July 7, 2026
The last day of June gave us a good 5cm of rain, then the heat and humidity moved in for the first few days of July. Everything in the gardens grew like crazy. Just when the heat and humidity got almost unbearable, there was a bit of a cool down to comfortable temperatures and no humidity. We had a few days when the windows and doors could stay open, but today, things are heating up again.
Everything garden-wise is doing well. Yesterday I harvested and processed over 4 pounds of broccoli, and in a couple of days, a few more heads will be ready to be cut.
Wild strawberries are fat and juicy this year. These were picked in just a few minutes. Absolutely delicious.
The Phoebes in the nest on the verandah have just fledged, so we no longer get scolded for using the verandah. The Catbirds are still ferrying food to their nest in the lilac bushes, and there is a Song Sparrow nesting in the east side cedar tree out front.
We are only now, beginning to see the odd Monarch butterfly around. Over the last few years, they have been arriving later and later.
There are five mystery plants growing in the front yard, over along the bush edge. Their alternate leaves are longitudinally veined, and sure look 'orchid-like' to me. The bud spike on the most advanced one, has gone from drooped over, to vertical, and there are little buds all along it.
Meanwhile, another outing on the beautiful Bonnechere, the clouds drifting along with us, and a couple of nice Pike, a Bass and a big Crappie in the cooler....
Beautiful photos. ❤️ Comfortable temperatures are a joy. Here in Montreal it has been very hot 🔥 🥵 and humid but it is a little less humid now.
ReplyDeleteTemperatures are rising again. Got some outside stuff done very early, and am now hiding out inside!
DeleteI love your photo's again, please send rain to us....
ReplyDeleteSend rain to England? That is contrary to what we all believe, that you are a lush green, rainy place!
DeleteYour mystery plant looks like some kind of mullein. Inundated with peas seems like a wonderful problem. If there are just too many I’ll be happy to give you my address! We had our first strawberries of the year in Victoria and they were as good as I have ever had. They were expensive, but worth it. It’s great to have so many birds setting up home with you. Take good care of them all!
ReplyDeleteIt is only 15 to 18 in. tall, and leaves are smooth and alternating up the stem, not a furry rosette at the bottom. Waiting impatiently for the inflorescence!
DeleteI like seeing how your garden is going. I plant neither broccoli or peas. How do you deal with the cabbage worms on your broccoli? It's funny that you mentioned the phoebe. This is the first year that we've heard them and we now have one who has made a nest in the corner of our carport. It's so high up, I'm not sure if there are little ones yet or not. Enjoy your peas! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn. I keep the brassica bed covered with row cover stretched over hoops, and laugh at the white cabbage moths. Once planted, I heavily mulch the plants, so I don't have to lift up the cover to tend the plants much and rain and/or watering goes right through.
DeletePhoebes are one of our earliest arrivals here, and often raise more than one brood.
Our gardens are in great shape this year. Our tomatoes and squash look like they are going to overwhelm us with veg soon enough. I see the first blossom on beans this morning. We took the pup for a drive to B.B. on the weekend and had a swim then came along Paugh Lk Rd to the Bonnechere boat launch by Turners Rd and let her have another dip. It's hard to be a dog in the heat.
ReplyDeleteNo bean blooms here yet, but I have baby Zucchinis, and little green tomatoes. It is another hot one today, so after a run over to get new potatoes at a Mennonite farm, we are hiding out inside. Hope the rain in the forecast shows up tonight.
DeleteWe went downstream from Tramore this time, but hope to take the canoe up Basin Depot and paddle upstream once the weather gets more bearable.