Best Thing this Summer?

I think it was a rough summer for most of us this year. What was the best thing that made you happy or smile this summer? As in plants, family, animals, etc.

daylilies....and oriental lilies. both are on their last pots to bloom...both in the house...getting every last bit of bloom. love to plant in pots so i can bring things in...i take that back...at least one more scape on a new daylily...not quite over yet, yah!

My Franklin Tree bloomed. It was totally unexpected. The nicest surprise I've had all year with an otherwise dismal growing year.

X

The best but scariest thing was having the black bear in the yard while I was outside.

Yikes! I hope the bear was just passing through!

X

He just had to check and see if the birdfeeder had anything good in it. Thankgoodness it was empty!

The best thing actually happened this spring when I bought my house. So just having a garden at all is pretty great.

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds nesting in a tree by the rose garden!

The varied wildlife I've enjoyed this second summer in my house including birds I'd never heard of before! It has been glorious.

Robins and Finches nesting in my backyard for the first time. How cool!

A picture of one the little guys - I think he was waiting for Mom to show him the way home.

Coming home from a 3 week and 1 day vacation to find these beaties blooming :o)
Connie

Getting my dog a new hip so she's not in awful pain
anymore. Now, if only I will survive the confinement
period and the following therapy. LOL....

I'll let you know if I'm still here at Christmas.

mahnot Glad your furbaby will be getting better. What a long road you have to go.But so worth it.

You guys are putting smiles on my face.

I agree with Ves522. What a great topic. It is so good to read positive things. I suppose that the first thing that comes to mind in "something good" happening plant wise is........I knew last summer when I had only a very few plants in a new bed that hubby built, I had red and gold Celosia.

All summer as I passed by the spot where they were last year, I was disappointed that they had not re-seeded themselves. A month or so ago they started popping up in the flower bed in places that rain water must have moved them. I have about 8 or so of the healthiest colosia that I have ever seen.

I hope to be able to have a whole small bed of just celosia next year. I am hoping to mimic these lovelies. They last a long time, so a person certainly gets their moneys worth. Anyone care for seed?

thank you Ves for starting the topic.

Ruby Watts

cegoins-- You're going to love this! I have come home several times from work to find that DH has cut down perfectly healthy pines trees because they didn't look perfect!!!!! Can you imagine what I would find if I was gone for any length of time??

rubyw I love my celosia. I planted red and yellow this year and they are doing so good. Even have some reseeders from last year. I can't think of what they are called off hand. but they are from rain reoff also.

Not much is more exciting than a new house.What from to work with.

Green jay I haven't found a hummer nest yet but I do a bit of hunting. We have ruby throated hummers. Little devils!

Katymac may you have lots more wildlife. Any bears in your area?

wgnkiwi watching the birds especially in the cold months is one of my favorite winter things. I can sit on my couch and watch them. I've had up 20 morning doves at once. They might not be beautiful but they sound soothing. Not quite the word I'm looking for.

gardenglory I've had a few daylilies rebloom. So pretty.

xeramtheum Nice pictures. The flowers remind me of a single peony I use to have. Are they fragrant?

ves - i know what you mean about the sound dove's make. I've seen a few of them around here and the sound always makes me stop and listen.

When I first moved into my house there were hardly any birds around, but this summer we've seen so many. I'm taking it to mean I've made a healthier garden for the wildlife and my family and that makes me happy. Of course, growing almost all of my own veg for the first time is right up there too :-)

wgnkiwi I was just listening to some turkeys. At first I didn't know what it was. Then My DH told me and I could place it. Doesn't sound like gobbling to me.

The best thing that happened to me this summer was we had a couple hummingbirds hang around for a few days last week. They are gone now, but they brought us many hours of enjoyment. Usually they only flitter through and are gone, but these stayed for awhile.

JoanJ Maybe they were checking out the accomodations for a longer stay next year.

