The Flowers and The Veggies

 The above average temperatures have been good for the flowers and the veggies. The HOA sprinklers take care of the flowers, but I have watered the veggies almost every day.

The ALMOST 1 inch of rain early this morning also brought more normal temperatures, so I spent the afternoon pulling weeds in the flower bed and planting a couple more perennials. There was about a half inch earlier in the week. Whatever we get is very welcome as it is very dry in most of South Dakota.

all three hills of cucumbers have survived

they have loved the heat

this was NOT a cucumber bush plant

evidently bush cucumbers do not mean bush plants

I attached a trellis to a plant stand, zip tied the trellis to the deck posts to keep it from tipping in the wind, and then attached one of the plant vines to the trellis to encourage it to climb.

Although they are NOT in full sun, the tomatoes seem to be doing well, too. Compare the size of the veggies to my blog post on June 12th.

the grape tomato plant has little tomatoes this week

all four varieties of the tomatoes have lots of flowers

no colored peppers yet

but lots of blossoms on the plant

Now for the flowers, well SOME of the flowers...

The wild roses are nearing the end of their production. I was blown away by the amount of rose bushes that appeared this spring and the amount of flowers they had.

the colorful end of the perennial flower bed

and a new piece of glass art in the flower bed

the annuals for the bees and butterflies are just beginning to flower

zinnias, I think

more of the annuals

And to my surprise, there was a flower on the pasque plant. The flower is a very pale lavender, but a flower none the less...in June...and in this heat.

Bricks & MiniFigs Class

 Last week McBe attended a Lego class where the kids got to build a Mech figure. I was the chauffeur so got to see the end product. The lego store posted some photos.

The class was instructor led. Nine boys got to play with legos and build a Mech.

They chose the colors and body parts needed and then got to dig around in a bin to get their accessories.

some of the finished Mechs

Mecha, also known as meka, mechs or giant robots, are limbed machines. They are usually—but not always—large, humanoid vehicles controlled by a pilot.

The difference is that (Mechs) machines need human control from outside while robots only need instructions that detail how the job should be done.

According to our grandson, Mechs have ball joints so they can bend their limbs. He thought that was a very cool part of building the Mech.

He's looking forward to the next Lego class!

We used this idea and built a Lego table with storage for him five years ago.

 It is in his bedroom and he still uses it.

The Backyard

 Prior to leaving for the cruise on May 6, the weather was chilly and windy and not at all conducive to thinking about flowers and gardens. In fact, we were wearing winter coats and blankets to the soccer games and track meets! When we got back from the cruise a week later, the plants were just beginning to appear in the store parking lots and greenhouses, but again, the temps were not that favorable. All that changed the week we spent with Kari while she was hospitalized with pneumonia; the temps jumped to the 80s. Summer arrived. What happened to spring????

One of the projects I helped with once Kari was finally able to go home after 10 days in the hospital was clearing her patio of last year's plants (planters) and shopping for and repotting flowers and vegetables for this summer. 

Before I left Minneapolis, I did some plant shopping of my own. Some flowers, some herbs, and vegetables. I had spent some time in the flower bed the week between the cruise and Minneapolis, but by the end of May the grass and weeds had begun to take over the perennial flower bed. After many hours in the sun (over several days) I feel like the flower bed is ready for summer.

This was the result of last weekend's work, June 3rd. Some of the flowers, the herbs and veggies were bought and planted.

after this past weekend, the decor is in place

for now the grass & weeds are under control

in the perennial flower bed

Before we left for the cruise, I did plant the butterflies and bees flowers along the back of the flower bed. Now it is just waiting to see what will appear. (Don't judge my crooked bricks!)

The wild roses are really blooming right now. There are more plants this year than last. They are at the far end of the perennial bed.

the wild yarrow, also at the far end

mojito mint, rosemary & sweet basil

one of about 4 little peppers on the tri-colored plant

the cucumbers (straight eights) are growing

the bush cucumber plant

the tomatoes are doing well in their new location

we added a hose hanger to help clean up the rocks

the tomatoes all have cages and watering tubes

I finally found a place to hang this bird

and the water fountain is running on the deck

the Mandela planter

yellow yarrow and light purple something in the perennial bed

the only color right now because the pasque, peony, and columbine 

are done blooming

Not Your Average Joe, a Musical

 Miss W had one of the starring roles in the church music camp's musical this week.

Students grades 3-8 audition for parts. Roles are selected in mid-May and the speaking parts are handed out the last week of May for the kids to begin memorization. The kids meet on Sunday through Thursday, half-days, to learn the songs and all the movements for the songs.

the scenery and props for the musical

some of the cast and choir

the rest of the cast and choir

her duet

 her solo

she has a beautiful voice and great expression

we are so proud of her

While big sister was at music camp practices, Mcbe was hanging out at our house playing video games, doing logic puzzles, and Diamond Dot art.