It's Summer!

Every June begins summertime.  Update:  those blackberries are ripe and ready for picking.  Plenty for you—there are way more of them than birds to eat them.
The River is ready for your enjoyment.

Take a look at the Garden.  It is doing very well this year.

And see the harvest after everything was picked just two days earlier.

Also doing really well are Sunflowers.  These all germinated on their own-- evidently from last year's seeds.  Several of them were transplanted to the flower garden when they were just a few inches high,   Reminds you of "... look at me now ..." from Karmin's viral video of the same name?

Though you may be wishing for better weather where you are, it's been great here at the River.  Here's those sunflowers for you to enjoy.

Early June 2012 at the River

See some pictures from today at the River.  The grass is all newly mowed (mown?) so it was a good time to snap some views for you. Click on this full-sized photo collage to open it in a new page if its too big to fit on your computer's screen.

When do you think those blackberries will be ready to pick?  

Taking shape - the gravel is moved

Well, today the gravel was spread into the space on the ground which will become the garage floor.

and Watch the Bobcat® in action.

Sunny - not

So, today the only sunshine around here is the first Sunflower of the season.

Sunflower - Vegetable garden is in background behind Butterfly bushes.

Another beginning

Here's the first step for a garage (!) here at the River.
The gravel will be pushed into place and become the underlayment for the garage's concrete floor.

Let's stay tuned for further progress over the next few weeks.

March goes out like a lamb?

So, it's the last day of March.  Temperature hitting 85°.  It's a beautiful day to cut the grass that's been growing by leaps and bounds.  And some dandelions that have gone to seed.  Have a look at the River for yourself:

Noon at the River (High Dynamic Range photo) -Newly Mowed Grass

Wouldn't you know that on such a summer-like day there would be an afternoon cloudburst-- with hail.  A two-minute video; so different from the earlier sunshine!
So, you decide:  did March go out like a lamb?  Hint:  later on, the sunshine reappeared just in time for sunset.
You may need to turn down the volume if you listen to this video-- the hail is very loud on the 'tin' roof.

The video is in 720p HD if you want to get a good look at the hail on the porch.