Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Monday, June 15, 2015

New Blooms in Mid-June


In the Pond Garden

The butterfly weed, but where are the monarchs?



the water hyacinth


A water lily



and then a few minutes later it looked like this:





In Mom's Garden

the lavender


the lamb's ear


the hydrangea



Next to the porch


the red hot poker



The Glen Garden

astillbe and hosta


In the Perennial Garden

daylilies


Asian lilies




thyme in the pathways


astillbe


remnants of  earlier bloomers, alliums


Sunday, June 14, 2015

My Book List Mid-Way Through the Year

I'm not reading as many books as I have in past years. Just finished #26 "Clara and Mr. Tiffany" by Susan Vreeland.  At this rate I might get to 50 by the end of the year.  Last year I read 70 books so that's definitely a slower rate.

If you're interested in learning about decorative stained glass and how those Tiffany lamps came into being you might want to read this historical fiction.  It was quite fascinating especially because Dan once blew glass as a hobby and I have a brother-in-law who makes stained glass windows and other objects for a living.


For other books I've read this year see my sidebar on the left hand side.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Morning Work in the Vegetable Garden

Hot and humid here so the only good time to work outside is in the early morning.  Did that on this Saturday morning.  I think I was out there by 7 am and worked till 9 am.

All the lettuce and spinach had bolted and needed removing.  The weeds had grown along the outsides of the raised beds.  Thankfully the black plastic mulch is keeping the weeds out of the pathways.  Here's how it looks weeded.


These peppers are doing well.  There is a tiny row of Little Gem lettuce there between the tomatoes and the peppers.


First tomato blossoms are on the Juliette.


These peppers are not doing quite as well,


A bed full of tomato plants.


Some blueberries are ripening.


This bed got another row of beans after I cut down the snow peas. 


Garlic going gangbusters.  I have a full bag of scapes to use up.


Cucumbers will be climbing soon.


Butternut squash in a bed where the blueberry bush didn't survive.


It was a good morning of work.  But the humidity is too high to work any more out there today.