consequences of neglect

There are always a couple of perennial beds around here that get 'forgotten' every couple years....I try to do a kick ass job on each bed every couple years but it doesn't always work out.
Witness the attack of Bidens frondosa or more colloquially named hereabouts as Devil's Pitchfork.
As someone who's done her share of weeding I know things are bad when I am forced to retreat and find a fresh shirt.
But as I was en route I must admit to a moment of grudging admiration for the opportunistic little beggar. We critters do all the work dragging it's sorry seed from pillar to post, pulling, or trying to pull, them off as we advance. hmmmmmm....

maybe a frost tonight

castor beans for those stews (just kidding)
peas will appreciate the frost
kangaroo apples will never ripen to orange by the looks of things
how much damage will the girls do to the little pink magnolia with their roosting ways?
ornamental kales also give thumbs up to some serious chilling


no, really I was just kidding about the castor beans

an 'almost' RIP

today's lesson:
you CAN scream loudly enough to make a coy dog drop his brunch
and hit the underbrush!

the highly low, lowly high sunflower

They chatter.

And lend themselves to the whims of all ilk of artist.






After the smiley face they are the most overused icon for cheerfulness the world has ever seen. And when they evidence any hint of imperfection or decay they play magnificently to the poignancy card Joe SixPack holds near to his heart. They've nodded their way in and have no intentions of leaving our Hallmark Card dramas.
As you can imagine, I would not be without them.