I built and installed my second rain barrel just before the last rain. It seems strange to be adding a rain barrel during drought conditions, but we have had heavy four rains this summer, enough to fill the barrel 4 times.

Some of my okra was rather woody. I didn't have this problem last year, so I thought it was the heat.

The high temperatures have been really wicked on my garden and yard in general. I have been watering some of my trees, 2 years old and younger, plus a couple of fruit trees.

Birds need to drink a lot of water on hot summer days. They pant when it is really hot.