IN Carmel

       What a beautiful friend was waiting for me in the garden.  It's not hard to find something new.                                                                         And yes, the deer and rabbits do bring surprises.   A beautiful morning to work in the garden...And I did.  It was dead heading some things.  Then snipping spent zinnias allowing them to grow more flowers in all of the beds.  The Hosta always are on the cutting board this time of year.  I enjoy their flowers when they stand tall but when it's leaning time they are telling me it's time for trimming those long stems. So that happened. I see neat beds when that happens.  I fertilized some flowers calling for a pep up.  Others said we are OK fo...

                 There are at least 14 Roma tomatoes on this plant.  The pollinators certainly came through. Yes...Wednesday all day.  It started swimmingly with a text from my friend Jo, an old choir member who moved to Atlanta Ga to be with two of her daughters.  She's back in Indy for a visit. I invited her to sing the anthem with us Sunday.  I hope that happens.  I think she does also.    This little pepper plant has three peppers forming.  One is big enough to eat right now.  I added peppers to the supper salad tonight.  Yes...the pollinators have been busy. And the egg plant also is coming through with cool purple vegetables. I made a phone call to Mike, the hair guy with a cutting appointment this afternoon.  That was quick.  I have quite a mop of hair getting a longer cut last time.   The garden walk was short with wet grass again.  But long enough to find...

                    T he morning sun lit up this picture that added the neighbor's garden in the background..   The morning started early.  There was a feeling of taking it easy with starting the day.  And I really did that.  Slow as molasses in January in Alaska.  4:30 brings slow time whenever that happens.                                              A new color.  Something different almost every morning. Then there was a walk through the garden with the thought of finishing the trimming job the deer did a few days ago.  It's so easy to miss things when just a few things are deer messed up stuff.  There were a few Hostas, day lilies and that was about it to snip at.  I lifted the cups up over the Dahlias for the sun to shine in.  An hour ...

 The morning started with rain.  That was good and bad.  Bad because I wasn't in the garden.  Good because everyone in the garden got a good drink.  Not that a lot of drinking hasn't occurred this year.  There has been plenty of that so a little bit more after a few dry days off wasn't a bad idea.  I must admit that good is winning. Yesterday's garden gave me so many bug bumps.  I'm covered even though I was covered with clothes.  So maybe the bad stuff has turned into a good reason to avoid the garden today.  Bug Bumps that ITCH!!!  I moved all these flowers from the now Dahlia bed to another one, thinking they would not bloom this year.  Well,  there are more flowers then there ever have been.  Happy little posies. Yes...more rain. There was breakfast and coffee with TV.  Not French Vanilla or Hazelnut Creamer.  Just TV.  It was a slow morning but a few things happened.  At 10:30 I was off to see...

  The pot marigolds certainly have let me know that moving them is not what they like.  The movers took at least 2 weeks to recover.  So plant the seeds where they will live the whole summer.  A shallow pan will provide water for butterflies.  Another great night of sleep.  I walked the garden and did a bit of dead heading.  Barely a bucket full but any contribution is welcomed.  I found more clover to pull.  I love pulling weeds and making things look a little better with more water available for the main show which should happen in a week or two.                           The straw flowers are beginning to wind their way through the frame for support.  Then off to church for a good morning of fellowship.  Great music, sermon and visiting as it usually is.                And of course, across the way is a sig...

 A super sleeping morning for what ever reason.  Reasons are not important.  It just happened which is great.  Breakfast as usual and then time to think and watch the birds.             I think this is a blue bird baby at the feeder.  The parents delivered a lot of the same finch food.      I didn't see the parents all day.  I think they are on vacation with the children on their own these days. I fluffed one of the beds preventing any weeds of ever thinking they would succeed. Then I moved to the stepping stone walk that leads from the driveway into the back yard.  I pulled out a Lenten Rose.  It just wasn't in the right place and the two that were left were enough for the space.  I moved a few other things adding a zinnia, more hens and chicks, some thyme and other ground cover.  I think this will be a work in progress for some time.            ...