A quiet Sunday morning. Birds calling, crows cawing, the occasional car or motorcycle on the road. Lovely. Some lawn mowing is on the agenda today. We didn’t do it earlier in the week because it had been so dry, but after two torrential storms, I think it needs our attention today.

Let me vent for a brief second: I hate Japanese Beetles! I hate bugs eating my plants!

But if you’re a gardener who won’t use pesticides, you’re up against it, I guess. Sigh. I’m doing what I can and I’m thinking of ordering ladybugs but then I read conflicting advice. Some say that those ladybugs can bring disease to indigenous ladybugs. Others say it’s perfectly okay. I have to make a decision in the next day or two.

Then again, the are part of the ecosystem and they also have the right to be and eat. Since I try to ‘do no harm’ I may just have to accept things and send my love to all beings. I’m not afraid of bugs and every being has a purpose.

This is the hydrangea that is next to the porch railing – Annabelle hydrangea. It’s pretty big nowadays and very lush.

This is the Endless Summer hydrangea I planted a couple of years ago. It’s growing very slowly, but it’s awfully pretty. My other hydrangea – a limelight – is at the other end of the porch, but it doesn’t bloom until later in the summer.

A lovely balloon flower in the Memorial Garden.

Oh, my heavens! Can I just say how fabulous these hollyhocks are? Yesterday, I came home from running an errand and I was struck by the height and gorgeous color and how wonderful they look next to the kitchen door. When this plant self-seeded, it (or, the bird carrying the seed) graciously decided to plop that seed at the end of the raised bed, thereby avoiding the window and the air conditioner. It’s as if it knew. Perfect.

In that same raised bed – lavender. And a bumble bee.

I am particularly fond of bumble bees. They don’t bother me and they hover nicely and stay in place so that I can take a picture.

The most important thing to tell you today is this: It’s my sister’s birthday! You all know how I feel about my sister. I adore her. We are incredibly close. There is an eleven year age difference between us but that has never been an issue. We are sisters. We are best friends.

She is one of the finest people it has been my privilege to know. These past few years have been tough ones, with both my parents in her charge because they lived nearby. She was the rock during their illnesses and my mom’s time in the nursing home. She was there for both mom and dad in a way I couldn’t be. All the while she was raising her boys and working full-time. I cannot tell you how much I admire her and how grateful I am for her presence in my life. My brother died in 1991. My other sister has disappeared from our lives. My parents have passed away.

It’s Meredith and me.

Don adores her. How could he not?

Do me a favor? Will you go and visit her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday? She has a new post up and there are some wonderful photos of her oldest son (home for a visit) and Little Z. Here’s the link.

She deserves everything that is good and wonderful in life.

Happy Birthday, Meredith!

Happy Sunday.