Flowers in the House

One more time Jane has forced me to look at the garden with new eyes.  Initially I saw a wasteland needing deadheading, weeding, and general clean-up everywhere.  But why do we plant flowers?  Because when we need them the most, they ... bloom!

For the dining room table we have a few more tiny roses, a few zinnias, some early lady's mantle, one sprig of "black and blue" salvia, and two buddelias - the dark one is 'Black Knight', but the light one is a volunteer. (I do wonder if it is a throwback to one of the parents of 'Black Knight'.  It seems to be the same color, but a much lighter shade.  They are on opposite sides of the pond, and look great together.)

 

Then to cheer me when I sit and read, the last hydrangea of summer.  (That sounds like a good title for an historical novel.)

The bloom is lovely even if the leaves are not so pretty any more. 

 

If you haven't already been there, please stop by Jane's place (Small But Charming) and see all the really pretty flowers other folks have today. 

It's August After All ...

Mitchell has been wanting me to show you my wheelbarrow.

So, here it is.  

Nothing odd here.  It's August after all.  It's been way to hot out to do anything that would require its use.  It might as well rest while it can.  The end is near.

A New Friend?

This little guy hitched a ride home today from Starbucks - couldn't tell what his beverage choice was.

I drove very slowly to make sure he made it all the way to the garden.  I think he would be a nice addition to my ecosystem.  After posing for his photo, he flew off ... and next door!

What do they have that I don't?  Certainly not plants!

A Perfect Weekend

Mid-August and we had a June weekend.  You know.  One of the weekends we should have had way back in June when we were having July ... or something. 

Highs in the low 80's.  A bit of rain both afternoons.  Time enough to get a jump start on fall weeding and deadheading.

Time in the kitchen, too. A bit of peach pie.  [Meant to take the picture before we ate half!]

A bit of canning.  Roma's are in short supply this year, so I may not be able to make any more Tomato Jam this year.  Not good news ...

And, a fun little project to use up the surplus of tiny yellow Roma's we have produced. 

Spread the tomatoes on a parchment-lined pan and "bake" at 250 for about an hour - could take up to two hours depending on how big* your tomatoes are.  These are sprinkled with Italian herbs, and will go into the freezer once they are cooled.  Then stored in plastic bags until needed for a touch of summer in February.

*These directions are from Martha Stewart in the local paper.  You can do it with cherry tomatoes or cut larger tomatoes in pieces.  I only did the mini-Roma's because I liked the idea of keeping their shape.  If you are serious cook and just want the flavor, chopped up "real" tomatoes would probably do just fine.