Boomtown in Poppyville

and MORE TO COME!!! 

Labor Day

It was so good to see my daughter cooling off in the lake. Her son and his partner have just packed it in from boat fishing. Fish were hiding down deep in the cool water. She has always loved swimming and needed this relaxing opportunity. The first picture shows her standing by the "woodpecker tree" and the last one shows that tree still living at the lakefront. The woodpeckers have moved to destroy James and other trees up behind the cabin.

See the woodpecker tree? After several back surgeries and both hip replacements, swimming is one thing that she can do and enjoy.

A youngster and her dog were also keeping cool. Her parent was in the pontoon boat watching over her.

I am enthralled with the beauty of the poppies so bear with my fascination. I took more pictures while the sun was shining. Gotta plant these again.

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Quiet Here...

The day started off with a doe and fawn on my lawn. They did spot me in the window and took off back up into the hillside woodland. I've seen them many times.

It's warm so I went out for a short rideabout. My first stop was next door where my niece from Delaware and my nephew from Rhode Island have been organizing and preparing for several days to take their dad to live with her and her husband. I've known him for over 60 years when he married one of my sisters. She died in 2016 and he has lived next door to me for 26 years from the time when I moved into the cabin. We weren't ever very close but it was always nice to know that he was here and near. Now, after a chat and understanding, we both know it was a necessary move for his safety and assisted care. They took his Ranger so he might be able to ride it on the large property. His dog, of course, went with them.  Still...I'm sad. One by one my family members move on.

On a happier note, a second pink poppy bloomed this morning. I hope to save seeds from this variety.

A neighbor's flowers are full of pollinators and the Pinky Winky Hydrangea blooms are beautiful. 

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Pete and REPEAT!

I will never get bored looking at the beautiful sights I see every day. When I woke up this morning I looked out the window, whatdoyouknow, there was a large pink poppy that opened overnight. There are several more to show their beauty and each will be exciting for me. When I drove the buggy over there to take pictures, I saw a grasshopper on one of the little ones.

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I spent some time packaging up the Heirloom Oxheart seeds that have fermented and dried well. They will be stored in paper and identified and the packets will go into the freezer for the winter. 

I'm also going to try to save some of the zinnia seeds. It has been a long time since I've harvested seeds and now I really like to do it now.

So, let's see what tomorrow brings.

Keepin' Busy

I am very happy that my seeding projects are quite successful. It's been a very long time since I grew flowers from seeds. First it was poppies, and today the zinnias have opened. I can't wait to see what the larger poppy buds will reveal. Go Poppy!

Now for the colorful zinnias... my dad always planted these but not such a tall variety.

How about both views of the sunflowers? Back and front.

Then I went for a quick rideabout the lake and found these in a neighbor's roadside garden plot. 

I would like to sow seeds again next year. Just gotta get through another winter!

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Last Hurrah?

This succulent has changed clothes. Way back when, it was the dominant plant of interest on the kitchen counter. This year appearances are different - very different. After research I found that the name of it could be Cotyledon Orbiculata Flanaganii. It is an evergreen, drought-tolerant succulent which produces a tall, thin flower. It might also be A Senecio Serpens, Blue Chalk Stick or Crassula Tetragona. I'm not sure and it doesn't matter really. In 2020 it was healthy.

In 2022 it was thriving and produced a very curvy stalk for its flowers.

This year I put it out on the front porch. Guess it got way too much sun out there because it is badly sunburned. It happened slowly and when I realized what was happening I brought it back indoors; I think too late! In its struggle to survive it has now produced a stalk and might even display some flowers. Poor plant.

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