It含羞草研究社檚 six am in the morning, it含羞草研究社檚 still cool. I含羞草研究社檓 up and outside to water my household含羞草研究社檚 mix-mash of garden containers. Yesterday wasn含羞草研究社檛 a ideal day, and I含羞草研究社檓 feeling down含羞草研究社�. As soon as the garden becomes my focus, I feel relaxed and pleased with the world.
My first customers, the energetic, colourful petunia含羞草研究社檚 release a small orb spider and it drops away on a thread. I look to see where it含羞草研究社檚 landed so it won含羞草研究社檛 fall victim to my steps.
I check some tomatoes that have volunteered among a fine bin of red beets. We含羞草研究社檝e already had a jewel-like beet salad. Sadly one tomato plant is suffering from curled leaves. I make a mental note to come back with a soapy spray.
Just around the corner it含羞草研究社檚 the cucumbers. They含羞草研究社檙e finally, enthusiastically pushing upward on a bamboo lattice I installed last year. I push aside some large green leaves to see what含羞草研究社檚 happening. Tiny cucumbers are evolving from the promising yellow flowers! Ah, there含羞草研究社檚 one that含羞草研究社檚 almost ready for a cucumber sandwich.
Nearby, two large round potato bins have already been harvested. Declared a better harvest than last year, some of this crop has become a delicious crisp potato salad, with more for another day.
After almost two weeks of high temperatures, well into the top 30含羞草研究社檚, I see dark clouds on the south horizon. The air is thick with moisture and rain. I stop to savour the rare smell.
In a moment of inattention, the sprayer drenches my feet含羞草研究社efreshing as the coming rain.
Somewhere there含羞草研究社檚 a pot of zinnias I planted from last years seeds. I含羞草研究社檇 expected large extravagant cupped flowers in a rainbow of colours. Instead I see smaller heads in yellow and white. No matter, the bees still love them and so do I.
Speaking of bees, it含羞草研究社檚 been slow for insect pollinators. The large bumbles I含羞草研究社檝e grown fond of have only appeared a few days ago. But I含羞草研究社檝e noticed lots of smaller bees, hover flies and cabbage white butterfly含羞草研究社檚 tumbling about in the cat mint and Russian sage.
A couple of sparrows fly toward me then swerve off to land on a tall garden stake just a few feet away. They含羞草研究社檙e on the support for a large greenish windmill. It含羞草研究社檚 there to halt bird strikes on the reflective windows behind. I含羞草研究社檓 pleased the windmill is working!
Next up, a large pot of sunflowers who are facing toward the cloud shrouded sun. Then there含羞草研究社檚 one of my favourite large bins with a collection of volunteers I含羞草研究社檝e rescued from other flower pots and the compost bin.
I never know what a few brave leaves will turn into. This year there含羞草研究社檚 an extraordinary tomato plant with unusually large flowers, a yellow violet who doesn含羞草研究社檛 like being overtop, some snapdragons and two mystery melons flowing out and over the edges of the bin into the grass below.
The sky has darkened. I hear distant rumbles. Everything is watered and will surely welcome additional sprinkles. I feel ready to meet the day.
To contact Dianne please go to writer@diannebersea.com
