Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.  A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world.  ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Shedding ones clothes, say for a bathing suit, hmmm.  Makes me think that today would be a good day to go swimming ... in the pool, in the lake.  Yes, swimming, that will make all right with the world.

Hope you have a good day.

Nature never goes out of style.  ~Author Unknown

I think that I may have posted this one before, however, it is so simple and so true. 

Hope you have a good day.

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life.  ~John Burroughs

While sharing a bountiful pear harvest from the orchard yesterday, noticed a bird nest, just above my reach.  I wondered what type of bird had built the nest, when eggs had hatched, where all were now ... and guess what?  Bird was sitting in the nest.  Much to my surprise, she was not frightened by my presence.  I backed away, not to disturb.  Hope she will continue her life there .... she can have all the space that she needs.  A moment of Mother Nature at her finest.

Three quarters of an inch of rain last night.  And the "Light Show", oh my!!!!!!  

Hope everyone has a good day.  

A man says a lot of things in summer he doesn't mean in winter. ~Patricia Briggs

Ahhhhhh, doesn't this rippling water look refreshing?

Was visiting friends today at a family cookout and we overheard a group of men talking, as they were cooking hamburgers, corn on the cob, on a gas grill in the hot summer sun.  The story of the "biggest fish ever" was the funniest, yet none of the men were laughing.  They just talked louder, hands waving indicating the "size" of the fish, stories getting longer and longer!  What a great day! 

Lower humidity today.  Hot, still! 

Hope you have a good evening.
 

On cable TV they have a weather channel - 24 hours of weather.  We had something like that where I grew up.  We called it a window.  ~Dan Spencer

Oh, yes, I do remember when!!!

Oakville Farm weather can be checked out anytime at OFW.

Hope you have a good day.

When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life.
Monty Python's Life of Brian

Yes, I hope that you will find something to laugh at today.  Flowers, friends, creatures ... find a smile!!!

I just saw two goat kids with heads down, horns in front, running towards each other in a threatening way.  And ran right past each other, as if to change their minds, or if wanting to miss each other or just "pure t" misjudging!!!!  I laughed and laughed and laughed.  Maybe you had to be there, however it was just waaaaay to hysterical!!!

Thank you Claudia for your recent daylily order.

Hope you have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.

(Let me see, is that a Venus Fly Trap?  Oh my!)


Flower, flower grow for me,
Become a flower from a seed,
Grow your roots and a stem,
Let the water come right in

Flower, flower you are true,
You make me happy when I am blue,
You became a flower from a seed,
You did all that just for me   ~Author Unknnown



Hope you have a good day.

Welcome Monday.   Today will set the tone for the remainder of the week.  Make it good .....

What a curve ball thrown today!

Not so sure today!!!!

PHEW!  Relief is on the horizon!!!!

Nature never goes out of style.  ~Author Unknown

Oh, so correct!  Those stilettoes, gauchos, ponchos, mini skirts, leisure suits ... yes, but NATURE, Never.  Nature is always IN.

Nature was on a roll last night ..... Oakville Farm received about a third of an inch of rain.   The rain was very beneficial, the type was slow and steady with rest in between.  Accompanied by a light show that went on for hours!   And more is forecast for today.  Hmmm, wonder if it will be here?  Wishing for!


Hope you have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.

Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.  ~Thomas Fuller

And sometimes those "unplanted" make an addition to a flower arrangement.  You know, we usually pick known flowers, ie roses, daylilies, tulips for the arrangement.  And yet, others, ie crinum, golden rod (be careful allergy sufferers) make for nice color and texture in a flower arrangement.  Be creative, look in own flower beds as well as wooded areas for textured, different colored, seed pods and alike to add dimension to arrangements.  Think that is what I shall do today.


Hope you have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.

Shall we compare our hearts to a garden -
with beautiful blooms, straggling weeds,
swooping birds and sunshine, rain -
and most importantly, seeds.
~Terri Guillemets

Life is much like a garden.  To be cultivated, weeded, fertilized, watered, shared.  Hope you will find time to enjoy your family/friends and time outdoors.

Weather continues to be HOT.  Check it out at OFW.  Heard much thunder in the distance yesterday afternoon and saw pop up storms on the local radar, however, no rain fell here. 


What daylilies have you blooming today?  Visit Oakville Farm website to see what daylilies we have for sale.  Peruse on over and see the really great deals.


Hope you have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.

"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato."
-  Lewis Grizzard 

Fresh tomatoes.  Right off the vine.  Yum, yum!!!  I love this time of year for the fresh vegetables.  Walk out your side door, to the  tomato plant, pick a yellow one, bring it inside to finish ripening, then enjoy sliced on bread with a bit of Duke's mayo.  Hmmm, Hmmmm.  Gonna go.  Am hungry.

Have a good night and until next time, Happy Gardening.

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.  ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Thank you to soldiers past, present and future.   Thank you for preserving our freedom.  Happy Birthday America!

Hope you will spend time today with family and friends.  Cook-outs, parades, picnics, playing horseshoes, listening to music, fireworks, boating.  Have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.


1812 Overture ....


Just a few sights from this years local July 4th Parade, held this AM @ 10.  Folks come from all around to share in this event.  Always a treat.

 Beginning with the Grand Marshall, Lt. Col. Moseley.

Thank you veterans, you are our special guests of honor.

A Belgian standing a mere, if not more than, 18 hands high.

Boy Scouts, a must have tradition at the parade.

A spectator in her "cool shades".

 "It is only when we are aware of the earth and of the earth as poetry that we truly live."   -  Henry Beston, 1935


Just looked out the window and the ground is wet.  Not dew, but rain.  It rained last night.  Yeah!  The flowers say Thank you, the plants say Thank you and the grass says Thank you.  And the weather forecast is for temperatures below 100 degrees today.  Isn't that something for one to be glad for daytime temp of 97?

Headed outdoors.  Will return.  Hope you have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.

Well, have returned. Want to show another "beautiful bloomer" ...

Moonlight Orchid

Daylily Moonlight Orchid is blue lavender and white brushed lavender bicolor with green throat.  It is an early mid season rebloomer with a large over six inch wide bloom, standing over two feet tall.  Light, elegant blossom atop a strong thin scape.  A nice, subtle color.

"No bought potpourri is so pleasant as that made from ones own garden, for the petals of the flowers one has gathered at home hold the sunshine and memories of summer, and of past summers only the sunny days should be remembered."
-  Eleanor Sinclair-Rhode

We have heirloom roses, in white and in pink, and the rose hips produced are quite nice.  The Butterfly bushes emit a nice sweet aroma.  The Gardenia sends out a nice aroma. And there are many fragrant Daylilies.  Daylilies such as, Hyperion and El Desperado.  Both are fragrant yellow daylilies.

Hope you have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.

"I pledge allegiance to my flag
and the Republic for which it stands,
one nation indivisible
with liberty and justice for all."
-  Francis Bellamy, 1892 

The Pledge of Allegiance has been modified four times since Bellamy's initial writing.  In 1954, "Under God" was added.  It will certainly be said during this month!  July, yes, can you believe that it is July?  And in three days it will be July 4th, Independence Day.  Parades, flags, family gatherings, barbecues, fireworks, celebrations abound.

My favorite Independence Day activity is to watch the celebrations from our Nation's Capital.  The 1812 Overture elicits a sense of American patriotism.  Marching bands, orchestra, all the "grand" sounds that abound!  Love it!

Hope you have a good day and until next time, Happy Gardening.