Now the heat is up, the humidity is down and we finally have San Joaquin valley SUMMER with a capital S! The garden is on automatic (sprinklers, drip lines or left to dry out) and the plants are almost all on HEAT STRESS --slower growth and blossoming, but there's some. . .just less usually, and it's okay to let our plants take a short dormancy break in the heat. I think the extra cool weather may be soon paid for in full -- no particular ESP or anything, I just think it's gong to heat up and heat up A LOT. Many of my plants have bark underneath for moisture retention as well as underplantings to keep things cooler. Even our roses here in the valley don't mind sharing with other plants when it keeps them cooler and helps retain moisture.

Now my compost pile needs some extra moisture -- not a lot, but some regular squirts with the hose, and I loved the idea of using ice bottles to protect your worms during very hot weather. (who said that? Someone earlier--look back.) My ongoing metaphor of compost as the layers of our lives also needs some "squirts" of new ideas, short travel, a book in the hammock, or visit a new place, restaurant, farmer's market, or maybe a new recipe. Vacations are great, but not possible all of the time. So we can mix it up right here and now -- what would be refreshing? Revitalizing? What small difference could you make not only in your own life but in your family? Neighbors? community? Think, or okay, surf the web, maybe start a list: THIS SUMMER'S NEW IDEAS. Think: what would be fresh? Unusual? Inexpensive? POSSIBLE? We also wilt in the heat and everyday demands, we could use a 'squirt' of freshness to help ourselves metabolize and use all of the energy available.

Then take a good deep breath. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. . . summer!