The Flowers In My Neighborhood Weren’t Wilting, But I Was: A Walking Story

Yeah, Another Blogger

It’s been hotter than hell — well, maybe not quite that hot, but hot enough — in the Philadelphia region, where I live, during much of July. And it’s been similarly hot in countless other portions of Planet Earth. You don’t need me to tell you that global warming has had a strong grip on our orb’s metaphorical balls for many years now, and that the situation is only getting worse.

Anyway, the heat was especially nasty in my area on the 21st and 22nd of July, days during which the highs came this close to hitting the fabled 100°F (38°C) mark, ultimately falling a degree or two short. The humidity was impressive too. Nice weather, no? Like countless millions around the globe, though, I had little to complain about. That’s because I stayed inside my air-conditioned home most of the time. Sure, air conditioning is made possible largely by the burning of massive amounts of fossil fuels, thus contributing significantly to the global warming crisis. But what’s a guy to do? Turn off the A/C and melt like a Popsicle? Shit, my balls, which aren’t metaphorical, wouldn’t appreciate becoming liquified.

That unfortunate possibility notwithstanding, at 11:45 AM on the 22nd I decided to throw caution to the wind by launching myself into the elements. I’d had enough of being an indoors wuss. The time had arrived to become an outdoors wuss! I smeared sunscreen lotion all over my wrinkled, age-spotted face and then drank about 20 ounces of water to up my hydration level. Those important tasks accomplished, at noon I stepped outside with one main idea in mind: I was going to walk on many blocks of my suburban neighborhood in search of pretty flowers. The many flowering trees and azalea bushes in my hood all had dropped their blossoms well over a month ago, but whatever other flowers were around (and I knew that there wouldn’t be a whole lot) would have little chance to escape my eagle eye. Off I went. The walk turned out to be a pretty good one, two miles in length and one hour in duration.

My wife and I moved to our abode 14 years ago. And somewhere in the middle of those years I came to realize that there ain’t an amazing quantity of summertime flowers on the two hundred or more properties surrounding us. There’s no explanation for this. It’s just one of those things. I mean, all of the residents keep their lawns and shrubbery trimmed nicely, so it’s not that they don’t care about appearances. But the zing factor from flowers could be far, far better. The color that dominates is green. Green lawns. Green tree leaves. Green bushes. These two photos show my neighborhood’s typical summertime looks:

Yet, of course, there are exceptions. And I dug them. Here and there were excellent flower beds. And here and there were A-OK flowering bushes, including Rose Of Sharon shrubs. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Rose Of Sharon, there having been several of them on the front and back lawns of the house I grew up in decades ago. And they grow brilliantly in my current backyard. Theirs are the only flowers to make an appearance on my property this time of year. I’m glad that a previous owner of my house planted those bushes because I, one of the world’s most inept and lazy gardeners, wouldn’t have taken that step.

Rose Of Sharon shrub in my backyard. This is the only photo taken on my property.

If there’s one flower for which I have an even softer spot than Rose Of Sharon blossoms, it’s the sunflower. Is that because Vincent van Gogh’s sunflower paintings elevated it to iconic status? Maybe. Or is it because of the neat, trim house, in Manhattan’s quaint West Village enclave, that I walked past sometime in the 1970s? Lofty sunflowers grew in front of that small structure, contrasting magnificently with its white exterior. It’s possible that flowers never had made an impression on me like those did. And maybe none have since then. After all, here I am, all these years later, remembering them most fondly. And writing about them.

Yes, I encountered sunflowers on my neighborhood trek the other day. I was two blocks from my house, heading home and sweating like crazy. Despite all the water I drank before leaving home, my lips were unpleasantly dry. I was wilting. Lo and behold, at a corner property I saw them, a long row of sunflowers grinning at me. I stopped to say hello. I took their picture. And I’m going to go back and look at them again after I finish writing this essay. The world needs a lot of things. Peace, compassion and tolerance, for instance. And vastly more sunflowers would be very good too.

