Utah Giant cherry: first of the season, first for the tree
While the rest of the country smolders under the debilitating heat of summer, the Pacific Northwest chills out with unseasonably cool days and generous cloud cover. In fact, this year Seattle meteorologists have only recorded two times, for a total of 78 minutes, when the outside temperature exceeded 80 degrees. Despite our slow start to summer, I’m happy to say it’s been a summer of fine firsts.
Lily Regale: The first fragrant lily to bloom in my garden
My sister, a welcomed guest and berry picker, shows off the first tub of Tulameen raspberries
And when the sunlight does appear, it’s nice to stand back and appreciate one’s newly washed windows (now that’s a first).
The first bouquet of dahlias can brighten up any corner of the house.
After my first harvest of loganberries, I have to ask myself, “Why didn’t I plant these sooner?”
And for the first time in his life, Boz was fine with being called a lapdog.
Great pics and how wonderful that you have family to visit. I wish MY family were closer to the Pacific NW! It has been an unusual summer here to say the least. The thermometer on the front porch read 54 degrees this morning! (We’re in the Callahan Mountains of Oregon). It is supposed to warm up tomorrow. The garden is suffereing from lack of sunshine so let’s hope.
Your berries look wonderful!
Wonderful photos! And the berries-they look so good. I envy your temps……..
Our last day in the cool Pacific Northwest – after a month in heaven, we’re heading back to hell (Tucson) tomorrow. Darn, I do envy you! Great pics Tom!
OMG…that pic of Boz is priceless!
Oh my goodness! My mouth is watering at the sight of those amazing looking berries.
Your dahlias are stunning. I am so jealous…our weather is similar, but I suspect worse, my dahlias are barely there yet! Although the lilies are coming along nicely. And how cute is Boz? What a love!
Looks so yummy! It is going to hit 107′ on Beaty’s Creek today. Oklahoma is the new Death Valley but it is worse , we have humidity!
I’m writing down that variety of raspberry you have – huge fruit!! What do you plan to do with your loganberries? Wine is fine…
My year of firsts starts with potatoes. I’m still waiting on others as I’m sharing this Pacific Northwest weather with you. Seriously – hardly a day past 60 degrees!!
Never had the loganberries, how lucky you are to be able to grow them and enjoy them! Ever tried purple mulberries? These used to grow all over Lebanon and even provided income to a lot of folks (silk trade with France).
Tom the berries are….”the berries!” Your flowers are doing beautifully….perhaps the cool nights and bright sun you are experiencing. Being in an RV has it’s moments. Bought 6 pounds of apricots in WA especially to make your jam. Bought them green so that I would have time before I had to cook them. Of course, they ripened quickly, so had to do in stages. This is an experiment. Cooked up the cots with the citrus and sugar and froze it this morning. The dried cots and Gewurtz will happen in 10 days when I have a kitchen large enough to work in. As for this first stage….wow! Does this taste great. I know this will work. Thank you. Susan
Beautiful. Those berries are HUGE.
Tom,
Those loganberries look nice, are they perennials?
If so now will have them earlier next year. They look so good! What do they taste like? Raspberries, lingonberries? I haven’t seem them at the markets here.
Boz doesn’t seem comfortable with being a lapdog. Clarence hates it. Is this a bulldog thing? Cheers,
-Hegs
Hegs, loganberries are this wonderful blackberry-raspberry cross. Sweet tart and perfect for cobblers, pies or eating fresh. I love them and they are a perennial ‘vine’ or cane bush, fruiting on last year’s growth. You cut out the previous year’s dead canes.
Love the firsts–the berries were amazing but Boz on the lap takes the cake!
Those are wonderful raspberries. I didn’t realize that loganberries were so similar. Big Baby Boz! Hilarious.
Cherries, Berries, Lilies and Boz = perfection
All I can think of is this quote that I saw on the Holocaust Memorial in Boston years ago. Heartbreaking, but also so beautiful, and your photos (especially the first one of the cherry) made me think of it right away:
Gerda Weissman Klein: “Ilse, a childhood friend of mine, once found a raspberry in the camp and carried it in her pocket all day to present to me that night on a leaf. Imagine a world in which your entire possession is one raspberry and you give it to your friend.”
Hi Kara,
What a lovely recollection and such an amazing gesture and testament to the human spirit– thanks for sharing this.
Tom
http://www.wimp.com/swimoutside/
For Boz & Gracie
Tell me, Tom… what did you make with those raspberries?!?
And the video of the bulldogs with the pool is priceless!
Eileen, the bulldog pool clip is hysterical and not unlike Boz & Gracie’s shenanigans. As for the raspberries, I made jam, ate heaps of them fresh with a little cream, assembled shortcakes and ponder recipes for the next wave of pickings.
What would you make Eileen?
you’d be amazed what a little jalapeno would do for those raspberries. great over cream cheese as a dip.
That is gorgeous, a beautiful gallery of firsts. Those raspberries look amazing.
I’m loving the farm!! I’m south of you in Longview and I raise a container garden, as I live in an RV, and yours puts mine to shame…great job!
I really enjoy the richness of your writing, as well as the subject matter. I live on the mainland, east of Vashon (Des Moines area) and find that Vashon calls to me almost like a South Seas island might beckon to a sailor. A bit of me envies you your relocation and gardening opportunities.
I hope the loganberries continue to thrive for you in your microclimate. I know they’re more tender than many other cane/vine berries and sometimes get wiped out by major Arctic weather events. I haven’t had one in years, but a loganberry pie is hard to beat!