Sweat, sex, saunas, and summers in the Deep South - all are associated with heat and moisture. This morning at 8AM, already the thick air draped like a wet, hot towel. I'm going to have to get up much earlier if I expect to do any heavy gardening. Most likely I'm done till September. Till then it's about keeping plants, animals, and humans watered and alive. We are fortunate to have had plenty of rain so far this year. We enter into summer with well soaked roots, and the ground is damp for inches below the surface. Despite the heat, plants are still looking good.
Many hydrangeas are at their peak. While I have already posted on both oakleaf and Lady in Red, I couldn't resist a few more photos of these and other hydrangeas in my yard.
Oakleaf hydrangeas separate the lawn from untamed woodlands near the front of our property. 
There are some colorful blooms and foliage along this path that curves through a sunny part of the woodland garden:
On the other side of the yard, A pink 'Anthony Waterer' spirea is blooming near the patio. Blue star juniper and rosemary grow in front of the spirea in the photo below.
And finally, even the dog lot has its blooms! A climbing rose, 'Red Cascade' blooms on the picket fence near an old doghouse. The doghouse belonged to Rock, my dad's black chow who came to live with us when my parents were too ill to care for him. My parents and Rock have all passed away now, and our dog Lily, who has her own doghouse, uses this one as her summer house. 'Red Cascade' is a fantastic low maintenance rose with multitudes of one inch red blooms all season. It grows about ten to fifteen feet and looks great draped over fences. Rock's favorite place was the shady corner under the rose between his house and the fence.
The first day of summer is June 21. By then, we'll be counting the days till fall!
Happy blooms to you! Deborah