Summer has had a lot of meaning for me.
When I was young, it meant summer school, not because I was a delinquent student but because summer school was a way for me to get ahead. “Hurry up and finish school,” was something my mom liked to say back in the day. She didn’t seen to want me to linger in middle school and high school. It was all about this one-sided race that I must get through middle school and high school at record pace.
What for?
I think it was so I can finish college early and enter the job market earlier than my peers.
In the recent years though, summer has come to mean something different. It meant I can temporarily shed my jacket as I wear a jacket – thin or thick – nearly all year round since the weather is pretty chilly in spring and autumn. It meant I can go explore the mountains and nature.
This summer has meant gardening and what’s summer without sunflowers? I planted a total of 8 sunflowers this year, though I had to say R.I.P to one of them last night after pulling it from the ground, I still have 7 multi-branched sunflowers that’s growing as tall as my backyard fence.
Of course, there’s also no summer without all the wonderful flowers. I’m glad I planted zinnias this year. It’s my first time planting zinnias and I’m glad I planted them. Though the flower is nearly spent, I think that’s when it’s most beautiful. It looks like it’s wearing a tiara.
Summer, in general, seems like the time when I’m most inspired to take photos and when I’m most keen to experiment with photography in my garden. I saw a video from a photographer I follow on YouTube over the weekend and immediately, I put it to a test in my garden. This is pretty cool, like an abstract painting that’s made with the camera.
Finally, what’s summer without a tomato harvest?
I harvested this nearly 8-ounces Big Beef tomato earlier last week when it was about 50% ripened. I let it ripen on my kitchen counter for a few days before cutting it open to collect the seeds. Oh. My. Goodness! I don’t think I have ever had such a juicy and sweet tomato. There were a lot of seeds to be collected and by the time I scooped the seeds out, the plate had a pool of red tomato liquid.
I am now looking forward to harvesting my large heirloom tomatoes within the next month.
This is Another Story 
The epitome of summertime indeed, YInglan! I think we live in similar climates, although our elevation is lower, we’re farther north. Those springs can be cold! I love all your sunflowers, they are huge! Congrats on growing them so well! I’m also jealous of your tomatoes–they look yummy. We didn’t plant a garden this summer because we were gone for a month, but there is a weekly farmers’ market down the street where I buy some great fruits and veggies when I can. Have a great week!
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Thank you.
I think there are some similarities in climate between the Pacific Northwest and the Intermountain west though it is much drier here and it can be wickedly cold during the “snow-melting” period.
I was surprised how tall my sunflowers have gotten over the months. I planted them toward the end of May, so it’s been almost 3 months.
Farmers’ market down the street, wow! That’s convenient. My nearest farmers’ market is around 20 – 30 minutes away and finding a parking downtown scares me sometimes. So it gives me an incentive to grow my own.
Have a great week. 🙂
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I didn’t post this week. I was having issues with my computer and struggling to access my photos. Ugggh. I loved your photos and your thoughts as to how it has changed meanings for you over the years.
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I hope you get your computer issue resolved soon. It makes me anxious when there’s a problem with my computer.
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Sunflower 🌻🌞
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