Sunflowers

In closing, it should be noted that the blazing Sun and extreme temperature kept things uneventful and quiet in the hood during my walk. The streets were almost empty of people. I saw but one human other than myself. Few cars passed me. And for the first time ever on my strolls in my town, not only did I not encounter any dogs, I didn’t hear barking from inside or outside their houses either. Not until I was about to enter my home at 1:00 PM, that is, when the distinctive yaps of a next-door neighbor’s pet escaped through closed doors and windows. Inside my house I stepped. I checked my balls. They seemed not much the worse for wear. Hallelujah!

(Please don’t be bashful about adding your comments or about sharing this story. As always, I thank you.)

(If you click on any photo a larger image will open in a separate window.)

129 thoughts on “The Flowers In My Neighborhood Weren’t Wilting, But I Was: A Walking Story”

  1. Sheree July 26, 2019 / 12:17 am

    Well done you and I loved your photos, particularly the sun flowers 😎

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Paddy Tobin July 26, 2019 / 1:32 am

    The weather is the hot topic of the week at this side of the Atlantic also with record highs recorded across western Europe. We have been very fortunate to have escaped these extremes here in south-east Ireland and we have had very dull, overcast weather, with temperatures below 20C (approximately 70F) yet we would find this warm and muggy and would wish for fresher weather. In these conditions I have been out everyday in the garden here with plenty of the normal maintenance work to be done. I enjoyed the walk in your company though think that I would be more inclined to remain indoors for the time being.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 12:46 pm

      I was restless. I needed to get outside, despite the strong heat. Enjoy the day, Paddy. Be seeing you.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. MELewis July 26, 2019 / 1:37 am

    Good for you getting out into the real world for an hour to brave the heat! Still, you picked the worst possible hour with the sun at its highest! I also love sunflowers. There is something magnificent about them, even though they can look almost garish with their oversized heads.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 12:48 pm

      Hi. The Philadelphia Museum Of Art, which isn’t too far from my town, has one of Vincent’s sunflower paintings. It’s beautiful, and probably is one of the most popular works in the museum.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Lynette d'Arty-Cross July 26, 2019 / 1:58 am

    I love that row of sunflowers! Yes, the world needs more sunflowers – brilliant idea! 🙂

    Glad to hear that all your body parts remained solid and in unmelted form. 😉 But I have to ask, why not walk in the early morning or late evening?

    Liked by 2 people

  5. lyart July 26, 2019 / 2:46 am

    nice story – I like sunflowers, too. And you are spot on: not enough flowers around, not by far.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. George July 26, 2019 / 3:29 am

    Just waiting for our sunflowers to flower. We’re taking bets on which one will be first.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 12:51 pm

      Hi George. Glad to hear that you have sunflowers on your property. You’re doing the right thing!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. andrewcferguson July 26, 2019 / 4:06 am

    Sunflowers are just something special, aren’t they? It’s like a committee of kids designed what a flower should look like. There’s a house near the Edinburgh flat that’s framed by them, just in the way you describe.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 12:52 pm

      “It’s like a committee of kids designed what a flower should look like.”

      You are exactly right.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Annika Perry July 26, 2019 / 4:09 am

    I see the sunflowers are bidding you welcome … they are glorious! 🌻🌻 Here in the U.K. they are now trying to plant the green patch of grass with bushes or flowers and this definitely makes for a more picturesque walk. Enjoy your walks and air conditioning… here we only have a couple of fans in the house! Have a great weekend! 🌺🌼

    Liked by 3 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 12:53 pm

      Many thanks for stopping by, Annika. You know, I went back two days ago to look at those sunflowers again. And I might go again today. See you!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Alyson July 26, 2019 / 4:43 am

    A continent away, but your neighbourhood’s colour’s are very similar to mine – Beautiful.

    It reached 39 degrees here is some places yesterday and very few houses have air con in the UK so we are all melting.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. joylennick July 26, 2019 / 6:12 am

    An entertaining post, Neil. Relieved (for you) that no part of your anatomy has been affected by the heat, and, yes, sunflowers certainly make a larger than life statement about flowers. You can never have enough flowers…Cheers. x

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 12:56 pm

      Hi there, Joy. I like your take on sunflowers: “sunflowers certainly make a larger than life statement about flowers.”

      Thanks for adding your thoughts. Have an excellent weekend.

