Bloomin' Hot!

This small field of wildflowers that included Yellow and Narrow Leaf Coneflowers and Wild Bergamot seemed oblivious to the wilting 100-degree F heat near Echo Hill Presbyterian Church north of Marion, Iowa around 4:33 PM, Friday, July 6, 2012. The century mark was reached here for the first time this year. These types of prairie wildflowers actually survive extreme heat, drought and poor soil and thrive in full sun. This image looks north. The "official" high for the day as recorded at the Cedar Rapids airport was 99 degrees. The "official" reading of 100 degrees F for Cedar Rapids the following day was the first since July 13, 2005 and it tied a record for the day of July 7.