Weeds, Talking and Latest Bloomers

Yesterday was another great summer day. Spent the afternoon weeding and talking to neighbors. I always take time from gardening to chat with neighbors and sometimes strangers who stop to ask questions, admire the Gardens, or to enjoy the raspberries.  There will be more raspberries in the coming weeks.Weeding is a constant task. Here's what Carl Sandburg said about weeds.
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Weeds

From the time of the early radishes

To the time of the standing corn

Sleepy Henry Hackerman hoes.

There are laws in the village against weeds.

The law says a weed is wrong and shall be killed.

The weeds say life is a white and lovely thing

And the weeds come on and on in irresistible regiments.

Sleepy Henry Hackerman hoes; and the village law uttering a ban on

weeds is unchangeable law.

Tiger Eyes

The weeds indeed "come on and on in irresistible regiments" at the Prospect Gardens and we abide by the "unchangeable law". Besides weeding and talking, I planted two Tickseed flowers. I also transplanted a small  Japanese Tiger Eyes, a type of  Sumac that is now yellowish-green and will turn a golden color in the Fall. Since we have no room for another Tiger Eyes in the Gardens, the little plant found a home in Ernie's side yard.


Below are several new bloomers. A few years ago Gene donated the day lilies and the lilies.  Gene once lived in the neighborhood just down the block from the Gardens. Gene grew prize winning day lilies in his backyard. Each summer Gene offered a tour of his spectacular gardens. I miss those tours. One day, Gene was thinning his lilies and he called offering some.  I gladly accepted and immediately fetched them and planted them. I remember it was quite late in the day. By the time I finished the sun had set, night had fallen, and the street light in the northeast corner snapped on. 

Gene's Day Lilly

Lilly and Lupine

Queen of the Prairie

 The lupines shown with the lily are from seeds harvested from another garden along the path. These are rather late bloomers. I am hoping that they spread and they probably will as time goes by.

Queen of the Prairie has spectacular and showy pink blossoms that give off a sweet smell. Bees love them. The parent of the pictured plants came from my backyard and  one was there when we purchased our home in 1986.  I recall that my daughter, Emily, as a child stood on her toes to smell the sweet pink blossoms and a bee stung her nose. She recovered quickly. Since then I have been careful when I want to savor that sweet aroma.

So another summer weekend is passing.  More beautiful rain today which is exactly what the newly seeded lawn on the terrace facing the Gardens needed.