Dog days

        The expression the dog days comes from the fact Sirius, more commonly known as the dog star rises with the sun from July 3 to August 11.  This period coincides with the maximum warmth we get in many areas of the Northern Hemisphere.  It also is the most productive period in the garden.   Everything from lettuce to zucchini is making maximum growth now.  Unfortunately for growers, many people stop cooking during this time and sales of vegetables tend to plummet.  Vacations, heat and humidity are good excuses used by growers to explain lagging sales and abundant supplies.  It happens every year and yet we are always surprised by the phenomenon.