Summer 2017

 I tend to take lots of pictures and download them onto my computer, where they are never seen again. So I'm thinking I might start doing a monthly "round up" of some of my favorites. Here are a few from my summer. The "people" pictures I save for Facebook, tagging those involved. So what I have left is apparently "nature" pictures, for the most part. And some art I bought. And one of the numerous tree frogs that began life in the swimming pool we didn't use this summer. 

The Difference A Week Can Make

 Last Monday I took a picture of my neighbor's flowers as I walked to work. And this morning they're covered in snow. The sad thing is, our little pigeon left her nest long enough for snow to gather there, and when we looked, we found out the eggs had hatched and the chicks had died. And to make it even sadder, she came back and she's sitting on them again. As soon as she leaves, we're rebuilding the feeder and putting a back on it and turning it into a bird house. Then maybe she'll come back and we'll get a happy ending!

We're All Going To Eat Well

I've had this violet for 14 years or so, and it hasn't bloomed for a while. It's nicely decided to share its color with us during these frigid winter days. It's been a crazy week--subzero temps with snow and the promise of major nastiness tonight and tomorrow. We have been busy every day at the store-- I can't imagine that there isn't a house in this town without an overflowing pantry. Just how much milk and bread does everyone need? But my boss is happy.

Garden Blahs

Somehow, after all of the cold weather and rain we've had this Spring, warm weather finally popped. And so has the flowers, and the grass, and the trees. My allergies haven't hit as hard this year, at least not yet. My worst time is usually when the cottonwoods start dropping their little cotton wads. That should be soon. I'm having a hard time getting interested in gardening this year. Maybe because it's just so late. I usually have my flower beds cleaned up by now, and new plants in the ground. We did manage to get the garden tilled and I got most of it planted over the weekend, but again, I'm not really interested in it. I was about 6 weeks ago, when I normally would have started. Some how, during the delay, I mentally just moved on! Maybe, when the seedlings start coming up, I'll get interested again. I had every intention of cleaning out one of the flower beds and making it into an herb garden, but it's so overgrown now (it's full of perennials)  that I think it'll wait until next year. On the up side, my daughter got home over the weekend and she doesn't know how long she is staying, so I guess I just want to spend my time with her!

Crazy Mixed Up

I noticed as I drove through the country to my Mom's house on Saturday that there appeared to be Spring flowers growing here and there.  Then walking to work yesterday I came across Violets! This crazy weather this summer has the plants all mixed up. I don't think I've ever seen Violets in October! The flowers have been spectacular the last few weeks--it's as if they are trying to make up for the extreme heat and lack of rain from the Summer!

A Treat for Tar and Abby..

...if they ever visit Illinois! I have a Sunflower "bush" growing in my garden.  I grow them for the Cardinals and other birds but I'm always willing to share with visitors!

But What's Normal?

We finally got some rain and some relief from the heat this week. It was too late for most of my garden, tho.  This morning I tilled up about half of it and replanted green beans. Fingers crossed. I have a yard full of trees, bushes and flowers. I'm worried that I might have lost my burning bush, but the mimosa tree has done well. Usually I have hummingbirds flitting around it, but I hadn't seen many this year.  I was so delighted to go out one evening last week and see four of them buzzing and fighting.  This one stopped to take a break. Maybe things are about to get back to normal!

Straggler

We have a very active Garden Club--they do a wonderful job of beautifying our Uptown every year.  There are flowers everywhere.  Petunias are the most common flower they use: I assume because they are very hardy.  These little stragglers are a common sight. Last year's seeds seem to find the barest, most desolate spots to take root.  A couple of years ago we had a dozen or better Butterfly bushes take root next to the store where I work.I have no clue where those seeds came from but  I brought a start home and added it to my growing collection of flowers and plants. One of these days I'm going to run out of room!

Wonkier Still

It reached 81°s yesterday, 30°s over the normal high. This is my forsythia bush. It's a bit early for it to be bloomed out. My rhubarb is starting to leaf, I noticed my peonies are sticking up, and I even saw an asparagus tip poking it's nose out. My trees are full of buds. We have the windows open and the birds are chirping like it's the happiest day of their little lives. We don't normally get 80° temperatures until June. My son made the comment that the "end of the world" people just might be right! We seem to be losing our Seasonal rhythms.

The Walk to Work

A lady that lives on the next block has the most beautiful yard. She spends a part of every decent day planting, pulling weeds and doing general upkeep. It gives me a little spiritual lift each morning as I walk past on my way to work. Which, right now, I really need. It's getting harder and harder to go to work. I sooo need a new job!

Mailman Shuffle

I just noticed the Hollyhocks bloomed! The mailman likes to walk up to the porch, reach over the railing and put the mail in the box. It drives the husband nuts! So I got some Hollyhock starts from my neighbor and planted them in the corner. Now the mailman has to walk up on the porch, at least in the summer. My neighbor has all different colors--white, yellow, burgundy and pale pink. Somehow, last year I ended up with all yellow. This year I've got several different colors! I do like a variety! They are very pretty and seem to be doing their job well!

Signs of Spring

I only live 3 blocks from where I work, so weather permitting and lack of errands to run on my lunch break, I like to walk. (Plus, with the price of gas these days, maybe manage to save a little money!) An older lady on the next block from us has a beautiful flower bed. She works in it daily. I'm actually a little envious! I wish I had more time to take care of growing things. Her garden always gives me a little lift to my day. I got my first seed catalog in the mail the other day and looking through it makes me wish we could find us a place in the country where I could plant lots of fruit trees and berry bushes. Have an asparagus bed. Have a strawberry patch. Maybe, someday...!

Touch of Summer

This winter is getting long. We have had snow on the ground for more days than I can remember in a long time. It's almost Ground Hog Day, which means Spring is just around the corner. Already, I've noticed the days getting longer. During our shortest days, it's dark when I get off work. I can't express how much I hate that! I am definitely a person who responds to light. Once it's dark, I'm just ready to go to bed. My favorite Summer "hobby" is gardening. I love plants, especially flowers. I have several flower beds, including a half-dozen potted plants I keep on the deck. Last Fall my husband brought several inside. I've never had much luck bringing outdoor plants in--they usually die within a couple of months. But for some reason, the three he brought in has survived--even blooming on occasion. I can't wait until the weather is warm and I can put them back out. I just imagine they are going to get so big and full this summer!

One of My "Pets"

I love flowers, and I seem to have a thing for Praying Mantises. I think it goes back to when I was a kid and Mom found an egg case and stuck it by the door. When they hatched we had babies all over the place and I've been a fan ever since! Last summer when we were working on my son's bug collection for school I caught a large momma and brought it home. (She didn't make it into the collection!) Now we have several larger specimens in the yard. Even tho I try to go light on pesticides, we haven't seen many mantises this year, but the warm weather must have brought them out of hiding because we found quite a few today. This one made it to the top of the pump. Don't know where she thought she was going from there! I'm just really hoping they are all busy laying eggs this afternoon!