Oh yeah, summer has arrived.

You could smell it and feel it in the thick humid air.

It felt therapeutic and everything was “A OK”.

Without further ado, I give you the weekend in photos:     

One last peony photo, I promise. They are actually on their way out with all the blooms dropping to the ground. Until next year my dears … and thank you again for another incredible display this year. You never disappoint.   

The Sedum ‘Red Carpet’ are blooming and to be honest, I didn’t expect any blooms. They caught me off guard this morning and that isn’t easy to do. Time to update in the plant database – “expect red blooms in late Spring”.  

I now give you the full life cycle of the Hypericum ‘Albury Purple’. You’ve seen the foliage, the buds forming and now an actual bloom. Actually wait, I’ll have to show you a photo of the berries later in the season. Aren’t you just so lucky?

Like a steam train spotted in the distance, here come the Daylily ‘Happy Returns’ blooms. It is like the calm before the storm right now. Within the next week, it will be a bloom-a-palooza and I will deadhead these relentlessly. I am sort of OCD with the deadheading part knowing it will help with future blooms.    

I know, boring, a Purple Coneflower bloom, well move on to the next photo quickly if you are so inclined; I can’t get enough.  

I do not know what type of annual flower I’ve got here. I made the mistake of buying these without a label on them. But, I have discovered how cool these blooms unfold – the purple petals slowly open to display the white daisy-like flower – man I am a fascinating person, huh? 

One week later, and the zinnia seeds I sowed with the kids are emerging at a rapid pace. I am so psyched to check out these ‘Green Envy’.

Meet enemy #1. The rabbits are everywhere and they are on a mission to piss me off. I have seen enough signs of their cute little nibling and I don’t like it. Yes they are cute, just from a distance.
   

What a cool ass stone can do to a planting.

Summer time = fresh brewed ice tea – there is nothing better other than ….

Strawberry goat cheese bruschetta. I can’t say enough about these – the perfect combination and with fresh thyme they are off the chizzain. The strawberries just pop when you eat them and the melted goat cheese – I now need a cold shower.

After gardening, baseball may be my next biggest obsession. I threw pop-ups to my son all weekend and it was like watching myself as a child. I actually started writing for a New York Mets fan site this past week. Now I have to find a way to bring the two worlds together – any suggestions?    

Relaxation on the deck – do you like my toe nail color?

My wife’s birthday was on Monday and (prepare to praise me heavily) I bought her tickets to see Bon Jovi (on the floor, about twenty rows from the stage) at the newly christened Giants Stadium. When I tell you she is a fan – she is a HUGE FRIGGIN fan). Her sentences now end with Bon Jovi lyrics – it’s a sight to see. If I were to allow my wife to run off with one man it would be Jon Bon Jovi – I would understand.    

One last photo just to prove how hot it was today. The hydrangeas were all drooping and in need of shade. Hang in there little guy!

Hope you had a great weekend and remembered what we were truly celebrating.

Enjoy.