Today is stinking hot but at least it’s not raining. Most of June consisted of rainy weekends, like this one:
Rainy weekends are good for the gardens but piss off those of us still working Monday-Friday.
After a slow start (completely the fault of the gardener), the 2018 Badass Rooftop Garden polebean crop is finally making progress.
Earlier in the month, I took part in the annual 4 Day-Evening walk at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. This was held during the week, so no rain, natch. I also wrote about it here.
This is an event brought over from the Netherlands, by Dutch-Canadians, and a whole lot of fun.
When the rain stopped on the weekends (usually late in the day), I was able to walk around my own stomping grounds as well.
On the concert front, I was treated to Mother Mother and Little Destroyer on June 25th, as a Mother’s Day present from Mizz J.
One benefit of all the rain: I was indoors more than usual and was able to work on a painting (not finished as yet).
Another benefit of all this rain, I think: has anybody else noticed the Ontario strawberries are exceptional this year?
Have a wonderful July and a wonderful Canada Day tomorrow (and a fabulous 4th of July to my US neighbours!).
The Changing Seasons is a monthly photo challenge hosted by Su Leslie, of Zimmerbitch.
Rock on,
The WB
Beautiful photos! And the strawberries look scrumptious! I also love the contrast between the serene nature scenes and the concerts. I think in midlife, for me at least, we begin to embrace more possible ‘sides’ to our personality and we can really enjoy life. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of yours…
Thank you for kind words, Janet! Agreed – let’s really enjoy life!
Deb
Hi Deb, I love your polebean Buddha – rain or shine. And the painting you’ve started. I haven’t started mine yet. You’re inspiring me to get moving on it.
The strawberries are amazing. Moore Orchard, near me, is benefitting from my enthusiasm. 23 quarts of strawberries purchased and enjoyed so far. I love strawberry season!
Happy Canada Day, Deb. I’m more grateful to be a Canadian this year than at any other time in my life.
Hi Karen!
Thank you. Wow, 23 quarts – what are you making with all those berries?
I’m grateful too, and feel extremely privileged to live here.
I used to say I was proud to be Canadian but when I look to the US and see national pride being warped into fascism, I just don’t want to use that word anymore.
Hope you have a great weekend and can keep cool!
Deb
Nice pictures Deb, I especially like the ones from Mill Pond. The summer seems to be flying by, that’s probably because it got such a late start. Got out on the kayak today – first time this year, it was great. Here’s to July, and have a Happy Canada Day!
Woohoo! Much too hot to kayak today so I’ll live vicariously through you, Karen.
Thanks for chiming in. Have a nice 4th…Deb
Amen to what Karen said – I’m more grateful than usual this year to be Canadian!!
I like your ‘Precious Life’ painting. Always the analyst, I conceptualized mine as a spreadsheet 🙄. I like your version much better. Thanks for the inspiration … as well as the inspiration for your bean-pole garden. I liked it last year, and now I’m questioning why I didn’t try to replicate it.
Great June wrap-up! It’s a scorcher of a weekend. I hope you’re relaxing somewhere cool 🙂
Hi Joanne,
Thanks! It’s not too late. Polebeans love and need the heat and will produce until frost, if you keep pickin’ them.
As I said to Karen, “grateful to be Canadian” is how I want to phrase it too. I’m kinda against national pride at the moment – the USA was always more rah-rah than us in that department and look at what has resulted.
I’m keeping cool, thanks. Hope you are too!
Deb
I agree with you about the whole flag-waving thing. It’s not my style. I’m a quiet, in-the-background kind of person. ‘Grateful’ sums it up perfectly – none of this we’re-the-best-in-the-world rhetoric for me, thank you very much 🙂
Yes! 🙂
It’s embarrassing to live in a developed country that has mass shootings almost daily. While our fearful leader wants us to worry about immigrants, I’m more terrified of white males! So here’s to Canada with it’s amazing leader. I hope you all know that most reasonable people do not support our current “leadership.”
I can’t speak for everyone, but the Canadians I know also know many Americans do not support Trump!
You are living the life I wish I was. What a wonderful trail to walk on, nothing better than getting out in nature.
Your bean-pole set up is great. Buddha looks very happy there. Our strawberries have been good, too, down here on the other side of the border.
Thank you, Jean!
