A Summer Day

The weather is a pleasant surprise today. Beautiful and not too warm with lowered humidity and a light wind swishing the trees. The sky is blue sky with puffy white clouds. Too nice not to take a short walk. My destination, the thrift store to look for plant vases of glass and pottery that can be repurposed for plants and bulbs. If all summers were this temperature and beautiful I'd love it. But, the heat returns near the end of the week. Tomorrow would be a good day to look for a new winter coat or sweaters with my Christmas gift card and have lunch at the Reading Terminal. I may return on Saturday for the book store and the farmer's market on Rittenhouse Street. Maybe my sister will come along and we'll have a girl's day out. That would be nice.

My neighbors lavender. It was huge. They chop it down several times a year. Lavender has yet to live in my flower bed. I had 3 plants this season.

Wisteria in bloom at Gumblethorpe.

Back home. Did I buy anything? No, I have a lot of stuff to go through at home to donate to Goodwill this summer. Didn't see any nice vases, pottery, or glass wear for plants and bulbs that I liked. There was an old gardening book from the 1930's that I skimmed through but decided not to buy it. I haven't come across many gardening books in the thrift store although I look for them when I go.

One of 2 zinnia seedlings getting ready to bloom. Can't wait till next year to try them again from seed and have more patience with them. The whole corner should have been filled with them and I had enough seedlings but I was the problem not the seedlings. It has leaf minor damage and something is still eating them although I put down Sluggo. Fifteen sunflower seedlings have vanished.

Trying coreopsis again. My other plant didn't return but it did survive 4 years.

Balloon flower soon to bloom.

Dahlia

Pulled the pansies and replaced with zinnias, sweet potato vine, and vinca. Hopefully they'll survive under the broom bush.

Something needs watering. I save the water dripping from the air conditioner that adds up to a 5 gallon bucket in a few days. It's helpful because I don't have to lug water from the kitchen outside.

Kept my roses after they died to try and see how they'll do in a wreath. Don't know if I have enough yet.

Angolenia to go in a basket to hang on my door.

Newest pets in the house, Three tetra neons. They survived the transition form pet store to home and supposedly have a life span of 10 years.

In the house.

Summer isn't summer without sunflowers. Hopefully I'll get one seedling to make it out front.

I should be inside starting my summer to do list and starting to implement it, but I'm on the porch with my books and computer.  Some things on my list include: wash and change curtains and blinds. Clean, mop, and wax under furniture, give the kitchen a good cleaning and hopefully finish tiling the floor. Send many bags to Good Will. Get ready for winter including having the heater and chimney cleaned, get the trim outside painted, stucco repaired, and roof leaf fixed. Plan for time in the mountains, beach, and some day trips to garden related event. I want to take a botanical illustration class in July if I haven't missed the registration date. Most of all, spend time with family. Have a beautiful summer from kitty and I.