Another Trip Around My Garden

 The slightly cooler weather has worked wonders with my perennials which are all doing well. Here are a few samples:

 

My insect garden, Echinacea and Bee Balm (Monarda)

Two different shades of Phlox and some more Bee Balm.

And, finally fixed, the pool leak, nicely patched up. Only took six weeks to get it done! At least my next water bill will be more reasonable. The last one (for 4 months) was $300 +.

First Bowl of Raspberries

 ....and there are still lots ripening. I will have them for dessert tonight with yogurt.

I decided to try a zucchini loaf this afternoon and it turned out well. It has cranberries in it for a bit of zing. There's still some of the original zucchini left and there are two more almost ready to be harvested so I will have to come up with some more ways of using them.

My First Zucchini!

 .......and it's a whopper! I have been checking the plants regularly and could see a few small ones. But then, all of a sudden, there was this humungous specimen! I'm just glad I didn't miss it entirely as I wouldn't want it to get any bigger.

I think I may make some zucchini fritters tonight although I found some decent recipes that would be worth trying.

Break In The Weather

    It was extremely hot and humid again this morning, getting up to 31C, but some cooler weather rolled in this afternoon along with some rain. It's now 23C but still quite humid. Much more bearable, however. I should be able to sleep well tonight.

    I was in the pool twice today for a much needed cooling off, once after tennis and again after doing a bit of gardening. I don't think I could work in the garden without being able to take a dip afterwards. The flowers are doing well but the weeds are going crazy!

My clematis has finally decided to bloom. It had no flowers last year at all as it had to be moved when the back fence was rebuilt so I wasn't sure I would get anything this year again. However, some fresh compost and some TLC seem to have done the trick.

    

After spending the winter indoors, it always takes a while for this plant to get going. I counted five more buds on the way. It gets full sun for the afternoon and early evening.