      Like

  11. joyce July 26, 2019 / 7:52 am

    Enjoyed all the flower photos. I think you should plant a sun flower or two on your front.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. candidkay July 26, 2019 / 7:57 am

    I’m sure the bees would welcome more color 🐝!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Laurie Graves July 26, 2019 / 9:22 am

    Yes, climate change is upon us, and I think we can rightly call it a climate crisis. It has been hot in Maine, too, but not for as long a stretch. A pity that there aren’t more gardeners in your neighborhood. Flowers and vegetables add a lot of life to a yard, no matter how small. But those sunflowers are grand.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Robert Parker July 26, 2019 / 9:44 am

    Sunflowers are a pretty upbeat crowd, and the seeds are on my top ten list for snacks. Sometimes there’ll be a whole field of them growing south of my hometown, and when the plants are young, they really do that heliotropism thing – facing east in the morning, and when you go by a dinnertime, they’re facing the other way. A fun flower to grow.
    We’re going to need a LOT more trees, too, to help cool things down

    Liked by 1 person

      • Robert Parker July 26, 2019 / 4:30 pm

        Yeah, the newspapers were talking about a new report – -we need about 2.5 billion acres of them. So maybe talk to your neighbors? I’ve been grabbing acorns off the squirrels in the park when I can, and planting them.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Deb July 26, 2019 / 9:57 am

    Brave man to venture out at such a hot time of the day. As I read this it is just before 7am and I am heading out for my walk before it reaches 90 degrees today. I can’t do the heat, and have no AC so I will be one of those cave dwellers you mention in a few hours! Please don’t think me boastful Neil, but my little town has blooming flowers everywhere. Makes for wonderful early morning walking! And I even have sunflowers just outside my window, thanks to the neighbor in the next apartment 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 1:00 pm

      You’re lucky to be able to look at sunflowers whenever you want. Take care, Deb. Stay cool as best you can.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Des July 26, 2019 / 9:58 am

    I really enjoyed reading about your daytime trek, being one of those annoying people who patiently waits all year for the most intense summer heat. Sounds like you enjoyed your walk, or at least the flower part of it, anyway! Des

    Liked by 1 person

      • Des July 26, 2019 / 10:19 pm

        Hi Neil, ever since I was a kid I have always loved hot summer weather. I still look forward to it every year. I’m not quite sure why that is, but I really do!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Helen Devries July 26, 2019 / 10:05 am

    We had sunflowers galore in France…fields of them….but still always nice to see them.
    Brave man to go out in that heat.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Jacqui Murray July 26, 2019 / 10:34 am

    I can’t believe you went out in that heat. It’s been 90’s here and I’m staying inside. I’ve been reading about the extreme heat wave in Europe. Over a hundred and they don’t believe in AC! Oh my.

    The good news about global warming–we are in an ice age (who knew?) and this is a warming trend within in. Back in the ’70’s, they worried about global cooling. So, stick around long enough, the weather will change.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 1:05 pm

      Hi Jacqui. I was in Philadelphia yesterday with a friend. We walked for three or four miles. I guess the temp was about 89 degrees F. We felt okay, luckily.

      Like

  19. Almost Iowa July 26, 2019 / 10:44 am

    When I decided to walk Scooter in the summer heat, I learned that a dog can say, “Are you freak’n nuts” with his eyes.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. sniderjerry July 26, 2019 / 11:19 am

    It was hot here in Ohio too.

    How hot was it?

    I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking.

    And I saw a Robin dipping a worm in a snow cone.

    That’s all folks – nice pictures, great essay. Enjoy your day. Jerry

    Liked by 1 person

  21. northie July 26, 2019 / 11:55 am

    I think I would’ve been out considerably earlier than you for this walk (and I’m not a morning person) 😆 Gold star for dedication though and the photos that resulted.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 1:07 pm

      Hi, and thanks.

      Right, I should have gone on the walk a few hours earlier than I did, but it didn’t occur to me!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Cindy July 26, 2019 / 12:04 pm

    Come take a stroll in our neighborhood! Because we don’t have lawns, we get our “green” fix from window boxes and huge pots full of flowers and miniature trees out on the sidewalks, and lots of us adorn our decks in a the back with flowering annuals and perennials. Trees and flowers not only beautify, they also cool and humanize the city!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 1:09 pm

      You’re right, and your neighborhood proves it. It’s a beautiful and welcoming part of the city.

