Our local WBU (Wild Birds Unlimited) closed its doors last year unbenownst to moi. So I showed up where the store used to be and found yet another Human Bean drive through coffee stand! "Oh no, I said, "and here I was all ready to get a bird feeder!"
But not to worry, as I discovered they were about to reopen next to the Safeway store. So the day came and I plunged ahead with my big plan to have a bird feeder once again. We've installed the Bird Brain Hilton, an all plastic job made from recycled milk jugs, etc and my under gardener had to add a big ass metal stake to stabilize the pole.
I should point out that the sort of pinkish light you see on the fence is also the color of the sky as we're having our daily "smoke event" from the forest fires all around us.
This feeder has 2 suet holders on either side and is a hopper style. They have made some improvements over the 20 years since I bought my first feeder. It also has doubled in price! But, oh well, nothing is too good for our birds! I even splurged on deluxe, hulless bird seed. I figure it's cheaper than a vet bill...a certain terrier would probably eat the hulls and get bound up, so I'm thinking that we'll avoid a dog enema (euwww!) Now all I need is a sign that lights up and says in bird "OPEN!" The feeder is about 10' from our kitchen window so I'm hoping for lots of entertainment. Day 2 of the bird watch and none have appeared.
These beauties are Felicity jalapenos, fresh off the bush. Ripe, mild jalapenos give you all the flavor of a jalapeno but without the intense heat. In fact the Felicity is quite mild enough for our norteamericano palate. Today I'll make a nice tomato, cucumber, onion and pepper salsa with a little garlic, chives, parsley and basil thrown in. A real treat!
Actually, no! These are the tomato heirloom variety "Persimmon." They are low acid variety that I favor since I tend to get the hives from eating too many red tomatoes. They are a fairly prolific and very meaty variety. You can find the seed and plants online at Territorial Seed. Thinking about a tomato sandwich for lunch....
Pleez mom, pleez mom! Let's go for a walk! This is a photo of a dog who wants to go OUT! But it's very smoky here due to a big fire about 75 miles north of us. The valley fills up with smoke most days, so it's not good for man, woman or beastie.
The cat has to stay inside with her dad and keep him occupied at the computer instead of buggering the birds outside. It's tough on all of us!
No word yet on fire containment...only 15% or so at last newscast. Luckily the area is mostly forest land and not too many homes are threatened at this time. Oh for some rain without lightning!
I ordered new Glide dance shoes from One Step Dance Shoes in Ohio. These are always special order because I get custom fabric (Midnight Micro), custom heels 1.5X "Dixie," pro soles (double layer suede sole), wide width and snaps on the ankle strap instead of buckles (faster on and off and easier to adjust. You can't wear these shoes anywhere but the dance floor and even then you have to stay clear of any water which can mess up the soles. The price tag, you might ask? $170 with postage and about 8 weeks from the time you order until they show up at your door. "Yikes!" you say? Trust me, they're so much better than trying to dance in street shoes! They have a steel shank and very padded footbed.
Yes, these will be my special shoes for Saturday nights and any other time when I want some bling. Next I'll replace my "old dog" nude leather and mesh practice shoes which I've worn for 7 years. They are also from Step One and are just plain tired because they have lots of hours on the dance floor. "NEVER MISS A CHANCE TO DANCE!"
I've never grown Cannas before, mainly because they were too big for my landscape. But happily the canna breeders have developed dwarf varieties suitable for pots and modestly sized landscapes. They promise to only get up to 24"-36" tall. They are grown from a rhizome.
Cannas give the summer landscape a slight "tropical" feel with their large thick leaves and yellow and orange flowers. Some have bronze foliage and striped flowers. They bloom continually and love the heat. They do like regular water and full sun but my pot has done fine with partial midday sun. These rhizomes were grown in Junction City, Oregon where they grown lots of bulbs, especially tulips.
One of my favourite succulents is Aeonium "Kiwi" potted up here in a vintage 1950's clay pot and sitting on an old antique folding chair. Lots of morning light in this location encourages the nice yellow and pink coloration. I appreciate its compact growth habit since it does have to spend the coldest months in the greenhouse.
This big boy (about 8" across) is the echevaria (pronounced ek-eh-vair-ee-ah) "Morning Light" growing in a planter with alyssum and a clematis. It too will get transplanted in the fall and moved into the greenhouse but it's fun to stick them in unexpected places for the growing season.
