Enjoying the Garden

More flowers starting to bloom. There are two different plants with white geranium blossoms.














The flax looks like such a fragile flower, but it blooms all summer. Tiny blue flowers that close up at night and bounce in the wind. And they come back year after year.




We used to have generic lattice below the deck behind the planters. But it gradually broke apart over the years and I wanted something more natural. In China I saw rural fences made of small branches and twigs. I had lots of branches piled in the back - some from a tree that fell into our yard a few years ago, but also natural stuff from our own yard. I've been planning to turn it into mulch, but decided to try this instead. I think it looked better on Chinese farmland. I think they've been doing this longer than I have too. In any case, it blocks the view under the deck a bit and it will do until I can think of something better. Only the taller ones on the left are wired together (yes, they used wire in China too). The smaller ones are just sitting there until I get them wired.

I am aware that if I lived in an area vulnerable to brush fires, and even here in the middle of town, I'm not completely sure it's a good idea.

Falling Rain

The summer's most eagerly awaited sequel is now here. The end of the epic trilogy that began with Falling Leaves, then Falling Snow, is now at hand with the climactic Falling Rain.



I guess Doug, we won't be able to say, "Gee the weather was great until you got here." Actually, I'm working on squeezing out the last drops before you get here.

Sun Makes Brief Appearance in Anchorage

I try to listen to all the advice about how to stay healthy. I value life and hope to live a healthy one as long as I can. I had no interest in smoking, so that wasn't ever a problem. I do watch my diet and eat mostly, but not completely, vegetarian. I stay away from high cholesterol foods. I exercise regularly, but never had an interest in things like marathons or other extreme activities. I believe pain survives in the process of natural selection because it tells us to stop doing things that are bad for us.

But I do ignore the medical literature in some areas. I know coconut oil is high in cholesterol - but there is no way I will give up Thai food. Since coconuts aren't an animal source of cholesterol, I'm counting on future researchers finding out that it has different properties from animal fat cholesterol, and may even prolong life.



But the other advice I ignore big time is to stay out of the sun. Having grown up at Southern California beaches, I had no choice but to think of a sun tan as desirable and any chance I get to lie out in the sun, I take. I've learned, of course, growing up in the sun, how to slowly roast my skin so it gets just red enough that it will turn brown overnight without burning. I do use sunscreen when I know I'm past that safe point. And I wear hats to keep my bald head from burning. But sunlight is essential for Vitamin D. And this addiction to the sun helps me understand how cigarette smokers and alcoholics can rationalize their addictions. We can all feel superior to people with weaknesses we don't have, but it is the weaknesses we do have that help us empathize with others who aren't perfect either.

So today was one of the few times this summer (as you can tell from the picture, though the sunny parts of the picture are also badly overexposed) that I could indulge and I did. :)

Summer's Here, Really!

For Anchorage folks who think summer has forgotten about us, there are signs it's really here.



The iris have mostly bloomed and faded.
















To be replaced by the daisies














And the dianthus.






And the ladies mantle.


















But with the cool weather and grey skies, I can't blame anyone for mistaking the cottonwood seeds for snow. On the left is the whole cotton pod. On the right are the scattered seeds caught up against edge of the grass. In the middle is a clump of seeds.