Random Thoughts In My Little Life

 The orchids I bought in February (!) catch my attention each day and I have to marvel at their longevity. Four months of continuous flowers? What other plant does this? I just may become an orchid collector.

A new stem with buds is forming on one of them too!

This long horn beetle was inspecting my snow peas.
They have blooms, so peas are not far behind!

I drove up to the Plateau to meet a friend for a paddle. The wind picked up for awhile so we got a nice upper body work out paddling into the wind. Then we just floated near the dock when the wind died down and the sun was shining. 

This wetland was covered in yellow flag (iris) on the way to the Pond.

Enjoying the calm water after the gusts.

This is not proper paddling form, but it was so relaxing. This angle makes my kayak look tiny!

Thursday was a nice dry day - perfect for lawn garden work. I'm diligently putting the plants I keep buying into the ground. I have a dozen sunflowers I grew from seed that need planting, but they aren't big enough to be safe from the rabbits. Some creature ate two of the coneflowers overnight, so I have sprayed the stinky stuff on the rest of the garden to deter any further foraging. I'm trying to get the garden in good shape before I leave it for three weeks. 

My dogwood tree is in full flower!

My sister invited me to join her and brother in law in Vermont the week before the Ireland trip. I'll just pack for Ireland before I head to Vermont as I'll only have a 12 hour stop back home before I take off again. My biggest worry is the garden. The weeds will have a wonderful time. 

Spiderwort - a pest in my garden and I have been yanking it out for years. 
My sister convinced me to leave it alone as the bees love it - so I am!

My youngest sister came for a quick visit this weekend and it was good to see her. We mostly visited in my garden which she really liked. I loaded her up with big plants to take home - lavender, iris, thyme, balloon flower, and liatris. Oh, and six large white rocks. She and her husband installed a pond in their yard and they are finishing up the plantings around it. 

My vegetable garden is starting to produce more than I can eat, so it's time to start preserving. Today the garlic scapes will get turned into jars of pesto.

The vegetables are taking off - already a couple ripe tomatoes.

Monday was a bike ride with the weekly riding group. One friend was slower and it was very hot, so I stuck with her - it's no fun to be left behind alone. She decided to turn back halfway, so I rode back to the start with her - the trail goes through the worst part of Albany and I didn't want her doing it solo. When she got to her car, I set off for mine, but just kept biking and got in another ten miles solo. On the part of the trail where a man was murdered last year.  That is me in a nutshell - face my fears and just go for it. 

Riding solo on the murdery part of the trail. The wild flowers are pretty.

Today was another bike ride with some of the Ireland group - 20 miles in 85 degree heat. We had dinner after at the Trattoria and talked about the fun we hope to have on the trip! 

A new random plant at the edge of my lawn that just appeared there. My 
App says it's a type of sedum. It's tiny but very pretty so I'll keep it. And by tiny,
I mean the whole plant is low enough to escape the lawn mower blades.