Heating up. . . . . . Daylilies and Sunflowers

Right now Bob is out watering. He beat me to the hoses at 6:45 am and is almost

done so I'm not even getting into gardening clothes - thank you Bob, I've saved

 coffee for you! I'll most likely have to do my share this evening - the heat index 

for today is 105 degrees - it will be a scorcher and people with breathing 

problems, such as my neighbor with COPD, need to stay inside with their a/c 

running full blast!

Even the cherub family looks hot this morning.

The daylilies love this weather. In all honesty, I'm not thrilled by orange flowers, 

however these double blooms (which I really don't recall planting) are quite lovely

 next to the blue hydrangea.

My sunflowers are dong well despite lower leaves, and a few buds, being

a nighttime snack for some creature passing through the garden - deer most 

likely. They have certainly grown by leaps and bounds these past couple of weeks

 and are now setting their spectacular buds.

These are all growing from the seeds I collected from last year's flower heads -

I feel like they are my 'children' and am so proud of them.

One of several of the sunflowers already in bud.  I think they are so 

amazing at every stage of growth, especially the strength and 

height, of the straight, strong stems readying to support the heavy 

 golden flower heads.

Hope your day is cooler than mine!

Another early morning breakfast visitor. . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .and this time it was not my granddaughter!

On opening the dining room blinds early this morning I was quite surprised 

to see this larger than usual visitor checking out the bird feeder! 

In the almost thirty years we've lived in the cottage, we've never had deer

in the garden, and we can count on one hand the times we've seen one in the 

cul-de-sac. . . . . . . until yesterday early evening when a neighbor called to tell

 me a deer had just walked up my driveway. I didn't get photos then as it jumped

 over a fence and was gone in no time flat. We are not in the country and are 

actually just a heartbeat away from a very heavily traveled main road.

This morning I was able to grab a camera, managed a few shots from the

 window before this one toddled off over the lawn, then crossed the street into

 the small wooded area opposite.

We really don't want deer knowing how they can enjoy three meals a day

 once they find plants and shrubs on their menu growing in your garden. 

My neighbor has tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions coming along 

and is going on vacation soon. As I'm going to be cat-sitting for a couple of 

weeks I've been given the go ahead to harvest - and enjoy cooking/eating - these

 summer veggies. I'm growing a lot of basil in pots, so I'm ready for fresh-picked 
tomatoes.

- Neighbor's veggie patch -

Methinks I may be spending more time in the garden in my robe these

coming mornings! I have big plans for gazpacho, ratatouille, pasta sauce etc. -

and I may need to be out there ahead of the deer if those are veggies they enjoy!

If you are growing veggies and have visiting deer - do they eat them?

Any tips will be welcomed. . . . . . but no instructions for building deer 

fences please, too late for that.

Just taking a break and sitting in the garden on a sudden whim is not really an option

 for me at this time of year. . . . . .unless I spray heavily with messy, smelly bug

 repellent I become a feast for every mosquito within a square mile.  

This morning I did venture out after the deer left, after all I was already armed

with a camera, nobody was around, being in pj's and robe was acceptable,

 (it's actually one of those 'old lady' habits neighbors expect I think!).

  The garden did look pretty in the early sunlight. . . . . . . and I wanted 

to share a little bit of North Carolina with you.

Have a fabulous week dear friends.

Bob will be heading out with the mower shortly - as you can see, time to

tackle the grass again, grows non-stop at this time of year.

Good garden friends. . . . . . . .

It's been a while since I've seen chipmunk activity in the garden. 

This little cutie showed up a few days ago rustling about under the front

 garden feeder, picking up fallen sunflower seeds. . . . . . .along with

 Mrs. Cardinal whom you can see stuffing her beak with seeds. 

They apparently are friendly toward one another, remaining long 

enough for me to grab the camera and take a few shots from the

dining room window.

Rain last week brought a growth spurt in the garden. A couple of years back

 a chipmunk was living in a burrow under the plant to the left of the birdbath - perhaps

 this is same one!

I've also seen it out here in back, again picking up seeds under the feeders.

Loving the cheery look on this little cutie as he/she holds that seed with those

 tiny sharp claws. . . . . . .wildlife such as these delightful creatures are 

always welcome in my garden.

Happy weekend dear readers - hope it's lovely weather where you are.

 We spent several hours working in the garden yesterday as the temperature

 was pleasant - now it's heading back up in the 90's for the week ahead - much

 too warm for me!

Fade from Blue. . . . . .

Less than two weeks ago I shared the really deep blue of this year's

 hydrangeas in my garden HERE.

The bushes are huge, the flower heads big, heavy and numerous.

Now, just a few days into official summertime, they are already starting to

 fade because they are planted in parts of the garden that get direct sun in the 

afternoon.  These lovely shrubs should really be resting in shadows, taking a
 shady siesta after lunch! When I planted them many years ago I had more

 trees in front of the house and porch and they did get shade. Now the sun's
 rays find them easily so along with very hot temperatures, and often high
 humidity, I'm perhaps lucky to have any hydrangeas at all!

