The last couple of days, the weather has been overcast and looking a lot like rain. The frustrating part is that it hasn’t actually rained. The upside to it is that my lovely plants have been getting a much-needed break from the intense sun and sweltering heat. Still, I find myself longing for the rain. I guess I’ve been somewhat corrupted by my 25+ years of living in the Great NorthWest.
NOAA.gov is forecasting the potential for rain Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tomorrow and Saturday are only a 30% chance of rain but Sunday looks to be much more promising, with a 60% chance. My fingers are crossed, though I have to admit I do not have much faith in it actually happening. So far this Summer, forecasts of rain have been washed out by sun and high temps.
One of the major benefits that would come from it raining is having the smoke rinsed out of the air. There have been a number of large fires, lately, and the air smells a lot like smoke. It’s not that delicious camp fire smell, either. The smell of a house or other structure burning has its own distinct aroma, and one I find rather repulsive. Miles away from these fires, you see smoke lingering in the trees and hovering over empty fields long after the fires have been put out. Its sad and somewhat disturbing.
I have a paint gig this weekend. It’s not great pay but its money. Its been a really long time since I have done any painting, and part of me wonders if I remember how to hold a brush. 😉 Another part of me is somewhat excited about getting to paint, again.
Painting for other people has always been a high stress situation for me. I love to paint, especially when I get to be creative with it, but I have always carried a lot of anxiety over what others will think of the finished product. I’m not sure, exactly, why this is, but it’s there.
Ok, I do know parts of why I get so anxious. When I was painting full-time, I couldn’t walk into a painted room, anywhere, and not see every last flaw, even the ones almost no one would ever begin to notice. Another reason is due to the fact that the guy that taught me how to paint was exceedingly critical. Yeah, I have issues. This level of anxiety had a lot to do with me not painting anymore, despite how much I enjoyed painting in the first place.
I am still going to the chiropractor three times a week, along with massage therapy. My back is feeling so much better than it was when I first started going and the chiropractor seems to be pleased with my progress. For the most part, I’m not hurting very much at all. Granted, about the time I say or think that, the very next day, I’m hurting, again. I’m told this is normal and just part of the healing process. It will be interesting to see how I feel after this weekend. Thankfully, I will have an adjustment and massage scheduled for Monday.
I can’t get over how much is going on in my garden these days. The reduced temps and sun have really helped things start to grow and bloom. Even some of my Mammoth sunflowers have started to get taller, almost catching up to the Autumn Beauties, Chianti, and Velvet Queens. I honestly doubt the Mammoths will reach their true intended height, but I guess we shall see.
The Autumn Beauties and Velvet Queens that have had ‘satellite’ buds around the main flower are really quite interesting to watch. The main flowers on these have bloomed beautifully then started having their petals start to fall off rather quickly. When the satellites bloom, they are lasting much longer. The downside to the satellite blooms is that their stems are not very big and the flower weighs more than the stem can rightly support. This leaves the blooms facing downward, though it hasn’t broken any of the stems. I haven’t exactly figured out how to support these ones, yet. Shepard’s hook? Lattice that I deform to put the supports in the right spot? Home made giant ‘tomato’ cage? I’m guessing this is going to be a trial and error type of thing. Learn as I go.
My Wild Bergamot is looking very healthy and full, but no blooms, yet. Not even any buds, yet. I’m anxious to see these flower, and not just because it’s the first time I’ve grown them. Sure, that’s a lot of it, but I think more of it has to do with my love for fresh blossoms on all of my plants.
I have found myself missing having at least one butterfly bush in my yard. I finally tested the soil near the fenceline by the road the other day. Butterfly bushes prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic. The soil tested out at about a 6.0.
I’ve done a price comparison on Butterfly bushes at local nurseries and places like Home Depot and McClendon’s. I think I am just going to have to put supplies for cuttings in the Jeep so I can take some along my routes. I haven’t taken any cuttings, yet, mostly because I have always felt that I was too far away from home to have the cutting survive, especially with this intense heat/sun we have been having. If I had the supplies to take care of them immediately, I think I would be more inclined to stop. Since we are traveling up north for the paint job, I think I will put the supplies in the Jeep and make myself stop.
I pass one butterfly bush, every now and again, that is white. I have never had a white one and have contemplated stopping to ask the owner if I can take some cuttings. I always feel like I don’t have the time to stop when I am passing this one, despite it being relatively close to home. Maybe I’m just procrastinating. Maybe I am worried that I won’t end up with any survivors due to how wonderfully attempting cuttings of other things has gone for me this year. Whatever the reason, I need to get over myself and move forward, stop making excuses.
Well, I had better go get ready for work. I’m starting late. Have a great day, everyone!!
Dragonfly Gypsy USA 