JULY HEAT

Whew!!  It has been extraordinarily warm (some might say downright hot) over the last week.  With temperatures in the 90's it is hard to be outside for any length of time.  My golf has suffered.  I only play when required.  I prefer to be in the air conditioning if possible.  Yesterday I did go on a Garden Walk.  There were 4 gardens.  The first is a very compact terraced garden.  It has a full time gardener and part time crew working on it.  It was very unique and beautiful.  I found a tree that I loved.  It is a thin line buckthorn.  I will try to put a picture of it on the blog.  The next two gardens were more of a traditional garden found in our back yards but each set up differently.  Both had open air porches with pots and plants around the yard.  The last had let the yard go natural.  Unfortunately the heat had taken it's toll on the flowering plants.  I had seen this garden before in a quest to see owls and so I knew how different it was.  However, none of these gardens inspired me to go home and weed.  I lost my once a month gardener in May, have not replaced her and have not been weeding.  My yard will NOT be on any future garden walk.  Here are a few snapshots of the flowers, a garden shed and one of the porches.  I will put the picture of the buckthorn on a later blog.

4th of JULY

I have to say that the 4th of July is my second most favorite holiday.  The first of course is Christmas. But I do love this holiday.  First of all it is celebrated in the summer.  Second is that it is the celebration of our country.  I am very proud to be an American.  I am proud that my ancestors chose to come here long long ago.  I can trace back to the 1700's and I find great pride in that.  I love the festivities that goes with all of this.  Now please realize that I don't really go to the parades anymore but I do see fireworks every year.  I have a box (yes a box) with red/white and blue clothing in it.  I have enough tops to last the whole weekend (a 4 day weekend) and I am sure that some of my friends think that I am a bit over the top.  Oh well too bad.  I love the music.  America the Beautiful, I'm Proud To Be An American, My Country 'Tis of Thee, the National Anthem - all of them and more.  So if by chance you read this, please celebrate this very important holiday.  Yes, have your picnics and family get-togethers but celebrate the country.  We have our fair share of problems but we are still great.