leder legends

A gardening friend said her last day lily bloomed today.  That definitely made me go out into my yard to check mine just now. This  one still has 20 buds.

This morning, I was excited to see a rare visitor to the yard.  A PILEATED WOODPECKER!   They don’t come around here in an urban area so seeing one is exciting for those of us who enjoy avian visitors!  I was excited until I saw the damage this one bird inflicted to the pergola in a very short time.  I let him do his work for awhile because I wanted to take a video and some pictures! Then I noticed that he had also “explored “ another spot! His goal! A carpenter bee!  He was very determined and unafraid and I finally had to scare him off! Even then, he came back 4 times! I guess he was hungry!

  All over town the hydrangeas are blooming.  I love their exuberant displays and I’m jealous.  I can grow many plants and get them to bloom etc BUT not hydrangeas!  I do my research and try to no avail.   I have two.  Both are growing well but no flowers!! Why? I’m not sure but I think it is time to give them away!  Then, this morning I discovered a beautiful, rather small, flower on one bush.   I think I’ll keep trying!

In June, I get carried away by the beauty and newness of all the hosta coming up.  In July, the variety of colors and numerous day lily flowers amaze me. Now, mid-July, I realize that many other plants are contributing to the color and splendor of the yard but just in a more subdued manner.  I’m just doing a photo drop. Too bad some post sideways! Guara  Sunflower   ' Bleeding heart Blanket flower Echinacea  Cana Phlox Large Campanula  Veronica  Campanula  Crocosmia  Echinacea  Cleome  Cosmos St John’s wort False sunflower  And there’s more! Shasta daisy Yarrow Liatris  Bee Balm … and one sad geranium! 22 different ones.… wow! I only bought the guara a...

  This post is for me because it contains only information and no pictures  I hired two young persons to help me dig out the flowerbeds at the Fountain St rental.  They were so overgrown and awful. Instead of pulling the weeds and the grass we dug up and pulled everything. 17 large heavy bags were taken to the yard waste dump in two trips.  Years ago, I planted a few things that spread. I had good intentions of going there to weed …every year but I never got around to it.  It was very dense. Kwanza day-lily sends out runners. Solomon seal does too. Oat grass reseeds quickly and is difficult to dig out. Black-eyed Susan sends out runners.

We had a wonderful downpouring of rain much needed rain this morning.  I think it made everything hungry. A Northern Flicker came and ate some ants out of the cracks in the sidewalk! This rabbit is getting nice and plump ...not sure what it is he is feasting on. Lots of birds!

  The daughter of a friend lives in Florida but for this post it must be noted that she is married to Colombian man originally from Bogota.   She came to town for a college roommate reunion and fortunately for us ( her mom, sister and me) she had time to go out for lunch with us.  We went to Pochis- a Colombian cafe.   https://www.pochiscolombiancafe.com Under her tutelage  we toured Colombian via the food.  One main dish from the north, one from the coast and one from the south.  Had she not been with us we would not have been so brave. We started with an appetizer of chicken and mushroom empanadas.  Deep fried nuggets of goodness served with a mayonnaise based dip and a very mild chili dip.  Apparently, like other South American country’s food , Colombian food is very flavorful but not spicy hot! We had ajiaco - a specialty from Bogota. It is a rustic soup made from chicken broth in which we found a piece of chicken, 3 kinds of potatoe...

  Nathania has chickens.  Nothing like fresh eggs! I'm still waiting on the pictures that she promised. I found a few old fotos  The kids also have Luna- at their Dad's.  Nathan has Buddy- a rare, dare I say strange,  mix of German shepherd and corgi that is hard to imagine. Interesting combo! Aaron has two huge, wooly, malamutes. So friendly, talkative and furry. Sarah has Lucy.  A beautiful black setter mix of some kind with  a tender personality.