The Essence of Summer – What does summer mean to you?

#Garden Challenge

Last weekend Woodlake’s Botanical Gardens in Woodlake, CA hosted its annual Berry Festival. Berries ripen in May and June just before the really hot temperatures hit.

2016 Berry Festival171 — Artichokes flower

The roses which are so beautiful in April, are just about gone. This lone bush still looked luxurious.

These sure are sweet. — Blackberries are sweet. (Well not the red ones!)

2016 Berry Festival100 — And, dang, what are these? My memory’s gone along with the sign.

For more Garden photos click here.

Author: Marsha

Hi, I'm Marsha Ingrao, a retired educator and wife of a retired realtor. My all-consuming hobby is blogging and it has changed my life. My friends live all over the world. For thirty-five years, I lived in the most beautiful area in Central Valley of California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains minutes from the Sequoia National Park. As a child I moved from Indiana to Oregon. With my first husband I moved from Oregon to Colorado to California. Every time we moved, it hurt so much to leave friends. I never wanted to move again. After Mark passed, I married again. I told Vince that I could never budge from my roots in California. He said he loved the high desert. I don't think he ever thought he would realize his dream. In November, 2020, we sold everything and retired to the mile-high desert of Prescott, AZ. We live less than five miles from the Granite Dells, four lakes and hundreds of trails with our dog, Kalev, and two cats, Moji and Nutter Butter. Vince's sister came with us and lives close by. Every day is a new adventure. View all posts by Marsha

7 thoughts on “The Essence of Summer – What does summer mean to you?”

purpleslobinrecovery says:

June 29, 2016 at 7:55 pm

That artichoke flower is gorgeous!!
And wild blackberries are the sweetest! If you can still use your fingers, after all the thorns ripping you to shreds!
When you find out the name of that flower, let me know too! Thanx!

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1. Marsha says:
  
  June 29, 2016 at 9:24 pm
  
  OK, now I have a good reason to go back and check. I used to live in Oregon where the blackberries grow wild, and I would dream clumps of blackberries without thorns. They used to lie in the thickets in huge clusters of huge berries. To get to them you needed scissors and gloves, and I never had either. In CA they are different. They are cultivated. You walk up, pick them, and walk away. No fuss no muss! 🙂
  
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  1. purpleslobinrecovery says:
    
    June 30, 2016 at 8:54 pm
    
    NO Thorns??? Maybe I need to go to CA!! (Not really! lol)
    
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    1. Marsha says:
      
      June 30, 2016 at 9:01 pm
      
      They are ok, but not like OR berries!
      
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      1. purpleslobinrecovery says:
        
        June 30, 2016 at 9:04 pm
        
        Fruit is sweeter when ya have to fight for it!
        
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      2. Marsha says:
        
        July 1, 2016 at 9:21 am
        
        Ouch!!!
        
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      3. purpleslobinrecovery says:
        
        July 1, 2016 at 3:38 pm
        
        😉
        
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