Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Welcome June


June is bringing in the hottest weather of the year so far; no June Gloom fog and clouds here this year, sadly -- although the month is young, right? But things around the garden are loving this spate of heat, which will likely go away within a week or so. (hear oh Lord our prayer)

Milk Carton Tomato Kids.
The tomatoes are snug in their milk cartons to protect them from the wind and are quite happy.


As are the zucchini squash I said I wasn't going to plant again this year....Why do I plant zucchini. Why? Why? Because I need something to leave on my coworkers' desks when they are not looking. That's why.




I even planted a bed for cutting flowers this year with a couple of Bell Peppers thrown in for good measure. We'll see how that goes.


20 more just like this one!

And I've had the best berry harvest since moving here. More than enough for pies and sauces and galettes galore. While I sold some of these beauties in the past, this year everything is being preserved, because last year I got only a handful of berries. The moral of that story is that you just never know what the weather is going to to for, or to, your crop. The Great Berry Deficit of 2015 was a crisis of epic proportions, so this year I'm not taking any chances. Sorry, friends and neighbors. It's every man for him/herself where berries are concerned. Get your own.

My garden at work is producing zucchini already, along with tomatoes and lots of herbs. And my corn and pumpkins are popping up, too! (Pics later this week)



But still, when it's this hot, the order of the day is to finish work early, say by 10 a.m., and shelter in place somewhere cool, like inside with a good book. I'm currently reading "The Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner...a look at the places on earth where people are the most happy. Fascinating.
Berry good.
I'll tell you what...as long as I have plenty of berries and a cool place to retreat to in the heat of the afternoon, I'm convinced I'm actually in one of the happier places on earth, even when it's triple digits outside.

Hope your spring is springing up lots of greenery and food!

6 comments:

  1. Ummm let me know if the Lowcountry of South Carolina is mentioned because Ohio has been on my nerves. I'm feeling much more sensitive to swampy landlocked humidity than salt air and beach breeze humidity. Your gardens are looking absolutely divine. Your joy for them truly leaps off the text. glad everyone is growing well! Stay cool!

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    1. Thanks, I am trying! So I have to ask...any chance of relocating to the Low country that you love so much? It certainly does look amazing. And if there's more possibilities for finding love there, well then it seems good all the way around! But you know me, I'm always willing to uproot for adventure.

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  2. Our first heat wave. *sigh* I always know it's coming but I hold out hope that the lovely weather days will just continue right on through August. Yesterday I had my first popsicle at the barn after riding. There will be more. Enjoy those berries!

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    1. Thanks! Yes, we did know it was coming but like you, I always hope it comes later rather than sooner. At least we had a nice May! And I don't know about you, but for me the worst month is September...by that time I am well sick of the heat and it just seems to go on and on at that point.

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  3. I love berries too - if I grew them there would probably never be enough left over to sell or give away.

    I would be interested in knowing where the happiest places are. But my understanding is that happiness is an inside job. One quote I recently heard has stuck with me - even on my darkest days. "Somewhere, someone is praying for what you take for granted".

    Uprooting for adventure sounds like fun. Especially if it involves being near the ocean or away from snow. (p.s. I used to love snow in my skiing days, but those days are over)

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    1. the author of the book would agree with you, Molly! Some of the happiest places on earth are not happy because of their locale -- Iceland is apparently one of them. A sense of community, family, and having enough money to have one's basic needs met are key, according to the author. So it really is an internal measurement.

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