The sky has been a brilliant blue since morning. When I step into the garden, cicadas are calling from every direction. We may keep saying, “It’s hot, it’s so hot,” but this sky and the sound of the cicadas make me feel, “Ah, we really are right in the middle of summer.”
▼ A clear blue summer sky. The cicadas are announcing the height of summer.
Little Signs of Summer in Our Home Garden
It is the height of summer at our house, and when I looked around the home garden, I found adorable little signs of summer here and there.
First, a small watermelon. A perfectly round fruit hangs almost hidden among the leaves. Small as it is, its stripes make it look every bit like a proper watermelon. Under the hot summer sun, it is growing little by little.
▼ A small watermelon growing among the leaves.
Next is a miniature pumpkin. It may be small, but with its deep green color it has quite a dignified presence. Once fruits like these begin to form, there is one more reason to look into the garden every morning.
▼ Small, but with plenty of presence—a miniature pumpkin.
And finally, a bitter melon. For some reason, it is tiny. Maybe it is the variety, the way I grew it, or perhaps the heat. Whatever the reason, its palm-sized shape is irresistibly charming. Big, impressive vegetables are wonderful, but these slightly uncertain little ones are part of the fun of a home garden too.
▼ A strangely small bitter melon. This too is part of summer at our house.
A small watermelon, a miniature pumpkin, and a tiny bitter melon. These are the “little signs of summer” I found at home beneath the blue sky.
I may be a little tired of the heat, but the garden is full of sights that can only be found at this time of year. They are not great events, but perhaps the pleasure of a home garden lies in noticing these small changes.
This year, too, I found our own little signs of summer.
Wishing you well through the lingering summer heat.
Although the traditional calendar says autumn has begun, the intense heat continues. Please take good care of yourselves.