HOT ATTACK: As warmer days creep back...

HOT ATTACK: As warmer days creep back into the Valley, fitness buffs should take note that exercise can be dangerous. Steven Park, a certified personal trainer at Sequoia Athletic Club in Canoga Park, cautions against midday workouts. “You can easily get overheated,” he said, adding that smog bugs relatively few of his clients. . . . Park prefers mornings over nights for cool jogs because of crime fears.

THE HEAT ON HEAT: Indeed, warmer nights tend to hike crime, according to LAPD Officer Eduardo Funes. Burglaries generally increase, as do car thefts and prowler calls. . . . “With more people on the street, there’s more activity and more opportunity for criminals,” Funes said. “People should be prepared and alert.”

LATE BLOOMERS: If you’ve yet to plant your flower beds, don’t despair--there’s still time. Lillian Greenup, above, a supervisor at Sperling Nursery in Calabasas, suggests “plain old periwinkle.” . . . But the prime summer blooms are zinnias. “This is the perfect time for them.” . . . Despite the heat, she warns against overwatering.

WILD BLOSSOMS: Nature’s blooms are withering in the heat, but a few good green hikes remain in deeper canyons, said Paul Edelman of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. He suggests Franklin Canyon in Studio City as “almost rainforest.” . . . Starting soon, though, local mountains will be brown--and crowded--until fall.

SCREEN TIME: Balmy nights mean open windows, so it’s a good idea to check the screens. Not only do they guard against bugs and thieves, they can keep the little ones safe from falls. A study in the journal Pediatrics showed that properly installed screens can reduce the risk of children falling from second-floor windows by one-third. . . . Make sure aluminum frames are straight and in their tracks.