August is over half over already!
Sunpatien in my back yard.
Finally, an update on yesterday's blog post, where I stated I haven't seen any hummingbirds all season. I saw one yesterday. I heard its wing buzzing when I was outside reading a book, looked at my cuphea plant and a female ruby-throated hummer was feeding on it. Hurray! I wasn't in a position to take any pictures but that's OK.
Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog for her #ShadowshotSunday.
Welcome! It's hard to believe that we are already at August 15. Wasn't it just yesterday that crocus were peeking out of the ground?
But here we are.
I don't normally post anymore on Saturdays, but today is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, hosted each 15th of the month by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. This will be the last year for this meme, and I want to thank Carol for the years she spent hosting this day when gardeners from all over the world would gather to show what was blooming in their homes and/or gardens.
In my zone 6a garden in the Southern Tier of New York, we've had variable weather since the last Bloom Day. Lots of rain (fortunately, our immediate area did not flood although other parts of New York State weren't as fortunate) interspaced with hot (for us) temperatures.
While we are at it, let's also think of those affected by massive floods, record heat, wild fires and other natural disasters in various parts of the world. For example, I know someone whose parents live in France and they have really been suffering.
So what is blooming?
Hibiscus.
Perennial sweet pea.
Fuchsia Pink Galore, also from Select Seeds.
Now to the aliums. First, garlic chive (the pink in this photo is from a sweet pea flower).
These next two photos are nodding onion I purchased (in either 2020 or 2021) from a native plants nursery in Ithaca, New York. I like how, at different stages of life, the flowers are pinkish or white, so I decided to post two pictures. You can sort of see purplish pink in the flowers on the right side.
What's not blooming is daylilies. My last daylily (I probably have over 15 varieties) put out its final bloom of the year yesterday. It even looks sad today, knowing it missed GBBD by a day.
Why not head over, if you love flowers, to Carol's blog (link above) and see who else has flowers blooming this Bloom Day?
Bennington Battle Day is a state holiday in Vermont. It commemorates an important Revolutionary War battle fought on August 16, 1777. The actual battle was fought on a farm in Walloomsac, New York, which is about 10 miles (16 km) from Bennington.
Come take another wildflower walk with me. I took these pictures this past weekend.
Goldenrod and barely visible bee.
If you like more domestic flowers I invite you to stop by my blog Saturday for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.
Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.
It's Monday and it's time for music!
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.
Why not join us? Here's our optional theme for this week: You Pick.
I saw a meme on Facebook the other day that had a list of recording artists who were 70 or over and still recording and/or touring. I decided to feature several of these artists and a past or recent song of theirs.
Willie Nelson, age 93 (April 29, 1933) who is currently touring. Dream Chaser, the song above, was released in May of this year.
Smokey Robinson, age 86 (February 19, 1940), touring in his "Legacy of Love" tour, is both a singer and a song writer. I chose his hit with the Miracles, Tears of a Clown, which he co-wrote. This song was released on an album in 1967 and as a single in 1970.
Bob Dylan, age 85 (May 24, 1941) currently touring in his "Rough and Rowdy" tour. I chose the song that introduced me to him in 1965, Like a Rolling Stone, which was also written by Dylan.
Ringo Starr, age 85, performed in New York City last October and two of my in-laws went to see him.(They loved the concert). It Don't Come Easy, from 1971, was co written by Ringo, with George Harrison.
Steve Miller age 82 (October 5, 1943)will have a short residency in New York City in October (Steve Miller Rocks Rose Theater). I chose his 1976 hit Fly Like an Eagle, which Steve Miller wrote.
Finally, despite a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease made public last month, and also a diagnosis of breast cancer, 83 year old Carly Simon (born June 25, 1943) released new music in June. That album included a song called Howl, co-written by Simon.
And that's a wrap!
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
Today, a couple of photos of hydrangeas I took in a nearby town.
Finally, here's a photo of a pepper display at a local farm market.
Soon, the veggies that say "autumn" to me will arrive at that same market. There will be pumpkins and other winter squash of all varieties, early apples, Concord grapes, and pears.
Eventually the summer veggies: the sweet corn, the summer squash, the tomatoes that burst with flavor, will dwindle and eventually disappear.
The wheel of the seasons continues to turn, as the days grow shorter and we approach winter, one humid day at a time.
Joining Lisa at This and That: A Blog, for her #ShadowshotSunday.
After the rains of last week where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, we cooled down a little but the past three days we returned to the heat and humidity.
July 30, puddles on the road after a deluge.
August 5, hot weather sky and a mural in a Southern Tier downtown.
Yesterday, the weather report called for afternoon and evening thunderstorms. They passed to the north of us, but I took these pictures right before it started to drizzle.
Joining Yogi and other skywatching bloggers for #SkywatchFriday
