Summer heat

7/9/2024

Hello, blog friends.

It's mighty hot in the high desert of Arizona, and we feel the impact of the Silver King Wildfire burning in southern Utah. Our skies turned red orange yesterday, and the mountains disappeared from sight.

Poet Colleen Chesebro's prompt for this week is to focus on our personal experience of the season. I've decided to share my photo of yesterday's sunrise. It was quite astonishing. And I've written a Tanka related to that experience.

Shifting to my garden, I've included a couple photos of my pumpkin patch. Who knew that a few seeds could take over the yard - rocks and all. I'm shocked every day by the speed at which these plants grow. Pumpkins seem to like the heat, even though they wilt midday when temps hit 100 degrees. My pumpkin Tanka is also below.

a red sunrise warns

fires burn across the mountains

hawks fly high and screech

creatures big and small alert

the threat of volatile winds

in the morning light

she stretches her arms out wide

looking for water

she hides her fruit under leaves

protecting her sweet babies

I hope you have a wonderful week. And if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you have a good air-conditioned. It seems the summer heat is with us for several more weeks. 🌞

36 Comments

Priscilla Bettis link

7/10/2024 05:39:15

Thanks for sharing your poetry, Gwen. I'm praying for those battling the fire(s) in Utah!

Gwen

7/10/2024 15:17:25

It doesn't take much to spark a fire this summer. It's already 105 in our area, and it's probably hotter in southern Utah. 😔

Tim Dittmer link

7/10/2024 08:43:09

It's good that the fire is across the mountains, Gwen. I hope it stays over there. Your poetry and pictures are fantastic.

Gwen

7/10/2024 15:18:00

Thanks so much, Tim. I'm glad you enjoyed them. 🌞

Liz Gauffreau link

7/10/2024 09:45:56

Your tanka captures the feeling of those wildfires perfectly. I pray they are soon under control with no loss of life or property. Our pumpkin patch is just getting started. It was out of control last year, but we got a lot of pumpkins our of the deal.

Gwen

7/10/2024 15:19:07

Thank you, Liz. This is the first time I've planted pumpkin seeds, and I'm daily amazed by the growth.

Balroop Singh link

7/10/2024 12:08:33

So realistic Gwen! A perfect description of summer. We are in the same boat with wildfires around us and excessive heat warnings.

Gwen

7/10/2024 15:20:05

Thank you, Balroop. It's unnerving to see the gray skies and realize that fires are burning - somewhere. 🌞

Dan Antion link

7/10/2024 15:04:35

Fantastic photo. I'm sorry for the destruction involved. Nature always finds a way to amaze us.

We have pumpkins all over our yard. Plated by a squirrel that picked them up from the birdseed we put out. We let them grow and if any fruit survives, we cut it open in the fall for the critters to feast on.

Gwen

7/10/2024 15:21:17

That's a great idea, Dan. There are plenty of little creatures around our home, and I will gladly share the harvest with them. 🌞

willowdot21 link

7/10/2024 15:25:40

I do love both of your verses they are so calming and your photos are amazing 😍😍

Gwen

7/10/2024 19:04:25

Thank you for the kind words, Willow. ❤️

Thomas Wikman link

7/10/2024 16:11:15

We are having strange weather here in Texas too. Smoke particles from a wildfire may not be a good sign and not healthy but you do get beautiful sunrises. Your beautiful poem captures that reality very well.

Gwen

7/10/2024 19:05:35

Thanks so much, Thomas. It seems many areas in the U.S. are dealing with weather concerns. I hope all is well with you and yours. 🌞

Annette Aben

7/10/2024 16:14:56

nature is fascinating

Gwen

7/10/2024 19:06:00

So true, Annette. I'm daily in awe. 🌞

Mark Bierman link

7/10/2024 18:23:43

Beautiful sunrise and poem, Gwen.

Gwen

7/10/2024 19:06:24

Thank you, Mark. 🌞

Joy link

7/11/2024 04:30:42

The photo and the poem are lovely, Gwen. My grandmother used to grow pumpkins in rural Alabama. They seemed to take over everything near them, but they are such a happy plant.

Gwen

7/11/2024 06:06:04

Thanks so much, Joy. You are sooo right - they are happy plants. Even my hubby goes out to check on how much they've grown overnight. 🌞

Pat Garcia link

7/11/2024 05:48:02

Hi,
The sunrise is beautiful. It makes me think of the sunrises in Georgia.
Shalom shalom

Gwen

7/11/2024 06:07:02

Thank you, Pat. I can imagine the beautiful sunrises in Georgia. 🌞

Kerfe

7/11/2024 06:48:15

Beautiful but deadly. I hope your air clears soon.

Gwen

7/11/2024 14:08:33

Thank you, Kerfe. It is beautiful...🌞

Yvette M Calleiro link

7/11/2024 14:18:33

Great poems, Gwen! The heat is sweltering over here as well. Wildfires always break my heart for the animals who live there. :'( I hope your watermelons are very juicy.

Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

Gwen

7/12/2024 09:52:57

Thank you, Yvette. I think this is one of the hottest summers I've experienced. I hope you have plenty of beach time. 😊

Jules link

7/12/2024 09:02:42

I remember my first garden - I planted giant marigolds to edge a few tomato plants... They grew bigger than the tomatoes!

I've seen some recipes with Squash blossoms.... enjoy!

Gwen

7/12/2024 09:54:46

Thank you, Jules. One of my neighbors recently brought up squash blossom recipes. I'll definitely look into now! 😊

Marsha link

7/13/2024 12:56:28

Hi Gwen, We were caught in our own wildfire last week coming back from Scottsdale. It took three hours instead of 90 minutes to get back home! They closed the freeway going southbound. I felt the heat coming through Vince's window from the fire on the other side of the southbound freeway, it was that intense. I can't imagine being a firefighter. Great poem that described the weather perfectly. Good luck to your little babies watermelon?

Gwen

7/15/2024 20:35:53

Oh, my goodness, Marsha. That had to be scary! With the high temps, fire is always a worry. I'm glad you are okay. Hugs!

Rall link

7/13/2024 14:23:03

Stay safe during the bush fire season. Lovely tribute to pumpkins...delicious prolific and reliable...every garden should have them.

Gwen

7/15/2024 20:36:28

Thank you, Rall. I've become quite attached to them. 🌞

Colleen link

7/14/2024 10:19:02

Gwen your poetry is delightful! You’ve captured the season perfectly (in Arizona). I remember all those fires out west. It was hard to breathe. Be safe. I loved seeing your pumpkins. I had the best garden when we lived in Prescott Valley. LOL! 🩵

Gwen

7/15/2024 20:38:11

Thank you, Colleen. Who knew vegies could grow among the rocks?! I certainly didn't. It's been fun discovering a different form of gardening. 🌞

Selma Martin

7/16/2024 04:36:13

Your pumpkins are looking well. Gorgeous. Bet this heat will grow them to full size in no time. your tanka, wonderful. The photos are an added delight. Bless you.

Jacqui link

7/16/2024 08:26:20

Lovely Tanka, Gwen. Sorry I'm late to the party. WP--again--is busy deleting my subscriptions. Your garden pictures do provide a bit of coolness to the heat. I appreciate that.

Summer heat

Leave a Reply.

Archives