dughlas

I think you have the "domesticated" type. They tend to be more shrub-like in their growth. Dad's grew very slowly, less than a foot in three or four years.

Bet you'd never catch her standing on a chair in the middle of a hosta bed ...

Probably, but keep in mind for the towns where these plants are located they are the economic lifeblood and food production is considered an essential business. Most are located in rural areas that haven't seen many cases of the virus. Also, many of those folks were asymptomatic and the virus can spread exponentially in a very short time. This was a case of insufficient safety measures in an industry where folks work nearly shoulder-to-shoulder. I fear there is a mindset in rural parts of the country that the virus is a problem for the cities, particularly on the East and West coasts, that it isn't going to be a problem in their community. The thought that it is others that will get sick not me. I think that mindset is what let's folks rebel against the restrictions that our states have put in place. Mum's one neighbor has been complaining because she can't get her hair cut and colored. She also was complaining because she can't go anywhere. Mum looked at her and said you don't go that many places. Her response was yeah but it's the idea she can't. Mum told her to grow up.

Are you certain that all 2800 tested positive. I hadn't heard the count was that extreme. I used to work for Tyson in the poultry divison and my wife is the plant manager for a Tyson facility in Portland, ME. Between the Smithfield plant in SD and this one the process 8-10% of the pork processed in the US. However, some of that would have been exported. Under the current conditions very little if any is being exported.

Dad's looks like this except the lighter portion of the flower is a soft golden-yellow.

You probably have a variety bred for home gardens. My dad planted some that are rose and a golden yellow. The white is the "wild" variety.

I love the scent on a warm summer's evening but it can become invasive. I had it overtake an entire hedge of spirea. Had to sacrifice most of the hedge to get rid of the vines.

Greetings Albert.

It's been a lovely day here too. Temp is currently 64/18° with bright sunshine and a light breeze. I did a few chores this morning. Performed a test run of mum's sprinkler system. Had to did two of the heads loose. They been covered by root growth. Made a trip to the County's hazardous waste facility. Had some old paint and pesticides left from my stepdad. After that I pruned some azaleas. It was time for lunch when I finished that chore. Now I'm just relaxing in hopes the migraine quiets or at least doesn't worsen.

Guess that would an example of horse sense.

I have a wisteria growing on an arbor at my home in PA. It should bloom in about a month or so. I understand it has been a bit cool and the arbor is shaded in the afternoon so it is likely to bloom late this year.

But I hadn't had a chance to say ... Steve

Hi Page, thank you for the belly scratches. 🐾

Climbing roses?

Yeah, but you'll have to get him away from Val.

I found dragging him into the shower for a good twenty minute soaping more fun ... of course the work in the garden never did get done.

Oh look. Val is dictating her next story to Joker.

You forgot the two flutes of pink champagne in the original pic ...

And by that time you might be able to rent that 21 year-old son of a friend.

Slacker ...

Wait!?! Val wasn't that taped at your last birthday party right before he started taking off his clothes.

My own thought was that he'd learned that Will had married or had died. Either event would seem the final loss of what they'd once shared.

Being as close as I am to my own mum and knowing how you felt/feel about yours I hope the relationship Hank has with Lilah is the one in this story that love redeems. It's hard to learn truths about our fathers we didn't suspect when we were children. Being of their generation I know how desperate some of us were to deny/hide that part of ourselves. Henry hid more than one secret. I feel for he and Will as I believe do you. Perhaps that's why you wrote it so believably. Lovely chapter.

Yes by all means add caramelized onions they go very well with the mushrooms and bacon and ... oh, you said instead. For shame, it's not as if he included tuna tartare.

Birthday ...