I got somewhat back on track yesterday.  I stopped briefly at VP (for mental health reasons!) and got a liatris (sadly, not a native species, but close enough) and a freebie annual impatiens.  I planted the liatris along the edge of the woodsy area, where my natives still haven’t come up, and the annual in one of the patio beds (where the perennials and natives I sowed never appeared).  More aggressive natives keep crowding things out.

A beautiful E. Tiger Swallowtail butterfly showed up on the milkweeds and let me get close enough to take a picture.  So far I haven’t seen many Monarchs.  A lot of flowers are about to explode in colors and reveal what they are (I forget what I planted!) and that should attract all kinds of pollinators.

K and E have been attending summer classes at the HS every half-day.  E has been industriously building his greenhouse and planting his seedlings back in the SG.  He seems to be able to propagate anything!  Y will be going back to Camp Indigo Point this summer.

I baked challah and made a big caesar-type salad, including the first lettuces and greens from the garden.  Y had two friends over, who joined us.  I think they like our Shabbats more than Y!  (Y doesn’t seem to like anything unless it centers around him and his instant gratification or “needs”, and doesn’t get why grownups can’t cater to his every sudden demand.)

Allie and Billie the Dog are visiting this week, and I’m curious to see if we can convince Loucious it’s really a tiny sheep so they get along!  It will be good practice for when Stacey and S bring their dog to stay while house-hunting, coming up soon.

Also my brother Robert is briefly visiting in early September, can’t wait!

In fact, this whole summer should prove to be interesting and a game-changer, hopefully for the good.