The heat wraps itself around you, even in the morning, like a wet, wool blanket. If I putter even a few minutes in the morning, I’m soon dripping with sweat. Summer in Austin. I’m not sure I’ll ever make peace with it.

These hombres don’t mind the heat. I found this mariachi trio in Fredericksburg, Texas, earlier this summer. They make me smile—even when it’s 100 degrees outside.

‘Goldsturm’ rudbeckia and mariachis

Accordian player

Trumpet player with audience of black-eyed Susans

The container pond is flourishing, although I made the mistake of adding a water poppy (I think it was called) on the recommendation of an employee at a local water-garden nursery. While its leaves are pretty, the plant was extremely aggressive in my pond, sending out rootlets that took hold of my other potted plants and even the filter in the fountain’s pump. As soon as I realized what was happening, I ripped it and its demon spawn out of the pond and threw them away.

Container pond with offending water poppy—not long for this world

Patio seating with container pond in background

At this time of year, the patio is a place to see but not sit—too hot and mosquitoey. The wasps like to strip pieces of wood off these chairs, which is beginning to worry me ; we have a LOT of wasps, and I can look at the chairs and see where wood has been stripped. How much wood does a single wasp use to make its nest each year? At this rate, will these Adirondacks hold up? I may have to become nasty with the wasps.

Container planting with flying pig

This half-barrel planter may wilt after a long period with no rain, but typically it survives our brutal summer on scant rainfall and maybe three hand waterings. Growing under the flying pig are a spineless prickly pear, Texas nolina, purple trailing lantana, and purple skullcap. That is a tough bunch of plants, and pretty to boot.

Playscape and trampoline in kids’ area

Looking toward the back of the yard, you can see the new trampoline we got for the kids. We took out half the playscape to make room for it. To the left of the playscape are the garden shed and the flying pig planter.