Of Hummingbirds and Flowers ... and Water.

THIS WEEKEND was one with wonderful weather and work in the garden. Lots and lots and lots of work. Everywhere I looked there was a vacant space in the garden (which the Mister likes and I don't care for) and I envisioned planting some flowers - finally! - that would bloom throughout the summer. Perennials are wonderful, but in our garden there is not too much for July and August. So voila! A trunk full of fresh pickings from New Leaf Greenhouse. Enough to add some color but not pack the place so there would be room for walking into the garden to weed. Ouch! My back!
I chose a ligularia for a shady spot in the garden. When I saw this gigantic plant with its lacy-edged leaves, I thought it could be a powerhouse punch under one of the shade trees. Dahlias will give some color to the edge of the flower beds in the back yard, without overwhelming anything else. and some geraniums, larkspur and campanula - the last two to grow tall and stand out in the front yard flowerbed.
The orange poppies are flowering around the red rhododendron, splashed with two yellow tulips - just like last year. I didn't want to post almost the same exact photo as last year so I played around with the photo editor colors and got this weird shot. Strange garden, huh? I felt a little cruel taking the orange from the poppies and turning the yellow tulips reddish, but, eh! What's a little fun between garden and gardener?
On another note there was a hummingbird trapped in the sunroom. We opened all the doors and windows and I was hoping the draft would lure him/her out. We finally left it alone and went about our business and pretty soon he/she was gone. It was difficult to listen to its little head hitting the glass ceiling!
There was more that happened this weekend. The usual busy round of chores and obligations, but that never seems to end.
A couple more pics of flowers and then I am out of here. Sorry my page isn't getting refreshed as often as it should. I am losing some valuable writing time, putting down my memories - femminismo

If You Don't Laugh at Mrs. G's Comments I Will Worry About You.

YES, it's true. If you go to Mrs. G's blogspot (Derfwad Manor) and don't find something to laugh at - or something you identify with - I will truly be worried. (Note to Mrs. G: I know your photo is copyrighted and I stole it from your site but at your request I will gladly take it off.)
I laughed my way through her post before she left for New York City and then throughout her trip to same. The repartee between the Mr. and Mrs. was funny and real. And, oh, my gosh! I thought I posted a lot of food pictures, but apparently - even though it's not a cooking/baking blog - I'm running way behind Mrs. G.
Check out her "retirement plan" on the right hand side of the blog. Womens Colony, heaven - call it what you will. What a time I had laughing my way through that! Go there right away. Do it! Err ... unless you are male and easily take offense at - well, almost anything men do that irritate women.

TICK TOCK ... It's later in the day now - nearly 9:30 p.m. The Mister and I went up on the property for a while. It was slow going on the drive up there, with Hwy. 26 clogged with everyone and their second cousin headed west - as far as you can go - to the Oregon coast. The temps there promised to be at least 20 degrees cooler, but for some it was a long, slow trip.
On the property, the Mister sprayed some weeds on the road and worked in the creek (rearranging the rocks - I'm not kidding). I read the newspaper - even the business section (the dollar is getting stronger!) - and nosed around with my camera, seeing what I could find on one of the hottest days of August.
I couldn't understand why I found so many frogs on dry land. They were on the paths in the woods, in the gravel, under piles of dry sticks. Why weren't they in the creek? Why wasn't I in the creek?
There were no blackberries. The wild ones have been gone for a while and the Chehalems haven't ripened yet. I tried to get a photo of the red berries on top of the Devil's Club plant, but in shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt going through the nettles wasn't an option.

So I found red berries on the False Solomon's Seal. I didn't know it had berries, but I've been paying a lot of attention to the native plants and I've enjoyed seeing them in each stage of their life.
The Mister and I decided we enjoy doing things like this. For lunch we had hot dogs roasted with a propane torch (fires haven't been allowed in the woods for a couple of months now) wrapped in a slice of bread, with plenty of brown mustard, and honeydew melon, very ripe, for dessert.
It was a good day even though it was HOT!
I hope you were cool today. Maybe you were drinking a vodka and peach Fresca, like the Southern Girl - femminismo