Julia Childs Florabunda, You Have Survived

Many of you blog followers will remember Julia Childs Floribunda I and II.  My first attempt to grow and enjoy roses has been a challenge because of the heat and lack of rain.  Here  in the deep south we have had two or three weeks of temperatures in the high 90's compicated with enough humidity to push those temperatures into the 106, 107 range.  These beauties sit all day in west sun and I was concerned they would not survive the heat or my neophyte pruning.  I am proud to say they are surviving and looking healthy with tons of blooms.  I am so encouraged I may actually plant them in the ground next year.

Talk about surviving the heat and humidity.  This heat and humidity cause all kinds of changes for deep south residents.  We enjoy the summer harvest by making foods and drink that are refreshing and require no cooking.  Tomato sandwiches, with or without the bacon, cucumber sandwiches with cream cheese, cucumber pickles, watermelon:  this can be eaten right from the rind or made into tempting margaritas (  see previous article). 

We become slaves to the heat by wearing clothes we never would nor should otherwise wear.  Old women in tank tops, strapless sun dresses and swimsuits that expose that part of our arms that are not ever attractive after the age of twenty five.  Shorts and skirts that expose our spider veins and dimply fat thighs.  Hats that are too large to be real.  We walk around with no make up to enhance our aged skin and opt for sunscreen to keep our faces supple.  Our legs are naked.  We let our hair do whatever it may for the perspiration would undo it anyway.  We all accept this and make no comment as we are all in this together.

When we are given a reprieve from the oppressive heat and lack of rain for a few days, it feels like a cold front.  We would love to spend time on our porches and patios. but those devilish black mosquitoes allow us no relief.  We suffer with welts and itching if we insist on enjoying a little summer cool. 

These are the dog days of summer.  We don't remember this happening until August or September.  People don't act the same when the weather is above 105.  We become isolated , angry and untouchable. 

Don't visit the deep South during a heat wave.  You will find yourself becoming one of us.  Even those of us who have spent our wholes lives here forget from summer to summer how nasty it can be.  We become more attractive and more approachable when the weather is below 95.

Fortunately I have babied Florabunda I and II through a hot, dry spell and they live to provide beauty for another Deep South day.