Early hydrangeas create late summer mood

These hydrangeas beside the Newton Library have already achieved a state of full bloom. In our area this type of hydrangea normally blooms in late July or August. These are flowering in June.

This is part of a larger pattern. The summer flowering crocosmias are nearly over, and the Hidcote lavender is ready to harvest. Two varities of fragrant daphnes in the garden are on their second flowering of the year. Most of the lilies and all the irises are done, and the honeysuckle vine finished a long time ago.

Strawberry season came early, the third week of May. Raspberries are already in full production, and cherries too. June, usually quite rainy in our area, has been bone dry. In this heat wave, we can feel our earth warming.