I hope you're right. I'll build them a hummingbird condo if that's what they want. :)

The best thing that happened to me in the garden this year is that I actually HAD a garden. Also, the bare root peach tree that I delayed planting by nearly a month, and then seriously damaged - lived - and is doing very well, even. Basil surpassed my wildest dreams and is taking over. I feel so blessed to be able to have time and space to play in the dirt (OK, sand) again. Like a part of me has come home.

kmom- It's amazing how tough trees and plants can be. After the main plantings I'm a little slow on getting anything else planted. Must be my nature!

I'm in line with WhiteHydrangea and kmom -- I bought my house at the end of May, and just laying out beds and making plans and ordering seeds and setting up a compost heap... what a miracle to even be there. Of course now I'm kicking myself for not having bought a small farm instead. I really should have, but since I live alone I guess it's not truly prudent. Plus, I do have this pesky job I have to go to daily so I couldn't do it justice. But I could have a rooster, which I'd love to do.

But I got a load of topsoil yesterday and got dirtier than I've been since I was 10 -- AND IT'S A GREAT FEELING!!!!! I can hardly wait to get back into it this evening, especially since the temperature is down to the low 90s and the humidity is only in the 50s. That may sound hot, but after the summer we've had, it's nice.

Amen for anything below 100! Although I wish our humidity would come up to the single digits. For silly girls like me who transplant in the summer in the desert, the lack of humidity is a worse killer than the heat, I think. Don't know WHAT I was thinking!

I love this thread! As I read through all your wonderful positives I tried to pick one out. I have
two favorites: I finally got my father to join me in a trip to my favorite nursery. He lives about 3hrs
away. We left early in the morning & drove to Lancaster county to a wonderful mennonite place.
I'd been telling him about this place for a few years & I don't think he quite believed me - prices &
selection are fabulous. We filled my SUV completely - he had to hold a big tray on his lap on the
drive home. He loved it. I love plant shopping & I love my dad so it was a day I'll always remember!

The second great day was the day I found one of my little bantum hens had hidden away her eggs
so she could be a mom. She had stashed about a dozen eggs in a spot hidden by vines & hay
bales. I heard the little peeps one day & found them. The babies are now almost grown and making
a good friend of mine very happy ( she lost some hens to a neighbors dog & these came right as
she had lost her own. She loves her chickens & those babies really helped her over the sadness....
knowing new life had come & that she'd have some to replace the ones she lost).

Tam

Okay, I vote for Tammy's stories. What a sweet, sweet picture! Look at that little chick! How could it not cheer someone up?

Yay, Tammy!

I can't pick pick one? They all bring a smile or make you feel better. I am so enjoying this.

Tis the season to hit the rock piles for flowerbeds. Tues. we picked 7 loads and what an adventure. Back corner on our 40 acres. He said there's a rock pile with good rocks. I'm like fine lets go. Dressed in shorts. It was a ----jungle!!! Well I finally found him. Great rock pile. Moss on stones. Oh heavenly pickings! Took the first load back to the house and went and changed into pants. 3rd load the trailer broke. Came back and he fixed it and I made lunch. Went back out for 4 more loads. Now that's a good day.

Today I'm working on the back hill with the rocks. Soon as I learn how to scan pictures I'll post one.

I know that's more than one but how can we stop if something else good or happy happens?

I wouldn't mind babbling on and on and on about good stuff! The more good stuff the better.

My smile was no mosquitos, very few flies, mulch and Preen that kept the weeds down, enough rain and time to sit in the lawn chairs and marvel life!

Tammy, those are two very heartwarming stories.
Thanks for sharing.

This is a terrific thread, isn't it? Its wonderful to think back to the high points of life
and relive them in their retelling.

I'm glad you enjoyed my stories.
Tam

I think my highpoint getting my trellis' up and getting to meet some of my DG friends!

I can't believe I didn't mention that! I visited my sister in Ca and while there, we drove to
meet one of my friends from DG. It was wonderful.

Tam