Knock-Out Work

Good Morning!

I could not resist showing you my Knock-Out Rose. I have never been lucky with any of the roses besides your wild roadside variety, so I thought I'd give this one a chance to prove to me that it is worth all it's hype. They say it should grow here, so next spring will tell the truth. In the meantime, let's just enjoy it's charm.
So, since we are knocking out, I thought I'd ' knock- out ' some work yesterday. I spent a good part of the day working on cleaning up the grove beds and planting a few annuals in them. This one has Johnny-Jump-Ups, a few Verbena, and a few perennials like Bee Balm, violets, Bluebells, and another that smells like vanilla, tiny white-flowered, deer loving, press on the side of my nose to remember-plant. Danged if I can remember. Anyway I found it growing in the yard and moved it into the bed so DH wouldn't mistake it for mowable grass.

The other two beds have Verbena, Dianthus, Sweet Williams, a couple variety of Hostas, Lily of the Valley, volunteer Bee Balm and Bluebells., and a few fern.
There was a Dragonfly Birth yesterday. They were flying all over amongst the trees while I worked, getting their ' new wings '. Mom called saying that the deer flies and horseflies are back too. Love the dragonflies but not the other two.
The Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly was getting the last taste of nectar from the end of my lilacs. Due to this drought weather, so far, all of my plants and shrubs are suffering with very minimal sized growth. This lilac blossom is so small.
We sure can grow some pretty rocks around here tho. And interesting like this little ball I found. It's about the size of a large grapefruit and sits in the water rock. A water rock is just a rock that happens to have a few hollows to hold water. The birds think I'm O.K., when I remember to add their ' splish-splash '.
Someday I will show you ALL my favorite rocks. I know, now you think I have a few of them in my head. You may like to collect trinkets, I collect local rocks.

This pink one with all it's jagged spider holes, just happens to be one of my loves. I must have gotten that craze from ' me Pappy ', cause of the love he took in building their split rock fireplace. It's beautifully done. I will show you someday.
How bout this cool granite that the ol' fellar cross the road gave me? Loveit!
Or this petrified wood that we found years ago on a party-barge ride with Mel on the flowage...

Loveit!
I'm easily distracted while I'm supposed to be working. I couldn't resist noticing all of the new growth on the trees around me....like this branch of pine candles sprouting new cones.
Here's a closer look for you. Click on any of the pictures for an even closer look.
The new spruce growth is just as beautiful, all lime tips extending every where.

These are last years spruce cones that will be pushed off by the new growth. Notice the little Asian Beetle tucked in toward the top right of the back cone.

These little fellas were brought in to control the Army Worm infestation we had a few years ago. Now they need to control these guys that are everywhere and Stink to high heaven when squished.
There's the grove I worked on yesterday which is between our horseshoe driveway that surrounds the house. The third tree down is our next project after the rest of the vegetable gardens are planted the next couple of days. We still need to gather more rocks and get that last bed ready for perennial that need dividing. Do you see my headstone? The kids think I'm kidding.
Maybe, just maybe, I can convince Bill that this grove needs flower beds too. We will see.
My day was exhausting in the unusual 90 degree humid weather we have been having in May, of all times., but so satisfying to get another job behind me. Thank God for the breeze or I would have spent the day inside enjoying the air conditioning. Never, have I turned on the air in May. Our normal air time, is mid August and then only for a few days. It makes me wonder, What is Aug. going to be like...in the meantime, we are still praying for some much needed rains.

Have a wonderful day

BlessYa'll