A full month ahead of the Blandford bloom schedule

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blooms, coneflowers, Gardening, heat wave, postaday2012

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I was speaking with a dear friend of mine at the post office. We have known each others for years, our children grew up together and I have written about her talent for growing outrageous lavender bushes up here in Blandford. We actually call each other schmoopie, our crazy term of endearment for each other. Schmoopie is my go-to source for tips and advice when it comes to gardening. She was the one who announced to us, her faithful audience that day, that Blandford is a full month ahead in blooming time. That is throwing schmoopie off her plant gathering, which if I haven’t mentioned before, she is a gifted herbalist and homeopathic remedy maker. She also makes her own soaps, oils and creams on top of cultivating her own honey from her bees who have a smorgasbord of nectar in her gardens. An example is that she cut herself in the kitchen and was bleeding profusely, she sent her son to gather Yarrow leaves, he put the yarrow leaves on her cut and covered with gauze, presto, the bleeding was staunched.

Her pronouncement led me to grab the cell phone and snap away at all the plants that shouldn’t be blooming right now,they should be waiting until August. I am selfishly happy that I got to see them, take pictures of them and write about them because the 16th is quickly coming up and I will be in France admiring other gardens and not my own. We aren’t suffering from the heat like the rest of the country but it is still enough to make the cone flowers and the upright phlox say hello at tad to early. What is next, blooming chrysanthemums in July? I am writing this from Boston, just watch when I get back home on Friday, one of my chrysanthemums will be blooming, they certainly are big enough right now. I’ll have to wait and see.

Barbeque Sunday

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barbeque, heat wave, postaday2012, summer

We, in the Northeast, are very lucky that we are experiencing the mid to high eighties. This morning they were showing the whole map of the United States and the heat wave that is gripping the rest of the country is horrendous. I feel for everyone who is recovering from the devastating storms across the Southeast, Hurricane Debby to be precise, and the wildfires that are plaguing Colorado, not to mention the drought situation in the Southwest. We are hot and will be hot for days to come but there is no way that I will complain, there are so many others everywhere who probably can’t even escape the heat due to lack of power. To think that we have a political party in this country that still denies climate change, it scares me that this party, who being part of the political process, can influence our response to energy needs and how our energy policy Is determined. It bothers me to no end.

Onto happier thoughts, my hubby and I barbequed Sunday dinner together. All I did, I must say, is throw together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, herbs, salt and pepper, slice the eggplants, and the mushrooms were already sliced. The pork chops got some salt and pepper before I put them in the bowl with the eggplant and mushrooms with the marinade. I carried everything outside to my hubby who had a nice fire going on the grill and he did the excellent backyard chef grilling that he has mastered over the years. What I find annoying about grilling is the smoke getting in my eyes, I don’t mind the heat off the grill, it’s the smoke that gets in my eye where I feel that I’m blinded, do not like that feeling. Everything had a nice smoky flavor, the mushrooms were nice and meaty and the pork chops were juicy with the great charred taste that only grilling can give you. My hubby grills old school with wood, I have said it before, he is the best camper and the best fire starter that I have ever known. Sometimes he’ll also add charcoal to the wood, it depends on his mood, either way the results are always great. The best part is, hooray for leftovers, with the heat continuing knowing that I don’t have to cook tomorrow is fantastic.