In my backyard

Sweet June. I discovered her when I took a book out to the front porch one evening and sat on the rocker, newly dusted by the last night's heavy wind and rain. The mellow sun set on the pages of the book as I read, and a light cool breeze ruffled my hair and the mottled leaves of the coleus in the urn at my feet. The air was natural, not conditioned to be cold. I occasionally looked up to take in the finches at the feeder, under the dark green canopy of the pear tree. The fragrance of freshly mowed grass floated up, and the smugness of a neat lawn hugged me. I'd been in the heat of greater gardens during the day, but now I was leisurely, contentedly in my own.

I stayed outside until dusk, when it was almost too dark to read, sensing as much as seeing a cardinal red in the deep green tree, a lightning bug flitting along the ground. As I went inside, I almost picked up the scent of watermelon on of the air. But it's a little too soon. It's just now summer.

Tip of the week

Don’t miss the geranium show while you’re on vacation. Remove all the flowers down to the next set of leaves, and you’ll have newly forming blooms when you get back. (I personally am never able to do this as I want the flowers to look good for my neighbors and the friend who waters for me while I’m gone, but it’s always good to keep on top of deadheading the faded flowers to keep new ones coming on.)

To do this week

Examine your roses for any signs of rose rosette. Even Knockout roses can get it, and even the Extension Center has had to remove several affected roses this summer. The quicker you remove a plant that has rose rosette, the sooner you help protect the rest of your roses (and maybe your neighbor’s) from getting it. Telltale signs: new growth in a red witch’s-broom form with excessive thorns and distorted leaves and flowers in that area. It’s ugly, deadly and without a cure. Sigh.

In Saturday's Eagle

If you haven’t been hitting the farmer’s markets yet, you might start — we’re heading into the most bountiful time of the year. Find a list of area markets and shopping tips in this week’s Home & Garden section, or at Kansas.com.