Summer’s truly here; the air conditioner’s been running regularly for a couple of weeks. I’ve done quite a bit of work in the yard, trying to get things done before the heat sets in. Things look pretty good. Of course, a garden is “a thing of beauty and a job forever,” which is a quote I have on a little plaque that sits on my garden bench.
Before we went to Tennessee in April, I carefully rearranged the potted plants on the patio into spaces around the yard, trying to be sure that they got the appropriate amount of sun or shade they each needed, and were placed where the sprinkler system would keep them hydrated. We were away almost two weeks, and when we pulled into the driveway, home again at last, I was taken aback at how awful the lawn looked. I went straight to the system’s controls in the garage and discovered, to my horror, that, while I had set the timer correctly, I had not actually turned the system on. EEEKKKK.
The patio plants all looked pretty poorly. The lavender looked dead (and it was). But, with some care, everything else came back fine.
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- The caladiums looked particularly horrible–all limp with leaves lying on the dirt. But with some intense watering, they’ve rallied.
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- I keep trying hostas and this year, these two came back (on the north, very shady, side of the house). They weathered the temporary drought. These two . . .
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- and this one.
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- Three new kinds of oregano in the herb garden by the patio
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- The chives were badly overgrown. I thinned them out pretty dramatically, but they seem to be doing all right.
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- I’ve given up on the fairy garden, and made this little dish garden instead. The squirrels don’t seem to be interested.
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- This is the photo from May, after I’d worked in the thyme garden, adding a couple of new varieties. Then I got sick.
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- I’ve had the green Coral Bells (on the left) for a few years. I like them because they’re winter hardy. I added some new varieties this year.
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- The white (with a tinge of pink) bougainvilleas are blooming.
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- This Bee Balm, described as “an aromatic perennial herb,” doesn’t seem to be very aromatic. But, it’s pretty and is growing well.
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- This pineapple sage, which I’ve had for maybe ten years, is starting to bloom. The leaves really do smell just like a pineapple.
I’m excited to see the big, fat berries on the holly bush.
There will be pretty red berries for Christmas!
And, the crape myrtle tree has lost a branch!!
But the most interesting, and a little bewildering, thing that I discovered in my yard this spring—
I was out in the yard a couple of weeks ago, and, as I rounded the corner from the back yard to the side where the ferns grow, I looked down and saw . . . yes, a hot dog. I looked at it long and hard. It’s a hot dog.
I’ve not ever seen a dog, or dogs, roaming around the neighborhood. Every now and then I see a cat (or rather, what’s left of a bird in the yard). But, really, do cats eat hot dogs? Maybe. Anyway, I left it where it was and went on with my yardwork. Then, I went inside for some lunch.
When I went back outside, to work some more, I checked on the hot dog. As you can clearly see, the space was empty. Really? The hot dog noshing dog/cat/whatever was waiting, quietly, observantly, cautiously for me to leave. Then they returned and retrieved their lunch? Seriously? Do squirrels do that sort of thing? (And really, I wouldn’t put anything past a squirrel.)
Anyway, no other aberrant food items have been deposited in the yard, at least none that I’ve noticed. Rain poured down last Sunday; if I had a gully, it would have been washed out. I hope it’s not the last of the good rainfalls.
Shout praises to the Lord, everyone on this earth. Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the Lord!You know the Lord is God!
He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord as you enter his temple. The Lord is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.
Psalm 100 (Contemporary English Version)
So THAT’S where I left my hot dog…
What a great experience! I wish hot dogs grew in my yard.
You do have interesting things happen in your garden!