Finally, we're enjoying summer at its full depth. The spring flowers are gone only to be replaced by summer green and, of course, other colours too.
Cherry clusters are turning from green to red - ripening for consumption in late June.

So far so good - we haven't many cherries but the trees are still young ... and we knew we didn't have lots of bees this spring (although they're all here now). We've yet to see if the birds let us enjoy any of our crop. For those of you who didn't know (and do care) cherries are a birds second favourite fruit (mulberry being the first). The cherries are still quite small so we expect a little spurt before harvest. What comes, naturally, remains to be seen.

Did you know? Peach fuzz isn't only for young boys. It's for young peaches too. The peach pictured here is only, about, 10 (or so) centimeters (about an inch) long ... and it's got fuzz but, then, it is, after all, a peach. We certainly don't have many peaches. Once the flower is lost the peach hides so effectively, green in its surroundings of green exposed, only, by its own beautiful colour as it (at least this variety - red havens) goes to its peachy yellow/red. In the meantime, as the very green peach grows, so do the leaves - protecting them from prying eyes. It makes one wonder what the peaches natural enemy is and why it needs such effective camouflage.

Last year, Yvonne planted what she thought was annuals around the apple tree. We were delightfully surprised at the mismark when they came back, in abundance, this spring.

You can click here or on the picture to see a close-up of the flowers under the apple tree.

At the extreme left of this picture you can see a little stand of something greenish-yellow. Those are "Calla Lillies".

The little walk to the driveway,

this year, is so lush it has an almost tropical feel. The lavender is overflowing onto the walkway... the strawberries are, easily, about eight to 10 inches tall and the ornamental beans

have begun to flower drawing the bees away from the lavender. You can click here or on the picture of the beans for a detailed view of the flower. That earthy patch you see off the walk is where our young bell pepper plants are placed. As usual, we are "gardening" in our front lawn.

In behind the beans, the holly has set its fruit for its mid-winter showing. Holly berries will be in abundance this year. In fact, all flowers are substantially improved this year as a result of our barbaric prunning of the past two summers. This flowering shrub planted under the mulberry

is the perfect example. Last year - almost no flowers. This year ... we're concerned the shrub isn't getting enough water to sustain the amount of blooms. There's a nice close-up of those flowers available by clicking here or on the picture above.

Naturally, the back lawn deserves an honourable mention since it shares some of the tomato and brussel sprouts and is home to our berries. We planted, two summers ago, two varieties of blueberry. One is prolific while the other variety, not so. One plant seems to have very little but, we're patient and grateful at the abundant production of the one. It remains to be seen precisely what we get from which plant. We can always make changes. The raspberries, of course, are bushier than they've ever been so we're quite optimitstic that we'll see heaps of berries there.

Finally, the kiwi is growing away and climing its trellis. We're excited that it showed its first sign of having set fruit. We are now waiting, patiently, to see if we get to eat from it. It's only the first full year so what ever happens, it's not hard for us to remember how lucky we are. Naturally, the hostas (and other ornamentals) are surging back and should be in full flower shortly. It's quite a beautiful garden (and home) we've got here!

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