It’s June, and the spring flowers have given way to colorful annuals and pe­ren­ni­als, such as peonies, poppies, and delphiniums, in my garden. In addition, lilacs and crab apples are still in bloom. This is as close to par­a­dise as it gets here.

After a busy spring of getting the lawn and flower beds tidied up and planted, it’s time to put out a lawn chair, pour an iced tea or lemonade, and find a good book to read. Summer reading has its own charm, es­pecially if one can spend time outdoors. …