While watering my tomatoes this week, I was shocked to see a flash of bright golden yellow hidden among the leaves. Could it possibly be a ripe tomato this early? It was. And there was another one nearby. I plucked them and ate them on the spot. And they were incredible!

Eating home-grown tomatoes in June is definitely a first for this gardener. Chalk it up to our balmy May and soggy June, which seems to have put everything on the garden fast-track. This plant produced its first visible green tomato on May 26! That particular tomato, now about the size of a tennis ball, is still green, but smaller, later-forming tomatoes are starting to ripen all around it.

I think this is my new favorite tomato. But unfortunately, I don't know what it is. It's some kind of heirloom variety that I got as a Mother's Day gift. The fruit is yellow and heart-shaped. Any guesses? Anybody else picking tomatoes yet? And what's your personal favorite tomato?