Zinnia

Zinnias are a common flower with so many variations in color and form. We planted a group of them last year and we have a volunteer crop this year in the same area. The intense summer heat has not been kind to them even though they are known to be heat tolerant. Not much is good in the heat we have been seeing here in College Station this summer. We are now under a Level 5 water ration in our rural water district which states no outdoor watering allowed. To add to this grief, the header pressure dropped too low and we are also under a boil water notice to boot. Our last measurable rainfall was in May with 100 °F highs for days/weeks in a row lately. Last Sunday, we hit 111 °F with a 114 °F heat index. I noted it was already 100 °F at 11:00 that morning. The only good news this summer is the lack of mosquitos. With no water puddles/ponds around, they have nowhere to breed.

This zinnia popped up a couple of days ago and has done its best to be pretty so I had to take its photo to share with my friends. With no further watering allowed, it will not last long now.

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