long growing season here. I have flowers from the end of February to Thanksgiving.
I like hot and humid. BRING IT ON! I can work all day outside in heat, but bring along a cool morning and Im very uncomfterble.