Tuesday, July 13, 2010

SUMMER HEAT WAVE

What's been happening here at Dog Trot Farm? Well, me trying to maintain my and my girl's health and sanity. Ours is a continuing battle with heat and humidity, one of which I am ready to be done with. (I am sure many of you feel the same way too.) I can handle the heat, but the darn humidity, nope don't like it much. A proper Southern Lady I would not make. When I experienced my first summer here in the country I quickly learned my neighbors kept their doors and windows closed, pulled their shades and buttoned up their now dark homes for the day. UGH.... Growing up on an Island I was accustomed to open windows and doors with a cool sometimes cold salty Southerly breeze blowing in. After 28 years of "darkening" the house it is a custom I still find foreign, but indeed necessary. This Fourth of July was the hottest I can recall in years and last Tuesday as I drove through down town the thermometer registered 106 degrees. Needless to say my hens do not do well in these hot conditions. Heat and humidity can do in a chicken in no time at all, precautions need to be taken. I keep the girls well hydrated changing their water frequently. I offer lots of juicy fruits and greens (instead of corn scratch) and mist them and their run when warranted. So far this has worked well. During hot weather chickens pant and walk around with their wings slightly "ajar". When tail feathers begin to droop and combs and wattles become pale, you know your girls are showing signs of trouble. I am always cautious when such symptoms occur. Lets just say I've concocted a nice "blueberry smoothie" to help maintain their health and well being.


With the weather such as it is I have been letting the girls forage through the herb garden. It is somewhat cooler there, and the plus side when they eventually wander out they are scented with lemon balm, lavender and mint, nothing better than a good smelling chicken, and I don't mean a "roasting" chicken. Get your mind out of the oven.
The flower gardens are thriving and since I removed all my roses (sign) the Japanese beetle population has dwindled. Yippee....
The old fashioned Day lilies bow, surrendering to the heat and humidity.
The Irish Eyes are smiling....
This Blanket flower provides a nice "pop" to the perennial bed.

Delphinium and Heliotrope....

Daises..... I really like the shade of this orange cone flower.... doesn't it just give ya such a happy feeling.
And last but not least a handful of strawberries....yup, just a handful.
How is your garden growing?

9 comments:

Kathy in KY said...

Oh My, Julie! Somehow I missed your post this morning, and am now just looking at it. WOW! What beautiful flower colors, and yes I do love the orange coneflower. We have had hot weather, but not up in the 100s, just mid-90s and some humidity. And we have had a couple of days now with scattered t-storms which have helped the hay fields and gardens. Thanks for sharing your flower gardens with all of us - I look out my window and see an asphalt parking lot - so any color and green is wonderful to see. Take care, from KY. Hope your chickens are going to survive the heat/humidity. Over at Life on a Southern Farm blog, Pam posted a video of her son's and grandson's chickens swimming in the swimming pool - maybe your gals would like a kiddie pool? LOL

Kim said...

This humidity is doing me in too. Keep taking good care of the ladies. It sounds like you are providing them with 4 star amenities.
Stay cool.
Kim

Robin said...

Oh, how pretty all your flowers are.

Pondside said...

Now that we finally have summer in the Northwest, my garden is doing well, thank you!
Your photos are beautiful today - the colours are especially vibrant. Of course, I think that the nicest things growing in your garden are those with feathers.

Eve said...

Is that the same blueberry smoothie you told me to drink???!! hahaha! I know how darn hot it was up there! WOW a little too hot even for me Julie! Thank goodness for central air...I can keep my window shades open a bit! I love your flower beds. Stunning and you've really bumped it up a notch havent you!! Looks like you got rain today? Hope it's cooled down just a bit!

Rural Rambler said...

Julie your Dog Trot Farm Garden pictures make me smile this morning! I mean ya can't look at those happy colorful perky flower faces and not just get a big ol grin from ear to ear :) And the girls look like their Chicken Mama is doing a great job gettin em thru the hot, humid, hazy summer. I am so ready for fall I can't even believe it. We were spoiled here in MissouREE last summer!

DayPhoto said...

Beautiful! Your flowers are outstanding. Humdity adds to thier beauty I'm sure. Here I struggle to keep everything wet!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Janet-Olde Crow Primitives said...

Your gardens look wonderful. I am so envious. I injured my back and can't do any gardening right now and mine are just going wild. I'll have to wait until next year.
Janet

Ken and Mary of Fancy Fibers Farm said...

Many beautiful pictures, as usual, thanks for sharing. I was flabbergasted by the temperature you noted. Good gracious. I bet the hens were hot! We live in Texas and it's been in the mid 90s or higher virtually everyday since sometime in May and will probably remain that way until sometime in mid to late October. We have probably about 3 dozen, more or less, chickens and guineas and they've seemingly adapted to temps. As we have quite a few head of other critters, we have several large livestock tanks and buckets around, so they (the hens) know to keep themselves well-hydrated and during the hottest part of the day, they'll spend in the shade, but, knock on wood, we've never lost a hen to heat stroke. Again, many thanks for sharing on your blog.