Sunflowers

It's August.

The thermometer might say 94 degrees but what they call 'apparent temperature' (a.k.a. heat index) is 110 degrees. There is a reason why the locals walk really close to the buildings on the French Quarter sidewalks - that's the only place where the shade is at noon. 

Sure there are places other than New Orleans where the temperature goes above 110 on a daily basis. But when you're inside a bowl surrounded by water, there is a lot of moisture in the air which doesn't move. At all. 

Sunflowers, Black Pearl, New Orleans
oil on canvas, 24"x12"

Even the sunflowers are almost all gone by late August. Cats Claw vines are overtaking the backyards, afternoon downpours don't cool anything down, and people are pissed off in general without knowing it. It's the humidity, baby. Good for the plants, bad for human psyche.