After the May and June we had, I was unprepared to be huddled under a fleece blanket in July and sweating through a 95-degree heat wave all within a couple of weeks.

Lots of things are blooming. It’s hard for me to see past the green sometimes, but there’s a color riot happening in the garden this month: reds, pinks, oranges, purples, lavender, and yellow. The long-lasting white blooms of the oak leaf hydrangea remind me of bridal lace. The yarrow bloomed for the first time ever. This is its year, apparently. I don’t know the exact combo of factors that led to amazing growth for some plants, but I am grateful.

The indoor plants are doing well, too. My fiddle leaf fig that I thought was a goner is making a comeback. And one of our peace lilies bloomed for the first time since we got it nearly 10 years ago! After moving it around, it seems like it likes the tub in the upstairs bathroom.  The skylight offers lots of light but not direct sun. No heat to dry it out. Steam from the shower. It has moved into the spa! Don’t give up on your plants.