What are the ‘Dog Days of Summer’

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I guess that August is the month I am a little off my rocker.  Last year I did an introspective piece on mindfulness in the garden, and now I am about to write about the Dog Star, Sirius, and the Dog Days of Summer. With this heat, who has really been out working hard in their gardens, though the next few weeks look pretty nice.

For a little musical interlude watch the wacky video of a great song: “Dog Days are Over” by Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine

Here come the Dog Days of Summer. Already, I count 18 days that we have exceeded 90º this season, so what is in store for August? It has been hot this year and the summer months have all been consistently above the mean averages according to the Blue Hill Observatory.

But, from where does this saying originate.

In ancient Greek and Roman times, the rising of the Dog Star (Sirius) in the morning coincided with the months of July and August. It was believed that this star, the brightest in the sky, added to the heat of the sun making the days intolerably hot.

Sirius is called the Dog Star as it is the central star in the constellation Canis Major (greater dog), and from this the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ originated.  In Ancient times the citing of Sirius in the early morning portended a period of floods, disease and drought. In Egypt, it signaled the typical period of flooding for the Nile River. 

Since Boston is at a latitude of 42º north, Sirius rises a little later in the year, which makes August the ‘Dog Days.” If you happen to be up in the morning before the sun rises in the middle of August, you will find Sirius in the east above the horizon. Orions Belt points down to the brightest star in the sky.  Check out this article by EarthSky that provides a great background on Sirius.

If you are feeling down in this heat, blame it on Sirius, the Dog Star. If you are a fan of Keanu Reeves, check out his band Dogstar.

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Published by Barking Dog Gardens

My first career was in Advertising in NYC, but after moving to San Francisco 25 years ago, I made a life-altering change and went back to school for Ornamental Horticulture. Over the years in San Francisco and Boston I have worked in multiple nurseries, had my own design, installation and maintenance businesses on both coasts, managed a 30 acre historic private estate in Brookline, and managed one of the top fine-gardening companies in New England. I was for years a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist(MCH). Most recently, design and consulting work has led me to focus my passion on working individually with people and showing them how to make their gardens and landscapes beautiful through inspiration and proper care. My experience allows me to advise on any aspect of the landscape from trees to stonework to perennial borders to lighting and irrigation. While there is much I do not know, I have a network of experts who can help with any topic. I find that few things in life are more humbling than tending to the living organism of a garden.

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