Day:  90-degrees  |  Night:  69-degrees
The Spearmint is looking good right now.  We keep it in a pot because, well, it's Spearmint which means it will take over if you let it.  Love Spearmint Simple Syrup in a good Old Fashioned.  Nothing beats it on a warm day.  

It's a beautiful morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  The sun is shining, birds are singing, and the Doodle Dog is doing what Doodle Dogs do.  We can expect that sunshine all morning with some clouds moving in this afternoon.  Winds will be out of the SSW at 10 to 20 MPH.  It's the last day of May.  Where did that month go?  Time is moving so quickly these days.  Be good and be kind today as you journey about.  Keep the faith, have some hope and share a bit of love.  We all could use all three!  Have a Great Tuesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  88-degrees  |  Night:  71-degrees
​Happy Memorial Day!  For many today is the unofficial first day of Summer.  Pools are open and the warm weather activities begin.  It is also a day of remembrance and honor to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.  
This is the weekend for picnics and barbeques and salads.  We were surprised to see the first bounty of our Snap Peas coming out.  Our first salad with our very own Snap Peas was made yesterday and it was so good.  Sweet and crunchy with our own home-grown lettuce.  

Lots of weeding and thinning happening in the Carondelet Garden this weekend.  Along with the harvest of Snap Peas we are also reaping the bounty of Romaine and Buttercrunch Lettuce.  We cut succors off of our San Marzano Tomato plants yesterday.  It's been very busy but so satisfying.  

Today should be the perfect day for swimming pools around Saint Louis.  The high in the upper 80s with a mix of clouds and sunshine.  The winds are out of the South at 10 to 20 MPH.  A beautiful day to get outside and enjoy your favorite summer activity.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you continue your journey today.  Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Gardening Friends!

Day:  87-degrees  |  Night:  67-degrees
The Hibiscus are looking particularly beautiful this morning.  The sun is shining and so are they.  The flowers are bursting right now.  Everywhere are signs of growth and life and it gives me the hope I need.  We added a couple of new plants to the English Garden we have in the front and side yards.  I'll be sharing some pictures soon.  

It's going to be a beautiful, sunny Sunday here in South Saint Louis.  No clouds in the sky.  Great day for the pools to be open again and the kids can play and splash and begin living out their summer dreams.  Schools out so watch out for the bicycles and the kids playing.  Be good and be kind to yourself today.  Try to find some time to just sit and relax.  Maybe read a good book.  Listen to some music.  Enjoy an extra cup of coffee.  Have a great Sunday Gardening Friends!

Day:  80-degrees  |  Night:  62-degrees
It was foggy when the Doodle Dog and I headed out into the Garden this morning, but the sun is now shining.  The fog is beginning to dissipate.  The world looks alive again.  The garden is lush after the rains.  The flowers are bursting with color.  I'm searching for hope and faith and I'm looking to my garden for inspiration, and it doesn't disappoint.  We all need something to renew our hope and faith.  We pray.  We do what we can to help. We try to keep faith and hope and love alive.  

Today is going to be filled with sunshine.  A sure sign of hope from above.  The winds will be out of the SSE at 5 to 10 MPH.  A beautiful day for the Farmers' Market.  Perfect day for working in the Garden.  A great day to reward yourself with a nap.  Be kind to yourself today.  Be good to those around you.  Let's try to keep faith, hope and love alive.  Have a great Saturday Gardening Friends!

​Day:  69-degrees  |  Night:  54-degrees
It's a bit chilly outside this morning with overcast skies and the possibility of more rain hanging in the air.  The Scottish Moss took a beating this past winter but is making a bit of an heroic comeback as of late.  We could all use a bit of that kind of resilience right about now.

Clouds this morning and through the rest of the day.  Winds out of the NW at 10 to 15 MPH.  The good news is that the sunshine will return for the weekend.  Saturday at the Farmers' Market should be delightful.  Take care of yourself today.  Be good and be kind to those you may meet on your journey.  Have a great Friday Gardening Friends!

Day:  70-degrees  |  Night:  56-degrees
A little color in a gloomy world.  The Kalanchoe is looking very lovely in the Garden this morning.  It gives us a bit of hope in a world that feels turned upside down once again.  We could all use a bit of lovely in an ugly world.  My prayers continue for peace, hope, love and enough faith to get us through.  

Today in South Saint Louis we should see a mix of clouds and sun this morning then becoming mostly cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon.  Winds will be out of the SSW at 10 to 15 MPH.  Please be kind to yourself and others today.  So much sadness and suffering.  Let there be peace.  Blessings for a Thursday Gardening Friends!

