Diane, I watch the weather really closely now because of my bands and own root plants. I have to determine when they can handle being out in the sun, and when they need to be in the shade. The hot weather and direct sunlight can cause a quick demise for some of these fragile plants. My hubby is just a geek, he has weather related gadgets attached to our home and something in a tree. I do not get involved with any of that, but somehow, information is sent to some gizmo in the house that provides a lot information about the weather. Oh yes, that sounds right, just like July, every year here and there. It was 124 degrees one day in July; a few weeks ago, and any one with an accurate thermometer, or a more localized weather report was aware of the high temperature. After one day of that blistering heat, it dropped down to the normal highs for July in a day; which are the high 100's to 100 teens. July is brutal. But these temperatures are same for the major cities you listed. I was in Palm Desert two years ago during the summer, and it was 118 degrees. I remember saying to my husband when we walked outside " this is awful", then I said oops... we live in Las Vegas.... I had no room to talk. The difference is we were tourists and went out in the heat. During July, in Las Vegas, we go from air conditioned houses, to air conditioned automobiles, and then scurry into air conditioning buildings. The parks are empty during July. This past weekend, there were people in the parks, feeding the ducks and geese, having picnics, playing volleyball. I saw people walking to the neighborhood library and families in the nature discovery park with their young children. It was refreshing to be able to go out. I actually began amending my soil for the Fall blooms:) We average 70 days per year over 100 degrees. Phoenix takes the record for a "major city" with 110+ days over 100 degrees, often hitting the one hundred teens and sometimes above too. These temperatures are not sustained for hours; they represent the height of the heat during the day; and it almost always occurs in July here. But the people who live here now this for sure; we try to stay indoors. I have been living here for 13 years, but visiting Las Vegas here and there since 1976. I am sure there are other records as one would find for all cities, but these records are not the norm. Lynn This post was edited by desertgarden561 on Wed, Aug 28, 13 at 16:24

I start mine out under my carport in the shade and as long as good weather holds I leave them there. The usual July weather in the coastal region far Northern California is foggy to drizzle. This year we got a break (wtf, it rained until well past the middle of June) and the fog only started recently. I move my garlic inside where it is drier when they are nearly done and keep a small fan on them until the foliage is dry enough to crumble. Braid those that have softer necks (Early Italian Purple and Late Italian) and wait until the true hardnecks are completely dry to sever their tops. Have seen them for sale at the farmers' market with tops still attached and can't understand why someone would do that--so messy and there is no use for them except as compost and I have plenty of my own compost fodder. Braided garlic is hanging in my sewing room closet, ones who have lost their heads are stored in mesh bags (recycled satsuma bags) and are on the table in front of the fan currently.

Well, I just looked at the weather. We had like 4 days of rain predicted yesterday...and now one on Friday IF WE ARE LUCKY and then not again until next Wednesday. All week, temps in the 100's AGAIN. This is 3 weeks straight and it is nuts. I am not kidding when I say my garden is almost dead. When it rains I will be terrified trees will fall on the houses. It is really sad here. It is UNBEARABLE outside. Sorry to whine and complain but I feel like I need to begin planting saguaro cactus. Even YUCCA is drooping...and we can't water until Sunday. I don't think the climbing aster is going to resurect, the butterfly bush is almost gone...roses are flowering in protest but the flowers are paper dust when they open... Nothing else is blooming, almost everywhere there is a perennial or annual it is bare dirt now. GGG

Daisy, sorry but I don't understand the last paragraph of your post. Why haven't those with tertiary qualifications and letters after their names written something and if they have would it necessary be any better than those books that so many of us refer to. The Hemphills have been growing and writing about herbs for at least 50 years, their son has carried on the tradition and has a store in Balmain and has written a number of books (no letters after his name). If Penny Woodward can have a foreward to her book by the respected horticulturist T.R. Garnett he must believe she knows what she is writing about. If there are very few writers that have letters after their name why then should we not take notice of those people who have shared their knowledge with us. I have been around long enough to differentiate between books of questionable quality and those that have been written by knowledgable people. And that also applies to choice of websites. If I were looking for information of a more scientific nature I would look for something written by a person with initials after their name. In asking the question about the lavender colour I was very careful in checking information to substantiate the query and I found no information other than that which I mentioned and only that from websites and books which I considered to be of a reputable nature (and I do believe I can tell the difference). As I thought my question was not put in a confronting or critical manner I simply did not understand your statement. To be perfectly honest, I feel that somehow I am being, to put it mildly, chided. If you have tertiary qualifications and letters after your name, please let me know and maybe I will understand your statement. Incidentally, in Sydney (and probably in NSW) the L. sydneyii is called "Sidonie" and was bred by Sidonie Barton (hence the name) and Ian Cunliffe. Though probably the "accidental" story is more romantic.