Thanks to all the rain this summer, I have enjoyed the gardenias, magnolias, and other plants with sweet smelling flowers that continue blooming.

Before it gets too hot, I enjoy walking through the neighborhood where I live to get a little exercise and see the changes from flower bud to full bloom. I try to guess what flower is producing the heavenly aroma that I’m taking in the still light of early dawn.

When the sun comes up and the temperatures rise with it, I like to find a tall tree to take shelter underneath it and cool off even for just a few minutes. I can only hope that the tree has been pruned to remove any dead or damaged wood so I don’t get a surprise from a falling limb. It’s important to remove these hazardous limbs not only for the safety of those who might seek a bit of cooling under the tree, but also for the health of the tree. Many diseases find their way into the tree through dead or damaged wood.

Removing dead, damaged or diseased wood as soon as is possible, not only improves the look of the plant, but also helps keep the plant healthy much longer.