Tuesday

 

                    A wonderful way to start the day.  I would call these the old timers of the garden.                                                                 They have given us some children.

Today started out pretty slow.  Just how I like it.  I texted Kathy and she called me wanting to talk instead of text.  She'll be gone to the lake for more than a couple of days and I'll be picking in her garden zinnias for church flowers Friday. What a great friend. And while the talk was happening, momma dear and her little baby took a stroll through the neighbor's yard.  There's always something happening for entertainment. 

                                    My most recent collection of zinnias with a little character.                                                                  The birds like to pull the peddles looking for seeds.  The colors are great.                                                                                              The birds @#$%$^&#.

Then it was time to do a little clean up in the garden. My pot marigolds are poking along in the garden acting like life is way to hard for them.  I planted some real marigold seeds by them.  Maybe the pots will perk up with company coming. There were piles of weeds in various places and they need a pickup.  Out came the cart and rake and the morning really got seriously under way.  There was more work to do besides the pickup and that happened with edging the front of the house beds and the whole north side.  It was a mess with weeds, so the cart was full by the end of the morning.  I was soaked to the bone which led to a cold shower.  Woo.  it felt so good.  

           A few of these are still around.  Before long I'll be saying, "see you next year", Lord willing.

A bit later when I felt a bit rejuvenated and before lunch, I sprinkled preen where I cleaned.  I hope I've put that area to bed for the rest of the summer and fall. Preen was sprinkled a few other places.  

                                A better definition between the Hosta bed and the north lawn.                                                      A surprise shower makes that even more noticeable. It's time for Preen to do its magic.

Lunch happened and the afternoon was the opposite of the morning.  It was time to sit with one exception.  Doug found a Monarch caterpillar.  That demanded that the butterfly stuff needed to be set up.  The back yard shade tree is gone so I found another shady spot hoping that it works. Woo, woo.  I say where there is one there can be more.  I'm sure Doug will keep looking for more.  He's really good at finding things including what I lose.

I added fresh milkweed, but this little creature preferred the leaf where he was found crawling back to it.

The next job on the gardening list is whipping back the edges of the path.  They could grow shut by the end of fall.  It takes a shovel and clippers to cut back the edges.  Easy!!!  I just need to do it.

There was nap time, TV time and ice water drinking time during the afternoon along with itchy eyes.  That seems to be back again so eye drop time is here again.  

Kathy F. left another bag on the patio table this morning.  There are always surprises. This time the bag held cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.  I make take a few to the churches for Thursday soup making them available for the neighborhood folks. I need to get the vases ready for the Saturday flower arranging time.  It's also Soup Kitchen workday for me.  

I looked through the jonquil bulbs that Gina gifted me with and sorted through them with the hope of getting them in the ground this fall.

                                    The keepers for sure.  Another bag holds the maybe keepers?   

The rest of the day was pretty quiet with an evening with the Fever again.  I finished the blog late afternoon so as not to miss a minute of ball tonight.  So with a slow beginning and a slow end to the day, this July Tuesday has been pretty good to me.  

        Once again, my attempt at Bumble Hill Holly Hocks.  I think the weather suits them better there.                  That's my weak excuse.  So pretty.  There might be more next year.  I have more seed to plant.