The first of July signals summer has settled here in coastal Virginia. Hazy mornings and afternoon thunderstorms offer brief relief from the heat which suddenly surrounds us. You can feel the heat rising with the sun, temperatures jumping several degrees each hour while those of us with business outside race the sun to finish as early as we can. We are fortunate to have trees, and pools of shade during much of the day.

Even in the shade, and with a breeze, humid air makes it feel hotter than perhaps it is. We have drifted into the season of ‘air you can wear,’ literally. Clothing often gets left in a basket in the garage because it is too wet to wear indoors. It is a great environment for our plants, but presents challenges to everyone working and playing out of doors. Gardeners are usually working and playing at the same time, enjoying our time tidying up the garden, watering and fixing whatever problems we might find.

It makes sense to streamline that work as much as possible, especially during July and August. Which is one reason why I enjoy growing plants with bright and interesting leaves that last. Most flowers need dead-heading as they fade. (Isn’t that a terrible term for it?) But as beautiful as flowers may be while in bloom, most look awful on the plants as they fade. I’m thinking especially of spent geranium blossoms, here. I usually end up with a fistful of stems as I walk around watering. Neglecting those faded brown flowers looks gnarly and takes away from everything else. Clipping flowers takes time; time I’d much rather spend admiring what is growing well.

So in July and August, I’m loving those plants with interesting leaves. They want for little except for watering and an occasional feed with fish emulsion. Yes, we still have flowers. I love the ones that groom themselves, or that we let go to seed for the birds. But for dependable color, give me a Caladium or a Begonia. Variegated geraniums, variegated ferns, silver leaved plants and an abundance of herbs carry me through the heatwaves of summer. I can water them at dawn, and then take refuge inside until dusk.

Surviving a Southeastern summer is a skill that requires a lifetime to perfect. I grew up in those days before air conditioning was common, and lived in some homes and apartments without it even after it was. Heat makes everything else more intense: fragrances, flavors, feelings- and every stray breeze or rain shower that much more appreciated.

Now I stand in the cool indoors and watch cardinals bathe in the cool water I’ve left for them on the patio. We watch bees taking shelter in Hibsicus flowers as they drink their fill of warm, sweet nectar. We listen for the birds up and chatting before sunrise, and give thanks when the day finally cools off at dusk. It is July- a month to endure- and there is still so much for which to be grateful.

With appreciation to Jim Stephens of Garden Ruminations, who hosts Six on Saturday each week.

You might enjoy my new series of posts, Plants I Love That Deer Ignore.

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