Red, White and Blue in the Garden

This month, we have enjoyed a bumper crop of raspberries from the Heritage everbearing variety in our garden. There is a big patch that grew from 4 plants we transplanted 7 years ago! This bowl represents the picking on July 4 and 5. Normally we have a small June crop and a larger fall crop. They are good on cereal, ice cream, alone, and from the freezer later in the year. Being able to have one's own garden patch and enjoy raspberries is part of our larger freedom and liberty that we celebrate on this weekend.

When we moved, we also trans- planted shasta daisies, but after 6 years, they didn't survive. Last year we bought a pot of miniature daisies and they seem to like their spot. Another plant that traditionally blooms in June, these are a couple of weeks later, due to our late spring.

Until a few days ago, this hydrangea in the front border was the only blue flower in the garden. The blooms gradually fade to purple and pink after they are open for a while. But for the time being, they complete our patriotic collection.

This weekend was quiet for us. We spent a lot of time de-cluttering the house and enjoying the cool evenings on our front porch, watching fireflies and listening to the cicadas, which started calling around July 1. We are still waiting for the tree frogs. Today the weather shifted into a more humid, warm pattern so we will have to go back to sleeping with air conditioning. We have had a blessed 10 days or more without needing to run AC, saving a little bit on the electric bill.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Don and Kay, who left the US today for a mission trip to Guatemala. They will be helping to complete a church and a school in a small village there. We know they will have great stories and pictures to share when they return but for now, we pray for their safety during the next 10 days.