Cardoons on the flower clock. I have never eaten one, but they grow well here. Apparently as opposed to artichokes one eats the stems not the leaves. And stems they have! They grow tall. And then get the purple thistle seed head that is so colorful in the garden. They are considered invasive in parts of California.
For my birthday my niece, who is in her heart an island person who loves ferries sent me a gift certificate for a native plant nursery on our local island, Sauvie Island. We don’t have ferries here, as it is a river island not oh say Puget Sound.
One has to make an appointment to visit this nursery, you can’t just stop by. This provides complications for me who doesn’t have a car or a bike, or the ability to ride a bike that far, though I suppose I could do it on an E-bike.
Mrs. Sherlock, who does not have her lumpectomy scheduled until the 24th of July said she is willing to take me but there is a bunch of coordination involved here. I have all this League stuff to do this coming week as we move towards the end of our fiscal year that involves going to the bank and other fun things.
And Tuesday I am meeting the coordinator of the exercise classes for the new in person class. I have no idea when they think a good class time would be so that is all up in the air.
This whole idea of native plants is interesting to me. We may have gone a bit overboard with focusing only natives, but it does balance out some of the harms of willy nilly bringing pretty or interesting things in from other places we have been doing for the last 250 years or so. Take squirrels for example. Please.
Last night when I was coming home from an in-person board meeting across town at a pizza place, I walked by the vacant lot next to where. I live. The weeds and grasses are out of control this year as we have a different landscaper that seems to be ignoring the lot and as I entered the area, I startled a wild rabbit. I have never seen one over here before.
They are definitely around the garden though. My tender seedlings haven’t had a chance this year.
And speaking of not having a chance, after weeks of no rain and unusually cool temperatures (with a few really hot days thrown in) we had wild windy squalls and sun all day yesterday. Hard bursts of rain. I feel a bit of trepidation about likely damage in the garden. I guess it is part of the package of taking on a garden.
All the uncertainty. Sort of mirrors the fierce harshness of the outside world right now.
One of the things I wanted to do on my birthday was a challenging workout. To see where I was strong and where I needed work. Most Honorable is working on his pushups so I did a specific focused pushup practice on Thursday in my Weights and Bands class. And boy, are my arms tired. You know it is a thorough workout when you are “pleasantly” sore on the second day. It is a fine balance.
Miss E. remembered my birthday! I suspect a little nudging from her mother, but I am not complaining. She sent me a stunning picture of fireworks over a candle lit canal that she took on June 16th at the annual festival for the patron saint of Pizza, San Ranieri. Miss E. at 25 is living her best life there right now.
It is overcast cool and wet today. I have plenty to do but have enjoyed this morning writing here and in 750 Words and preparing my class reminder for next week. Saturdays are a little oasis where I don’t teach and get to focus on myself a little.
Hey, and while I certainly have concerns and complaints, putting them in perspective, at least I am not getting bombed right now just because I happen to live in a particular place. I am not getting grabbed by masked men in baseball caps and dragged into a black SUV. I have meaningful work, even if it is part time. Carlo is healthy and having a bit of a nap beside me.
So yeah world. Could we lean a little more towards candlelit celebrations and crazy thistle growing and wild rabbits and a little less towards…
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