Our rainfall has been a little bit lacking each month since April, and we are now about 4 inches behind for the growing season.  Our forest, however, got growing a little early, and the undergrowth is actually bit more dense and tall than usual.  Places in our forest where most years I could stand in the summer and see the neighbor's homes are quite secluded this year.  Fire danger is still low.  The nearby state lands are under protection level one, which is the lowest summer level, but still requires some precautions.  I've had to be diligent about irrigating the garden areas.  Birds are plentiful, and several species have young venturing out now.  There are a good variety of bees as well, and early nymphs of box elder bugs are everywhere, as well as small ants.  A doe has been hanging out nearby, I see her almost daily.  The first of the himalaya blackberries are starting to ripen - that may be a little early, perhaps triggered by drying soil?  Red elderberries are done and gone already - again, seems early.  Thimbleberries were few.  Soil that has been exposed is quite dry now, if it hasn't been watered.  Forest soil under duff still has some moisture.  Moss on the trees is scratchy.  Horsetails up to 5 feet tall, bracken well over 6 feet.  It's been a good year for ants and ticks, but not so much for garden pests.  I harvested several heads of lettuce and greens this week, and there were no insect issues and only very modest slug damage.  Although I am growing a batch of cabbage, I've not seen cabbage moths.  The broccoli does have a few aphids.  Snakes have been plentiful.  The creek is low, but the spring is flowing strongly.  The fiber optic installers were working in a hole nearby this week, and I took the opportunity to look.  There was free water less than 3 feet below the surface.  People are vacationing and enjoying all manner of outdoor activities - running, sports, bicycling, motorcycling, picnics, and there were even a few legal fireworks in the neighborhood last weekend.  I didn't hear any of the illegal ones that we have some years.  Grass hayfever is mostly behind us, but some people seem to be reacting to something - not sure what.