flowers — Page 116

Trees

June 21, 2019 at 10:23 am by Claudia

I took this picture about a week ago on yet another gray day and I realized this morning that it gives a good indication of just how tall the maple and the catalpa are. You can see the catalpa – in bloom – on the right. The maple is huge. So is the catalpa. I’m terrible at estimating the height or length of anything – math is not my strong point. Keep in mind that I’m standing across the street on a lower elevation, our house is actually on a hill. And the trees are also on a raised elevation. So they’re not quite as tall as they seem.

You can’t even see the big garden bed, it’s so shady over there!

From yesterday’s second-cup-of coffee-time on the porch. A still life.

We have rain this morning and then it will clear up for the afternoon. Two days of sun on Saturday and Sunday and then back to rain. Two days of sun = two days of mowing, because we have to do it before it starts to rain again. I’m sure that’s been the same for many of you this spring.

Don will finally be able to get out there to take some portraits. Huzzah!

I did start another Instagram account yesterday. If you’re inclined to follow, you can find me at: @lifelongbibliophile. I’ve only done one post so far and I may not post every day. Keeping it stressless. Many of you have already followed that account and I thank you!

Today? I have no idea as of this moment. We’ll see what comes to mind.

Happy Solstice, longest day of the year, and first day of summer!

Happy Friday.

Lush Gardens, More Rain, & Books

June 20, 2019 at 10:30 am by Claudia

More rain and thunderstorms on the way for tonight and tomorrow morning. Then we’ll have two days of sun before the rain comes back – on Don’s birthday, no less. I’m trying to stay upbeat and so is Don – we work really hard at it – but man, I have NEVER seen anything like the rain we’ve had since April. Endless.

Okay. So here’s the upside. I’ve also never seen the garden so dense, the plants so tall and full. The hostas are mammoth. My daylily is constantly blooming – much longer than normal. The coneflowers are super tall. The catmint is gorgeously purple and filled with bees. The spirea is vividly pink this year. And on it goes. The lushness of everything is pretty darned amazing.

Endless record-breaking rain does have its perks.

And we did manage to have our second cup of coffee on the porch this morning. So that’s good.

I woke up way too early this morning. It happens occasionally. I’ll power through.

I mentioned in a post on Instagram that I was thinking of starting a separate account just for reading and books. Not unlike my book blog, but without the expense, the crazy commitment to reading way too many books, pressure to review, etc., that made me eventually delete it. When you’re an ‘official’ book blog with people asking you to review books all the time and you already have a blog where you post every day, it can become overwhelming and it did.

This time, I’ll just share what I’m reading, the occasional visit to an interesting bookstore, that kind of thing.

Most everyone seemed to think it was a good idea. I haven’t started it yet, but when I do, I’ll give you the information. It won’t change my primary Instagram account where I do most of my posting. It’ll just be a little space to talk about books.

What do you think?

Okay. Don is making an omelet at my request. Have to go!

Happy Thursday.

Ode to the Catalpa

June 17, 2019 at 10:15 am by Claudia

I managed to get a shot of the catalpa tree as it looks from the street. It’s covered in blossoms. And it’s very, very tall. We were just sitting on the porch this morning, drinking our second cup of coffee, and we were hit with a wave of scent from its blossoms. Heavenly.

They fall to the ground pretty quickly, so today will probably be one of the last days to see it in its glory. Rain is forecast for the rest of the week. (Don’t get me started.) And as it rains, more and more blossoms will fall.

The catalpa has huge heart-shaped leaves. After the blossoms fall, they’ll be replaced by long bean pods, which is why many people know it as the ‘bean tree.’

Simply gorgeous.

If this is indeed the only day in which we aren’t dealing with rain (though rain is due this evening), I have a lot of weeding to do. They’re out of control because excessive rain = excessive weeds. I’m over it.

Sigh – and another sigh.

The farmer’s market was cancelled yesterday, but Don didn’t find out that bit of information until he got there. It rained pretty much all afternoon.

And there you have it. It’s Monday. I have to weed. The rest of the week looks like a wash, but I’m hoping there will be pockets of sun in there. Fingers crossed!

Happy Monday.

Trees

Lush Gardens, More Rain, & Books

Ode to the Catalpa

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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