Happy first day of summer! The temperature reached 98 degrees here yesterday, so we are already deep in the thick of it.
I've made no secret that Atlanta summers wear me down (although they are the price I'm willing to pay to avoid being buried under snowdrifts all winter!). So as I brace myself for several months of relentless heat, humidity and smog, I thought I'd try to focus on some positive things about summer.
Here's one:
A gorgeous, luxuriant plant I pass by each day as I stroll to work. I don't know what it's called (anyone? anyone? Bueller?), but it's huge and clearly undaunted by the extremes of summer. [Edit: A shout-out to Irene, for helping me identify this beauty as a variegated canna lily. Thanks!] The flowers are lovely, but for my money, the real stars here are the leaves.
Just look at those graceful curves...the lush, striated greens...the way each leaf is elegantly edged with deep red. But wait, there's more....
Down inside, coiled tight, patiently waiting for its chance to unfurl...a leaf-to-be. Somehow it's encouraging to see something that thrives so adeptly in the brutal sun.
Enjoy the longest day (and shortest night) of the year, everyone!
Happy Solstice back at ya!
Ah, yes. You can the girl out of the Midwest, but you can't the Midwest out of the girl. I'm with ya -- love the Atlanta winters, hate the summers. Great photos, btw
Posted by: Laura P | Monday, June 22, 2009 at 11:16