Thursday

 I woke up this morning with Dahlias on my mind.  So after all the things that begin the day, I opened all my books and read again what needs to happen with preparation.  Not much, seems pretty easy but there are a few things that would make them happy.  They should be staked.  I have stakes but also would like some of the bigger ones to have "tomato'" cages.  They are ugly but a little paint would make them nicer.  If they were green the cages might disappear sort of with all the green that Dahlias bring.  Dahlias need to be tied  to the stakes.  Now my solution was to go to Goodwill and buy a green T shirt a dark shade, tear it in strips and after doing that I have plenty of ties.  Along with the green paint, I got a yellow spray can hoping to change the orange chair in the garden to yellow.  Every garden needs a chair.  Here is the results.  Orange is a hard color to cover up with yellow. 

                            In real life it looks a bit more yellow.  Another coat might help. 

The green "tomato" now Dahlia cages look great.  Now if someone could fix the outdoor thermostat I would say the word is plant.   

A  former fireplace grate holds a tray with big rocks.  Adding water gives butterflies a safe place to get a drink.  Have I seen any do that?  No!  But that's the plan.  There really is a mud recipe for this watering hole. It's a big gross.

I got my handy, dandy little rake out and walked the beds until I found one I could fluff.  There was more than one that proved a go but the shade ones seemed to be heavy with clay on the north side of the house. The afternoon saw work on the butterfly garden and I think a Monarch flew by.  They are on their way to somewhere else this time of the year.  No nectar/flowers here yet. Just green stuff.  

This is my cucumber wire.  The wire was made by my Dad about 50 years ago or more.  The chair was given to me by a great camping friend Leslie.  The wolf came home with me from a mission trip to Alaska about 30 years ago.  This year I'm going to plant cucumbers around the outside of the wire letting them climb to the top.  I'll probably laugh every time I see it. Should be interesting. 

The tomato/cucumber/pepper spots have been determined.  The no more frost day is approaching and I'm ready to go with seeds.  Waiting for more heat is needed for the big three. They just sit if planted now.  I transplanted some self seeding flowers and the recent flower purchases spent a couple of hours in the sun.  They are back in the garage for overnight.  

Once again, three cages for three tomatoes.  That takes good care of us. The third is across the way. I usually put a regular cage inside the big one.  There is plenty of support with all that wire.  

So how does the day feel.  Better than most.  It's amazing how taking care of the body does result in less pain and more energy.  Can I remember that.  I hope so.  

I found a new spot for the fairy world.  The birds were using it for a resting place.  I didn't want Ms. Fairy to need a bath complements of the birds.  Is this a sure place?  Not sure!