Day:  77-degrees  |  Night:  63-degrees
There's a Buddha in my Garden.  He rests, smiling over my herb garden.  I've had him for a very long time.  We purchased him after taking a course in World Religions.  His smile and contentment bring a bit of peace and serenity to the Garden.  A gentle reminder to slow down.  

It would be wise to slow down today as the weather looks to be a bit stormy once again.  The rains have stopped here for the moment but threaten to resume very soon.  Showers and thunderstorms rule the forecast with a chance for some more severe weather. Winds out of the SSE at 15 to 25 MPH.  Some strong gusty winds are also possible.  Be careful as you journey about this morning.  Be good and kind to yourself and others.  Have a peaceful Wednesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  75-degrees  |  Night:  66-degrees
We love our flower gardens.  We have tried to have a bit of an English Country Garden feel to our little patch of Carondelet.  To that end we have added Foxglove (also known as Digitalis).  This particular pink beauty is quite a lovely addition to the garden.  It's quite poisonous so we keep it to the front garden away from the Doodle Dog.  She's very good at not eating plants but we're not taking any chances with our little girl.

Today is Testing Tuesday for this "super cool old couple."  The older we get the more often "tests" are something we have to endure.  Routine as they are, it is not something I look forward to doing.  Just like school I have a bit of "test anxiety."  

We opened the doors to cloudy skies in the Garden this morning.  Winds are out of the East at 10 to 15 MPH.  The weather prognosticators have, once again, put out a warning for possible strong storms again tonight and into tomorrow.  I admit I am a bit over this stormy Spring.  Please be good and kind to yourself today as you travel about.  Have a great Tuesday Gardening Friends.

Day:  71-degrees  |  Night:  52-degrees
"Oh, What a beautiful morning.  Oh, What a beautiful day.  I've got a wonderful feeling, everything's going my way!"  Thank you, Rogers & Hammerstein for those great lyrics from "Oklahoma!"  It really described my feelings when I opened the door this morning.  Bright sunshine!  A bit brisk but you just know it's starting to warm a bit.  Oh, what a beautiful morning!

The Snap Peas are just going wild, and I couldn't be happier!  The blooms are stunning and soon we will be harvesting some of nature's candy.  Pasta and salads and stir fries are coming soon.  These were direct sewn into the beds in late March.  Very pleased with their progress.

We are expecting sunny skies today.  What a wonderful change for us here in South Saint Louis!  Winds out of the ENE at 10 to 15 MPH.  It feels like a perfect Spring Day!  Have a little faith, share a bit of hope and spread some love on your journey today.  Have a great Monday Gardening Friends!

Day:  66-degrees  |  Night:  48-degrees
The clouds are about this Sunday morning in Carondelet.  Thank goodness for the flowers in the garden.  They give us that little lift we need after the clouds and storms of the past few days.  The rain was needed but not quite that much.  

It's going to be a quiet day here in the Garden.  Not much going on today so it's another cup of coffee and the New York Times with a little jazz on the Smart Speaker.  Sometimes you just have to cry uncle and just rest.  Today is that day.  It's been a week of a roller coaster ride.  Time for a little sitting.

A good day for relaxing and napping.  Mostly cloudy skies today with winds out of the North at 10 to 15 MPH.  Hopefully you can relax and get that nap as well.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as we begin the last full week of May.  That is so hard to believe!  Have a great Sunday Gardening Friends!

Day:  69-degrees  |  Night:  51-degrees
The Hollyhocks are just about ready to burst with flowers.  It takes a couple of years after planting for them to bloom so this is our first season.  Very excited to see how they look in the Garden.  

It's a wet Saturday here in South Saint Louis.  Showers and possible thunderstorms hang around this morning becoming more widespread this afternoon.  Potential once again for some severe weather.  It's been a wild ride these past few days weather-wise.  Winds are out of the North at 10 to 15 MPH.  Be careful today as you travel about.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others.  Have a great Saturday Gardening Friends.

Day:  89-degrees  |  Night:  65-degrees
That was quite a storm that blew through South Saint Louis yesterday.  According to my neighbor's rain gauge we had over 6 inches of rain between the two storms.  The tornado sirens went off several times and just when it was all pretty much over, we received a text and phone call from the City of Saint Louis telling us to take cover.  Oh well, they tried.

After doing clean-up yesterday morning, we will begin clean-up again today to remove the debris from yesterday's storm only to see that tonight and tomorrow there may be another round.  Freaky Friday!  Welcome to Saint Louis!  Don't like the weather?  Stick around, it will change!

This early morning is quite lovely in the Garden.  We were fortunate not to have any damage to our plants or buildings.  The sun is shining brightly and there is a fresh breeze blowing.  The skies should be turning partly cloudy as the day progresses.  Winds will be out of the SSW at 15 to 25 MPH.  A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible.  More so later tonight and into tomorrow.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others on your journey today.  We've all been through a bit with some much worse than others.  Say a little prayer or send good vibes, whatever your tradition, to those who need it.  Have a great Friday Gardening Friends!

