Lazy Days

Well not really lazy, but not gardening days.  We own a house that we rent to college students and it was time to get in there and do some maintenance.  Paint all the walls, clean the carpets, get the handyman in to take care of some stuff.  But the walls...seriously what did you have hanging up that it's gone but you left 30 thumbtacks in one bedroom?  So we're pretty darn tired and don't have much energy to garden.  But I did take a few photos this week.  The eagerly awaited moonflowers have been just about to bloom for a few days:

 

And finally tonight, the first bloom:

 

It is just as exciting as I thought it would be, and there are plenty more to come:

 

So pretty:

The cucumbers are growing up the trellis nicely and even branching out across the raised bed.  I think I'm going to pull the carrots, they're pretty bitter and I think I can use the space for something better.  I have found cucumber beetles the past few days and there's something on some of the nasturtiums:

 

We think this baby bird fell out of the nest above the recycling bin.  We turned the bin on its side and I put some birdseed in it.  It was gone the following morning, so either it suddenly recovered from its injuries and learned to fly or something ate it:

 

Anybody have any idea what this is?  Growing in the gravel driveway and it looks so unusual we are letting it stay to see what it turns out to be:

 

Also in the let grow in the driveway category are these self-sown plants that I've finally identified as last year's ornamental edible peppers.  I lost a dahlia along the cellar door and carefully dug these up from the gravel to transplant in its pot.  They're thriving:

 

But on our day of rest (not really, just not heavy labor), I found a little time to spend in the garden.  This swallowtail butterfly wouldn't stop moving and flitted away before I got a good shot:

 

SS2 and his girlfriend joined us for dinner.  A huge plate of tomatoes and more basil perpetuo from our garden with fresh mozz; pasta with grilled chicken and a simple sauce made with our roma tomatoes, garlic, white wine, and more fresh mozz; plus a loaf of ciabatta bread.  Your choice of fresh grated cheese (pecorino romano or asiago) and more of the chilled white wine rounded out the meal:

 

Yes, you may come tour the garden and Lee will cook for you.

Comments

[meemsnyc]

That dinner looks just summer perfect. I love tomatoes, basil and mozzarella, a delicious combination. I hope that baby bird flew away and was not eaten!

[Monica at Garden Junkies]

Lee, get your chef's hat on - I'm coming to visit!! ;-) That dinner looks great. Heather, nice night-time shots of the moonflower. I've never managed to get one to bloom - I usually kill it before it gets to that stage...

[Mummer]

Do you remember....the time your Mom found a baby Blue Jay on the deck? I kept putting it back in its nest, and it kept falling to the deck. Then I found out that behavior is not stubborness, that's how they learn to fly. I'll bet your little bird 'flew the coop', too.

[Heather's Garden]

Meemsnyc -- I hope so too and we didn't find any signs of an attack.

Monica -- You're welcome any time, you've got my number, give me a call.

Mom -- Vaguely. I remember a robin's nest in one of the evergree trees and seeing the cool blue eggs.