Summertime!

Veggie Garden

Well, here it is, almost officially summer! Tomorrow marks the summer solstice. My vegetable garden is doing well this year ~ the rows of green and yellow bush beans interspersed with nasturtium flowers ( good bug repellent!) look lush and healthy and the back row of pepper plants are coming along just fine, too. We're looking forward to the bounty of fresh vegetables later in the season.

View of the Patio with Herb Boxes

The lavender, oregano, and thyme planted last year, all perennials, came back very nicely and filled out the herb boxes. I added new rosemary and basil plants...two other herbs we use a lot in cooking. Kevin makes some delicious Asian dishes that call for basil. It's always a favorite night for me when he cooks up his specialties!

The pink coral bell flowers continue to attract hummingbirds, although they have just about finished blooming. The hungry little hummers have also been very busy feasting at the sugar water feeder. We love to lay out in the hammock and watch them as they whiz by and alight on the feeder to sip the sweet juice, their tiny, needle sharp bills rapidly dipping in and out. They don't seem to mind our presence, as long as we stay very still.

Kevin removed this patio visitor to a safer place in the woods. He was sitting directly under the air conditioning unit, which had been dripping and making a nice, cool spot for a toad to take a break from it all :)

Last, but not least, my daisies are starting to open ~ such a bright, happy flower with their cheery bright yellow centers. Always have been a favorite of mine...and always reminds me of summer. HAPPY SUMMERTIME!!!