by Leslie Cox; Sunday, July 20, 2014

It is so hard to sit in front of a computer when the weather is so wonderfully sunny and hot. Besides…I am using my normal writing time (early, early morning) for cooking these days. Then it is straight outside to cool down a bit as I water or putter in the garden. Before I know it, the day is used up. Go figure.

I know I should be writing lots about the garden during this season but I just want to be out in it. Summer always seems to be so short. Time enough to write when the rain comes back. And speaking of which….

That rain in our forecast for Friday and Saturday? A bit of a joke. Only got 5 mm…a fifth of an inch. Barely got the leaves on the plants wet. This means I am still on watering detail.

Before I head outside though, I want to share this photo of our recent garden visitor. Was in the veggie garden picking peas at about 8:30 a.m. the other day when something bolted from its hiding place…only 3 or 4 feet (90-120 cm) from me. Thought it was the neighbour’s tabby cat from the quick glimpse I had of the vanishing rear end. Turns out it was a young racoon who promptly scampered up into our ‘Crimson King’ maple tree.

Not sure if we had disturbed his intended feast on my peas or if he was on his way to the pond for some fishing. Whichever his intended meal was…he wound up going hungry. And hopefully its experience with a couple of humans and an excited puppy has cured its desire to return to this garden.