It91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s six am in the morning, it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s still cool. I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m up and outside to water my household91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s mix-mash of garden containers. Yesterday wasn91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t a ideal day, and I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m feeling down91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦. As soon as the garden becomes my focus, I feel relaxed and pleased with the world.

My first customers, the energetic, colourful petunia91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s release a small orb spider and it drops away on a thread. I look to see where it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s landed so it won91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t fall victim to my steps.

I check some tomatoes that have volunteered among a fine bin of red beets. We91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve already had a jewel-like beet salad. Sadly one tomato plant is suffering from curled leaves. I make a mental note to come back with a soapy spray.

Just around the corner it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s the cucumbers. They91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™re finally, enthusiastically pushing upward on a bamboo lattice I installed last year. I push aside some large green leaves to see what91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s happening. Tiny cucumbers are evolving from the promising yellow flowers! Ah, there91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s one that91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s almost ready for a cucumber sandwich.

Nearby, two large round potato bins have already been harvested. Declared a better harvest than last year, some of this crop has become a delicious crisp potato salad, with more for another day.

After almost two weeks of high temperatures, well into the top 3091ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s, I see dark clouds on the south horizon. The air is thick with moisture and rain. I stop to savour the rare smell.

In a moment of inattention, the sprayer drenches my feet91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¦refreshing as the coming rain.

Somewhere there91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a pot of zinnias I planted from last years seeds. I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™d expected large extravagant cupped flowers in a rainbow of colours. Instead I see smaller heads in yellow and white. No matter, the bees still love them and so do I.

Speaking of bees, it91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s been slow for insect pollinators. The large bumbles I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve grown fond of have only appeared a few days ago. But I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve noticed lots of smaller bees, hover flies and cabbage white butterfly91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s tumbling about in the cat mint and Russian sage.

 A couple of sparrows fly toward me then swerve off to land on a tall garden stake just a few feet away. They91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™re on the support for a large greenish windmill. It91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s there to halt bird strikes on the reflective windows behind. I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™m pleased the windmill is working!

Next up, a large pot of sunflowers who are facing toward the cloud shrouded sun. Then there91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s one of my favourite large bins with a collection of volunteers I91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ve rescued from other flower pots and the compost bin.

I never know what a few brave leaves will turn into. This year there91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s an extraordinary tomato plant with unusually large flowers, a yellow violet who doesn91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t like being overtop, some snapdragons and two mystery melons flowing out and over the edges of the bin into the grass below.

The sky has darkened. I hear distant rumbles. Everything is watered and will surely welcome additional sprinkles. I feel ready to meet the day.

To contact Dianne please go to writer@diannebersea.com