Summer is officially here and it’s starting to feel like it. Despite the heat wave, there are a few things I do love about summer. One of them is the vast amount of fruits that are in season. And June and July is definitely cherry season for us in California.

So this weekend I had my fair share of ripe cherries. Two different type of cherries too, the Bing and Rainier. The Bing is deep red to almost purple in color. They are a bit more tart but still really good. But the Rainier cherries are the best, I think they are definitely the queen of cherries.

The Rainier cherries aren’t as abundant as the Bing varieties, but are still very popular. They are much bigger and more plump then other types of cherries. 

The flesh is mostly yellow and have a pinkish blush on the skin.  But don’t let the color fool you, since these are super sweet cherries. Any kid who’s eaten these would prefer them over candies.

Rainer cherries got their name from the monarch mountain of the Cascade Range. They are a cross between the Bing and the Van, two sweet varieties of cherries. Harold Fogle of Washington State Universiy first crossed the two varities in 1952.

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Recently I overheard two guys talking about their new shoes.  They weren’t really shoes, but more like socks or glove for the feet. It was the toe slots that became the conversation piece.

It actually reminded me of something Spiderman would wear. It really does make people look twice. Personally I thought they were interesting and different, but not too strange.

Photo from Vibram.

It turns out the guy with the “finger shoes” was into barefoot running. It’s not just for runners, but other outdoor enthusiasts have also enjoyed wearing these shoes, from mountain climbing, windsurfing to kayaking.

Currently there are a few companies offering these shoes. Including Vibram, Feelmax and Terra Plana. The thin sole designs combine the benefits of going barefoot but with a thin layer of protection from the elements. Vibram’s FiveFingers are noted to “stimulate the muscles in your feet and lower legs to build strength and improve range of motion.”

The idea of barefoot running has it’s fans and skeptics.  Even for all the latest technology added to running shoes (sneakers), research suggests that it may not actually do much to improve a runner’s performance or prevent injuries. And some avid runners now believe they are better off with shoes with minimal support or with no shoes at all.

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I’ve never heard of chaga until I came upon a bottled drink of chaga made by Sayan Health.

The bottle stated that it’s not a tea or juice, but more of an exotic medley of healthy herbs and berries. It was not bitter at all. it was actually very good.

This is the bottled Chaga I tried in wild raspberry. Can be found at your local Whole Foods Market or ask about it at your favorite health food market. Photo from Amazon.

The label on Chaga tea also stated that this mushroom has antioxidants that are 6 times stronger then acai. The fact that it’s not as pretty looking (as many of the superfruits) probably make this fungus less popular.

Sanya Health got it’s company name from the Altai-Sayan Mountains in the Siberia taiga (where temperatures are below -40 degrees most of the year). As this is where they harvest their chaga, since the extremely cold temperatures produce more potent chaga.

Chaga (scientific name: Inonotus obliquus) also known as cinder cork. It’s a unique fungus that grows especially on the wounds of birch trees. But it can also be found growing on ironwood, elm, alder, beech and other hardwood species.

It has the highest antioxidant concentration of any known natural food. When made into tea (and no sweetener added), the taste is suppose to be slightly bitter. Like many herbal medicines, the bitterness seems to be a common factor.

Due to chaga’s health benefits, it’s been referred to as “King of Herbs” and “Nature’s Silver Bullet”. Chaga has been researched as an antiviral, anti-tumor for breast and uterine and other cancers, and diabetes.

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My latest tea review comes from Revolution Tea.  They have a great selection of teas, from organic to fruity blends.

I really picked it up because it has acai. The last tea I had with acai was Good Earth Rooibos tea, which was okay but not great.

Revolution teas are made with whole leaf and you can taste the difference. It never gets too bitter. And the acai combine with other fruit blends give it a nice scent too. I like that I can brew at least 2 cups for one tea bag too. Watch out “Two Leaves & A Bud” there is a new stiff competition in town.

Not only do they make good tea, but the packages are nice and simple too.

“Sencha, the finest Japanese green tea, is blended with the rich, zingy taste of berries for a light, refreshing brew. The flavor of raspberries, black currants and acai, a Brazilian berry bursting with antioxidants, provide a memorable medley.” - Revolution Tea.

More about green tea: the leaves are not fermented. Instead they are withered and steamed. Green tea also contains the most antioxidant compounds, most notably EGCG. It has many health benefits, including cancer-preventative properties.

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I don’t mind a little bit of milk in my coffee, especially in my cafe au lait. I also don’t mind goat milk in my cereal or handmade soap.

I actually really prefer goat milk anytime. As it’s easy to digest and is much more nutritious then cow milk. Just when I was happy with goat milk, I came across this article about camel milk.

It’s the king of milk in north African and Middle Eastern countries. Doctors in Russia and India often prescribe it to convalescing patients. It’s perfect for ailing patients as the milk is rich in vitamins C (three times that of milk). Loaded with vitamin B, unsaturated fatty acids, and also has 10 times the iron that’s found in cow’s milk.

Smiling mother and baby camels.  Notice there is no sand here, just green pasture.  Photo from Oasis Dairy Farm.  It’s America’s first camel dairy farm!

I’ve never tasted camel milk. But it’s been described as being much more salty then regular milk. A reporter for the BBC news wrote, “The taste is akin to walking through a burnt-out building, eating a smoked ham and smoked cheese sandwich.” That is a funny way to describe it.

But the owners of Oasis Dairy in southern California describe the taste as more like low fat cow milk, but very fresh and mildly sweet. But it’s also noted that with any milk, taste can change depending on what the animal is eating.

