Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day ~ July, 2012

Glads, happily blooming in an old whiskey barrel, on the deck.

As I peck away, on my computer keyboard, I hear the soothing sounds of rain drops outside my open window.
Just a sprinkle. This, on the heels of 2 consecutive, afternoon rains has me hopeful the tide has turned.

Clematis drape across the other side of the deck.

By all outward appearances, it has not been a good summer.

Oppressive heat, our western landscape so deadly dry... We went for 37 days without a drop of rain.
And, then. A rash of scary wildfires. Too close for comfort.
The wind carried ash in the breezes and left a reminder of this danger, as a layer of dust in the garden.

Sky Blue Flax, a volunteer wildflower, makes her home in the raised veggie bed.

Been using that as an excuse not to work out there.
The smoke. The heat. The... oh, give me a second and I'll come up with another excuse..

Penstemon, Primrose, & Geraniums

Instead, we've been saddling up the horses and combing the trails in search of wildflowers. (Like that's a cooler past time than pulling weeds in the hot, hot sun? Oh heck no! But, infinitely more enjoyable.)
I've been calling this my non-gardening year.
And, it's all because of.... a brand, spankin' new drip irrigation system!
Every single summer day, schlepping hoses dominated my life. Moving sprinklers, to and fro, caring for my flowers.
This year, I threw in that proverbial towel and automated the joint.

Catmint & Valerian

Oh! Joy! Free Time???

Plentiful designer weeds

I had never tallied up the number of hours I spent watering the gardens until I no longer had to do so.
In fact, I never really minded, since I love putzing with my flowers. But, it's given me the freedom to experiment with all kinds of precious posies I shied away from in previous years.

So, there ya have it. I've been a lazy gardener. And, a lazy garden blogger. Heck, I've been such a slacker I forgot to celebrate my 6th blogoversary (May, 2012.)
But it's been a glorious summer.
Here's hoping you're having a wonderful growing season, too.
Happy Bloom Day, Everyone!
Pay a visit to Carol @ May Dream Gardens to visit more flower lovers for this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day monthly meme.
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