"A blog post two nights in a row?" you say? Yes, yes it is! The Squirt has gotten in the habit of plain tuckering herself out with swimming and digging holes and other such summer shenanigans, so she's in bed on time, the dishes are mostly finished, and I'm on a little sabbatical from sewing, so I'm here--blogging from my patio and watching the last glimmer of rose-colored sky fade into deep blue and listening to the peeper frogs in the woods and chipmunks in the shrubbery. . . . wait, I'd better get some bug spray . . .
ANYway--my garden is just a smidge past the height of its glory, so I wanted to post some pics before it all starts drooping. (You've got to click on the picture for a pop up to really appreciate it.)
Hubby added the picket fence late last season, more yellow daylillies are coming in, and the roses are loaded with buds for the first time since we moved in four years ago.
EEW! Warning to outdoor bloggers--bugs like the glow of the screen!
ANYway, my favorites are the peonies, and I think I've told you before that we have an abundance of them. Today I took a shot of each variety:
A delicious strawberry ice cream color with double ruffles. . . Please note these are not scientific nor common names, but if you know them, feel free to share!
A vibrant magenta with fancy yellow plumes of stamen. . .
A gorgeous single variety with a huge pom pom of delicious yellow pollen
This one has a giant bloom of layers and layers of petals. I like to take a single head and display it in a shallow bowl. It looks like a big ol' scoop of sherbet ice cream. I think I've got a sweet tooth tonight. . .
This one is a bit past its prime, but you can see that it was a lovely single creamy white with long frilly stamen, and wouldn't it look pretty among the roses it's nestled in if it could have just held out a few more days!
and finally, the good old fluffy white Lady of the garden. What would a bouquet of peonies be if it didn't have some white to make the other colors pop?

Is that a rumble of thunder I hear? . . .
I'd better wrap it up for the night and see how the hubby is coming on his project in the garage. I'll give you one clue about it: It is called the "Poulet Chalet!" I'm so excited! Stay tuned for a post all about it!