1st Summer Bouquet

Lavender and roses (golden shower climbing rose). The lavender bush is about 25 years old, and produces every year.

Laden

Let's review.

The cherry tree at the height of our massive snowstorm in December '08. This is almost exactly 6 months ago.

"Loveliest of trees, the cherry now /Is hung with bloom along the bough...."

The tree was bursting with blossoms. Quite beautiful. About April.

It is June: Lambert laden branches. The whole tree is loaded! This tree is about 30 yrs old. This is the largest crop I've seen!

I have been successful in harvesting a handful today. The rest will be ready over the course of a week to ten days. Now it's a race between me and the birds as the cherries finish their ripening.

This is a Coreopsis Grandiflora. There are several kinds of coreopsis. This is my first year of including these in my containers. They seem pretty hardy.

I like this plant because of the way the flowers stand straight up on their stalks. I also like the way the light shines through the flowers in the afternoon.

Coreopsis flower heads have been used in the past to create a yellow dye for wool. The dried plant has been used as a substitute for coffee ... I'd have to be really deprived of caffiene to consider this option. And finally, the plant has been used as an astringent and emetic, in the olden days.

Berry-licious

The first of the raspberries this year. It was very good. Season ended for these berries in Dec 08. Pruned the dead canes out. Six months later - new crop coming on.

Weather on this Flag Day is in the low 70s, cloudy until about 6pm. Now the sun is shining.