Revelling in Summer Blooms

I have to admit that every year, when I place my little seedlings into the earth outside, I worry. Eighty-five to ninety percent of our plants are home-grown from seeds - that's two to three hundred. I start them in indoor "greenhouses" in March and April. But still, they always look so tiny when being transplanted, and one can never be quite, quite sure, unless one waits until the end of June, that the icy fingers of frost are gone for good.
I was even more worried this year. With the wacky weather, the seedlings just didn't seem to want to grow very much once they were in the gardens. I waited with bated breath for weeks. But now, finally, my efforts have paid off. The front gardens are a riot of color, playing host to bees. The back gardens are mantled with green, and home to darting dragonflies.

This is a picture that one of my student's created for me, using beads and other materials. Goes right along with the summer blooms theme!

                

                     

Why isn't Green my Favorite Color?

Well, a one week hiatus on 'The Blitz' (because of circumstances) is going on a little longer than anticipated, however I am Determined to finish the Muffins/ Squares segment this week. Then it's on to Cakes. But it's time *Sigh* to start thinking about stocking up on various meats. One more month until the Main Courses and Side Courses need to be done - hopefully the vegetable garden will cooperate.

 I am slowly ticking things off my 'to do' checklist (and adding things all the time, of course). The front flower gardens have been planted. Dianthus, aster, snapdragon, sweet pea, petunia, marigold, dahlia, bee balm, alyssum, phlox, morning glory, cosmos and double impatiens are the annual tenants this year, alongside the perennials:  Asian lily, malva, heliopsis, a climbing rose, clematis, bleeding heart, something I don't remember the name of,  and a rose bush that we thought we had dug out. Apparently it didn't want to move locations, which turned out to be very wise of it.

We've also finished planting the back vegetable and berry garden for this season, and stocked up on our vegetable and flower seeds for next year. Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, grapes and red currants range along one side of the fence. Tiny green baby grapes are starting to hang in clusters from the vine. Peas are almost ready to be picked, and beans are also making an appearance. Watermelon, cantaloupe, eggplant, tomato, pepper, cucumber, zucchini and corn are growing and biding their time. Meanwhile, the mint are overflowing their bed as usual, and the asparagus look like tall thin feathers in the wind.
Watching my seedlings and plants grow and (hopefully) flourish makes me very happy. Sometimes I wonder why my favorite color isn't green?