Hot and humid again. As good a time as any for a leisurely morning stroll around our gardens. We've been housebound in a way we're not familiar with, concerned about little Riley who is nonetheless progressing very well in his recovery. We looked up the opioid medication we give him every eight hours and there's a warning that this particular drug is addictive to humans. Prescribed for dogs recovering from surgery unlikely since of their own volition they cannot obtain it. Still, one wonders if he will suffer any kind of withdrawal symptoms, expressed in ill humour. Time will tell; there's another day or two left of the tiny tablets.

He was happy enough to wander about in our wake, as we evaluated and appreciated the gardens. They are nowhere near as lovely as they usually have been in other years. The begonias which back in early July were exuberantly blooming, have suffered and are now assailed with mildew. In the backyard, Bergamot and Echinacea are in bloom as are turtleheads, phlox and Japanese anemone, and lilies as well. A few roses here and there.

And the begonias in the back representing bulbs we've stored overwinter for years are in fine shape, blooming beautifully. It is the begonias that we stuff into the urns and garden pots at the front of the house, nursery stock that was spring-purchased that are languishing. And that is a result of the overwhelming amount of rain we've had this spring and summer.

In the micro-climate of the backyard it is hotter than elsewhere and everything tends to dry out faster than in the front, and we assume that to make the difference.

The lace-cap hydrangea at the front is now in full bloom and its fragrance sweetly permeates the atmosphere. It's now the popular favourite of bees and wasps, even visited by hoverflies and moths. Some of the hostas have lost their luxurious fresh look and have begun dying back, much sooner than they should or would, we're convinced, in other years.

The gardens are still attractive, the red cut-leafed Japanese maple planted last year is beginning to put on some height. The growth of the backyard magnolia has quite surprised us, almost as much as the multiplicity of blooms it produced this spring. It almost seems as though there's a competition for blazing beauty between the older magnolia in the front and the much later one we planted in the back; both are magnificent, but the one in the back offers up additional blooms other than it's spring burst-out, through the summer months.