The Glory of Summer

July 31, 2022
Owl Feather Farm, San Juan Island

Berries in a basket in summer

Fresh berries in our cereal every morning

Limitless sunshine dawn to dusk. Afternoon temps of 75, night-time 55. The house is filled with the scent of lilies and phlox, marionberries and mint, morning dew on dry grass through open windows. The table is set with beans, peas, beets, cilantro, potatoes and squash. Garlic is curing in the sun, light lingers late and Blue snoozes beneath the pines in the evening coolness.
Onions hanging on a fence in summer

World's best garlic curing in the sun

Summer’s here. All of God’s time is worthy, but some times are more worthy than others, to steal a thought from Orwell. We likely won’t see rain until after Labor Day. The corn will flower and tassel and make its first ears. Mowing will finally cease. Winter’s wood will season and apples grow to size.
Beats laying on a bench

There's gold in that soil

Those of you envying this balmy bliss should know we paid our dues: The coldest, wettest winter and spring in decades. True summer did not arrive until July 10, and I had to mow the horse paddock three times. A stray 60mph wind gust threw over a climbing rose July 8. Only lately have picnic table suppers resumed.

dog laying on the grass

Evening snooze underneath the pines

So we plan to glean the maximum from the next two months, as we hope you do yours.

—Eric Lucas

flowers in a vase on a table

Lilies perfume the whole house

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