Keeping With The Times

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Sunday Sundries on Monday

August 17, 2015 by Barb 6 Comments

Good morning … Sunday Sundries on Monday? What’s that? Well, it boils down to some poor planning on my part. Oh, I could blame it on the fact that there was no internet, or that we were out of town visiting family, or that I felt downright deflated last night (and I still do).

But truthfully, if I had just been a little more organized, I could have had it posted. So for that, I apologize.

I debated whether to simply leave it until next week … but I decided that by counting my blessings today, perhaps I could salvage this beautiful August Monday morning … and perhaps the whole week would follow suit. After all, that’s what this is all about. So here goes …

This week I’m celebrating Globe Thistle (echinops) which is growing in abundance in my garden. What more could you ask of a plant than it grow in full sun/part shade with well-drained/light, dry, moist, sandy soil!

I’ve always loved the spiky, steel blue/grey balls that appear in August. Each spike produces a tiny blue flower at the tip, which is absolutely irresistible to bees. When in full bloom, the plant is humming with them. This will continue until dusk, at which time a few will curl themselves up, and literally stick to the flower overnight.

Bee on Echinops

Echinops

But of course I do pick a few blooms to play with …

Sunday Sundries, Keeping With the Times, Echinops, Globe Thistle

“let’s dance”

Sunday Sundries, Keeping With the Times, Echinops, Globe Thistle

“larry, curly, and moe”

Echinops

“larry, up close”

Once the flowers have died, I harvest stems for winter flower arrangements.

Using gloves I snip a stem, strip the lower leaves, and pull the spent flowers out of the tip of the spikes. After tying into a bunch, they need to be hung upside down to dry, or some of the heads will droop.

Echinops

What else am I celebrating from this past week?

  • Still being “young enough” to accomplish some of my dreams.
  • Finding a perfect new/old table to play with.
  • Making salsa … an August ritual.
  • Sitting down for a “moment” on the sofa, and drifting off while listening to the whispering of aspen leaves as a light breeze moves through them.
  • Cooler temperatures in the evening, bringing relief from hot dry days.

Filed Under: SUNDAY SUNDRIES Tagged With: gratitude, instagram feature

Comments

  1. Ann Davis says

    August 17, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    Barb
    Beautiful art this week. Celebrating on Monday is good. Somewhere it might still be Sunday.

    I am celebrating. The almost end of a very long remodel project. We rejoice in the results and the support along the way.

    Have a wonderful week

    Ann❤️💛

    Reply
    • Barb says

      August 18, 2015 at 6:18 am

      Thank you Ann! I’m so happy to hear that your renovations are coming to a successful conclusion!

      Reply
  2. Caz says

    August 17, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    Such pretty flowers Barb and of course, stunning photos too ! I enjoyed learning more about these flowers. I’m celebrating the wonderful weather we’re having in Michigan ! I hope you’re feeling better now as you mentioned being deflated xo

    Reply
    • Barb says

      August 18, 2015 at 6:18 am

      Thank you Caz xo

      Reply
  3. Carolyn says

    August 17, 2015 at 10:21 pm

    Sorry to hear that you have been deflated . . . I guess we all take a turn at that. Lovely post . . love your floral photos and I may try growing these next year. Thanks for the tips on drying them for later use . ..

    Have a wonderful week . ..

    Reply
    • Barb says

      August 18, 2015 at 6:19 am

      Thank you Carolyn! Yes, I would definitely recommend these flowers – they are so easy to grow and bring so much joy!

      Reply

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Welcome! I'm Barb, and this is where I practice my mantra to "learn something new, try something different". It's my hope that something I do here may inspire you! Read More…

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