A side view of the cicada clinging to the wild parsnip stalk. This is the sound of summer here. They start around early July and carry on until early autumn.

Bug Guide notes the following:

"DOG-DAY: a reference to the hot "dog days" of late summer when this species is heard singing; at this time in the northern hemisphere the Dog Star (Sirius) is above the horizon in the Big Dog constellation (Canis Major).

NOTE: Dog-days of summer indeed do refer to Sirius, the dog star, and although it is above the horizon, it is not visible in summer in the northern hemisphere. This is because it is up during the daytime. Canis major is a "winter" constellation.
Canis Major"