Summer is far from over; we have many more weeks of hot weather ahead before the crisp cool days of fall arrive. Each of the four seasons has both good and bad aspects, but I’m only addressing my favorites of the present season at hand. The best benefits of summer in my opinion are red, ripe juicy tomatoes and more hours of daylight. Don’t you just hate it when the time changes? I wish we could keep the same time year ‘round. The state of Arizona has some sensible lawmakers. They don’t change the clock every time six months rolls around. But I digress from the topic for today — the three “P’s” of summer: peaches, posies and pests.

At my house we are experiencing an abundance of all three and of course, we’re enjoying the first two immensely. I can personally state right here and now I will never have my fill of peaches, especially the Elberta variety, ripe from the tree. I can’t speak for Bruce though. I think he’s tired of them as well as tomatoes, which I keep putting in front of him for at least two meals a day. But I’m off track again. Tomatoes, like time, do not fall in the category of being in the three “P’s” of summer. These are “T” words.

There is no such thing as having and devouring too many fresh, juicy peaches ripe from the tree or tomatoes straight from the vine, especially in sandwich form, to suit me. Don’t even think about canning or freezing peaches. They lose their goodness. Besides, if you want canned or frozen peaches, McKenzie’s does a great job! And I expect because we can’t have either year ‘round makes us more appreciative of these benefits that warm weather gives us each year.

Posies, the second “P” of summer, are blooming prolifically everywhere from my back yard to yours. Uptown the crape myrtles with their tiny white flowers in full bloom look like dancing snow flakes as warm breezes flutter the graceful tree branches. The zinnias, in their many colored hues from fiery reds to golden yellows, growing at my back doorstep lift my spirit and brighten my day each time I step out of doors and see their pretty display, no matter what time of day from early dawn to dusky dark. I wish I could brag about the roses. They have seen better days and are so unhappy. They’re nurtured and told how wonderful they are, but they’re too hot and sick and tired to hear or pay attention any more.

Pretty posies also bring the third “P” of summer, pests. More specifically flowers attract the insect pest: bees. The bumble bee variety, not to be confused with wasps or the hated yellow jackets, that swarm, then buzz around and dive into the posy’s stamen. These bees are big and fat, I suppose from all the honey they drink, and have stingers so vicious they will hurt you real bad — even my great hulking Georgia bulldogs. One of them almost got the best of this die hard UGA fan. I think I woke him from a nap when I reached my hand down to pick the yellow zinnia bloom. All of a sudden an excruciating and painful zzzzzzzz zapped my wrist. I hollered, but he apparently couldn’t hear. Just zapped on and on and on and wouldn’t let go. He was really mad. That’s why I think I awakened him. After all it was barely daylight. Talk about the wrong place and time and poor judgment. I should have been in the kitchen drinking coffee or walking for my health or better still getting ready for work. It took two doctor visits and 10 days, but I finally recovered from revenge of the bumble bee.

Incidentally, there is the fourth “P” of summer. Politics. But we won’t go there this time.

SUMTER SEENS: Like the bees hanging around my zinnias, I have been buzzing too but not out of town and here are a few tidbits that were picked up here and yon. There’re some new kids on the block so smile and say hello to newcomers Jonathan and Heather Lafevers who have moved here from Atlanta. They are the son and daughter-in-law of Brad and Mary Lafevers. Another newcomer is Alice Stapleton, executive director of New Horizons Habitat for Humanity affiliate, who we met at a fun gathering hosted by Donna Golden and Anna Beningo; Dr. Henry Teaford has mended from a broken hip; his pretty wife Janna Teaford and daughter Anna have returned from Russia visiting family and friends; Robert and Kathy Parks and daughters Jordan and Caroline vacationed in Munich, Germany, with a side trip to Venice and were accompanied by Kathy’s mom Becky Ray. While there they had a chance to visit with former resident Glenn Tott and wife Carolina and also Ilsa Weishaupt and daughter Andrea Thurner, both former Americus Rotary Club International Exchange students, Ilsa having been among the first; Gaynor and Mike Cheokas honored good friends George and Katarina Vafiadakis and daughters Lydia and Johana of Athens, Greece, and George Shira of New York City at a delightful alfresco supper at their home overlooking Lake Collins. Incidentally, George V. and Mike have been friends since their student days and George was best man at Gaynor and Mike’s wedding; the Cheokas’ son Athan Cheokas, a rising senior at Southland Academy, attended Academic Camp at Columbia University in New York City this summer and also visited the campuses of Yale and Princeton while his mom Gaynor visited with friend and former resident Tekla Frey Moore at her home in Kingston, N.Y.; Julie Hall Smoak of Atlanta was honored at a pretty baby shower hosted by Anna Law, Cheryl Smith, Anna Stinchcum, Judy Stinchcum, Judy Joyner and Faith Phillips at Central Baptist Church fellowship hall and helping Julie open the many gifts was her mom Sue Hall and sister Amy Hall of Cleveland: my artist husband Bruce Case is among the artists exhibiting original art at the Joseph House Gallery in Columbus’ Uptown historic district, other area artists displaying work there are Maureen Smith, Charles Wells, Zoë Alexander of Ellaville and Helena Meek of Buena Vista; and glimpsed at the gallery’s recent “Feast for the Eyes” reception/art show were SuSu Eskedor and daughters, Angela Calhoun and Liz Ambos, visiting from Savannah; Justin and Rachel Arnold have moved into their home on Harrold Avenue and happy birthday to Dr. Augusto Lopez, Billy Smith, SuSu Eskedor and Becky Ray, all surrounded by loving family. Lang and Johnny Sheffield celebrating their birthdays with family.

Leila Case lives and works in Americus.