We are on the downhill side of the dog days of summer right now. Many of you may have heard this term but not quit understand it. The dog days refers to a time roughly July 2nd through August 12th. I say roughly because the dates fluctuate from year to year.
It is used to refer to the hottest and some of the longest days of the year. I heard it while growing up and the old timers said it represented when it was too hot for even the dog who would lie up under the porch in the coolest place he could find.
In an age of air conditioning this term doesn't hold its value as much as it did to our grand parents and great grandparents. But its root actually isn't based on an old dog under a porch.
While it is undeniably the hottest part of the year the saying actually survives from ancient Rome. It's when the sun entered the constellation of Canis Major. It also moved really close to the star Sirius, the brightest in the constellation. The Romans actually believed the star actually helped to create more heat and that was why it was so hot during this time period.
So while none of this applies to us today thanks to science and air conditioning, it is a reminder that the hottest days of summer will soon be behind us as we begin heading to the much cooler days of autumn and to our bountiful harvests.
Until next time, keep your thumbs green and your gardens watered, and give your favorite hen a kiss for me.