IN Carmel

                    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.            ...

                                             A sweet little zinnia doing just what I want it to do.  Grow up. I made certain today was an easy day.  Well, perhaps a not so hard day.  There was coffee on the patio.  Then came wet shoes with thinking about the morning and what could happen.                  Mexican Sunflowers.  Small now but when they take off it's not long till they are 6 ft tall.                                                                   Beautiful orange flowers loved by the butterflies.  I moved some zinnias and ferns Then checked the Dahlias giving ...

 Nothing was on the calendar for today.  That was a bit unusual but easy to do.  So it was a do what ever I thought needed doing if anything.  And this happened near the end of the day.  Maybe the calendar needed to be fuller.   They say in the 1600's the country gardens were unorganized even holding animals like pigs and goats.                                                         I'm trying to copy.  Goats are way to much.                                         We have gained a dog but sorry to say it's not a German Shephard.                                 ...