almost midsummer

From: Caroline
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 7:45 AM
Subject: almost midsummer

Well here it is just about midsummer - as far as I know nobody will be leaping over fires or setting off firecrackers. For my part I am enjoying the lush greenness of my surroundings and trying to stay home to enjoy it. Of course at this time of year my walled garden should be spectacular with six foot, scented lilies in full bloom. Now most of them are about three feet high, with the tops of these poor stumps showing a clean cut. The beautiful culprit had the nerve to saunter right up the path in front of my computer window. His horns were about the size of a big, thick thumb and still covered in the velvet, which I’ve read about, but never seen. He nosed around the birdbath for a bit, but when he got to the bench holding my orchids, that was too much. I tapped lightly on the window and he just turned and ambled slowly away. How could I not forgive him his mouthfuls of lily buds? Perhaps they taste buttery the way day lily buds are supposed to, or maybe even sweet, which I can fully understand.

The fields are beautiful now with tall Queen Anne’s Lace nodding above what will be a spectacular show of tiny white asters and golden rod. The milkweed has just about finished blooming and the next sweet scented plant will be the Clethra. We didn’t have any at Topsfield, but when we went to the beach we would smell it--always with a sense of dread as it meant summer was coming to a close and we would be going back to the confines of the city.

This time next month I will be in France. If anyone wants my itinerary I will try out my new scanner to see if I can send it. I’ll be there for three weeks with Elderhostel and will arrange for a Hotmail e-mail address, which you’ll get later.

Love to all