august simple pleasures

Oh, how I love summer. It's just not long enough here in Illinois. Sun-filled days that light up my home; making tomato galette from farm fresh tomatoes (though the small ones are San Marzanos that we're growing); being grateful for kind neighbors who bring me peaches from their peach trees; dining alfresco at socially distanced restaurant tables; birds cooing at us from high wires while we take our evening walks around the neighborhood; spying a hot air balloon in the sky while riding in the car, wondering how carefree the people in the balloon must feel; visiting the hens, roosters and turkeys at a local farm; ending a beautiful summer day by walking down to the lake and watching the sun set.

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I have to throw in here that I hate the new Blogger format! It's different every time I write a post and unfortunately, more frustrating each time, too. Why did they have to change what was working just fine and why is it not user friendly?!

the language of kindness

This afternoon I was in my garage, hunting for my pruning shears. I heard a sweet, quiet voice behind me say, "Excuse me!" I turned and saw two young Mexican girls, one holding a large metal tin of fresh peaches. I knew who these girls were. Their family lives down the street and even though the mother doesn't speak much English, we always smile and say hello to each other. The girl holding the peaches said, "Would you like some peaches?"

This family has four peach trees in their yard. I wasn't sure if they were selling them or gifting them. I replied, "I would love a few peaches!" The girl looked at me shyly and said, "You can have all of them!" I said, "Really? This entire container?" Both girls giggled and said, "Yes!" I told them I was going into the house to get a big bowl and I'd be right back.

As I was gingerly plucking the peaches from the metal tin and putting them into my bowl, I was chatting to the girls about how appreciative I was; to tell their mother I said thank you; and that I might have to make a peach pie. I'm not sure how much they understood, but the whole while, I was being gazed up at with two pairs of big, brown, adoring eyes and the sweetest smiles. They skipped away as I clutched the bowl of prized jewels to my chest and went into my house.

There is no language barrier when it comes to kindness.
Pass it on. 💓

my gardens in mid-august

Despite the heat and humidity this weekend, this summer has been mostly a mild one - as far as summers go - where I live. Hopefully, this means a mild winter is in store for us, too? ;-) One can only hope.

Potted flowers are still doing beautifully...

Joe Pye Weed - which the bees love, is at its peak in August. Whatever that ground cover is underneath, always starts to brown and dry up in August. We didn't plant that ground cover. It's a volunteer that showed up a couple of summers ago and has really spread.

The bees also love wild onion - an Illinois prairie plant that I have in various places around my yard. It's a wonderful perennial that doesn't require any care and is easily divided.

Phlox is still in all its glory...

 as is the purple coneflower...

and the Black-Eyed Susan, all in my butterfly garden.

The purple butterfly bush is in full bloom right now, too but I haven't seen too many butterflies this year, which is really disappointing.

Most of the hostas are done blooming except for this variety in front of my house. I love the delicate white flowers on this variety of hosta.

The poor tiger lilies are past their prime now. They're drying up at the bottoms and all the orange flowers on top of the stalks have dried up and fallen off.

 

Cherry tomatoes are still producing like mad. I pick a handful every day.

Last week, a neighbor brought me some peaches from her peach trees. I told her I didn't even know that we could grow decent peaches here in the Midwest!

How are the plants and flowers doing where you live?

Have a great weekend!