garden update

OMG WE HAVE MELON isn't that the most adorable little melon you've ever seen? 

Oh, and I did some major weeding!  Although "weeding" usually means "getting rid of all the unwanted plants" in this case "able to see brown stuff between the wanted plants" was deemed a win.  Added bonus in these pics: badass melon growth and what appear to be architecturally sound scaffolding.

I wouldn't have guessed that I'd like the lilies so much, but I think these are just arrestingly lovely.

 


 


 




Butternut squash growth

More silly dog stuff

It's too hot to play outside, so we're learning more dog tricks. This time: how to put something in the basket, vs bringing it to me.

A twist on Abby's game of indoor walking fetch:



Buster, of course, is more pumped!

More garden pics

Last weekend, I built some scaffolds for the garden.  I think it's typically called a trellis, but that implies a certain aesthetic features that these lack.

The butternut squash:

The watermelon:

Additional pictures

I think this view is probably the most beautiful arrangement we've ever had in our garden.

The "charlie brown" magnolia. 
Two years ago:

VICTORY

Abby and I have been playing THE HOSE IS SO FREAKING AWESOME.
And I wonder why the dogs are so stinky.

The garden!

The garden!  I took the camera out to take a pic of the squash plant before it dies from the borers which are the bane of my existence.  [ETA: I find it ironic that one of the best organic pest treatments involves IV drugs BT.] I figured I may as well take some other pictures of the garden, which is gorgeous.

The squash plant

Teh butternut

The menardia really is magnificent.  Honestly, I was in favor of considerably thinning it, but Chris insisted, and I'm glad we kept it.  But we're definitely going to thin it a little before next year.

Menardia plus sunflower with magnolia on the side:

Menardia plus bellflowers plus hardy geraniums

...plus hydranga

The gourd plant is doing very well

Check out those tendrils!  So twisty!

Ta da!

Abnormally cute, even for Abby

Maxin' and relaxin'.

 When I took that first picture, I woke her up a bit.  Can you spot the difference in the second pic?

Going on two years!

Probably not a record for craptastic blog upkeep, but maybe close.  Just took some absolutely absurd pics of Chris and the doods, and ran across some equally silly ones of me.  The only way Chris won't send me a cease and desist for this post is if I keep it balanced by incriminating both of us.  The crime?  Excessive indulgence of lazy, snuggly animals. 

In my defense, Delilah settles down in my lap, on my hip, next to my head, etc, almost as soon as I stop moving.  It's not like I'd been there for a long time.  Really.

And...uh, basically the same story, minus Delilah.

Buster getting into position on the couch... 

Before:

During:

After:

This next set was taken the same day as the absurdity on the couch.  It's like this every single day.  We move from one pile of ridiculousness to another.  In Chris' defense, it's really cold, an I'm being a brat about the heat.  I mean, why run the furnace when you've got all that doodle?  (Did you see me walk right by the furnace/furry pun?  Walked right on by.)

 

 

Yes, Buster's tongue is poking out between his teeth while he's upside down and stretched out. 

Thus ends my little break from grading/writing/dissertating to share some cold Sunday afternoon silliness.