Les Fleurs du Jour

My zinnias just now starting to get buds. Seems to me that this time last year, I was picking zinnias every day. I'm not sure if it was our cool spring that slowed them down or not, but my crop will be smaller because something (probably those @#!! chipmunks) snacked on the seedlings. Well, the current bouquet features purple coneflowers, a few marigolds, and tithonia, the beautiful orange flower. I've also heard it called a Mexican sunflower. The butterflies and hummingbirds love them! I also added a few tansy leaves. They're so pretty: curly, bright green leaves. I have no idea how to use tansy in cooking, but it sure looks good in a vase.

Speaking of which, here is a bouquet of oregano flowers. They are teeny little bright pink flowers, very airy-fairy. I would normally just add a stem or two to a mixed bouquet but I have so much, and it's blooming all at once, so I decided to just fill a vase with oregano.

The weeds are about to take over, but I hear we're in for some cooler weather this weekend, so I'm going to at least try to stem the tide. I'm also saving the mowing chore!

My light load today includes a little grocery run. I'm joining the Hoodies at a free concert in the park and want to contribute something to our pitch-in picnic. We have a great series of free concerts, but the July weather usually keeps me away; sort of a summer version of hibernation. I really wish the cool-down would start today.

BIM UPDATE: The Bimbeaux, my next-door neighbors (three very young, very pretty girl people) continue to party every weekend and for some reason, every Wednesday night. They usually manage to keep it fairly quiet, but my bedroom is at the back of the house. I'm afraid my parents' next visit will not be restful; the guest room is at the front of the house. I think they must all work at restaurants/bars; either that, or they're vampires.