Laowai

Here's the garden update – I don't want to go in it.

I don't want to go in it because of the those annoying cicadas. They're in my flower beds and my vegetable garden they're hanging out in the driveway (dead and alive), they cling to the car tires and to my lawn chairs and the side of the house and of course they're all over the trees making a racket.

And they are not really harmless – here's a photo of what they do to trees. They make slits in the bark of small branches. I think they lay their eggs in there.  Little clumps of leaves and branches are all over the yard broken off the trees because of all those little cuts. The big trees can handle the damage but I think it's hard on the little trees.

The cicadas are supposed to be done at the end of June and I can't wait.

Here are some photos of things that actually make me happy in the garden. Things are blooming and growing fast.

My sweet peas have begun to blossom.

I think my vegie garden is looking great this year. Peas, lettuce, cosmos, green beans, tomatoes and herbs in pots.

I experimented with starting beans early under cloches. A few plants came up and they are producing now. Also, I have way too much lettuce but it actually keeps quite well in the fridge.

It's daisy time. The feverfew has self-seeded all over – and that's fine with me.

Tomatoes are coming along.

I've won one battle with the rabbits – I finally have some Rudbeckia ready to bloom.

I haven't grown cosmos in a really long time – they are so happy!

My hydrangeas are blooming (and drooping). Feels early.

I went to pick strawberries on an unbearably hot day – it was over 90° F!

So I've made shortcake and strawberry milk and jam. And Brian made me a strawberry daiquiri.

Yum!