The start of the last week of June has brought on the humidity and my hair is a-frizz. Along with the frizz, the heat has rapidly ushered in the next wave of flora. A number of people have been sending me photos or commenting on social media about a certain tree which is flowering at the moment. “What is that amazing smell?” “Oh my God, this scent is heavenly!” I don’t need to see a photo to know what it is, as this is the time the Linden blooms.

Like a dearly departed friend, I miss my Linden tree. It has been a few years now since the beautiful Linden in front of the house had to come down (see Linden for the whole sad saga). Missing is its grandeur, the shade and privacy it provided, the birds and wildlife it sheltered. But most of all I miss the insanely intoxicating honey-sweet scent of its blooms every June. I actually have considered driving around town to look for one to inhale.

But there are plenty of seasonal finds happening this week to help fill the void and buoy the spirits. Without a discernable scent but providing clusters of peppermint candy-looking blossoms, the Mountain Laurel are presenting themselves, decorating entire rocky hillsides.

Across the street there is a huge white hydrangea filled with puffy clouds of blooms. They make a bright picture from a distance. Of course, I had to inspect them up close; each cluster is a separate painting of shadow and light.

There was a bit of bird drama on the front lawn just off the porch. I’ve mentioned recently about the abundance of Northern Cardinal couples – they have been vocalizing and making daily appearances. There is a nest high up in a large Rose of Sharon that may or may not be theirs. Rudi and I had just stepped out of the house for a quick walk when there was a tremendous clatter of branches and screeching in the bushes and against the house.

At first I though something fell, or that it might be a cat stuck in a tree. Suddenly two Cardinals and a Blue Jay came bursting forth from the leaves and almost smashed into us. They then headed back into the bush, where a raucous battle ensued, the male and female cardinal presumably (and fiercely) protecting either eggs or hatchlings from a thieving Jay. They were moving so fast and frantically that it was difficult to catch more than blurs of color with my phone camera, but you can still see what was going on. So intense was their fighting that they paid us no heed at all as this played out directly in front of us. They chased the Jay out onto the front lawn and then up to the chimney of the house next door, where it finally took off. Whether it had taken a stolen egg or chick with it, I am not sure.

Last summer I had witnessed a Blue Jay snatch a new House Sparrow hatchling right out of a nest off the porch (see Wildlife on or About the Urban Porch). The sparrow parents had been greatly alarmed. Aside from acknowledging the whole “circle of life” scenario, it was still a bit upsetting to see. I’m hoping these cardinals managed to get the interloper away before he made off with any young ones. There does not seem to be any activity in the nest up in the Rose of Sharon, so I am not sure if that was even their nest to begin with. Or if it was, perhaps it has now been abandoned.

Speaking of birds, one of my bird-addicted friends has been almost desperate to see and photograph a Cedar Waxwing. They are definitely around and can be heard here and there high up in the trees, but have eluded any visual sightings. At the conclusion of our walk the other day, she finally got her wish. I have to admit I was also rather thrilled to get a glimpse. That tufted crown on top of its head!

Today was hot and humid, with the anticipation of many days of rain ahead. A couple of brief forays out to the Urban Porch were made – brief being the operative word here – it was just too muggy. I brushed out the dog, who is shedding such massive amounts of hair that you could probably create a whole new dog out of the fur that was removed. I mowed the grass with the idea of getting ahead of what might become a quickly growing rain-fed lawn this week.

Today’s indulgence of summer-related foods: lots of cold watermelon. Watermelon is right up there with some of my favorite pleasures in the world. While I contemplated getting an eggroll, it ended up that for a hot and steamy summer evening dinner a Caprese salad (layers of mozerella/tomato/basil/balsamic) and a really tasty quinoa/black bean/avocado salad with oranges, pomegranate, cilantro and a garlic/lemon dressing was the way to go. That took care of the extra naked, zestless lemons sitting in the refrigerator from the last cooking blitz. It is one dish that will probably be worked into the rotation. Oh, and half of a mint chocolate chip Klondike Bar for dessert, just because…..a temporary indulgence until a different craving comes along.

If it really does end up being a week of rain, it is probably also going to be a week of the usual repeat preparations (making yogurt, making granola) and doing a few things I really don’t want to do but that very much need to be done. Like vacuuming. Did I mention once (or twice, or many times) that I really hate to vacuum? I really do…..

Almost July already! It all seems be moving awfully fast…..

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