Friday Favorite - Joe Pye Weed

I love this native perennial especially at this time of year when it comes into its own with its blooms. The Joe Pye weed has a very prominent location atop the pond aka rain garden bank.  I've tried transplanting volunteers to other locations in the yard but unsuccessfully.  It must like having its root nice and damp.  Thankfully its blooms and height don't conflict with the weigla which is planted behind it.  Those springtime blossoms have their time to shine and then form a backdrop for Joe Pye.

 It becomes quite the butterfly and bee magnet.There are mid air fights, if you can call them that, between butterflies vying for the same spot.  Quite comical to see because there are more than enough blooms for them all.

It's pale blossoms are a nice contrast to the crepe myrtle across the driveway.

This year the Joe Pye is not standing as tall as in previous years.  

The derecho we had in late June took a toll and then once the blooms formed the weight of those has weighed down the stalks.  But I can't complain.  It's still a favorite on this Friday in August especially when viewed from the porch.

Linked to Our World Tuesday

Thursday Kitchen Cupboard - Sauce

Tomatoes and more tomatoes means lots of sauce for the freezer and winter pasta meals.  I make a very simple sauce usually: tomatoes, onions and basil and a touch of sugar.  Wednesday I varied it adding garlic, fresh oregano, molasses instead of sugar and a splash of Worchestershire sauce. (Of course salt and pepper it to taste.) Once everything cooks down I use my favorite kitchen gadget, the immersion blender, to puree it all.

Onions and garlic

The variety of tomatoes I used: Amish paste, Miracle Market, and Cherokee purple and not pictured Goldie.

Cut up tomatoes - Goldie visible on top.

Cooking down with basil and oregano added.

Blended with the immersion blender.

Joining Robin for Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard.

Wordless Wednesday - Monarch Sighting

Washington, DC Memorials

We've been talking about going down to Washington, DC to see the memorials that have been dedicated in recent years, the newest one being the Martin Luther King memorial.  All of these are situated west of the Washington monument along the National Mall. We parked in Silver Spring and took the Metro down to the Smithsonian stop and walked in a wide loop visiting all these memorials.  It was hot but well worth the trip on a Sunday.

The photos speak for themselves but I will provide dividing headers to identify what you are looking at.  Maybe it will inspire you to make the trip one day.  You can even do it on rented bicycles or join a segway tour.

The Discovery Bldg in Silver Sping, MD celebrating shark week!

Come up from the Metro and hang a left heading west toward the Washington Monument - still closed from the earthquake last August.  We made a counter clockwise loop going as far west as the Lincoln Memorial before returning to the Metro stop.

The White House due north from the monument.

The DC War Memorial (WWI)

Martin Luther King Memorial.

The FDR Memorial.

Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin from FDR.

Another look across the Tidal Basin.

MLK Memorial as seen from FDR's.

Korean War Memorial.

Lincoln Memorial.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Women of the Vietnam War Memorial.

WWII Memorial

A memorable day!

Joining Our World Tuesday.