Books, Environment, Flowers

This. Is. Not. Normal.

60 Comments

Last week on Tuesday, this is what the thermometer outside our dining room window read.

To add insult to injury, the Winthrop Weather Station gave us this additional information.

This is Maine. In June. Back in the day, June was so cool and rainy that sometimes my father had to replant the green beans because they rotted in the soil. Not every year, but enough so that I remember him complaining about it.

Fortunately, during the extreme heat, we had our new heat pumps, and they worked like champs. They were installed at exactly the right time, and we are so very grateful to have them. They kept us cool and comfortable for the two days the extreme heat came to Maine.

Aside from the alarmingly high heat, the sad thing is the denial that I saw on Facebook. When the local meteorologists posted the heat warnings and noted that these were record-breaking temps, all too many people protested. There was “I remember it getting this hot when I was young.” Oh, really, I thought, did you live in Maine? Or, “It’s summer, deal with it.” As though the extreme heat were a trifling matter, and only wimps complained about it when in fact , according to NOAA, extreme heat kills more people than any other weather event.

Who are the people writing such things? Bots? Shills for the fossil fuel companies? Folks who just don’t want to face the truth?

How bad does it have to get before there is a general consensus about climate change and the will to do something about it?

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On a happier note…it is peak garden time at our home by the woods.

Here is a view of our backyard from above, taken from the dining room.

A closer look.

And even closer.

Now to the front, for a froth of astilbes.

With such visual delights, the extreme heat can be forgiven. But not forgotten.

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Reading

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.
–James Baldwin, 1962

During the heatwave I ordered Mike Berners-Lee’s A Climate of Truth, a much-needed look at how denying the truth about climate change has not only held us back but has endangered us as well.

Even though I haven’t finished the book, I can highly recommend it. It is clear, well written, and moves right along. The book has also made me think about what I can do in my own life to reduce my carbon footprint. There is plenty of room for improvement even for this family of green beans.

60 thoughts on “This. Is. Not. Normal.”

  4. Your yellow primroses…I wonder…I have them too, I got a few plants from husband’s uncle years ago and now they have overrun my garden Do yours spread beyond where you want them?

    Climate change is a thing for sure but I don’t know what to do about it. I know there are things but I feel so inconsequential all by myself.

    1. Yes, they spread beyond where I want them, but I find them easy to pull. Plus, they are so pretty and grow really well in my yard.

      Climate change is daunting, no two ways about it. We are doing what we can, but we are always asking ourselves if we can do more. The answer is usually yes.

  8. So glad you got those heatpumps Laurie and both gardens look so full of colour at the moment 💚🌸🏵 xxx

  9. The deniers seem to think denial will make it go away. Or that fixing it will require sacrifice. Duh. Thanks for the book recommendation. He is Tim Berners-Lee’s brother, the man who invented the World Wide Web (sorry Al Gore). I’m proud of that because Tim B-L is a UU. Your yard is beautiful and the little net tent looks so cozy and comfy.

  10. I love the quote from James Baldwin, we have some politicians who are never going to change about climate change…. Even though we are freezing here in Canberra …in sunny Australia!

  11. Sorry you have to live through this heat, Laurie. Your garden looks wonderful, despite the heat. I imagine it needs additional water on these hot days.

    Wishing you cooler days ahead. And wishing all of us a great awakening–and resolution to face the (climate) elephant in the room.

  12. Every time I see your little anti-mosquito gazebo on your patio I smile. It’s such a creative idea, and a great way to allow patio-sitting in the evening. Our mosquitos aren’t bad right now, but we are experiencing a good dose of Saharan dust. It’s a yearly occurrence, but so far we haven’t gotten the lovely golden sunsets that sometimes come because of it. It’s amazing to think of the winds that carry it so far.

  18. As you know, I am no denier, but I have been surprised at meteorologists reports that in June we did not reach the summer of ’76 when my bare feet in London burnt on the tarmac.

