Viewing a weather map of our neighbours to the south, it's readily apparent that the U.S. is experiencing a severe summer heat phenomenon. The map I saw yesterday online said it all; temperature highs averaging in the mid-90F to the low 100s. If there's any compelling reason for the use of air-conditioning that could be brought forward as a prime example.

We're going through a heat wave ourselves here in the Ottawa Valley and yesterday Environment Canada issued the usual warnings during such extreme heat events; seek shelter in air-conditioned facilities if  you haven't air-conditioning at home; stay out of the sun, seek shade when out and cover up as protection from the sun's burning rays. An additional caution for the elderly, the health-comprised and the very young. Remain indoors.

So of course yesterday we went off early morning to the ravine to get in our daily hike on the forest trails with Jackie and Jillie. As an indication of just how relatively comfortable it is during those morning hours before the afternoon heat build-up, though we take water with for our two little dogs, they often aren't interested. But since we have the water if other dogs appear heat-exhausted that we come across and their humans haven't brought water, we proffer water to them. It's interesting to see how quickly they intuit and accept the offering.

As usual after our walk, we had our breakfast, then headed back out of doors because I was determined to use some Botanix plant fertilizer along with bone meal and water it well in for our little annual garden at the front of the house. It features mostly gazania, marigolds, strawflowers and zinnias for annuals though a rose shrub and rhododendron and several hostas were also included, and last year that garden was a wonder to behold of startling growth and colour. This year, not so much.

The perennial dianthus we had planted in that newly-opened garden bed failed to survive last winter's severe cold. I've spoken with another gardener who had the same problem. But the hibiscus shrub with its  huge, bright pink flowers we also planted there did, and we're awaiting its bloom time. I know that yesterday, with its high of 33C wasn't the best of times to fertilize flowers, forcing them to work harder when they're already coping with dry heat, but I did it anyway.

While I was at it, I filled up our garden watering pails with fertilizer and doused all of the garden urns and pots as well. Because I was out working in the garden, despite the heat, my husband decided he would do the same, against my objections. At which point Jackie and Jillie were invited to take comfort on their own back in the house. We had bought another hibiscus, this one with vibrant, huge carmine blossoms, and my husband went about planting it in the same garden. And then he turned his attention to one of the hanging baskets we'd acquired months ago, stuffed with flowering ornamentals that we knew were not planted in good growing soil.

We'd converted the 'hanging basket' to a little pot garden simply by plopping it as it was into one of our heavy stone urns, unlike the others that I arrange with annuals that we acquire for that purpose. Which meant prying the root-bound plants out of their container and giving them more room by preparing the urn with new soil and distributing it around the solid ball my husband cut out of the tough fibrous container it had come in. Giving it more room for the roots to expand in better quality soil, which should boost the flowering life of the various ornamental plants it contains.

And then, searing heat and heat-blasting wind burst aside, when it appeared that the thunderstorms that were forecasted for the day would not after all, materialize, all the garden beds and borders got a good, deep soaking to help them survive the blistering afternoon sun as the skies had begun clearing their presence of threatening grey clouds. The contrast between the interior heat of our bodies and the relief we found once we made our way back into the house was amazingly restorative.