While it is the start to “official” summer, with the continuation of mainly dry, warm weather since February, it feels like we’ve been into summer for almost 2 months, and now it should be mid-summer. I am smiling as I think about June 21, 2011, when most of us were either staying indoors, or braving wet weather as a cold front moved in for a few days. Opposite spectrum. With the forecast of another heat-wave presenting itself a few days after the solstice, it is going to be interesting to witness how the regions’ plants endure a long summer “drought”.
While we have had the occasional hot days without an evening westerly breezed to cool us off, the more typical afternoon winds have been coming around daily this last week, making for frequent watering needs everywhere in the garden. It is hard to keep everybody hydrated very long!
Cherries are at prime right now, rather than closer to July 4th, strawberry season long gone, and blueberries coming on 2 to 3 weeks early! Since early May, the local forests have given off their fir- and cedar- aromas normally detected only in later summer.
The CG is holding up in a more typical manner. Squash and melons just take their time finally kicking in and growing, and they love the warmer weather. Radishes and arugula have decided it’s time to bolt and flower, and beans are growing magnificently. Earlier than anticipated, there are some green roma tomatoes, just found this morning while watering. Maybe it will be the earliest tomato season I’ve witnessed! And there are even some chile peppers. The local four-legged browsers are leaving evidence of lurking nearby, munching on succulent apple leaf, and dogwood tips, but have not breached the deer fence.
The fence is restretched and reinforced with another layer of netting in one area, while I contemplate a different method of using “smoke and mirrors” to visually fool the browsers as to the actual height of the fence.
Exponential growth kicking in! Summer Solstice greetings!
The longest days of the year in the northern hemisphere are here, providing exqusite summer evenings, and there is potent light energy coming through right now. Enjoy summer in your yard or out in a local park or forest, or in any way you are able, that lifts your spirits!
High Vibe Bounty 