Perfect Summer Day

Just before the thunderstorms kick in, I went out to the garden to cut some flowers to put in a vase.  Although we've had an inch already this week, we're going to have three days of rain to end the week.  I thought I would save some blooms from destruction by winds and heavy rain, maybe hail.

I love having a work sink in the walk-out basement so that I can condition the flowers.  I strip the extra leaves off outside and carry a jar around with me as I cut.  Then I soak the blooms and leaves in the sink of room temperature water for a bit before arranging in the vase (a Mason jar today).

I came face to face with a male Gyspy moth this morning!

He was on the patio door window.  Look at those eyes and "feelers"!

Haven't seen a female one (white) or any egg deposits yet.

Good news for next year, if so.

And more vases full of blooms and greenery to bring inside to enjoy

when we can't be on the patio.

Red, White and Blue in the Garden

It's the Fourth of July and the garden is bursting with color and bloom:

Red from a new Cone Flower 'Cheyenne Flower'

White from the Fairy Wings

and Blue from the Balloon Flowers.

Even the shape of the blooms reminds me of the starbursts of fireworks:

A newly blooming Cone Flower

A perennial sunflower (with visitor)

A newly blooming hydrangea

The first day lily to bloom this summer.

Even the tiny blooms and leaves of Thrift near the bench.

 seem to be "bursting in air"

in the early July garden.

Oh, say, can you see?

The grand finale--

From Sara's second-year flower garden!