Yeah, I think it has been a very good for berries. Waiting for the blackberries I have spied on the trail to ripen…won’t be long now.
Hope you have a lovely 4th of July.
Deb
Wonderful series of photos to capture a busy busy month! Love the decadently succulent strawberries and your healthy very promising growing beans. And those Bruce Trail captures – stunning as always!
Thank you Ju-Lyn!
Deb
Gorgeous photos Deb and I love your Buddha. Rain can be comforting at times can’t it and we can then explore our creative side as you did with the painting. Your walk looked beautiful and getting back to nature is always good for the soul. Love your rooftop garden and you have inspired me to try a balcony one. Those strawberries look delicious. Have a lovely July!
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Thank you Sue. Yes, you are so right about the rain!
Have a lovely July yourself!
Deb
I wrote a comment but it didn’t post so here is ‘Take 2’. I love your Buddah spreading peace in the rain, Deb. Also your rooftop garden inspires me to try to create a balcony one. The nature walk would have been so good for your soul and your photos are beautiful. The strawberries look delicious and so RED! Thanks for sharing your June and hope you have a fun July xx
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Found your previous comment and approved it, Sue. Not sure why this keeps happening to you.
A balcony garden would be delightful and I’d love to see photos if you make one in the spring.
Deb
I hope you get some sunny weekends during July! Great pics. Can’t wait to see the finished painting if you decide to share it with us.
Thank you Akilah! Yes, I plan to share the finished painting on ye olde blogge.
Deb
Lovely photos. Especially intrigued by your beans – such a clever way of growing them in a pot. I haven’t seen that before.
Thanks, AJ! These are climbing beans. I think they are much tastier than the commercially farmed “bush” varieties. Hard to find in stores or even farmers’ markets, hence I grow my own.
Deb
I’ve only ever seen climbing beans (we grew them growing up). I guess I assumed that’s how they grew them commercially (just checked, seems majority of commercial in Oz are climbers). We always planted them into the ground and used chook wire fence for them to grow up. Didn’t think I could grow them in pots.
Well now, that is interesting! Most beans here are the less tasty bush variety. That’s it! I’m moving down under 😜
What great photos. I am so interested in your painting. Very neat. Garden is looking great. We also have been having our share of rain in TN. But this past few days the heat has been butt kicking and running me and the furbabes in off the deck early in the day. Take care and stay cool.
Thanks Pam! You keep cool too!
Great photos to show us what looks like a really busy fun time. Those strawberries look luscious. I’ve resorted to warming frozen berries with some thick coconut cream as a little dessert treat. Four more months til the “real thing” start appearing in the shops.
Thanks Su!
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Your Post-rain view across the Mill Pond photo is stunning. I like how you have your beans planted with the rectangular pots and poles. Will you be harvesting your Buddha beans in July?
Thanks, Ally! Fingers crossed and Buddha willing, I’ll have my first of many feeds of pole beans starting later in July.
I love everything about this post starting with the cool way you have your beans set up. I’ve never seen it done that way but it makes sense. I love all of your pics but I have to tell you. I thought the guy blowing the horn was chugging a beer. Hahahaha. Your painting is super cool and I can’t wait to see it finished and I am loving that you came across a Michigan Lily. I’m from Michigan. 🙂 There’s also a Canadian Lily. I had to look that up and I think that’s awesome. I miss going into Canada. – I hope you did something scrumptious with those strawberries!
Thank you Mimi! I made a tasty trifle out of those berries. That’s hilarious that you thought he was chugging a 🍺, but somehow I am not surprised your mind went there 😜
I loved all that beautiful countryside Deb but what really caught my eye was your dot painting and the realization of how much time has gone by and how much is left to live. It makes me want to make the most of every month we have left before we start pushing up daisies (or fertilizing strawberries!)
Exactly, Leanne! That is the intent behind the painting. Thanks for the comment. Pushing up strawberries (or pole beans) sounds good to me – I hope I can get a green burial when it’s my time.
Deb
I feel like the rain here knows it’s a weekend and wants to cause weekend trouble!
Evil weather! ⛈😈
We even got some yesterday – because it was a holiday, most likely.
But of course!!!!
I just really, really want some of that rain!
After 8 days of high heat warnings and no rain, now so do we. Some people (me) are never satisfied! 😉