Neighbor cats Lary and Holly love me and follow me around.
Cherry pie made with Michigan cherries I picked last year at Tree-Mendous and put in the freezer
This is called a Galetta. It's a rustic, savory tart I made with the fruits of my garden
Zuchinni featured prominent in many dishes this summer. I managed to keep the rotten vine borers mostly under control.
Dahalia started from seeds
Hibiscus, aka Swamp Rose Mallow. Found a plant in a ravine where horrible people dump trash and transplated it to Drunk Monkey Gardens, where it now has four colonies.
Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar munching on my dill.
Hibiscus
I camped out one night but had a restless night thinking about/worrying about my job.
Four O'Clocks I grew from seed.
Cactus Zinnia
Little bee in a squash blossom
Zinnias in my pollinator garden
nasturtium
Went to Meijer Botanical and Sculpture garden with my mom and Natalie
"The American Horse"
Pitcher plants in the jungle house exhibit
My pollinator garden was successful!
We found the caterpillars then found some asshole mantids that were trying to eat them. We brought them inside where they coccooned, and emerged. Then we released them outside. My mom, dad, and sister were here for the big reveal and release!
We took Natalie to Turkey Run on what turned out to be the hottest, most humid day we have ever experienced anywhere. Steam was rising from everything--ground, rocks, trees, the stairways! It was a beautiful day, and she loved the hike. She said it got her in the right frame of mind for vacation.
We took her to some neat places downtown, and she wanted this pic of Indy's first son--Kurt Vonnegut--for her first son.
Somehow, this is where a squash decided to grow.
I made zoodles. This was really good with lemony, grilled shrimp.
Cucumber spiral salad with sesame oil. So good!
I learned how to make a really good focaccia this year!
Good friends, Ralf and Jim over for a garden dinner party
Rotten vine borer. I found him and eradicated him.
Holly
Just-hatched caterpillars. Watched them for two weeks then brought them inside where they'd be safe.
Indian Summer Rudebeckia. Big blooms. My favorite.
Lots dragonfiles and butterflies in my gardens
Swallowtail loves lantana
Used a sunflower to stake the cucumber plants.
Comfrey in bloom. My friend Lisa of Barefoot & Braless Gardens gifted me some "old-timey" plants--comfrey, clover, Polish chamomile, skullcap, and horehound.
I made a zuchinni pie
Corn smut
Weekend in Michigan
Dinner at Ralf and Jim's.
I took a personal day the day after Abby died. Larry took me to Turkey Run. I was sad and tried to enjoy the scenery, but it was very difficult.
