Hydrangeas and summertime. . . . . . . .

HAPPY CANADA DAY to all our dear friends across the northern border!

I spent time in the gazebo yesterday rearranging hydrangeas early in the

 day. . . . . .before the oppressive 95 degrees arrived along with distant storm

 clouds, and rumbling thunder. These days are far from my favorites - the older

 I get the less I enjoy the summer months.

If I lived in a cooler climate, with no biting bugs and the need to coat myself in

 insect repellent prior to stepping out the door, nights that cooled down, where

 flowers could survive more than a day, picnics perfect, the ocean refreshing, 

summertime would still be embraced as it was in my childhood days in England. 

 Dream on.

The beautiful shades of blue have faded so quickly now. 

We left for Ireland when they were just opening HERE, returned to find them stunning

 in deep shades of blue. Neighbors stopped to gasp and comment on their loveliness,

 and now, just two weeks later, hardly a touch a blue remains and we're into soft 

greens, greys, and a touch of dusty rose.

Not complaining, they are still so lovely and I have cut many (always early in the 

morning before the heat causes drooping) and have vases placed around the house.  

Some I hope will dry out and can be used in autumn and winter when there's very

 little to cut in the garden.

Gardens change. . . . . . . . gardening continues!

Seeds forever. . . . . . . . .

Hmm! What's this I see?  Something new for breakfast.

Really amazing how one sunflower seed can grow into a strong, 6 foot tall sunflower with a

gigantic head full of another few hundred seeds - didn't stop to count but it certainly looks that many!

I've saved quite a few seeds which hopefully will germinate next summer - the

 remainder are feeding lots of garden birds and it seems the cardinals are really

 enjoying them the most.

Lovely sunflower season is over now. I've cut down all the tall stems and will

 look forward to planting again in that spot next year. 

They brought brilliant color and joy both to me, the neighbors, and even

 people just driving by.

What's up with Comments?

This is a test post of sorts. 

For some reason which I can't fathom, there seems

 to be no way anyone can leave comments on my previous post from yesterday!

I've checked all my settings and haven't changed anything there so have

no idea what's up!

Feelings.

Feelings brought on from being in a favorite place.

Feelings of home are the best.

Feelings of being messed up by Blogger/Google/whatever, are frustrating!

Yesterday morning the sun was shining brightly casting shadows onto the brick

pathway by the arbor. At last the new jasmine vines are climbing happily.

 Come Autumn they will have to be taken down if we decide to go ahead  

and paint the house, not looking forward to that.

The day was due to heat up to steamy, languid afternoon hours, and it actually

 did reach 100F, then a huge thunderstorm and heavy rain came in the early evening.

Summer is here.

Please try to leave me a little comment today so I can see if it's working.  Many thanks.

Run rabbit, run. . . . . . . . .

The old love affair with sweet little bunnies continues. . . . .the enjoyment of

 watching them hippity hopping through the garden, but despising them for all the

 nibbling of the fresh green, crisp plants popping up everywhere during this

 rampant growing season. Is this a 'Peter Rabbit Syndrome' perchance?

Yesterday, in the cool of the early morning, I was outside armed with my trowel,

 hoisting bags of soil, potting up the plants I purchased on Sunday. 

Who in their right mind goes to the garden center on Sunday afternoon in

 broiling 97F (36C) temperatures?

I thought I was going to die out there - racing through the place grabbing plants

 willynilly, not knowing who was wilting most, them or me. 

Knowing I'll not be doing much in the garden for a couple of weeks - no heavy

 lifting after this surgery - I had to get this done. Late for me to be potting but

 just couldn't leave on the Ireland trip and expect neighbors to do so much watering.

Hopefully I'll be able to lift a camera in the coming weeks - then I'll show you

more of the garden - if the rabbits haven't eaten it!

Off he went eventually, but in no hurry - in fact he stared me down for 

about 10 minutes before deciding to move on. Wasn't until I looked at my pix on

 the computer that I noticed my stone rabbit in this shot as the little white bobtail

 hopped away under the car. . . . . .headed to have a nibble at my

neighbors' plants I'm sure!

Many, many thanks to all of you who have wished me well for my 

surgery tomorrow, I so appreciate your kind and loving words and 

thoughts.

I'll be back here soon - hopefully enjoying being a bit lazy for a while 

as I recuperate - and catching up with everyone again.

. . . . . . and there's my wonderful husband spending this morning mowing
 the grass (so I can recuperate happily looking at a manicured lawn) before

 the temperature soars back into the 90's tomorrow.