Welcome to this summer edition of the weekend coffee share! Can I get you a cup of coffee? The photos in this post are from this morning’s visit to the garden. I rode my bike the 4miles/6,5km to the garden before 5am this morning. I wanted to beat the heat. Summer is here full force. The days are rather comfortable 79F/26C today, slightly warmer tomorrow, but nothing crazy. I still prefer the early mornings cool air and lack of biting insects.

It was a gorgeous morning. I watered the whole garden by hand before 7am, and spent a couple hours weeding. The weeds were under control when I left.

The first peony is always special.

Geranium macrorrhizum
Nero di Toscana, “Dinosaur kale”.

I harvested the first Nero di Toscana today. I usually take a few of the bottom leaves from several different plants, and keep harvesting until well after the first frost in early December. I eat some right away and blanch some that I freeze to enjoy later on. These plants where planted using cold sowing, in the dead of winter.

Oregano

After the morning dew vanished I harvested some oregano.

I hung the oregano to dry in small bundles, in my garden shed. (I also harvested some yellow and red onions that are drying in the shed, but forgot to take a picture of them).

I will leave you with a photo of the artistic Egyptian walking onions. I think they look like a piece of art with their unusual design.

How are you doing? I would love to hear about your week! I still have one more week of work to do, before I enjoy a few weeks of summer vacation. Do you have any vacation this summer? I am going to mostly have a staycation, with some shorter day-trips here and there. That is exactly what I need and want. There’s going to be lots of swimming in lakes, reading books, gardening, bike rides, coffee with friends, and perhaps some canoeing. Thank you Natalie for hosting the weekend coffee share!

Maria

25 responses to “Weekend Coffee Share – Summer”

  1. Oh wow! Look at that beautiful peony!

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    1. Thank you :) Peonies are happy flowers :)

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  2. The garden looks great and your summer plans sound perfect – enjoy!

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    1. Thank you so much!

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  3. A quiet Zen morning, how perfect! Everything looks wonderful. Seems like your school year is longer than last year? Bet you are excited about the upcoming summer freedom to do as you please. :)
    My pod peas are near peak, it’ll depend on the weather how long they are harvestable. There are blossoms on the zucchini and cukes, and small fruit have set on the tomatoes. The zinnias have their first flowers! 👏🏼

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    1. Yes, I’ve taken a few extra vacation days during the spring semester (Thursdays), and I am saving some for the fall semester, for my own education. I’ll “only” take three weeks in July, but I have every Friday off the whole year, and I use the rest of my vacation days to be able to have some Thursdays off during the year. I think it’ll work out great.

      Your garden are further along than mine. It is warm now, but we’ve had a cold spring, and then there’s a few warm days every now and then. I think fresh cucumbers from the garden is one of my favourites.

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  4. You are going to have a great summer, Maria! Enjoy these days. And, look at you go, getting so much done so early in the day. ❤️ The garden is screaming green, very beautiful! Have a wonderful weekend Maria. 🙏🏻❤️😎🇸🇪

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    1. Thank you kindly John! Enjoy your weekend!

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      1. You are welcome!

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  5. Your allotment is looking amazing right now. Nice to see summer on a cold winter day.

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    1. Thank you! I believe some people in the world right now would give a lot for a cold winter’s day..

      Have a lovely weekend!

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  6. Oh, your allotment is doing well! So green and growing. Your vacation sounds absolutely perfect. Hope to see pictures of where you swim and a list of books you’ve read. Our vacation will revolve around movies—surprise, surprise— as we attend a film festival not far from where we live.

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    1. Thank you so much! There will be swimming- and book updates :) Let us know if you watch a good movie. I have visits to our local movie theatre as a back-up plan for hot days.

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  7. That’s a beautiful peony and a thriving garden. Your summer vacation plans sound perfect. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

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    1. Thank you so much! Enjoy your weekend!

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  8. Your garden looks healthy and productive. Biking there early in the morning makes good sense. I’m glad your heat isn’t as bad as the rest of Europe. it’s been a tough summer for many so far.

    The idea of a walking onion makes me giggle. It is lovely.

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    1. Thank you :) Walking onions are fun! I actually heard about them for the first time while living in California. They actually do “walk”. Have you ever had them in your garden? I bet they would thrive. It can be difficult to get a hold of some bulbs to start planting them in your garden, the best bet is a garden club or something similar. Plant them once and have onions forever.

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  9. Thank you for the coffee and for the wonderful garden updates. That’s such a great idea to dry some of the herbs so they last longer. And I like the idea of freezing too, like your giant Kale! Enjoy your weekend and happy your summer break isn’t far away! 🤗❤️

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    1. Thank you! It is nice to be able to dry herbs and have them all year long. It is not so often they grow in such an abundance here. At least it didn’t use to be like that, but perhaps with warmer sumers it could be a new normal?

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      1. Hmm, it might be a new normal. I just hope things don’t warm up too much for everyone. And it’s great there are some benefits, like a beautiful garden!!

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        1. I hope it it not the new normal..

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  10. Your vegetables and herbs are fabulous! And of course the gorgeous peony. 🌸

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    1. Thank you so much!

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  11. Amazing garden, Maria. This week’s coffee friends are all sharing pictures. It’s been a fun morning to sip coffee and blog surf.

    Happy Saturday.

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    1. I agree! June is a fun month for blogging, most people seem happy with life.

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