July is the season of red.

The Nankin cherries ripened right on the 1st, so I picked them.

I spent 7 hours on the 2nd pitting the wee things, rendering a smidge more than 8 cups of fruit. I lost count of how many movies I watched while doing this. I had some backlog waiting…

Today we have 15 jars of some pretty amazing cherry jam. If you ever receive one of these jars, you know I love you!

The tomatoes begin to set fruit.

The potatoes are surprisingly beetle free!

The blue potatoes are not far behind, despite being planted late.

We picked this last batch of bok choi today before it bolted. We finally have the hot humidity that makes corn grow six inches a day.

And so it is more than knee high by the Fourth of July! The cabbages are a bit scraggly, as the rabbits keep trimming them down to nothing. Michael dug up the lettuce and will plant rutabagas in this area. Planting them in July allows them to grow to a decent (but not ginormous) size by fall storage time.

I finally fenced the peas and they begin to bloom. It may be too late for a good pea crop.

I had two beans survive before I fenced and replanted. Now I have a climbing variety and bush beans. They should produce by August.

We only had one winter squash sprout. The rest are pumpkins. Michael replanted. We’ll see how it goes. Every year is different!

The currants will be ripe by next week. I may have to make some red currant jelly this year, although the currant wine is one of my favorites.

I hope to be jamming black currants on the 5th.

Daylilies, phlox, black-eyed susans, sorrel, the flowers know it is July!

This year’s rhubarb wine is one of the palest pinks ever. Tastes like a lovely dry white with that wonderful hint of rhubarb.

And what would summer be without mower rides with duck feathers? We get the wine. They get to play. It all works out. Here’s to heat and humidity!