      Like

  24. Rosaliene Bacchus July 26, 2019 / 1:36 pm

    I enjoy my daily stroll around our garden, filled with a wide variety of succulent plants. Sorry, no sunflowers. It’s been so hot here as well that I escape outdoors after five in the afternoons.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 3:07 pm

      Hi. Thanks for adding to the conversation. A few times recently I’ve gone outside on my deck, to commune with nature, at about 9:00 PM. It’s dark here by then and much better temperature-wise compared to earlier in the day.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. dfolstad58 July 26, 2019 / 1:54 pm

    Thanks for the chuckles, I am glad the boys survived the walk. As I read your post and saw the photographs I knew you would like my lawn. We grew sunflower plants from seeds starting in March and I have sunflowers spread out along with a contingent in front of my house. They look quite nice and some of the heads are so heavy they are drooping now. We buy different varieties so some are red, some yellow and some a combination. The other side of my lawn is a mass of lavender bushes, which I really should do more with.
    On our bike rides, my son and I enjoy checking out lawns in our little city and looking at how some people plant and decorate. One man has a ten foot tall old wooden water wheel! More and more lawns here are turning into gravel with interspersed sage and so on. In the valley here at the tip of the sonoran desert, it kind of makes sense to save water and just use water for your back lawn and fruit trees. We enjoy the quail here, the deer are regular visitors in both the front and the back, and a few years back I found a lovely small green praying mantis.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 3:10 pm

      Hey there. Thanks for the visit. You know, your area sounds great, very attuned with Mother Nature.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. tylerus July 26, 2019 / 2:19 pm

    A lovely post with lovely pics (as always). Living downtown in an ever-expanding metropolis, you don’t get to see too many flowers, save for those you may find in stores, drooping in sad buckets at whopping prices.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. viewfromoverthehill July 26, 2019 / 2:28 pm

    The time to do it is early in the morning. That’s when I walk, but I have cafes nearby where I can have a role and coffee for breakfast AND a walk. I do not do heat cheerfully, and living in a rain forest, even restaurants didn’t used to have air-conditioning in the past, and many still don’t. These days, as it IS hotter, I find myself choosing those that are cooled. We’re going to have to change….
    Love your photos as always. Cheers.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 3:14 pm

      Yeah, people in my region, including me, have been spoiled by A/C. We take it for granted. Have a great weekend, Muriel.

      Like

  28. Catwoods July 26, 2019 / 4:09 pm

    Impressive sunflowers, and all are beautiful pictures! We’re somewhat acclimated to heat in my region but it always packs a punch and I’ve seen people exert too much and get overcome. Hoping everyone is careful and stays safe!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 9:35 pm

      Hi. You’re right about the heat. It can have dangerous effects on people. Staying very hydrated is a must.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. JT Twissel July 26, 2019 / 4:39 pm

    You’re a brave guy! Out here in California to have an English style garden with lots of flowers is considered the height of gluttony – however there are many native plants that quite lovely. Not as showy but interesting. We’ve had a relatively temperate summer – knock on wood – but Sept/Oct are our “summer” months. I really feel sorry for the Europeans….. I’ve been over there in an August heatwave of 85 and it was miserable.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 9:41 pm

      Hey JT. I’ve been to California quite a few times. I love Northern California, which is the part I know best.

      Have you been to the Joshua Tree desert? I’ve wanted to go there but haven’t yet.

      Like

  30. mistermuse July 26, 2019 / 9:04 pm

    Sunflowers look like Black-eyed Susans on steroids, which may be illegal, but I’m not going to report them. “Live and let live” is my motto.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 26, 2019 / 9:44 pm

      Hi. Right, they are flowers with an eye-popping quality.

      Enjoy the weekend. See ya!

      Like

  31. tanjabrittonwriter July 26, 2019 / 11:20 pm

    How can I ask this question without sounding condescending, Neil?
    I don’t think there is a way, so here goes: Who in his right mind would take a walk at noon, when the sun is at its highest, especially during a heat wave??? I can only attribute your decision to the result of impaired cognition, brought on by prolonged exposure to the AC. I am glad neither your brain nor other body parts were fried in the process! 😊
    I am sending you cooling thoughts.
    Tanja

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 27, 2019 / 7:18 am

      Excellent question! I think I had been sitting around too much and just needed to get outside. Anyway, I’m glad I did it. Otherwise I might never have realized that a row of sunflowers is only a block and a half from my house. Have fun today, Tanja. See you!

