Dog Days of Summer

  In the summer, Sirius, "dog star" rises and sets with the sun.  During late July Sirius is in Conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather.  They named this period of time the "dog days" after the dog star.  Betcha thought it was just some mumbo jumbo, huh?

The conjunction of Sirius with the sun varies somewhat with latitude.  And the "precession of the equinoxes."  This means that the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome.  Today dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11th.  My son was born on August 10th... no wonder I was miserable!   Although it is certainly the warmest  period of the summer, the heat is not due to the added ratiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. No, the heat of summer is a direct result of the earth's tilt.  At any rate, I for one, can't wait for the Dog Days to end... WOOF!  Hope your garden has survived the drought and dismal changes that have so difficult this year.  Enthusiasm is not on the top of my list... beach is... I'm heading there this weekend.  Soon fall will be here and the landscape will change.  Now that is what we who call ourselves gardeners live for... CHANGE.  That and the chance to tweak last years endeavors here and there...

**** Did you notice my Bright and Shiny New Award at the Top?????****

Awww was I surprised.... this must mean you really like me...

(c'mon Sally Field, Oscar for Norma Rae...I'm not the only one laughin' here right)

Comments

[Trey Hopson]

Yeah, Sirius is getting pretty serious in beating the heat down on our napes. It doesn't bode well for this year, too. It may mean another one under the shade, or like that dog, in front of a fan turned high!