Just nicked my left thumb with the felco’s while fine pruning the boxwoods.

Big pruning weekend. Borrowed Kevin’s gas hedge trimmers. It has come to that. Amazing tool. Like a chain saw. Took both the burning bushes back a good foot.

Will finish up the mulch spreading, once the thumb has stopped bleeding.

It has been a wild week. Bought the house next door! Thrilled. After thinking about that possibility for 17 years it has happened. It is only money. Lots to do.

I heard Edmund’s bike got stolen! I had seen a bike locked to the back fence for weeks. Had the guys remove it since I had no idea who would lock a bike there and leave it. Bound to be stolen. True irony. Have to buy Edmund a new lock.

And Ken sold his condo, we believe. Some financing details to be settled.

Had the first cucumbers. Raspberries are over. Blueberries are drying out even with all the rain. The bush beans came in one flush. Pulled a potato plant volunteer and one I planted. Very small red potatoes. Six all together. Have one carrot. Dug half of the garlic. I planted it too deep, small heads.

Started using the old composter for twigs and leaves. The new one is doing great, just need to stop feeding it so I can take some of the compost out. Not sure to do it now or leave it until spring.

The mid July parade is happening. Rose of Sharon have started, tomatoes are getting yellow, garlic leaves are starting to turn brown.

Most exciting is that 14 Marjory Ave is for sale!

Seventeen years of wondering if that would ever happen. Room for a greenhouse? Shh don’t want to jinx it.

And we’re back in the garden!

For figs It is going be a year of hard pruning. Fruit has started to form and I have started to cut. Next up is to build the a shelter for them.

The green beans are fantastic. A large handful off each plant. I seem to be a bit behind in picking beans.

Hit almost the last days of Loblaws garden center. Haskap borealis/honeybee shrubs, Aka longicera caerulea, on sale. Bought two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonicera_caerulea

What else?

Raspberries trashed by squirrels and birds. Black eyed Susan’s and purple cone flowers starting. The crocosmia is in full bloom. Another bug on the apples. Really thinking I want to go with pears.

Gotta run. Dinner with Carole and Norm.

Beans on the menu! .

Everything is growing so fast it is hard to keep up. Did a hundred chores yesterday it seems.

From east to west: the crocosmia are in bloom, at least the one that has returned. The yucca blooms are at least three feet tall, many of those little brown bugs chewing holes in the blossoms before they open. The daisies have started to open, covered in buds. Boxwoods need to be pruned, the new growth has hardened off. Clematis is giving a second show of flowers. The raspberries have started. A remarkable patch this year, I must add. The grapes on the fence are in fruit, but the squirrels are getting them all.

In the veg patch. Strawberries are forming, but the slugs seem to get them first. Mounding up the straw to see it that helps or hurts. Figs are pushing out lots of green, but no fruit yet. Tomatoes have first fruit forming. The cukes have taken off. Looking amazing.

The fennel has started to flower and peppers are forming. Beans are coming with little micro beans. Garlic is looking good. Another three weeks before harvest. Blueberries are still turning, very slowly. Picked three ripe ones, no comparison to store bought. Tree onions have tipped over restarting their cycle.

The clantro has bolted and in flower.

And Ken made scape pesto yesterday. Yum yum.