At the beginning of each summer season, I sadly put away my favorite flannel nightgown in the back of the closet. It is well worn and very soft from multiple washings. But I know it will not get any use for several long months during my least-favorite time of year - summer.

I know many people love the summer season and I am probably in the minority, but for me summer means humidity that either frizzes up for flattens hair; mosquitoes, gnats, flies and other nasty bugs; seasonal allergies; and a time when the heat makes both outdoor chores and recreation unpleasant.

Summer also means listening to forecasters using those dreaded weather-related phrases that one only hears in summertime like high dew point readings, heat wave and tropical moisture. Then there are those adjectives used to describe the heat and humidity: oppressive, sultry, steamy, sticky and stifling. Yes, there are summer storms that cool everything down, but they also mean downed trees and power outages.

I also feel for those whose job requires them to work outdoors, including construction workers, road crew members, flaggers, trash haulers, roof installers, factory workers, mail carriers, landscapers and grass mowers.

The self-help experts tell us to always try to find the positive in the negative. So what are summer's redeeming qualities?

First, there is the seasonal food. There is nothing like freshly picked produce such as corn on the cob, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, peaches and strawberries. Nothing beats a salad with fresh ingredients, a watermelon served cold or freshly squeezed lemonade.

A way to escape the heat is to find water. Some people may use a backyard pool while others can enjoy a community pool. Chester County offers a variety of water-related recreation at locations such as Marsh Creek State Park in Eagle. It does require some travel time, but Blue Marsh Lake in Reading is a great spot for swimming and boating.

Summer also brings nature to life. It is a time when colorful flowers are in bloom, when trees are filled with ripe fruits ready for picking and when we can see and hear birds of every color and size. For people who garden, there is the joy of raising a rosebush that produces fragrant flowers or having a perfectly manicured garden, lawn or flower bed.

Summer also means vacations, time off school for children, trips to the Jersey shore, longer days and, of course, watching the Phillies.

We are now in the middle of the "dog days of summer," which is the time when we deal with the season's highest temperatures and humidity. So stock up on the lemonade, find a pool to swim in, enjoy a watermelon or a bowl of fresh fruit, take in the scenery, pick a bouquet of flowers and be sure to catch a Phillies game. I plan to do the same while sneaking a peek every now and again in the back of my closet and dreaming about the day I can wear that flannel nightgown once again.