Summer is Coming, and Everything is Turning Brown

For anyone who doesn't know Spain, the photo here is an example of what happens when summer arrives; everything turns golden, well, apart from the rivers that is, although this river will probably slow to a trickle in the next month and the golden burnt tones you see in the paddock will encroach upto the river's edge.

We're told by friends that August through to November is basically the bad time of year where the rain stops falling, the rivers dry up, and everything turns brown or golden, and of course the heat is horrendous.

We're lucky being where we are, the temperature is only nudging the low 30s, but up in Sevilla our friends are telling us they're having to endure daytime temperatures in the low 40s.

Actually this time of year is great for me, all the spring time annuals are throwing seeds now, and the contrast between still green plants compared to the grasses that have already turned golden is very attractive. My seed and cutting collection has really taken off in the last few weeks and I can't wait to start picking the tomatoes I've been growing.

The only bad part of summer inching along is that I'll have to increase the watering I've been doing as I desperately try to keep everything alive instead of wilting in the summer heat. Next year I'm going to have some kind drip irrigation system on my patio and probably a lot more sun hardy plants as well. Maybe I'll even invest in a really large outdoor umbrella to provide more shade.