Of course I've cut some for the house and hopefully later I'll have plenty
to dry for the dark days of winter.

I really do believe this is early in the season to have blooms already turning 

dusty shades of pale green, lavender, soft pink. Still beautiful though.

 Between the older blooms there are still fresh bright blue ones opening - such

 wonderful plants.

The front garden on this beautiful Sunday morning. . . . . . . and me blogging

from the shady gazebo in the back garden, where a cardinal mom is feeding her

 squawking baby on the grass, squirrels are performing their usual gymnastics

 on the feeders, woodpeckers and nuthatches are breakfasting on the suet,

 and a sure sound of summer in the south - cicadas making their unmistakable

 music. . . . . 

and I continue to heal (and wait patiently for permission to work in the

 garden again). . . . . . . . . and am thankful for many things.

Do you grow hydrangeas? 

How are they doing this summer?

Summertime, summertime. . . . . . . . . .

Seeds can surprise. . . . . . . . . especially after a couple of years since sowing

and nothing happening! 

My wonderful blog friend Gina sent me seeds from her beautiful hollyhocks. 

Only a few germinated last year but never grew more than a few inches before

 disappearing into thin air, probably fried in our hot/humid weather.

Today, to welcome Summer, and to cheer me up - as I sit about the house and

 garden trying hard to behave myself per my surgeon's post-op orders - shining

 brightly is my first lovely hollyhock to bloom. All the way from Gina's fabulous Utah

 garden surrounding her gorgeous farmland/country home, I now have one of her

 flowers to love.

Thank you yet again dear Gina, here's hoping this one will self-seed!  

If you aren't already following Gina be sure to pop over and visit this lovely

 lady/ceramic artist/painter/traveler here at Art and Alfalfa - you will love everything she

 shares from her beautiful corner of the country.

A very happy Summertime to each of you.

A Happy Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Things are going well so far although you won't be seeing any photos of me for a while - it's called vanity!

My incision is healing under the glue, but it will be a long while before it becomes just a faded scar. It will also be a couple of weeks before I'm even permitted to have anything cover my throat, such as a high necked top, or even a lightweight scarf. . . . . .my collection sits waiting in the drawer. . . . .meanwhile v-necked tops are being utilized.

Anesthesia is always strange. Prior to the disappearance of life around you within a few seconds, then a strange voice shouting in your ear, "Mary, wake up", hours have passed in which you have gone some place else. For me three and half hours 'under' brought changes in the world I will never know about.

This morning, sitting here in the gazebo, my 'happy place', I'm so very thankful for the excellent care I received in the hospital. 

Yesterday was a difficult day, I just didn't feel right. I'm on a lot of new meds, and I can only eat soft foods because my throat is sore and swallowing somewhat difficult. Yogurt and oatmeal are good but now I'm craving a fresh salad and some crunchy toast.

Yesterday, late afternoon, the call came with very good news - pathology report showed no sign of cancer in my thyroid or the five nodules. Thankful doesn't seem a strong enough word but that's what I am. When one is already a cancer survivor anything suspect always brings on worry and concern until given the all clear.

So here I am, still in my pjs and robe - it's allowed this week - listening to beautiful birdsong and Irish music at the same time!

I took these photos of my little garden in the morning sunlight, with a

 gentle breeze rustling through the trees, perfect temperature and no humidity!

Full of thanks? You bet I am. 

I loathe narcissism, but approve of vanity. . . . . . . Diana Vreeland

Again, thank you so much for all your good wishes. 

You, my blog friends, are the best friends, and I love you all.

Brilliant blues of June. . . . . . . . .

Yesterday I worked out here. This morning, up early, I poured my coffee,

 sat on the front porch and just enjoyed the view.

Then of course I grabbed a camera and took some photos as the 

sun peeked through the humid morning air.

Mother Nature certainly worked hard whilst we were gone for

three weeks. Apparently there was lots of rain, then hot temperatures, 

meaning nonstop growing and blooming. As I write this, mid-afternoon,  

the temp. is 90F but feeling like 99F with the humidity, it's scorching out there.

Thunderstorms later according to those who supposedly know about weather. 

Kind neighbors mowed the grass while we were gallivanting

around Ireland. Bob mowed yesterday while I did a lot of clean up, pruning,

 watering etc. Now I need to shop for some Summer annuals for pots. 

I was not really expecting the hydrangeas to get this huge as in early

Spring they looked somewhat thin and sad. You can imagine my 

delight to come home to this magnificent show of blue among all the

 brilliant greens.

 

We already spy many, many figs. . . . . guess I'll be making jam again come late Summer!

View this morning from my wicker chair on the porch.

I have lots more to share with you from Ireland.

Life is busy right now as we get ourselves organized and settled

 into some semblance of normal routine. 

Thanks for all your kind comments on my recent Ireland posts - I'll catch up

 with you soon.