  19. I am so glad your heat pumps are working well. That heat must be very hard to bear. I am bewildered by the deniers too but if they can’t see it I doubt if we can say anything to change their minds. There is always more we, as individuals, could do and maybe some things we realistically can manage to do. We do our best. Enjoy your garden – no point missing out on what is still good.

    1. I love “no point missing out on what is still good.” Such good advice!

      The heat is very hard to bear. I am a northern woman and prefer cold to heat. Thank goodness for the heat pumps. They make life bearable when there is extreme heat.

      The deniers are discouraging. At what point, I wonder, will they stop denying? Will they ever?

      1. I find heat difficult too. When it is cold I can put on extra layers or sit by the fire (or both!) but when it is hot it can be hard to keep cool. Air conditioning is hardly ever available here except in some posh cars.

  20. I love the summer (my circulation is very poor), but the current heatwave is a little too much even for me. We’re into the 30s over here in terms of Celsius (equivalent to 90+ in Fahrenheit), so I can’t imagine how oppressive it must be with you…

    1. I am sure the warmth feels very good when you have poor circulation. But 90 is too much. What the heck! Never used to be like this in Maine, and I expect the same is true for you.

  21. Goodness, that was warm. I ignore the naysayers and trolls on FB. The weather is changing. I’ve noticed it when I said we had rain, rain and rain for months. Now the extrememheat. WE don’t have aircon because we never used to need it. Always had a stiff breeze from the Atlantic oncean on our doorstep.

    The climate is changing and some people are in denial. I don’t know about you guys in Maine, but when I was growing up in England I remember we had ‘proper’ seasons. Not so now.
    Many years ago we were warned about the hole in the ozone layer … I can’t remember when I last heard any updates.

  23. It’s bad here too, we’re currently into our second heatwave of the summer and it’s only 1 July. Last night was horrendous…right now I’m totally jealous of your heat pump in its “cooling mode”.

    1. Very sorry to read that you too are enduring a heatwave and it’s only July 1. What the heck! Those heat pumps are a huge help. So glad we have them.

  24. “Who are the people writing such things? Bots? Shills for the fossil fuel companies? Folks who just don’t want to face the truth?”

    All of the above.

  25. I’m really shocked about the changes in our weather every year and that people don’t take this seriously when you can barely go one day without someplace in this country having a horrible weather event. I’m glad the heat pumps helped during the heatwave! Your yard looks beautiful and I’ve added the book to my list!🙂

  27. You have definitely a beautiful garden. Enjoy July

    Ours is a wet summer. Until recently the temperature ranges between 9 to18 degree C. We see a shift next week, and the high will be close to 24 but with lot of rains.

    Happy 4th of July to you and Clif.

  28. When you have US Congressmen in fossil fuel company’s back pockets, calling climate change “a farce”, it is so disheartening.

    Your garden views and backyard are lovely.

    1. I so agree about oil companies and politicians. The oil companies have done everything they can to keep the oil gravy train going. Have you seen the doc The Merchants of Doubt? It’s an older film that reveals their lies and venal ways.

  29. I can’t seem to edit my comment, I hate when I am accidentally grammatically incorrect: it should read fossil fuel companies’ (plural possessive)

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  32. The trouble with climate change, Laurie, is that if people admit that it’s here and dangerous, then they have to do something about it. It’s much much easier and cheaper to deny it exists and do nothing. Even when it turns deadly.

    On the other hand, your garden is beautiful and your backyard is wonderfully inviting. I hope you get it enjoy it soon. 🙂

    1. Yes, absolutely! Sad, because we have the tools at hand to make a real difference. And equally sad that it’s become such a political issue.

      Thanks for the kind words about my garden. It is at its peak right now.

  33. Your garden is wonderful. I decided a long time ago to do the best I could regarding the environment and try not to let the “theres no such thing….” and “like we xan do anything…” brigade get to me. Easier said than done though

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