For about a week now, blueberries have been ripening! Just this afternoon, for example, about a dozen berries were ready. A few days ago, my butterfly bush started blooming. The fig seems quite happy to be planted and the little fruits are growing. I am thinking of cutting the lavender stalks and drying them; they are nearing the point where that can be done.

Finally, I planted the fig tree - and noticed that it actually has two fruits forming! I normally make holes for trees and shrubs 2 1/2 - 3 times as wide as the pot and about as deep, but I understand that if you plant a fig tree 4" deeper than it was planted, it will encourage the fig to become a shrub instead of a 10-20' tall tree, so that's what I did. I put the 12" wide, 12" deep potted fig into a hole, about 18" deep and 30-32" wide, in my fruit tree island, close to where I had the productive peach before it died (some time after storm damage) several years ago. I used the normal kinds of amendments I use, being careful not to fertilize it (avoiding nitrogen, in particular) - I used earthworm castings, compost, lime, rock phosphate, and included about 50% native soil -- if you amend a new hole too much, the roots eventually hit what may feel to them like a brick wall!

I have one crabapple! I wonder why more didn't fruit this year. The roses look good!

The garden is looking nice, with all of the roses blooming (here you can see 'Gardens of the World'). Blueberries are getting plumper and should be ready to eat in a matter of weeks! I really need to get the fig tree that I purchased some time ago planted.

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