      Liked by 1 person

      • tanjabrittonwriter July 29, 2019 / 7:34 pm

        You are right, sometimes we have to “carpe diem,” regardless of any sensible objections that might exist. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

  32. America On Coffee July 27, 2019 / 5:45 am

    It is difficult to find comfort in any season. I am somewhere between Spring and Fall.😯

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 27, 2019 / 7:21 am

      Hi AOC. Those two seasons probably are the most popular. Enjoy the weekend. I’ll be seeing you.

      Like

  33. johnlmalone July 27, 2019 / 5:55 pm

    great post Neill and certainly a more entertaining read than my grim book. Have a good week 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Ann Coleman July 27, 2019 / 11:34 pm

    I have a rose of Sharon bush too, and had no idea what it was called until I read your post! I hope the heat wave breaks soon…you are a brave man to go for a walk in it!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 28, 2019 / 7:20 am

      Hello Ann. It has been a hot summer in many regions, for sure. People who work outdoors have it rough.

      Liked by 1 person

  35. cigarman501 July 28, 2019 / 10:09 am

    We haven’t hit triple digits yet here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, there is still time. We’ve battled mid-nineties and very high humidity. We have lovely Rose of Sharon though.

    Liked by 1 person

  36. jeanleesworld July 29, 2019 / 6:50 am

    The flowers have been struggling this month in Wisconsin, too, but so far there have been some pops of color from the wild flowers 🙂 Glad you survived your walk! xxxx

    Liked by 1 person

      • jeanleesworld July 29, 2019 / 9:53 am

        Bummer! I see a number of people grow wildflower species in their own yards. It’s something I’ve talked to Bo about doing, but we’ve got to make sure we pick the right species for our soil type.

        Liked by 1 person

  37. Isabelle July 29, 2019 / 8:02 am

    The sunflowers are lovely! A stunning scene. Those yellow flowers do remind me of Van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers. You have a good point, Neil! The heatwaves have hit Europe as well, including Norway. Take care, Isabelle

    Liked by 1 person

  38. cath July 29, 2019 / 8:32 am

    Lovely pictures, but what a surprise to see that your Rose of Sharon is what we call a hibiscus. The plant I’ve always called Rose of Sharon has yellow flowers (proper name, Hypericum). Don’t suppose it matters, as both are lovely, but I think it’s interesting.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 29, 2019 / 9:47 am

      Hello Cath. I’m no naturalist, so I can’t really say. But I suspect that what I think of as Rose Of Sharon plants can have a variety of flower colors. Anyway, like you say, whatever the plants are, they’re lovely. See you!

      Liked by 1 person

  39. ckennedyhola July 29, 2019 / 5:20 pm

    Sunflowers are my favorite as well. Nate painted sunflowers on a wooden panel for Alex’s room when he was a baby. He had a bumblebee mobile to “match.” I couldn’t wait for him to be in that room. Also, we planted sunflowers in the yard that year–sunflowers all around. I miss them.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. lievelee July 30, 2019 / 8:43 am

    Ok, there may not be a lot of colour in Canadian summer gardens, but at least they look green!!! It could be worse, the grass could have turned brown… No ban on watering gardens yet, I assume??? That is what happens in the UK.. But I agree, more colour in summer would look at lot more cheerful…

    Lieve

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 30, 2019 / 12:18 pm

      Hi Lieve. My region (southeast Pennsylvania) has had loads of rain in recent years. It keeps things green, despite the heat.

      Liked by 1 person

      • lievelee July 30, 2019 / 12:42 pm

        Of course… You’re not in Canada at all… I keep forgetting. For some reason, I always think of you being in Canada. Still, Pennsylvania is almost Canada…

        Lieve

        Liked by 1 person

  41. D. Wallace Peach July 30, 2019 / 10:07 am

    I think these temperatures are going to be the new normal soon. It’s amazing that the flowers are doing so well. The pictures look lovely. Stay cool, and hopefully August will bring some relief. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 30, 2019 / 12:19 pm

      Hi, and thanks for stopping by. I hope you’re right about August!

