After all the spring rain and cold, it seems we jumped headlong into summer, with heat and dry conditions. This is when I’m glad to have planted mostly drought tolerant plants. Gaillardia and coreopsis are in bloom now, with daisies, with tight-fisted buds, soon to open. One small bluebell has bloomed, tucked between the cotoneaster.

A friend and fellow editor has offered me bluebells, which I’m delighted about. The ones I have are few. Bluebells have such a delicate small flower.

I showed my 21-month-old granddaughter some of the flowers when she was visiting last evening.  I picked a tiny pink blossom from the scented geranium and a small white one from the snow in summer. She put them to her nose and then wriggled free.

“Mommy,” she said and hurried to show her mother, tiny flower in little fingers.

bluebell coming up through cotoneaster

gaillardia, as pretty as ever

scented geranium

lance-leaf coreopsis

daisies, soon to bloom

geranium and bacopa in planter

Orange tiger lilies will soon open and the sedum is spreading thick leaves. There’ll be more flowers coming soon—good for another update here.

The tomato plants are in a different place this year, as in crop rotation— I learned well from my father.  There are blossoms on the plants. Even the basil has grown enough to harvest some leaves. Alas my cucumber plants have been nibbled by some hungry small critter or bugs. Not bunnies, for we have a new fence around that space.  Whatever has been nibbling the cucumber plants ( 2 plants left of the original 6) also has cultured tastebuds and has nibbled off both basil and beans growing there. Maybe they’re hungry, as Tyler said, and will eat whatever they find.