Summer

Boats. Floating leaves. Rain showers. The plain cedar frame around the brazier is patterned with cutouts of reeds; a fresh breeze flows through the openings in the fragrant wood. Food for the dawn gathering is served in cut-glass dishes or dampened pottery. Dew settles on the black lacquer box for the sweets. Flowers in loosely woven baskets are still wet from the dawn.

Summer Foods:
Baby green beans, zucchini, squashes, squash blossoms, okra, Jerusalem artichokes, peppers, tomatoes, corn, avocados, jicama, fava beans, new potatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, sage blossoms, lemon verbena, basil, arugula. Blueberries, raspberries, nectarines, figs, heirloom melons. Wild rice. Tart red miso. Salmon, tuna, halibut, rockfish, sea bass.

Flowers for the tearoom:
Columbine, evening primrose, ballon flower, dianthus (pinks), yarrow, bush clover, poppy, pine cricket grass, hydrangea, iris, larkspur, poppy, veronica, bachelor buttons, patirnia, Chinese meadow rue, rose of Sharon.

cool moss

mountain streams

pure water

dense forest

cottage overgrown with long grasses

thunderstorm

pine breezes

evening shower

water flowing through moss

seashells

singing frogs

deep shade under trees

whirlpool

twilight

fireflies

wind

light