Record Heat Wave
June 27th to July 3rd

Click image for enlargement.
Under this Rube Goldberg cover is the irrigation controller for our only 'garden' bed. It stopped working in the high heat this week. It looked like the batteries were dead. So I brought it into the cool, to replace them and reprogram the timers. By the time I got to it, it had cooled off and reset. Batteries tested good! So the cover made from a small cardboard box, packing tape and aluminium foil was created to deflect the sun.
Check the next morning and it is still working, BUT not in the sun yet. Heat in this part of the yard has never been a problem in previous years.

(27:06:2021)

This was installed on the (North) end of the raised bed about an hour before the picture was taken. The temp reads 49oC at 3:45pm. The high temp pointer was moved out of the way so we could see the reading in the picture. Other thermometers in the yard were reading about 38oC at the time.

Last year the people next door installed a 6 foot high "pool" fence between the yards, which created a 12 foot wide dead area between our house and the fence.

Our heat pump condenser unit sits in the middle of the space. It dumps all the heat from the house out there, and with no breeze to take it way the temperature builds.

From around 11:00am to 7:00pm the sun gets around so that it shines directly into this space.

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A lily purchased last year has burst into bloom.

(27:06:2021)

The big white trumpet lilies are starting to bloom too.

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Beside the lilies a dahlia has its first blossom.

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The annual poppies aren't doing very well, but there are a few small ones blooming here and there.

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One of the small dahlias is also blooming.

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In the side yard the red hot poker is enjoying the heat. The fence is the reason this area is hot this year.

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The hydrangea blossoms are starting to open.

(28:06:2021)

There will be LOTS of white lilies.

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Standing back to see the whole yard. The big ornamental cherry tree provides welcome shade.

(28:06:2021)

The tiger lilies like the heat.

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The orange and white one is still blooming too.

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This is the first daylily to appear.

(28:06:2021)

The mid-season plant starter is back! New grape tomatoes, and lettuce starts.

(29:06:2021)

This is new! The rhododendron outside our front door is severally sun burnt after a couple of days of 30+oC weather.

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While processing the picture above, Allan remembered that there was likely an 80% shade cloth (left over from gardens in Kelowna) that had never been used in Courtney. Now it likely should not be lying directly on the plant BUT there is so much damage as it is why not?

(29:06:2021)

Elsewhere in the front yard - one of the clematises that we cut off last fall has started to bloom.

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Another daylily is blooming.

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Beside it there's another lily. This one is much darker in real life.

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And this small patch of dianthus appears to like the neat.

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