Day:  86-degrees  |  Night:  72-degrees
Carrots are another first for us here in the Carondelet Garden.  Direct sewn seeds and they are coming up beautifully.  I'm really excited because there are few things I love more than fresh carrots.  Sweet and crunchy!  

It's clean-up and weeding throughout the vegetable gardens today.  Just trying to stay ahead of the weeds and grass that spring up throughout the beds this time of year.  It's a weekly, if not daily, problem.  Clean-up is just part of life, I guess.  We have to do it if we want to reap the reward we have to put in the work.  As Mr. Sinatra would sing, "That's life!"

The sun is shining brightly right now but the clouds are supposed to move in later this morning.  Potential thunderstorms this this afternoon.  Possibly severe storms so please be prepared.  The winds are out of the SSE at 10 to 15 MPH.  Have a little faith, share a bit of hope and spread some love as you celebrate one more day above the roses today.  Have a great Thursday Gardening Friends!

Day:  85-degrees  |  Night:  64-degrees
It's a Wet Wednesday here in the Carondelet Garden.  A bit of thunder overnight but overall, a sweet, gentle rain that is much needed after the heat of last week and the bright sunshine.  The sunshine has really given much of the garden a big boost.  The rain is now the icing on the cake.  Our kitchen herb garden is just getting started.  The Rosemary looks so good.  Dr. B makes Rosemary Bread that is like manna from heaven to the bread-loving gardener.  Can't wait to have it soon.

It looks like the rain is going to stick around for a good part of the morning.  The winds are out of the WSW at 10 to 15 MPH.  The weather prognosticators tell me that small hail and gusty winds are possible so please be careful if you are traveling about this morning.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others.  A little kindness goes a long way in times like these.  Sow the seeds of goodness today.  We'll reap the benefits forever!  Have a wonderful, wet Wednesday Gardening Friends.

Day:  86-degrees  |  Night:  64-degrees
The Pole Beans were planted at the same time as the Snap Peas, yet the Snap Peas are four times the size.  I was starting to give up actually.  I'm still a newbie to the grow from seed plan but I'm learning.  Patience, patience, patience.  It's the key to gardening and to life really.  You have to wait sometimes for the good stuff to happen.  Life, like a garden, doesn't always look the way you thought it would look.  Storms come and go and cause havoc.  We keep on going.  Weeding, digging, pruning and hoping.  A little patience, a lot of hope, a bit of luck and a whole bunch of perseverance.

Today we are going to go bumming around.  Packing up the Doodle dog and hitting some area parks and maybe finding a new place to grab a bite to eat.  It's always fun when we explore.  No real destination, just the car, some good music and good old conversation.  

The weather should cooperate as the sun is shining brightly this morning here in the Garden.  It's that perfect Spring morning as we water the potted plants.  Some clouds should move in by this afternoon.  Winds are out of the SSW at 5 to 10 MPH.  Another beautiful day here in the Carondelet neighborhood of South Saint Louis.  Have a little faith, share a bit of hope and spread a little love on your journey today.  We all could use all three right now!  Have a great Tuesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  81-degrees  |  Night:  57-degrees
It's off to see the Dentist first thing on this Monday morning in May.  Hopefully, just a checkup and no surprises.  It's amazing as I get older the number of things that just stop working the way they should.  Just a part of the ageing process they tell me, yet it doesn't seem to take away the sting every time.  No complaints!  It's one more day above the roses for me and that's good enough!

No complaints about the weather today either.  Abundance sunshine with winds out of the NW at 10 to 15 MPH.  It is a stunningly beautiful Spring day in South St. Louis this Monday in May.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you journey about.  We could all use a bit more kindness in our days right now.  Have a wonderful Monday Gardening Friends!

Day:  84-degrees  |  Night:  55-degrees
Our garlic has been through a lot since it was first planted last fall but it's getting bigger and looking pretty good!  Another first for us here in the Garden and really excited.  The plan is to harvest in early July.  We'll just have to be patient to see how that goes.

The sun is shining brightly this morning here in Carondelet, but the weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies this afternoon with a chance for scattered showers and possibly a thunderstorm.  Winds will be out of the North at 5 to 10 MPH.  The jazz is playing on the smart speaker and the coffee is made.  It should be a relaxing morning here in South Saint Louis.  Be good and be kind to yourself today.  Hopefully, you can relax a bit as well.  Have a wonderful Sunday Gardening Friends!

