Heat Wave.

5-21-21 VERMONT: We are in a bit of July with temps today predicted to be in the upper 80’s after 2-3 days of slightly lower temps, it’s a heat wave in May. Usually It’s in the forties now. It’s also very dry, and I’ve started watering. I hope we don’t have a drought summer again.

Yesterday we bought tomatoes and herbs for the deck. I had to re-pot a few of them. I also planted parsley and thyme in the herb bed. We have basil and rosemary for the deck pots and four tomatoes—two Sun Sugar and one Celebrity and one Red Husky.  

There are at least three turtles in the pond. If Bally the border collie sees one and he sees them from far away, he stalks the turtle, creeping to within a few feet and then lunges, but they always slip into the water ahead of him.

Whenever we go outside, we are accompanied by our faithful companions, the black flies. They are usually with us until Father’s Day. Because of them, I dress in jeans, socks, long sleeves even though it’s so hot to avoid their attention.

We had John, Diana, Steve, Shari and Dave over for dinner this week. Judy out-did herself once again. 

New blooms: spurge, honeysuckle, azalea, bane berry, lilac, epimedium, cowslip, Mohican viburnum.  

Rose-breasted Grosbeak is here.

The apple tree by the house is just about at peak and swarming with pollinators.

Mohican viburnum is the first viburnum here.

Lilac also comes in magenta and violet and is just getting started.

Cowslip is another kind of primrose and blooms a bit before the Japanese primrose.

Spurge is in the Euphorbia family with a lot of succelents.

Goldfinch provides some more garden color.

Chipping sparrow is one of the many non-feeder birds, easily ID'd by the red yarmulka.