These are perfect summer days; Goldilocks would certainly approve, with her entitled sense of moderation to suit her tastes. The days dawn pleasantly fresh and cool, slight breezes moving the freshened air about as the sun begins to warm the atmosphere.

Hawkweed

By afternoon the environment has been sun-warmed, and the brightness of the day exhibits favoured plants in the garden superbly, as we wander about post-breakfast discovering outbreaks of beauty while we slept the night away. Rain events are sporadic and extremely useful, since we have no need because of their frequency at convenient times of the day to water the gardens; nature has looked after all of that for us.

And when we venture into the ravine for our daily walk in the forest, we see that this tender balance of nature has resulted in some early blooms. While wild strawberries are still ripening, their tiny red presence appealingly inviting, now the 'pink raspberries' that we call thimbleberries are blooming their lovely pink flowers, much larger than those of raspberries which are also blooming, but white-petalled.

We come across cowvetch winding its away into other wild plants, and now blooming in ropes of purple flowers. There are still daisies in bloom and buttercups and flowering clover galore on the edges of the trail. And here also are the remnants of henbane and hawkweed. Here and there, in no great abundance, but their presence appreciated, are the soft yellow hues of pontentilla.

Thimbleberry flower

The same colour, different size, shape and texture appears in the flowers of the yellow loosestrife, blooming in larger display. And the lovely fragrance of bedding grasses emanating from the multitudes of their tiny white flowers ornaments the very air we breathe.

Yellow loosestrife

The endless display of wildflowers in the ravine pop up here and there as constant attractions for our wandering eyes, falling upon peculiar fungi the rain has also brought into existence, a never-ending source of amazement and entertainment.

Cinquefoil