Heat Wave

It was 100 F here yesterday. I took a short walk in a hot garden. As I stood looking at this zinnia, I noticed the sun casting shadows: the shadow of the yellow ring on the pink petals, the shadow of the petals on the darker flower behind. Click to enlarge.

And from my files -- vulture shadows.

A fly shadow. It seems to be rubbing his hands in anticipation of something.

 

And the sunflower's petals shading its face.

Here is a poem about the sun by Philip Larken: 

Solar

Suspended lion face
Spilling at the centre
Of an unfurnished sky
How still you stand,
And how unaided
Single stalkless flower
You pour unrecompensed.

The eye sees you
Simplified by distance
Into an origin,
Your petalled head of flames
Continuously exploding.
Heat is the echo of your
Gold.

Coined there among
Lonely horizontals
You exist openly.
Our needs hourly
Climb and return like angels.
Unclosing like a hand,
You give for ever.