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August 2021 sunflowers and vegetables

/ dfarabee / 3 Comments

When I look out the kitchen window (while I am washing my dishes), I get to look at these sunflowers. Last year I had made a wigwam / tipi of old sunflowers, amaranth, broom corn and everything else I thought the birds would like. Of course it re-seeded and I decided to leave it. It has been lovely and I think I will keep it next year. I also feel less badly about having bird-enticing things on the north side of the house since the cats spend most of their time on the south side of the house.

And I have begun some pickling and canning. I bought 10 pounds of beets from a gardener down the road and canned them. I’ve canned them completely plain –not pickled. I like them in salads and soups in the winter.

I canned some chickpeas when I did the beets –since I had a little space in the canner for some extra jars. These are bread and butter pickles.

August 2021 it rained here! and the kitties are happy

/ dfarabee / 2 Comments

The thunderstorm last night refreshed everything. It wasn’t that much rain, but it certainly feels better here. AND the grapes are ripening. Here are pictures of happy kitties.

And look at this lovely blooming lily.

You can see that the bugs have absolutely ruined the leaves… but the grapes seem to be doing ok.

And here are some pictures of the outside kitties.

July 2021 last morning of camping and a few more garden blooms

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Here is one of the backtracking posts –I am posting this to share this picture of the last morning of camping. I awoke very early and the sunrise was on the water and the campground was very quiet. I got out my camera and walked down toward the water and saw this crane in the water. The moon the night before had been astounding –and the moonrise over the lake was lovely too.

Lovely moonrise over the water.

And here are some pictures of more blooms in south dakota.

And below is one of my favorite blooms, Tiglet.

July 2021 imminent blooms and a trip

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I am leaving to go on a road trip and I am particularly noticing the things in the garden that are very close to blooming. I won’t be gone that long, but given that things change every single day I am sure there are some moments I will miss. But I am looking forward to seeing some different landscapes and some friends I haven’t seen in a while.

This bed is changing a lot (partly because tomatoes really do change so quickly). And I expect these moss roses will be spectacular when I return.

Here are several things that are about to bloom or are just starting up.

Love lies bleeding
poppy
Four o clocks … or as the poets of the 17C called it: marvel of Peru
zinnias partly underway
rudbeckia
two potted lantana, above and below

So I will have to do a comparison when I return –or maybe I will have some updates from the garden while I am away. Meanwhile the kitties are saying, “You are doing WHAT?”

Milton, disapproving and accusing; Caramel, resigned.
Cousin, disappointed.

June 2021 roses, rudbeckia, and a kitty

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I have several different rudbeckia in my garden. One my garden neighbor and I dug from a field and I am very pleased it has managed. I tried to have a look at some of the names of the different kinds –but there are so many it will take me a while to figure out which ones I actually have. In any case, they are quite spectacular and should go on for a while.

I was completely convinced that I had planted a yellow rose in my front bed near the bridal wreath spirea. It is definitely not yellow, but what a lovely color and so fragrant.

Here are some more pictures of rudbeckia–amazing when they are about to burst open.

Minnie is very happy about this cool grass that she found. It has been really hot here.

This white rose is blooming so much it almost can’t climb. And the poppies are sneaking over to this side of the garden bed.