No, I’m not riffing on the new Barbie movie. I just happen to have a lot of pink in the garden now. And it’s hot here because of a heat dome that continues to wander back and forth across the Gulf Coast and Texas. We’re going on three weeks with temps above 96°F every day, with several days hitting 100°. Add the humidity, and we’re in sauna-like conditions.

CLERODENDRUM: GLORY BOWER, CASHMERE BOUQUET

Enough of my complaining about the heat! Let’s get to the hot pink flowers. The top photo shows a stand of clerodendrum topped by clusters of pink flowers. The bees and butterflies have really been enjoying them. The second picture shows how they open in progression from bottom to top.

LAGERSTROEMIA: CREPE MYRTLE

Although my tall white Natchez crepe myrtle is blooming, it’s hard to get a good shot of the blossoms, which are at least 30 feet in the air. But I can show you this smallish Prairie Lace that stays about 10 or 12 feet tall. I love the bi-color blooms of deep pink fringed in frilly white.

I planted three little shoots from my neighbor’s watermelon-colored crepe myrtle earlier in the summer. They’re all doing well, and one of them has bloomed already.

ZEPHYRANTHES: RAIN LILY

These little beauties always surprise me when they randomly send up a shoot with a pink flower. I’ve spread the bulbs around and about for just that haphazard effect.

LANTANA

Although I have several colors blooming in sunny spots now, the pink varieties of lantana are front and center. I particularly enjoy the ones that grow under my hot pink knockout rose.

DIANTHUS: aka PINKS

At first glance, you may only see the maroon color on these flowers, but a closer look shows some pink in the center and at the outer jagged pinked edges. (See what I did there?) Several species of dianthus are known as pinks (carnations, sweet william, cottage, & cheddars) not because of their color but because of those saw-tooth edges.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Are you as ready for autumn as I am? August just seems to go on and on. When I walked into our pharmacy the other day, the first thing I saw was a display of candy corn. Then I was pleasantly surprised by the strong scent from a box of cinnamon brooms. I can’t begin to describe the joy I felt at those hints of fall. It told me that this heat won’t last forever.

And whatever struggle you’re having now won’t last forever either. Seasons change. Adversities change. Life changes. Might as well roll with it. And find little surprises of joy scattered along the way.

I pray you find your strength and peace in God’s care. His grace is enough to carry you through.