growing things

Farmers are very adept in adjusting to unfavorable weather conditions. Their livelihood depends on it. They do all they can to compensate for heat, drought, excessive rain, unseasonable frost. But honestly, there's only so much they can do. And there is only so much you can do in your flower beds. A frost that zapped some fruit trees this year, a drought that threatened and continues to threaten your plantings -- you can only compensate so much. Gardeners have noted that some perennials have taken a pause this year (because of the drought), choosing to forgo flowering. Some offer blooms, but at a reduced number. I suppose I have a little of both: some of my plants are indeed wimpy and others are just not going to make an all out effort. Still, the established old girls are robust. They dug deep with their roots and they found water (and I did contribute a little as well) and these are the show stoppers right now.

I picked twice as many spent lily blooms this morning as I did the day before. This was predictable. Yesterday was a flashy blooming day, so the haul is bigger today. Still, I came in at just under 450 snipped lilies. In other years, I'd be closer to 800 at the peak of the season (we are in fact at the peak of the season). The encroaching tree canopies (giving way too much shade) and the absence of rain are to blame, if you want to hand out blame. But I'm loathe to gripe about this. The garden has to adjust. I cannot change Ed's mind on tree removal and I cannot pour unlimited quantities of supplemental water on flower beds. I work with what's there. And honestly, there are enough flowers out there to make any gardening nut happy. I'm not going to be greedy. 450 is plenty.

(only 9 pics this morning! progress!)

I have a more relaxed day: no appointments, no grand to do lists. I work in the garden, I read, I eat breakfast alone, because just as Ed came down for it, the zoom tune sounded and he had to address machining issues.

I take a neighborhood walk, too, because I am on a roll with my daily walking and of course, I dont want to lose my momentum!

And in the afternoon I pick up Snowdrop, also keeping to a relaxed pace, indeed, pausing first for ice cream...

... then coming back to the farmette (where unfortunately the mosquitoes are now making an appearance). She wants to show me how to make a hollyhock doll and so we pick a couple of blooms...

And eventually settle down into our routines.

And all the while, I think to myself -- even with the knee causing great readjustments for me in the way I move and rest, this has been a summer of good fortune and fabulous adventures. Has it been good for you as well? I hope so.