Now is the time when all of our hard work in the gardens of Red Oak House pay us with the joy of abundant blossoms and fresh vegetables. We’ve eaten the first of our tomato crop ― all juicy and scrumptious, along with fresh peas and beans. Now are the days of meals we call “nothing from the store.” Meanwhile, Jim is busy trapping a vole outbreak before these ruin our potato crop.

The daylilies have entered the stage with a bang. Their abundant blooms salve my displeasure that most of the zinnias have been consumed by slugs. Here is a gallery of some of my favorites from this week.

The winner for today was Happy Returns daylily, with 42 blossoms!

Happy Returns daylily.

Happy Returns daylily.

Wednesday, I counted 31 blossoms on Itsy Bitsy Spider daylily.

Itsy Bitsy Spider daylily.

Wellspring of Wisdom daylily.

Butter Cream daylily.

Stella’s Ruffled Fingers daylily.

Happy Returns and Stella’s Ruffled Fingers daylilies.

Prairie Blue Eyes daylily.

Light Years Away daylily.

Prairie Moonlight daylily.

Carpenter Shavings daylily.

Jambalaya daylily.

Mom’s Pink Divinity daylily.

Little Audrey daylily.

Zola’s Pink Nightgown daylily.

Although their beauty is more subtle, the hostas are blooming, too. What a great time of year it is.

“Each day you must say to yourself, Today I am going to begin.” ― Jean Pierre de Caussade