OK. We chose to live here. Most of us did, anyway. Some were raised here and chose to stay. Those who have been in the desert Southwest can tell us of days long ago when the summer nights might have been cooler, a time when we weren't reaching new high daytime temps. 111 on June 1st, 2012. June 1st!!!!! This is not a good sign.

Symptoms of heat are experienced by my daylilies. I think the blooms are a little smaller and have less tolerance for this unseasonable heat. They should be at their peak.

Most of all, keep your pets inside. Those fur coats and bare feet can really beat up on the little guys. Put sunglasses and light clothing on the kids and hydrate, hydrate.

We shall work through this.

Well, my temps aren't as bad as y'all's but I do understand the hydrate hydrate hydrate! Dogs don't get to stay outside longer than 30 minutes no matter how much they beg 'cuz there's a squirrel in the tree! They have to suffer inside with the AC on.. poor things. LOL! Some of my roses don't like this heat and don't last open longer than a day before looking like a crispy fried thing outta a toaster oven. My daylilies haven't even thought about starting to bloom... but mine usually don't start until July anyways so I'm still way early. Everything's running about 3-4 weeks early still.

My name is Becky and I am a water guzzler.

Hi Becky.. I see you've been through the 12 step program. Welcome.

( me too. About 64 oz a day)

I drink between 64 and 80. I'm so thirsty in the summer time, Susie!

I suffered from kidney stones last January (NOT fun.. funny story though The thread "Kidney stones are not fun" in Roses forum ) so I drink LOTSSSSSS of water. I drink a minimum of 128 ounces (US gallon) daily, most of the time a little more. That's all I drink.. no soda, no coffee, nothing caffeinated. I do drink milk regularly, too, but not enough and only for dinner. But while at work, water water water. Of course, makes me go weewee WAAAAAAAAAAY too much, too (I know, TMI )

Thing with drinking TOOOO much water, and it can vary person to person, is you need to make sure your electrolytes are in good shape. I knew an elderly (early 80s) husband and wife who reduced their salt intake in order to prevent hypertension (which they didn't have). They increased water intake at the same time. This was a collaborative health and wellness attempt unbeknownst to their doctor. They both had mini-strokes on the same day and ended up in hospital for a few days.

Susie - Yea, it's taken me over a year to figure out my levels. I'm already naturally magnesium deficient (most women actually are), so I take Alive! Women's Max Potency (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UEKH92/), Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc, & Vit E about every 3 days or so. Plus I try to load up on good food rather than junk (although brownies *do* have a bad habit of calling my name, donchaknow..).

Today's windy as all get out.. steady winds at 20mph w/gusts up to 40mph. Bleh.

I also take the ALIVE!

I take Alleve, but I guess that's pretty different.

Just finished a Route 44 Diet Limeade from Sonic. That after 2 pints of water on the trail. DW and I got up at 5:15, hit the trail at 6:00, hiked four miles and got back to the car before the temperature hit 70F. It's been months since I've been out, and every step seemed a challenge. But I suppose it would have been harder still in warmer conditions.

Yummmm... Sonic.. I missed Sonic so much when I lived in NY. No such critter. I had to pretty much give up Sonic when I had kidney stones, though.. no soda. Doesn't mean that I don't miss my Cherry Vanilla Coke.. *drool*

I love SONIC limeade. YUM. Steven the hike sounds wonderful. It's too hot here to even go to the mailbox.

Drove like a madman to get home this evening from the gym.. look at this thread I made: The thread "Tornado warning" in Roses forum

Just saw this and it made me chuckle, as I'm sitting here sipping water! Hope everyone's hanging in there with the heat!

I just thought I'd post a photo of iris taken at the beginning of the month. Some more photos from the rose garden this month are in this rose forums thread.




Stay cool and well hydrated!

Steve - What *is* that wonderful iris? I don't have any brilliant orange irises like that one.. *jealous*

...Steve ...
what Toni said

Thanks. I'm glad you like it. It looked like that for about three minutes one day. I'm pretty sure I got it from Schreiner's Iris. My first guess is China Dragon. Slight possibility that it is Avalon Sunset. I don't believe I have ordered Mango Passion, Orange King, Orange Splash or Orange Impact from them.

The iris steals the show, but a month after it stopped blooming, the gaillardia is still producing flowers.

My mom got me a China Dragon from a local iris grower where she lives.. I should be getting it next month. I need to go to the Iris show here next month as well.

Toni, Good luck with it. I'm betting you'll love it. I find iris to be just about the most trouble-free of the plants I grow here.