Not 'Cat in a Hat', but 'Dog in a Boat'.

7-22-10 VERMONT: Yesterday we got the rain. We had 0.4 inches in the morning in a thunderless T-storm that lasted about an hour. I was happy with that, but in the evening it got dark about five PM after a bunch of distant lightening and thunder drifted by. Then came the wind, blowing small branches and leaves off the trees, and finally a downpour that delivered an inch more of rain. There was no hail, downed trees or power surges and only the briefest blackout.

Today was beautiful, breezy, sunny and cool, almost too cool. I would have killed for this cool a few weeks ago.

In between I did some pruning, trimming, weeding, and dead-headed the delphinium. Val et al move on to Steve’s family in Maine tomorrow. We will be child-, grandchild-, and guest-less for the first time since early June.

New blooms: golden rod, Casablanca lily, soap wort.


Will the dog tip the boat over? Will the other dog retrieve his ball? That dot in the water on the left near the ball is a turtle's head, and he's probably laughing.

Casablanca Lily. Gigantic and incredibly aromatic.