Bits and Pieces

I am going to go out and cut off the dead flower stalks on the hostas after I leave the computer room. I'll take my bucket, wheel barrow, camera and my trusty green chair around the house for a clean up. It's been so hot, I have hardly done anything outside....just chores near the house like watering the hanging plants. So glad that we put down new mulch this year, it has really kept the weeds down.

I noticed, yesterday, that the wrens are taking the debris out of one of the bird houses. They were flying back and forth and looking like they wanted to start building a nest again. I sat on the porch, when it looked like rain, and waited for a breeze. We have noticed so many more hummingbirds this year. I have a feeder on each side of the house this year. I think that this may be the reason. They get frightened at one feeder and then move on to another safer place. I'm having to fill them all every few days. The feeder on the front porch is the favorite. It's a bit shaded there and I sit there a lot. Maybe they like human company :) As I was sitting the little chipmunk scrambled up on the floor of the porch...he didn't see me. I sat as still as a statue. He made a bee line for my cactus, sitting on the shelf. He ran right over my foot. When he realized I was there he took off for the safety of the evergreens. I sat a little longer...he came back and just checked me out. He loves to dig in those cactus pots and spreads dirt all around. The soft rain started....it was so humid and the moisture made the air look hazy. I decided to take all my houseplants out for a shower. I hadn't done that this year. I even put the cactus out on the sidewalk. I sat there watching the plants enjoying the shower. The leaves were getting full of drops of water. I took the Christmas cactus down from the hanging place and let it absorb some of the rain. The little chipmunk came back to where the plants were and just sat in the soft rain, watching. I wondered if Hummingbirds fly around in the rain and I found out that they do. Everything got a shower yesterday...the grass is green again and the drooping flowers are standing tall.

My orchids are really enjoying the spot where I put them. they all look so healthy and have grown. Some have new leaves starting.They are on a shelf in the laundry/mudroom in front of a north window. I had to choose between the north and south window and I thought that this one would be best. I keep the blinds up, so they have bright light. They are growing all kinds of new roots. I was told that they like to be crowded and not to be in a hurry to re pot them. I need to investigate more about them. When should they be re potted? Do I bury the roots, when I do? I am keeping a journal for just the orchids. I am a nurturer....I tend to over water plants, so I took the calendar and checked the days that I should water. I do it once a week. I spray them a couple of times a day. They are handy there in the laundry/mudroom, as I do wash most everyday. I marked the day each month, when I should fertilize. They are on a humidity tray filled with pebbles. I keep water in that too. I have my eye on a fan in one of the stores in town...they haven't been open when I've been there or I would have bought it. I read somewhere that you should have a fan to circulate air like in a greenhouse for them. This all sounds like a lot of fussing, but it's really not so time consuming.

Well, I have to get going. My son, John, asked if I would have the gnomes on Sat. when we are celebrating Tyler's 16th birthday...I told him that they would be gone by then. I changed the plans and the gnomes will be at the celebration. Here's what I sent John in and email....

Hi John...I just thought I'd tell you that three more people will be joining us on Sat. Roamy, Juliet, and Ansel are happy to be invited. They will be leaving for California on the following Monday. They don't eat much, so you don't have to worry about getting another birthday cake. Love you, Mom

Here's his reply this morning....

Oh boy...I'm so excited to host them to our party. I have so much planning to do now!!!!

Just goes to show you...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Balisha