Okay…I officially can’t tell the difference between Fireball and Cranberry Crush. This is the other one that I didn’t post a couple of days ago. Jeez!

Thank Christ this summer was cool because if I’d had a whole summer of this past week, I’d have killed myself by now. Jesus…walking outside feels like being slapped with a hot, wet blanket. Anyway, in pretty news…

I assume this is Fireball, but can’t swear to it.

Another deep pink on my rosemallow.

Finally!  Native rosemallow the way I remember it. I like this shot a lot.

I look like I sweated all day because I mostly did, but Miffy makes a comfy pillow.

Actually took these yesterday, which was the day I discovered my phone has HDR mode. Must’ve come with the last update; I would’ve noticed if I’d had it all along. I won’t use it much, if at all, but it is handy for backlit shots like this.

Normal:

HDR:

I also have pano mode, which is good because I never could get a stitch app to work really well.

I don’t know for certain the circumstances that led a bat to end up under a lawnmower that was being repaired, and got him covered with oil, but I’d bet there’s a cat involved. I was lying down, reading, and P. scared the hell out of me when he came in and said he’d found Herb. He had a pink towel in his hands, so I got right up. We had seen Herb earlier, but by the time I had bathwater ready, he’d moved and we didnt know where; probably up under the mower deck. Anyway, I have bathed a sugar-coated hummingbird, and as of today, I’ve also bathed an oil-covered bat. He’s currently hanging out (haha…hanging–get it?) on the sweetgum tree; hopefully, when dusk comes, he’ll fly away. Be free (and oil-free!), Herb!

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UPDATE: We were concerned when he didn’t take off right at dusk, but Herb the Bat left at some point in time after dark. I hope he’s alive and well, getting ready to swoop about the sky over our backyard, nomming bugs. Best of luck, Herb–I know you were a bite-y little shit because you were scared, but bathing you was the only thing that would help.

My wild-type hardy hibiscus isn’t just bright pink; it’s light pink,  too!

This one is bright pink, but without the dark centre. I wonder whether I’ll have any that are white with red centres? We’ll see!

Okay, so they’re pests. They are nonetheless pretty pests!

My own Gaillardia. I could never get this to grow at 544, so I’m quite proud of it, especially this because I grew it from seeds.

Scarlet sage, French marigold and purple Monarda. I’m definitely growing these next year!

Yeah, yeah…it’s Sunday morning.

Finally got to see a bloom from ‘Fireball’. Not much different from ‘Cranberry Crush’, but hibiscus is pretty no matter what!

My “globe something” butterfly bush bloomed after all! EDIT: It’s ‘Golden Glow’, which you’d think I’d remember given the fact that I’ve made fun of Chipman’s Golden Glow cider for over half of my life.

Mexican sunflower. Height: 5-6 feet. Um, yeah. They missed that memo. I did tie up the zinnia and Tithonia that got flattened by the heavy rain. It ain’t pretty, but at least they’re not flat.

These are clipping on the compost pile from nearly two weeks ago when that lunatic accosted me. Still bloomed. I have no idea how.

Miffy because he’s cute.

Okay,  so it’s Saturday morning. I did take these yesterday morning, though!

Plum Crazy bloomed again!

First bloom on my wild hardy hibiscus. I wasn’t expecting deep pink, and this bloom is a bit damaged, but I’ll take it!

Finally decided upon a hose attachment, and it’s certainly hot enough!

No takers yesterday (it’s actually Friday), but hopefully someone will want a shower soon!

Blooms on my well-travelled hardy fuchsia. Plants look okay so far, and I do think they’ve grown a little. Fingers crossed that they’ll survive the winter!

My rosemallow is going to bloom in spite of the best efforts on the part of approximately five million hibiscus sawfly larvae. I bought BT last week…eat that, you little bastards!

The hydrangea out by the walkway. Stinks, but looks okay, and popular with bees and the occasional MLB, so it can stay.

Didn’t do jack this weekend because of stupid Balon Fesk, but…

Blooms on the Cliffie bush. Not great blooms, and not a lot of them, but considering Tree Dude STILL hasn’t showed up (couple of rain days last week, so I’m not quite ready to beat him with a flip-flop) and the poor thing doesn’t get any light, I’m impressed.

One of my few accomplishments this weekend. I got a dirt screen on Amazon, then snipped just enough of the stainless steel wire bottom to accommodate two SS bolts and made it into a bird feeder. I love the heavy base on the tall feeder pole, but it needs something with good drainage. Hopefully, this will do the trick.

So far, so good! They’re still small, and I’m not sure they’ve grown at all or that they’ll survive the winter, but I think I’ll at least have a couple of hardy fuchsia flowers.

Technically Thursday morning, but I didn’t get these up yesterday because I cleaned Dennis’ new house.

Only bloom on the Cliffie Bush, taken Tuesday, but the only shot from that day because I was afterward accosted by that horrible woman next door. Charming!

My bathroom Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’, and I think the other one is ‘Sparkle’ or something like that. These are the first diefs I’ve ever had that didn’t turn spindly and drop their leaves for lack of light.

Spotted bee balm. I like this stuff a lot!

Huge ‘shroom growing under one of my hardy hibiscus.

My silly creeping phlox.