WATCHING THINGS GROW: What this grown-up has been doing lately

With all of the initial rain and subsequent heatwaves, it seems I have the jungle garden in June that I don't usually see until August. By then, I've had enough and am good and ready for sweatah weathah, and nights that are "nice for sleeping" because as anyone in Delaware knows...IT'S NOT THE HEAT, IT'S THE HUMIDITY. 

Given my change in circumstances, I'm spending a lot of "quality time" at home and hence, watching things grow. 

Also, I wanted to save some money on veges and decided to make a real attempt at a salad garden. Well, I had (had) a great assortment of lettuce, but try as I might, it's near done and my tomatoes and peppers have yet to ripen. 

I feel like a farmer, watching the skies and testing the air to how it affects all of the plants. I could tell right away it wasn't going to be a great year for my hydrangeas. One bush isn't blooming, and the others are blooming small. I checked around town, most other bushes are in the same boat. Except those dark, dark purple ones, they seem to be doing great.

So here I sit, checking the plants, seeing how they fare.  I even went so far as to promise I would make a go of "fancy" types. I have some heirloom green grape tomatoes, black krims and lilac peppers. I also have an overgrown wineberry bush, planted a couple of years ago by some thoughtful bird in a natural bird manner. I've yet to eat more than a couple because they eat them before they are completely ripe. But, they planted them, they can eat them, I suppose. 

The lavender and roses have bloomed and been trimmed and hopefully, since it was so early in the season for them, will see a rebloom. The lilies come and go, and the black-eyed susans show their faces, the hydrangeas wilt in the heat like southern belles. The veges edge closer to ripening and the herbs to harvest.  

Watching the garden grow, that's how this grown-up intends to spend a good part of this summer.

Next up; a preview of my little town as it prepares to triple it's numbers for it's number one holiday of the year...Delaware City Day.