Holy crow this was a hot week! Today was the worst, too. Heat index hit 101. Yuck. I keep biking earlier and earlier in the day and still end up really sweaty. But, at least I am getting in the exercise.
I *still* have not gotten my new computer set up with work. I emailed tech support to set up a time, who said to call, and then I just got voice mail. So I left a voice mail message yesterday, which they didn’t return and then sent another email which went unanswered. And now it is the weekend. This frustrates me to no end. I have my stuff all ready to go. I have my text expander installed, my medical dictionary and spellcheckers. I also installed Word 2003 – yes, 2003. That is the version we have to use. I am just hoping the old computer hangs on long enough until tech support decides to work with me. I tell you, if I could just get the software myself and install it I would LOL! I am trying really hard not to be annoyed, but I think it is a bit late for that.
This computer is a touch screen computer, too. I am doing surprisingly well with that. Usually I have all kinds of trouble with touch screens, so this is encouraging. I don’t have to use the touchscreen on the computer, but I have been playing with it. I do have to get used to typing on a bigger keyboard and I make typing errors, which can be amusing. I want to practice on it a lot so when (EVER) I get it set up for work it won’t be as hard an adjustment. All this technology and I *still* do not have a smart phone 😀 I’m just cheap.
Anyhoo – you all aren’t coming here on a Friday for me to talk about work – it’s flower time! My garden is pretty much in its glory time right now. Freshly edged last weekend on the only cooler day.
My garden is very informal. Kind of a cottage garden, I guess. I didn’t really have a plan when I made this garden other than the general shape and my anchor plants (the butterfly bush, burning bush, and rose bushes).
Most of you know I have been specialty cone flower obsessed the last couple years.
I have a couple white swan standard cone flowers:
Unfortunately, my globe thistle didn’t come back this year, which is one of my favorite flowers along side these cone flowers. Here is a seedling, though.
I hope that will bloom next year. I seem to have trouble getting my globe thistles to stay.
Here is a closeup of the milkshake:
The razzmatazz:
Liatris (gay feather)
Bees love the liatris!
More of the heirloom lily buds are opening. These are so cool! It’s like a bow. A beautiful little package 😀
Tippy pots – number 1:
These pots sunk down a little because they are plastic and the stick shows through. Lesson learned.
Tippy pot number 2:
I have a few buds on the rose bushes. Time for a small flush.
2 of the bushes are getting black spot like last year. These really humid spells seem to do them in. I need to spray with some baking soda this weekend to see if I can halt the disease.
Lots o’ black eyed Susans now.
I think next week I will be able to show off the butterfly bush, too! Aren’t you excited? Then maybe I will actually get some butterflies to come around…
Hopefully some good solo riding this weekend as John is gone. Maybe not Saturday as it will be in the mid 80s and stormy as the front moves through, but who knows?
Have a great weekend!
Well, I’m jealous! I tried to grow purple coneflowers, and they were a bust–the soil too clay-eym, I think. But I love yours. Beautiful garden.
We have very sandy soil, but I have amended it over the years so it is a bit better. I get baby cone flowers everywhere of these white ones! I wish the specialty ones would reseed like that, but they seem to be sterile.
I always enjoy your garden photos. I hope you get butterflies. Normally by now, here in Indiana, I have Monarchs and Swallowtails but none yet 🙁 I’m not sure why.
Our weather is supposed to break this weekend. I hope so – I too am tired of the high heat & humidity.
Wishing you well.
Last year I had tons of butterflies. This year hardly any. Maybe it’s cyclical.
We’ve been cooking here too, and my flowers have been neglected because I don’t like to tend them as often when it’s this hot. I think you live in an enchanted cottage, with your lovely gardens and very sweet house–and I can’t forget Pixie. She’s such a princess. Have a great weekend.
That’s so sweet of you 😀 Although, Pixie is really the queen around here LOL!
Absolutely beautiful.
I love when you show all of your garden pictures!! And, I feel like I’m even learning a few flower names!!
Gardens like yours (that aren’t totally planned out) are my favorite kinds.
Thank you. I love my friday posts, too 😀
Razz Ma Tazz!!! My favorite! They don’t have that one listed at Bluestone! That’s interesting about these specialty ones being sterile. Too bad! Do the plants eventually get big enough that they need to be divided? I love your unplanned garden. I’m patterning mine after yours! That way, I can get a plant that I see and like, and just fit it in where I think it’ll look okay.
That is rotten to have a new computer and not be able to get it set up to work on. Hopefully, Monday will be the day! You are being much more patient than I think I would be.
I have had the razzmatazz for 7 or 8 years? I brought it with me when we moved and it has stayed pretty much the size it is all that time. I have never divided it. It’s not like the regular cone flower. Now, the milkshake and the hot papaya are noticeably much larger at 2 years old, so may those can be divided in a couple years?
GREAT close up shots of the flowers – wow! Your garden is looking great!!
So on the sweaty bike ride – do you mean that there are times when you ride and don’t sweat? What’s that like? Tell me, tell me!!! 😉
I can’t imagine not being able to use your new computer for work – the sounds beyond frustrating. What’s up with tech support? Or should I say tech NONsupport?!?
When it is in the 40s and lows 50s – I don’t sweat very much LOL! It’s actually kind of nice. But then my nose runs like a sieve, so I guess that is the trade off 😉
I hope the computer situation gets fixed soon!
I just got a smart phone a few months ago — I thought I was the last one to get one lol!
I love your garden – so pretty – my favorite is the tippy pots!
I don’t wait well, especially for tech support. 🙂
My vote this week goes to the razzmatazz! It’s showy and it knows it. 🙂
I love the word razzmatazz! Hope the weather is cooler for you this weekend!
I JUST LOVE YOUR BLOOMS – all of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful!!!!!
Lovely, lovely garden.
We hit 89 yesterday and today and tomorrow we might hit 95 degrees. I don’t like it but I can’t complain right? I said I wouldn’t when we had such a long, long Winter. And it’s only 2 more days, I’ll survive LOL.