Another week with no rain (or very little...)

We still have been missing all of the good rainstorms here.  10 miles south they got soaked the other day.  And farther north the rain has been regular.  But the Appleton Gap has persisted, perhaps even expanded.  All of the big weather systems seem to split at about this latitude.  And we are still very dry. 

The creek is still running, and I do remember summers when it was dry by this time.  It is difficult to know if this is unusual or if dry summers are the norm for these parts.  Must consult the record, I guess.  One thing I've noticed is that there really is a "microclimate" effect.  Our yard has about a one or two week shorter growing season than the yard we had in the city.  We are low here, and we get the first and the last frosts of the season.  And there is not as much thermal mass (streets, sidewalks, roofs, etc.) to keep the heat on a close to frost night.  It's better since we have more trees.  

This week the daisies and blanket flowers are declinin g, the coneflowers are at their peak.  The hydrangeas are coming into bloom, and the hardy Hibiscus is making nice looking buds -- I hope for something spectacular in another week or so.  The Monarda are lovely, the Gooseneck Loosetrife is blooming.  The Ligularia are beginning to bloom nicely.  Dahlias all over are blooming.   The Butterfly Weed is perfect as usual, and the Joe-Pye Weed as well.  Cannas are gorgeous, though I have to water them daily and they haven't begun to flower.   Annuals are coming into full bloom and giving the yard color. 

We had the first couple of tomatoes from the garden last weekend, and we've had jalapeno  peppers for a few weeks. Raspberries are coming in strong, we've had at least a pint a day and sometimes more for the last week or so.  There is a nice looking zucchini out there, and the onions and leeks and potatoes are maturing.  We pick broccoli once or twice a week.  Summer is good.  Even though we love to ride down to the farmer's market every Saturday, there isn't much we need to buy.

Mid June, Almost Summer

Things are really settling into summer now. There is no fear of frost and all leaves are relaxed and growing confidently. We have almost finished moving the pile of wood chips out of the driveway and into the beds where they are needed. Just about three or four wheel barrows full remain on the concrete. I wonder weather the rain falling on them and thru them does good things or bad things to their chemistry. Or maybe nothing.

The trough on the deck is looking very beautiful lately. Our friend ( and 'second best' man in our wedding) Tim made it for us many years ago. I planted it then, and have left it outside year round since. Some things live and some don't, but mainly it comes back every year with something intact to form the basis for a pretty growing season.

The water lily is blooming. This year I decided not to put any tropical floating plants in the pond, and let the lily expand to its full capacity. It is nearly filling the pond already, and its early.

This photo, while not great, is a glimpse of the glory that is the nine-bark bush at the southeast corner of the gazebo garden. The shrub is pretty during its entire season of leaves, but most beautiful now that it is in bloom.

And the hostas beneath the willow are really stunning right now. I can't believe they came from a SAM's Club box.