A few warm, dry days after heavy rains have lots of plants flowering: roses, calycanthus, mock orange are all heading for a peak. Tons of leaf lettuce now; peas flowering, pole beans sprouting. Birds are holding a flight academy for their fledglings in our back yard, with recognizable alarm calls when a cat or hawk is near. A flock of crows hold a noisy business meeting every afternoon the minute I try to nap. Hot weather forecast for the next few days; that may end some of the flowering, and I'll need to put out water for the critters.