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June Heat

The garden is six weeks ahead, it’s been so warm! In the unseasonable heat the midsummer flowers are pressing ahead: lilies, hostas, bee balms, daisies, daylilies, phlox, delphiniums, blue bells, purple cone flowers. Nature prepares a vegetal tapestry of purples, yellows, whites and blues for the feast of Saint John, the holiday that marks the official arrival of summer and as such was chosen for the festival of flowers in some cultures.

It feels strange to see the August flowers in June, a little disconcerting since the vegetables haven’t yet caught up, they really need time to mature their fruit. It takes me a moment to realize how early it is before I catch myself wondering why the tomatoes are not ripe yet. Sprinkled through this little jungle bursting at the seams, big orange squash blossoms brighten up the vegetable patch like cheerful drops of sunshine. I quietly delight at the thought of a very long and judging by the flowering veggies, very fruitful season. 

Yesterday it rained and everything doubled in size, as if the plants were waiting for the water from heaven to really be on their way. I humbly water them every day, but it is not the same for them, only they know why. 

Just as the bloom arrived weeks ahead, so did the garden disarray: I turn my back for one second and the garden instantly reverts to wilderness, it’s crazy, I tell you!

In the gap between the rose flush that just ended and the profusion of summer buds not open yet, these sun soaked gladioli embody the essence of June. Or July? I could swear that gladioli bloomed in July, but who knows anymore…

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