This not being able to edit photos thing is getting old fast. My laptop is still with Apple and I’m getting impatient – even though I know that my little laptop is only one of many computers in need of repair. Nevertheless…it’s now Friday and we’re coming up on two weeks since I left it at the Apple Store for repair.

Anyway, this is the back of the big garden bed, near where we park our cars. Isn’t it glorious? The tall plants are David phlox, which I planted many, many years ago. Knowing my need to pinch pennies, I probably started with about two plants. They have since spread all over the garden. There was one brief period a few years back when I thought the Bee Balm was crowding out the phlox, but that didn’t last. And this year? Oh my heavens, there are more than ever, including a big patch smack in the center of the garden bed that wasn’t there last year. I’m sure all of our rain this year helped.

If you’re planting perennials, self seeders are the way to go, my friends. Coneflowers, phlox, yarrow – I have them in abundance. You just need to be patient. We’ve been here almost 16 years and I didn’t plant anything (except the boxwood) until the following spring. All of this has been done on a budget. I’ve never been able to add more than 2 or 3 plants a year; some years, I’ve haven’t added any. I’m not much for annuals in a garden bed. In pots and hanging pots? Absolutely. My goal has always been to have the garden take care of itself and even though I weed and do the usual maintenance, if for some reason I couldn’t maintain them, they would still look full and abundant. Of course, I like the wild, somewhat overgrown cottage garden look.

Baby birds: Yesterday, we had a lot of heavy rain and, as you might expect, I worried about the baby birds. Since they’re growing quickly, mom doesn’t sit on the nest anymore. And at night, according to what I’ve read, she perches on a branch nearby. So how would they be protected, I wondered? As the rain got heavier, I checked in at the kitchen window.

Mom was sitting on the nest. As Don always assures me, she knows what to do. I saw her sitting on the nest a few times, protecting her babies from the pounding rain. She remains my hero; single mom, no help from dad, feeding her babies all day long, and protecting them from the rain.

I started a new painting yesterday. I’ll try to work on it today, but we’re going to take a drive today because we need to get out of Dodge. I’m feeling restless and Don is, too. So, we’ll be off to Rhinebeck to visit our favorite bookstore and walk around the village. It’s the perfect day for a little road trip.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.