Flower Flaunt on Friday - Summer has begun.

It's the beginning of Summer here in Oz.  Now before you get too excited about that prospect ... let me tell you something about Summer in my north-eastern part of Oz.  It can best be described as stinking hot and excruciatingly sticky!

We all sweat like a turkey at Christmas!  Even the Christmas Beetles like to take a refreshing dip ... here's one left in the sink after I had pulled the plug and taken away it's swimming pool.  It was having a great time doing a few laps!

Looking at the 7-day forecast now ... yes, I will be getting to the flowers!

 (Google image ... not really me! ... although ...!)

Summary	Fri Dec 10		Sat Dec 11		Sun Dec 12		Mon Dec 13		Tue Dec 14		Wed Dec 15		Thu Dec 16
	Possible shower		Possible shower		Showers increasing		Rain		Possible thunderstorm		Possible thunderstorm		Late shower
Maximum	31°C		31°C		30°C		30°C		31°C		31°C		30°C
Minimum	25°C		25°C		25°C		25°C		26°C		26°C		25°C
Chance of Rain	90%		90%		90%		60%		90%		70%		40%
Rain Amount	1-5mm		10-20mm		20-40mm		10-20mm		5-10mm		1-5mm		5-10mm
UV Index	Extreme		Extreme		Extreme		Extreme		Extreme		Extreme

Relative Humidity	72%	74%	78%	76%	82%	82%	82%	79%	80%	85%	85%	87%	84%	85%

First, let's just take a look at the bottom row of the forecast for the next week.  Take particular notice of the levels of humidity we experience here ... even though the mercury may only reach 31 deg C or 87 F (as it is right now), it actually feels more like 36 deg C or 95 F.  Take further note of the humidity levels at nightime ... they stay pretty darn much the same, sometimes higher!  There's really not much relief from the conditions at all.

Now let's move onto the UV index - this shows the level of ultra-violet radiation experienced at ground level.  You might notice it's reading EXTREME - that means stay out of the sun dummy!  This is the highest level on the index ... it's the level where we are at extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.
OK, back to the flowers!  Can you imagine what it's like for the plants out there?  The ground is baking, the sun is sizzling and the air is boiling ... it's a wonder anything flourishes!  But that's the absolute beauty of Mother Nature ... there are plants to suit almost any climate and weather conditions.

So here is what is blooming in early Summer in this hot, humid spot on the planet.  Enjoy the slideshow.

This digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

For other great Flower Flaunt/Fertizier Friday, please visit Tootsie's blog and look for her meme Fertilizer/Flaunt Your Flowers Friday