Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

HOT, HOT, HOT

Scorched Gardens, Inventive Cooling, and the Art of Daydreaming

When the lilies wilt and the porch becomes a furnace, it’s time to honor the inventors who gave us relief. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores the intensity of summer heat, the history of cooling innovations, and the quiet joy of escaping into conversation and imagination.

I do not know your stance on Global Warming, but I sure know my stance on the weather for this summer of 2024: hot, hot, hot. The east coast has been hot and dry with some weird rains that are barely keeping the plants alive. I have already told you about the rain drops falling three feet apart. A few days ago, a deluge lasted about 15 minutes and came down so fiercely that you could not see straight ahead. I have a garden with a lovely section of lilies. Annually they open with large white blooms and a gorgeous scent. They last for days, and I can barely stand to leave the porch as their scent is mesmerizing. They are planted by the side of the screened-in porch so when you sit on the porch, the scent fills the air. Well, this summer the heat was so intense that every bud was scorched and turned brown. Not a single bud was allowed to mature. This is a first and hopefully a last!

Now given the weather reports from other parts of the country, I know I should not complain. Multiple tornadoes within days of each other, torrential rains and floods, parched woods up in flames and I am complaining about the heat. But complain I must. This is the nature of being human. Yes, we can have empathy for other parts of the country and the world. Yes, we can join organizations and send donations to support work in other parts of the country. Believe me, my bank account is tapped multiple times each month to show my care for others. Still, I live in this previous swamp known as Washington, D.C. and it is hot and dry!

But I only live in one place. I only experience one set of circumstances in my day-to-day life. And this summer is miserable for one who loves to be outside. While fanning myself, my mind wanders to the past centuries where there was no real escape from the weather. No wonder the life span was shorter. Working in this heat is brutal. I can go into an air-conditioned home and separate myself from the reality of the heat. Before 1902 no such thing existed. Willis Haviland Carrier was the man responsible for inventing air conditioning that could cool large buildings.

In the mid 1700’s Benjamin Franklin experimented with cooling as well. He was focused on cooling objects and not environments. Along with his co-experimenter, John Hadley who was a chemist, they managed to cool an object to freezing temperatures or below. In the 1800’s Michael Faraday experimented with liquifying ammonia to chill the air. Successful but not too practical.

Thanks to all these inventors we can now keep cool no matter the outdoor temperatures. So, while the garden fries, I can explore many things inside. The shelves are full of books, my musical instrument is readily available, watercolors and paints are handy, my checkbook needs to be balanced and I still have some tax things to do and of course my computer is here which could lead me in many different directions. For some reason none of those are calling me today. A glass of iced tea and a conversation are beckoning. No hot topics, however. Just reminiscing and planning for the future. This heat wave is perfect for daydreaming and future casting.

Want to explore how people stayed cool before air conditioning? Visit History.com’s guide to pre-AC cooling strategies, National Trust’s historic cooling tactics, and Smithsonian Magazine’s roundup of cooling inventions.

If the heat is stirring reflection or restlessness, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional clarity and seasonal resilience.