Sunday Safari

July came in hot and dry.

A Tiger Swallowtail

in the Tiger Lilies

made me smile.

The sunflowers continue to feed the bees.

In July I am honoring the Spirit 

of Stones.

My desk mechanical pencil

rests on a stone.

The layers remind me of 

my own layers.

I am working with stones.

I am reading

and listening.

My husband brought me a Hawk's feather.

It has a place of honor on the sideboard.

It is Dragon Sunday.

The first Sunday of the month.

The mint is in full bloom.

Another 100 degree day.

Another week of 100 plus degrees

forecasted.

No rain.

We celebrate Independence Day on the 4th.
I have my flags out decorating the house.

I think about Lady Liberty
and the hope she once gave.

We have a full month scheduled.

We have plans to watch the opening ceremonies
of the Summer Olympics.

The All Star Game comes to 

Kansas City on the 10th.

We will listen to the game on the radio.

We have rocks to tumble and rain dances to dance.
Happy July. Stay safe. Stay hydrated.
Happy Sunday Safari.

Sunday Safari

It is because of the summer heat
the coneflowers thrive.

They are a wonderful food source.

After the seeds set

the Goldfinches will have a feast.

I am growing sweet peas this year just for me.
I am charmed.
As the temperatures rise into the upper 90's
and low 100's I wonder how long they will hold on.

I am aware of the heat and the stress it puts on the wildlife.

Some seem to thrive and others wilt.

On my morning garden walk I made sure all the bird baths and puddlers were full of water.

I am being quiet today.

I am remembering my sister.
I miss her. Twelve years seems long ago.
I can still hear her voice as if we talked yesterday.

Years ago an elderly neighbor brought up her old
garden club books. She thought since I was a gardener I would treasure them. I do. I treasure the memory of her.

We planted Mexican Sunflowers.
They are the favorite nectar source of the Giant Swallowtail.

I did up my first terrarium.
It was so fun to do.

It is on my husband's nightstand.
I shall keep gathering for terrariums.

I am planning my September flowers now.
The bees and butterflies will need nectar.

I am deciding now what I will need in December
and January to remind me of the garden.
To help chase the winter blues I will need flowers
and mint tea.

I am planning our July and even though
it is unbearably hot in the afternoons
I am falling in love with summertime.
At dusk we sit on the deck.
We watch the dance of the fireflies.

I love the Fireflies.
They love the summer.
Happy Sunday Safari.
Stay cool and hydrated.

Sunday Safari

I have sunflower fever.

Not only have we planted specialty sunflowers

but I bought a half pound of
 Russian Mammoth Sunflower seeds.

I am tucking sunflower seed in every spot I can.

I use sunflowers in my August decorating and this year

 I want to make dried sunflower wreaths for December.

The birds love the seeds.

I think this year we could have enough seed
to save for people and bird feed. I hope the deer stay away
from the seedlings. I am bordering the sunflowers with zinnias.
Hopefully the zinnias will do the trick.

Watching the bees in the sunflowers gladdens my soul.
It is the relationship between bees, birds and people with this amazing flower that has given me  the fever.

I finished reading this remarkable story of
humans and sunflowers. I strongly recommend this book.
It is a perfect summertime, non-fiction story.
I have sat in sunflower fields and I have written poems
about these lovely flowers. I have always grown sunflowers.
But this year something is different.
This year I feel a passion I have reserved for lavender and roses.

The zinnias are doing fine.
I bought them in bulk too for over seeding.
I love zinnias and marigolds.
Wonderful flowers for summer heat and humidity
in the Tall Grass Prairie.

For our Summer Solstice we are beginning a sun study.
We will see how many hours of sun each garden spot receives.
I want to ready my areas for roses, the flower for 2013.

I read in the afternoons.

I do my journal writing
when it is too hot to be outside.

Each Summer, during the days of Cancer,
 I work on my non-violent ways.

I learn a wee bit more on how to live in harmony.

I love cone flowers too and bee-balm.

I love sitting on the glider under the Ash Tree
 watching the butterflies rest.
I love falling in love.
I love planting seeds.

My husband just came in. He has another
flowerbed ready for sunflowers and zinnias.

Our children honored their Dad today with gifts
and phone calls.
He is a wonderful Dad and an amazing partner.
He likes sunflowers too.

Happy Sunday Safari,
my fever continues to burn.