Thursday, July 1, 2010

Plain, honest and upright

The heat wave broke in the middle of the night and a lovely cool breeze greeted me through my window this morning.

When I came down to get my coffee, the thermometer we keep in the breakfast nook read 68 and I felt like I was in Maine again. Oh, happy day! With no humidity, it was even a good hair day, to boot.

I don’t get too many good hair days in the summer around here.

And it was a good day for sunflowers.

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I wandered out to my husband’s garden early this evening while he and George were inside watching Jeopardy. The dog doesn’t watch as much as listen when we try to guess the answers.

I was careful where I stepped tonight. The garden is chock full this year of all sorts of growing things: watermelons, cantaloupes, peppers, tomatoes, corn, herbs, and heavens knows what else. When asked what the vines were that were trailing up the fence next to the garden gate, my husband told me he didn’t remember.

This should be fun!

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He was very upset to see that something was eating his sunflowers ~ tearing them to shreds it seemed. He found that it was ants. Millions of ants.

I think he’s got that under control now, and these young sunflowers are doing fine.

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Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock. ~Henry Ward Beecher, Star Papers: A Discourse of Flowers

UPDATE: As I was writing this, my husband came in the house and gave me an earful. It seems that when I was out in the garden taking these photos tonight, I stepped on one of his little tiny watermelons. “No”, I told him. “I was really careful!”

Unfortunately, the incriminating evidence left at the scene of the crime says otherwise. I will try to be more careful. I told you that garden was chock full of stuff!

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

All photos taken with a Nikon D80 and the Nikkor AF Micro 60 mm Macro lens.

33 comments:

Julie Harward said...

Loved the quote...sorry about the baby watermelon! I love the pictures, I have never seen a sunflower at this stage, beautiful as when it is fully open! Come say hi :D

Country Girl said...

My husband has just forced me to look at the incriminating photos of my crime. Really, this is ridiculous.

I have already said I was sorry! I can't believe he went out there and took pictures. And how do I know that some of those bent stems aren't from him? Hmmmm.

~ C.G.

Gayle said...

A wonderful blog and photos, as always! Keep us posted on the viney thing on the fence. Oooooo, the excitement of it all!
:>
Gayle

becky up the hill said...

Just an FYI for your husband, one year something was eating my sun flowers. Gold Finch. Yes, the little dickens we feed thistle, eating the Sue Flower leaves. The flowers never had a chance. Later in the Summer they chew on my morning glories too.

A New England Life said...

The humidity broke here too and it's been a wonderful summers day!

Your husband is quite persnickety in his gardening! Traveling too ; )

Chrissykat said...

Lovely, lovely sunflowers. Gorgeous photos. Enjoy the munchies from your garden and keep us up to date on the mystery vine!
Excited for Dancing Survivor tonight! :)

Andi said...

You.killed.a.watermelon?

But what will you eat??

Sunflowers are my favorite. Unfortunately the rabbits think so too, so no flowers for me this year. Thanks for sharing yours. I feel like I was walking in the garden with you.

Mary said...

Oh I have always wanted to grow sunflowers, but I'm afraid the deer will just eat them... your photos are so beautiful!

beth said...

oops....poor little watermelon.....

Anonymous said...

Sunflowers have always been a favorite of mine. With their cheerful faces, they seem to radiate joy. :0) Your pictures, as always, are fantastic!

Char said...

oh no...poor watermelon but there will be plenty more.

deborah said...

Sounds as if he was photographing a crime scene...he has his veggies named and numbered (one less now?)
I hope you are acquitted of the crime or at least forgiven, if indeed it was you who stepped on the tiny watermelon.
Love the sunflower photos.

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Hi Kate:
I really like your quote tonight...and love your photos, as always. Is hubby going to have a special service and burial for the recently deceased watermelon? ;-) Green Thumbs really seem serious about their charges. Me...I just say, "They're on their own".
xoxo
Donna

Deb said...

But George wears boots in the garden sometimes, right? :)

Marla said...

Awesome pictures... Good luck with the husband. :)

Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

We threw open the windows at 5 AM. It felt soooo good to have the cool air.... I felt like I could breathe again and even the pups seemed to step a bit lighter today.

I totally agree with Mr. Beecher about the flowers and their expressions. They all have personality and that's why I wrote the cheeky post with the talking coneflowers a few days ago. Their photos had a story to tell... LOL

Di

Anonymous said...

Oh, and my hubby did the same 'try to make me feel guilty trip' with me one time when I accidentally melted his favorite Hawaiian shirt with the iron... I finally just had to tell him to shut up.. LOL Big baby!! As if I melted it on purpose.

Di

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

How is it humanly possible that Husband would know that *you* stepped on that watermelon?

Do I need to drive up there and whip some @$$ because I will.

Signed,
My Bad Hair is Worse Than Yours So Let's Rejoice in These Humidity-Free Days While We Can. Amen.

Caroline said...

Gorgeous photos Kate...sorry you got an earful about the watermelon. What is it with Men and watermelons...my Dad gave me an earful because my kids got into it before lunch. Whatever! :)

Kathy said...

I'll wager those vines are some type of beans or peas. Now how would I know that? I'd better be careful not to wager too much.

Your early morning temp sounds downright chilly. Overnight low tonight in Phoenix will be 90 ~ today's high 113!

Mary Lou said...

Beautiful Kate.
I think it was a friend of George's, not George himself...and surely not you!

Lili said...

Beautiful images and a wonderful quote. And I dare not ask for a sad photo of the baby watermelon. Oops. ~Lili

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Well I guess from now on you'll need to tread lightly where the watermelons grow.

And don't cook a shrimp dinner with a delicous corn medly any time soon, it's just not the same as lobster ;-)

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Great post! I am sorry you smooshed a watermelon. We have tons of ants this year. Every year it seems there are more and more. Soon they will take over the planet and rule the world! :0p

My Mind's Eye said...

Morning K
Oh do I 100% agree with you on the change in the weather. Yesterday was the first day in 3 weeks we have not had temperatures of 95 or hotter.
It was overcast and 73 yesterday.

Tell hubby the garden is thriving under his care.

Madi and Mom

Jill of All Trades said...

Uh oh, poor little watermelon but it was so worth the pictures. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the first one. Just stunning.

mrs mediocrity said...

Oops! You will just have to tell him that some things just have to be sacrificed for a blog post. The photos are incredible. Yesterday when I woke up it was 47. I had flannel pajamas on and ate oatmeal for breakfast. I pretended it was October, which was nice just for one day.

Daryl said...

Watermelon killer!!!!!!!!!!!

The JR said...

Uh oh, my husband is the weed eater killer..... I've banned him from using that device around any of my trees forever now!

Cloudia said...

such gorgeous shots!

We like Rescue Me too....






Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

BB said...

That is the price he pays Kate, for being made famous by his super-talented wife. Tell him to 'suck it up'! (Well, you can tell him I said it - I don't want any domestics on my conscience!)

Gorgeous sunflower shots. Just gorgeous. *sigh* All I got is cow's flashing their rude bits at my place.
:-)
BB

ELK said...

good hair day & sunflowers ...perfection!!

GailO said...

The weather broke here too and it has been the most glorious weather I have ever lived thru in a New England July...

Sorry about the watermelon...maybe you can buy one at a local farmer's market and sneak it in the garden to see your husband's expression:)...

Love the sunflower pics!