Sunday

 It's been a pretty easy day, a true day of rest. This morning was church and another great service of music, prayer and sermon. The theme for the morning was caring for the earth honoring Earth Day.  And as we left the church the table offering free garden seeds was a busy one.  Of course I came home with a fist full of seed envelopes.  

There was time to text the Michigan family.  Jacob played his last concert as a freshman this afternoon.  Finals are this week and then his first year at Michigan State as a music major is a thing of the past.  

There was time for sleeping and then walking the garden with a little weed pulling and discovering that the common milkweed are making their appearance once again in the garden.  It was entertaining to find them.  The crop will be large if they keep appearing at the rate I found them today. 

Years ago, probably at least 12, maybe more I sprayed the weeds in the garden where the milkweed had been prolific.  It was early spring and no milkweed was up at that point.  The spray seeped down to where the milkweed roots were and killed everything.  DON"T do that!  It's taken a long time to regenerate what once was.  

Later in the afternoon Doug and I made our way to Rosie's garden shop to check out the total change that happened to the area during the winter months.  I would say it was a Go Big or Go Home choice for the Hughes.  The changes are impressive, and it was a great new picture taking afternoon visiting with the owner and walking the grounds.  I'll be back when the weather warms.  Maybe Thursday when more Lantana arrive.  

The selection of beautiful pots is impressive but Kimmy there are no cement geese. I looked carefully.

                                        There is just a whole lot of everything everywhere.

One thing that makes this place so attractive to me is how common and ordinary the Hughes are.  They are just great dirt people.  Mrs. Hughes runs the retail plant business and Mr. Hughes has developed a huge landscaping business.  Their common approach to the business is felt throughout the whole area.  Their selection of trees and bushes is outstanding.  The shop is named after their daughter Rosie who was just a tot when the parents began the business.  Rosie, a Purdue grad. is now a mother with two children of her own.  One can find her working with the plants from time to time.   Being only two miles from our house also is just the best! 

 

Once again some time is devoted to all the little zinnias that soon will be planted in the garden.  They are moved to the patio and the sunshine in the morning and then back inside for the night.  I am convinced that they are a huge drawing card for the Monarchs and Swallowtails.  This year I seem to be a bit more successful in my efforts to grow my own zinnias.  

The evening brought the welcomed chair with a little TV added.