Digging in Rocks and Dirt

Yesterday was a beautiful day and for mid-July here in Kentucky it was about 10 degrees cooler than normal. The high was only 70F. Actually we broke the record of the coolest July I8 which was set (I believe in 1948) of 71F. I worked outside all day, dug out some of the pavement and put in the larkspurs, I need to find more if the markets still have them for sale. The ones I put in have already finished blooming and look a bit ratty but that's OK. I also added the sand and stepping stones for a path thru this garden. The other side of the path will be herbs since this plot is just outside the back door and very convenient to the kitchen. In the center of the herb portion I want to install some type of ornament, perhaps an old hand pump once used to pump water from the well. I have seen these used as fountains but I'm not going this route. Water features are just too much trouble for me.

Hopeful

I've been a bit out of touch these last few days. Have been working on my house. It's suppose to be quite hot here tomorrow but I have tons of things that need to be done outside. Guess I'll be up early and out before it gets in the upper nineties. Gardening in that heat is not my cup of tea. I want to get beds made for the larkspurs but that may not all happen. We will hope for the best. Next week we are suppose to have off and on rain several days so that would be good it I could get the plants in the ground

Objects are Closer Than...

Let me introduce Mr. Doodles. I walk out to the car, purse over my shoulder, lunch and briefcase in one hand, a cup of coffee and some papers in the other along with the car keys. After some juggling I reach to open the door and out of nowhere this thing flies in my face. I duck and yell, spill my coffee (luckily not on myself) and try to wave away whatever it is. Then I realize it's a BIRD. He hops onto the windshield and glares at me. My mirror, where he was perched is covered in doodle and all the way down my door. If I open the door will he fly into the car? I put down my lunch and brief case and fling the papers at him, but he just darts over to the other side mirror and looks at himself. Quickly I open the door and toss my things inside. As I close the door he's back and in my face. It's like he's saying "Lady, this is my perch. You deal with it." I go around get in on the driver side. He's still sitting on the passenger side mirror looking at himself. It's like "OK, Bird, Let's see how you like the carwash." He flies off before I pull out of my drive. When I came home from work I tied a plastic bag over the mirrors. Hopefull this will keep Mr. Doodles from doodling on my car again. I'm thinking he is twitterpatted (Remember in Bambi, Owl tells Bambi, Thumper and Flower that the birds were twitterpatted?) with the reflection of himself. Anyone know what type of bird he might be? I know that it would be hard to tell from the angle of the first picture so here's a better view.

Lemon Lily

I've been reading about a lemon lily. Just curious if this is what I have. The yellow is such a clear beautiful color.

Another Suprise

This has been an interesting weekend at my place. Yesterday I went out to begin removing some blacktop so that I could put in a flower bed near the house. I pried up a small piece and something looked strange, then I removed another small piece and another. There was nothing beneath the blacktop except A Hole! A very Black Hole. What have I found? Is this where some former owner, who didn't beieve in banks, has buried their fortune? ( I have found all types of interesting items but as yet no money) Some Indian hide-away, the land was once part of the Iroquois Indian Reservation, I've been told? No! Nothing so exciting. Just one of the 3 cisterns on the place that former owner told me had been filled in years ago.

I called my contractor and he tells me that it has to be filled in with sand. It seems the larkspurs and coreopsis will have to wait a few days before they get planted.

Purple Lily with visitors.

Yellow Lilies. These are beautiful. Such a clear pretty colour.

The tomatoes are getting ripe. Found this one turning last evening. Now if the "critters" just leave them alone.


I've never grown eggplant with any success but this one has several blooms. I will wait and see if the fruit arrives in due time.

And the cucumbers are doing great. This is only two of the ones that I have.

Resident Groundhog

I saw my little buddy this morning. I had been concerned he was no longer around until I spotted him a few days ago. Today he came ambling down the hill to the ditch and scurried along. Looking a lot like a miniture bear as his short little legs carried him along. I was watching for him to get closer but he disappeared. I have a French drain that runs across my back yard and in a couple of places where there are walkways concrete slabs cover the drain and in a couple of places I have placed decorative wrought iron covers that help keep trash out of the drain and prevent someone from stepping in it. Well this drain is the perfect underground highway for Mr. Groundhog, especially the covered area. After he disappeared I continued to watch for him and then I spotted him. Wish I could have gotten a picture but I was too slow, or he was too quick, whichever I missed a great picture. He had his head poked up between one of the iron grates and the concrete slap that crosses the drain. I must admit he was quite silly looking and worth a good laugh.

Not Garden Related but...

With temps in the 90s I've kinda moved inside to work for a few days. Saturday I did some more work on my sunporch. Got half the windows painted and the lower half of one wall. About a week ago the contractor finished cleaning and rechinking the log wall portion and I got the insulation and wood up under all the windows so I had to get going on the paint. It's going to be one of my favorite places to spend time. The view of my gardens and woods is great and when it rains on the metal roof it's such a wonderful place to relax. Hopefully, this afternoon I can finish painting the windows and then there is an old cabinet I want to remove. The ceiling is going to be a real pain to paint beause it hasn't been done in years.