      Like

  42. roughwighting July 30, 2019 / 4:46 pm

    You brave soul! I love to walk, and since it’s too cold (for me, here in NE) to walk in the winter, I make myself walk every day in the summer, come hell or …. yes, when it’s 100 degrees, it does seem that hell has arrived. But I walk early in the morning when the birds are still singing and chewing at our suet feeder, before it becomes even too hot for them. I go in the direction of the homes in our area that have Roses of Sharon, which I also love. When our first golden, Tory, died, we bought two Roses of Sharon trees and planted them in a perfect spot in our yard, and buried our dog’s ashes in the middle. Thereafter, the trees were called Roses of Tory. To walks in the sun, to flowers, and to air-conditioned houses. ;-0

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 30, 2019 / 6:06 pm

      Hi. Early morning walks are a good idea. I’m on the lazy side though, so I’d have trouble getting into that routine. I love the story about your dog and the Roses Of Sharon. Have you written a piece about that?
      Stay cool!

      Neil S.

      Liked by 1 person

      • roughwighting July 31, 2019 / 5:30 pm

        I haven’t written about Tory and her spot with the Roses of Sharon. Just added it to my list. THANKS. And stay cool! 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  43. eden baylee July 30, 2019 / 8:28 pm

    It’s very hot this summer here as well, so much so that we finally broke down and got air con — after 17 years of living in this house without one.

    Love the heat and your flower pictures. We will long for the heat once winter hits, so we may as well enjoy it while we can. 🙂

    eden

    Liked by 1 person

  44. cincinnatibabyhead July 31, 2019 / 1:40 pm

    When you’re freezing your testies off in the midst of one of those Philly cold snaps in later months. Think back on this little stroll and see what you think.

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Michele Anderson July 31, 2019 / 7:23 pm

    I love flowers as you know Neil and especially roses of any kind. Sunflowers are adorable. They appear to be very playful children having lots of fun. The dog days of summer are upon us and even where I live in the Pacific Northwest it’s getting super hot.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger July 31, 2019 / 8:48 pm

      What you say about sunflowers is very true. They’ve got a lot of personality.

      Hi Michele. Thanks a lot for adding your thoughts. See ya!

      Liked by 1 person

  46. alhenry August 1, 2019 / 6:11 pm

    First off, apologies for being so slow to get to this wonderful post. Blame it on the heat. Yes, we hit the high 90s even up here in Massachusetts. More honestly, blame it on the fact that I have too many blog posts to write so I can escape for a month of desperately needed vacation. In another country. One not ruled by TheRUMP.

    Anyway, love the Rose of Sharon. Do you remember that that was the name of Tom Joad’s sister in Grapes of Wrath? I believe she gets the last line in that tale of survival.

    Your neighbors with the boring green lawns are smart. An in-town dweller, my yard is all terraced garden, and oh god, I should be out there right now dead-heading some plant I can’t recall the name of. Chill your man parts, Neil, and ride out the heat with a cold one.Things could be worse, It could (and will be) winter. Sob.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 1, 2019 / 10:01 pm

      Hey there, Amy. You know, I think of The Grapes Of Wrath as one of the best novels I’ve read. But in a million years I wouldn’t have remembered the name of Tom’s sister.

      I just read Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin. Have you read it? I think it’s great.

      Like

  47. Array August 2, 2019 / 3:56 pm

    You’re more courageous than I, Neil. I’d have waited for sunset before I stepped out for a stroll. As for the gardening and ineptitude, I have two black thumbs. I can’t even make weed grow 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 2, 2019 / 9:35 pm

      Hi there, Jina. Yeah, I should have gone out much later in the day. Not one of my top decisions. But I got to see sunflowers!

      Thanks a lot for dropping by. I appreciate that.

      Liked by 1 person

  48. SpiritualJourney17 August 4, 2019 / 10:57 am

    I am a sunflower 🌻 gal myself. They brighten anyone’s day. As for the heat, I went outdoors in the evenings…you were a brave soul. ☺️

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2019 / 1:28 pm

      Hey there. Right, I think that sunflowers have a bigger effect on many people than any other flower. Their imposing size is part of it. They are friendly giants.

      Like

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