IN Carmel

                                                                   Another pretty pot of flowers made it to the garden.                                            I've read this is another common thing found in a country garden.  Well, so I've read.  The yellow flowers in the pot are in bud form currently. Another morning of no rain so I was out looking around again...as usual.  Everything looked as good as possible with as much drinking water as the plants could hold.  It was time to think about a hair cut for the little blue iris.  I must admit it was an easy thing to do with the hedge clippers that were a Christmas gift a couple of yea...

Part of the garden but I can't remember the name.  Never could! Nothing new.  Sometimes it blooms like this year.  Sometimes it doesn't like other years.  It was another full day.  So full I can't remember everything.  Like what happened this morning.  I think it was pretty quiet and yes, there were wet feet again which proves to me I was out and about making decisions for the day.  One being what needed to be moved because the common milkweed was hiding what needed to see the sun.  Poor planning on my part or perhaps over extended milkweed.  Pick one.   Now this plant is called Goats Beard. It should be covered with these flowers but the deer always agree with me about liking this plant.  So, the deer shares it with me.  I think I got jipped.  I did make a run to the drugstore for Magnesium.  That's demands a big decision to get in the car and drive north.  Harder than you might imagine.  For road...

 Another soggy dirt morning.  I used that reason to make a trip to Rosie's for pond plants.  Three came home with me.                                                              No sunshine today so there were no bubbles.   This time the rain came at noon.  Not so much but anything at this point is a little too much.  I did a walk around deciding it was time to take care of two jonquil bunches of leaves.  They had started to droop looking a little tired.  Not completely worn out but leaning.  That left two big spaces with a what do I do next.  What was ruled out were moving any perennials.  I wanted to see Jonquils next spring.   In no time, both pair of garden shoes were soaking wet. Not surprising I must admit.      ...

 Up early ready for the day.  I spent a little time in the garden seeing what survived the gusher last night.  All seemed to be up and ready for the day just like me.  I did a little messing around but stayed clean for the heart doc appointment.  Nothing has changed and I appreciated those words.             Kimmy sent this picture of the pussy willow fence.  It's a living fence growing in her garden.                                                    The pussywillows came from our yard.  My fence is not so fancy.   Then I was off to the Tractor Supply Store in Westfield for more dahlia stakes.  I picked up a pink and yellow canna.  I think a few more canna are coming from the same last year's source.  If not that's fine as well.  ...

 The morning started with the usual monthly blood work that tells me yes or no about restarting the cancer medication.  It's three weeks on with pills and one week off.  Blood work and then the results appears.  Today the results indicated that my white count is at a critically low point.  That happened a year ago last May.  What is May thinking.  She could do better.  So I'll wait another week for another blood test.  Is the Lion chasing me.  (Yesterday's sermon)  I think not, so far.  Thanks you Jill for your Sunday words.  I didn't know how soon they would fill space in my mind. Then it was off to church meeting four good friends.  It's getting ready for Pentecost Sunday.  It's my MOST favorite Sunday of the church year.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. The coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church. There isn't anything much better than a birth day.            ...

 Up and ready!  Plant Swap Morning!!!  We arrived at church earlier than usual.  Why not...Plant swap morning for sure.  And I did swap more than once.  There were plenty of plants and some that would fill spaces I had thought about for some time.  I hid the collection in the court yard bushes.  Last year I gathered them together and before I knew it folks thought they were part of the collection to choose from.  I learned my lesson.                                                                                                      T oday's pickings.  There were more Laurel Dahlias, small annuals, and hyssop among a few other things....

     More Dianthus blooming with a little more to go.  It tells me with no words that it is grow time.   Well, the night was short.  I thought it was six am so I got up and got ready for the day discovering that I probably got up at 4 or so.  What a bummer.  I just got my usual breakfast and spent time with my garden books.  Some days are like that even in Australia so says Alexander.                  Problem child.  Peony's from our Mr. Monday's bush planted more than 50 years ago. I collected everything I needed and was off to church a little after 8 with flowers for the altar.  That took a while since one arrangement was pretty easy and the other one didn't want to do what I thought it should.  Sometimes things similar to that happen even in Australia so says Alexander.                       Better beh...

 Forgetting is getting to be a habit.  What happened this morning.  There wasn't much to forget because not much happened.  It was a lazy crazy morning, mostly lazy with not much crazy.  There was breakfast, paper fetching and a for certain walk around especially to see the new plant addition.  I was afraid Dahlias might be good rabbit food but that wasn't the case.  They were all smiling and I was happy.  What good strong bodies they had with arrival and continue to have.  One later in the day got a little move allowing more room for growth.  The three vacant places have been staked already waiting for the hole occupant arriving Sunday.   I made another trip to the flower tent telling the girls working there that if I appear again, they have permission to shoot me.  I think I've scared myself enough to stay away.  I picked up two flats of small zinnias and another herb.            ...

 First on the BLOG!  Posted for our Sterling Michigan and Lake Medora U P of Michigan camping friends, the Lupine is showing color.  This plant came to me as a seed from their home near Eagle Harbor, Mi.                                          Thank you so much Gary and Judy. You also hold great memories. I was so busy at the end of the afternoon and what happened in the morning is sort of a blur.  If I can let the roll-a-dex spin a few times maybe that will get this stuck memory wheel going.  I do remember that today would be Dahlia day.  Whoopee! Oh, yes...the day started with the rake and shovel and loosening the soil where the Dahlias would be planted.  So that happened.  I worked on better placement of stepping stones.  They can be deadly if not level.  I continued on to other places that needed a break in th...

                                               Complements of the plant swap.  It's been a good year for Iris. Crazy morning.  Well, something different maybe not so crazy.  Last night's sleep was a bit different having a lot of noticeably achy places in my body.  Hips, back, legs...you name it but I did do some sleeping.  So the morning continued the same way and by afternoon, all was better.  It seems to be something the cancer meds bring. Yes.  I'll take it as one of the side affects. Walking was a challenge so I didn't do much. It's hard to walk without your hips moving!  Can you believe all that orange and black at the Michigan homestead.  I told Kimmy I was sure some were fake.  The hummingbird showed up in the afternoon.   I kept things as normal a day as possible.  The rabbits ...