So many new flowers are blooming in all this rain.  Even the “prairie” is starting to flower.  Another hollyhock from last year just bloomed, and the veg garden is full of coreopsis (?) that came up from compost seeds.  And yay, finally my nasturtiums are budding out.

Yesterday, my son observed the first hummingbirds to visit the feeders I just put up for the season.  Always a big event for us.  Of course Misu camps out right beneath, but I doubt even the ferocious hunter can match their speed.  She settles for terrorizing a family of wrens out back.

Today it’s Shavuot, the festival between Pesach and Sukkot.  I’m trying to feel festive, but my 99-year-old Aunt Bernice just died, so there’s that.  On the other hand, my grandkids just came to town for the summer, one of the rare chances I’ll get to see them.  Lots of mixed emotions.  As with all things in life, you grab it while you can, before the next transition.

Here’s a young squirrel in the rain at the watering hole, and somebody who partied hard last night at the watering hole.

Our monsoon continues, and the garden is thriving.  My son spent the day and night, so that’s always a bonus, one which I do not take for granted.  As with gardens and meadows, which are always dynamic, evolving, and ephemeral, I treasure each brief moment while it lasts.

Speaking of meadows, yesterday Misu guided Avdi and me on several turns around the property, including my makeshift boardwalk through the “prairie”, which is finally starting to take off with all the rain.

Early this morning, out of the corner of my eye, I think I saw several ravens on the deck, where I have bird food and water.  They flew off like silent ghosts, but I believe it’s our resident family group moving in closer.  My evil plan is working!

Soon after, “Joey” the cat reclaimed “his” deck, while Misu lounged on her porch, keeping a wary eye out.  Then she discovered him on Her Majesty’s turf, and they set about their typical growly standoff.  It’s obvious they like each other.

Meanwhile, other life forms enjoyed the wet world, including all these mushrooms. A good sign.

The rains continue…the relief is palpable.  Water-kitty loves it as much as I do.  Best of all, my son is expected, after all these weeks away.

Honestly, I have no clue when the rainy season here is supposed to be, as we seem to alternate between weeks of hot drought and weeks of cool rain.  Works for me, as long as the plant world is happy.  Which, as you can see, it is.  My hollyhocks from last year are finally budding out for the first time.  I threw in a homemade strawberry cake just for laughs.

RAIN–yay rain!!  Thunder and lightning!  My favorite weather, because all my parched plants are happy.  I love to walk around in it, inspecting and tweaking to best advantage.  It’s supposed to rain intermittently all week.  Relief.

Also, the true colors of flowers come out in this light.

I had to post again because of some new firsts.  Only a hort nerd could get so excited about the first native wildflower that I grew from seed, blooming.  This is partridge pea.  Not impressive, but still!

While on firsts, here is the first baby heirloom purple-podded pole bean of the season.  Speaking of legumes, these redbud pods grow right out of the tree trunk, resembling peas.  So weird and amazing.

Remember the closed balloon flower this morning?  It popped this afternoon!

I still can’t get over these leek blooms–such a big dramatic globe flower for such a lowly veg.

You can never have too many shots (or vases) of the same rainbow flowers, so here are more.  YT, in my element.

Last but not least, here is ferocious jungle kitty, all worn out from trying to sneak outside with me and being outsmarted.  She discovered cat TV today, with live forest birds and critters, and she practically attacked the screen.  We’ve reached a compromise, allowing her out to hunt all morning and become an indoor cat all PM.  She is not amused.  But safer.  Some serious predators come out at night here, including the human kind.

Here are some more firsts of the season: the first tomato, ironically on a volunteer plant from last year, and the first balloon flower (Platycodon) bud.

One of my gardening goals is to create a traditional cottage garden around the house, and we’re well on the way to it.

E has been hard at work repainting and trimming the shed, which is coming along nicely.

Last but not least, Misu is always busy tracking prey.  Yesterday she caught a large juvenile bird, much to the dismay of the whole bird ‘hood.  She’s a fierce jungle kitty.

Here’s your DFF (Daily Flower Fix)–and some blackberries progressing.  Also the first morning glory sighting.  No rain sightings on the horizon, however.  Still, better to have to water than to be underwater.  No complaint here.

It’s now June, so it cooled off a little (?), but still no rain in sight.  It doesn’t seem right that the whole central US is under water after record-setting flooding and devastation, while here it’s been unseasonably hot and dry for weeks.

Meanwhile our idiot-in-chief and his minions are still in denial, even as it’s affecting all of our lives and futures.  I don’t know how much more insanity it will take for people to wake up and evict his ass.  On that pleasant note, back to the usual bland topics.

Here is your daily flower fix, and Misu on the lookout for birds from the comfort of her lair.  She’s almost falling for our evil plan to assimilate her into the Indoor Borg.