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Since the World Cup is going on at the moment, it reminded me of a neat film I saw a few years ago.  La Gran Final or The Great Match is by Spanish filmmaker Gerardo Olivares.

The film follows three different tribes from around the world: Mongolian nomads, the Tuareg of the Sahara (Niger’s Tenere desert), and the Indios of the Amazon (Brazil). They are all excited about watching the 2002 World Cup between Germany and Brazil. The adventure begins when they try to figure out a way to get to the nearest television set.

It’s a simple film which makes you laugh along with the characters.  It also reminds you how much we have in common, despite our different way of living.

I think Olivares also wanted to show how globalization and the information age has reached even the most isolated people in the world. It’s also made me realize how much technology is a part of our life. It truly makes you feel like it’s a small world after all.

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Mason bees do no produce honey or beeswax, but they are one type of bee that make great pollinators. They are peaceful insects and won’t sting or bother you (unless it’s being provoked).

To encourage Mason bees to pollinate your garden, why not build them a little house?

Here is a good example of a handmade Mason bee house. Looks like a birdhouse filled with bamboo reeds. Photo from Help Save Bees from UK.

If you have a block of wood and some drill bits, you can also make a Mason Bee house. Just drilled short holes in the block and hang them in a sheltered location. For more info and neat instructions on this method of bee house, check out Gardens for Wildlife.

And if you have access to lots of bamboo reeds, you are in luck.  Just take those and cut them about 5-6 inches. There is no need to put them in a house (like in the photo above).  Just gather the cut bamboo reed together, tie them with a string and place them between tree branches.  Especially in fruit trees, soon enough you’ll be rewarded with more fruits!

From a distance, the Mason bees look black, but is actually dark metallic greenish blue in color.

Photo from British Columbia (Canada) Ministry of Agriculture and Land.

Unlike Honey bees, Mason bees are solitary bees. Every female Mason bee is fertile and makes her own nest. They also have modified hind legs called corbicula to store and carry pollen. The pollen is packed underneath rows of stiff hair under the stomach area.

Also from British Columbia is the following info on Mason bees:

“Orchard Mason Bees are shy and fly away when disturbed. Even at their nests, female bees will not display defensive behavior even though, they are capable of stinging. Similarly to honeybees, Orchard Mason Bees gather nectar in their ‘honey sac’ while foraging. The nectar is used as energy source and to provision the tubular nest.”

Mason bees are becoming a popular way to improve pollination for orchard and small gardens. If making your own Mason bee house is too much, there are a few you can purchase.

The one pictured above is available at Gardener’s Supply Company, for $14.95. The outside is made with strips of bamboo weaved together. And the inside is filled with bamboo tubes. Perfect for the female bees to lay their eggs. I like the tear drop shape of it too.

Or you can still make your own, using a kit found at Kinsman Orchard Bee. Prices run between $14.95 to $25.

This summer I will be adding more notes on interesting and new plants. To start, I want to introduce clianthus puniceas.

It’s a perennial bush in the legume family that can grow up to 8 feet tall. It’s native to the tropics and found growing in New Zealand.

It’s is usually referred to by it’s common names such as Parrot’s Beak, Lobster’s Claw, Glory Pea and White Heron.

I especially admire the clusters of blooms that dangle like jewelry off the branches. Photo from Annie’s Annuals.

According to Annie’s it is a fast growing plant. The blooms are filled with sweet nectar to attract birds and other pollinators. It can tolerate a range of soil and temperature down to 13 degrees. But I would be cautious about growing this in colder climates.

There is also the red variety too. The leaves are also pretty, they remind me of tamarind leaves. Photo from New Zealand Plants.

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This summer I wanted to get a really comfortable pair of sandals. I mean super comfortable too.

So I checked out Zappos.com and came upon the many happy reviews for “Earth Footwear”.  Especially for the Earth “Sizzle”.

The sandal I chose was Earth “Sizzle” in coral multi straps. When I first wore my Earth “Sizzle”, I noticed how light it felt. Almost like I was barefoot, but better. The sole is really comfortable and the contour of the feet felt like it was molded just for me.

Some of the features are listed below:

- The most defining feature of Earth footwear is Kalso Negative Heel Technology a unique inclined sole that positions the toes 3.7º higher than the heels. The slight angle shifts weight subtly back over the heels, and can help strengthen and tone the body while also burning calories.

- Anatomic Arch Support To complement Kalso Negative Heel Technology, all Earth footwear features reinforced support through the arch. The arch support maximizes the effectiveness of the heel design in promoting a natural walking motion.

- BioFoam Cushioning Inside all Earth footwear, a form-fitting footbed provides exceptional comfort with Biofoamâ„¢ cushioning. The proprietary material molds to the shape of the foot, displacing and absorbing shock with each step, and is environmentally-considerate, using 70% recycled content.

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When the days are getting warmer, it’s always nice to be near the water.  There’s something about being around water that makes us all feel better.  But what if the river or ocean is too far away?  You can still bring some of that in the form of a trickling water fountain or a small relaxing pond.

Here is one fountain I’ve found that would be nice in a small garden. It’s a birdbath water fountain with fish spouting water. Another neat feature is, “The polyresin construction can’t rust, doesn’t fade, and never needs polishing.” The only thing I don’t like is how skinny the pole is in comparison to the top portion (water dish). But it is solar powered, so that is a plus. Just remember to set it up in a sunny location.

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