Old Order Mennonite Memoirs

Dear June,

I wanted you and waited for your warmth, but you were influenced by May in your first day. Your frightening 38 degrees soon dissipated, however, then you whammed us with 90 degrees. In our struggle to adapt to your radical climate, we tossed our jackets and welcomed your sudden summer. Your warmth coaxed new leaves to unfurl on mountain ridges and although you healed and uncurled hosta leaves after May tried to kill them, no amount of coaxing brought lilies from buds that May stole. Only a few of the many in my gardens are blooming in your days.

Influenced also by dry May, you gave...