Day:  87-degrees  |  Night:  64-degrees
One of our favorite things to do is visit Maker Markets and Farmer's Markets.  You always find the most interesting things and meet the kindest, nicest people!  We are so fortunate to have such a great variety of markets available here in South Saint Louis!  Today was Macklind Market where we visited all of the makers and picked up a variety of fun things!

It was a pretty warm morning with a mix of sun and clouds.  A stray shower of thunderstorm is possible.  Winds are light and variable.  A fun day visiting shops, eating, and just enjoying the great things Saint Louis has to offer!  Have a great day Gardening Friends!

Day:  91-degrees  |  Night:  66-degrees
Our Yukon Gold Potatoes are being grown in Tatty Bags this year.  We have never done this before but during the worst of the pandemic we were hooked on a BBC series called "Beechgrove" and one of their gardeners had great success.  We had the space between the raised beds and thought, why not?  They seem to be doing quite well.  They do need frequent watering.  

Tonight, we have tickets to see Nicole Henry at Jazz Saint Louis!  So excited to be able to see and hear LIVE music again.  Jazz at the Bistro is one of the best live music venues in the nation as far as we are concerned.  

We can expect a mix of clouds and sunshine today here in the Garden.  A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible.  Winds will be out of the SE at 5 to 10 MPH.  It is a beautiful morning this Friday in May.  It's going to be another record-setting hot day I think.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you make your journey today.  Have a great day Gardening Friends!

Day:  93-degrees  |  Night:  67-degrees
I may not be enjoying this record heat wave that has hit South Saint Louis this week, but my Bush Tomatoes are loving it.  They seemed to have doubled in size in the just the last few days.  This old gardener is not complaining.  It looks like I'll be dragging the hose out to do a bit of watering today as some of the plants are getting a bit thirsty in this heat.  The Doodle Dog and I are going to get that done this morning before our morning walk.  No rot for us here in the Carondelet Garden!

It's another record breaker today with partly cloudy skies and winds out of the SSE at 5 to 10 MPH.  Time to take things a bit slower and give yourself plenty of breaks.  Don't forget to give yourself plenty of water today.  We get thirsty, too!  It's a typical summer day in Carondelet today.  Hot and humid.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you travel about on your journey today.  Have a great Thursday Gardening Friends!

Day:  93-degrees  |  Night:  72-degrees
Who says money doesn't grow on trees?  Well, more like plants in our case.  These are our Money Plants.  We grew them from seed and are pretty excited about their chances.  Starting another set to finish the row along the fence line.  This has been such a fun adventure growing things from seed for the first time.  We've had our share of failures but quite a few successes as well.  It balances out in the end.  

If you like it hot, then you are going to love the weather in South Saint Louis today!  Another record-breaking heat on this Wednesday in May.  The clouds are going to be hanging around a bit and the skies are overcast but you can already feel the humidity build as you step outside into the Garden this morning.  The winds are out of the SSE at 5 to 10 MPH.  Keep yourself hydrated and maybe check on some of your plants as they may need some extra water as well.  It's Humpday!  Be good and be kind to yourself and others on your journey this Wednesday!  You deserve it!  Happy Wednesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  93-degrees  |  Night:  72-degrees
I had to look at the weather forecast twice.  I almost didn't believe it!  A high of 93-degrees on the 10th day of May?  Incredible!  Welcome to Saint Louis!  On a very positive note, my San Marzano Tomatoes that we started from seed are looking pretty spectacular.  Very excited to make some tomato sauce from these little wonders this fall.  

It's Grooming Tuesday today for our little Doodle Dog.  She gets to head down the street to visit one of her favorite people @thematteddoodle.  It's so heart-warming to see how excited she gets when she goes to visit.  It just tells you what a quality person and amazing groomer Maggie is.  We are so fortunate to have her for Holly's groomer and our neighbor!

It goes without saying that it will be quite warm today.  There will be a mix of sun and clouds.  We just might set a new record high temperature for this date!  The winds are out of the South at 10 to 15 MPH.  If you are working outside today take extra care not to get dehydrated.  Be good and kind to yourself today.  Don't overdo it!  Have a fantastic Tuesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  85-degrees  |  Night:  70-degrees
Yesterday was a great day in the Garden.  The Candy Hybrid Sweet Onions are coming up nicely.  These are another first here in the Carondelet Garden and we couldn't be happier so far.  Late June will be here before we know it.  It was so nice to spend the day working in the soil side by side with Dr. B as we weeded and moved some plants around.  Nothing major but several hours of good hard work.  We ended the day with a fire in the firepit and a couple of glasses of an amazing Rose.

Today should be pretty amazing as well.  The heat is starting to return to South Saint Louis along with abundant sunshine.  Winds out of the SSE at 15 to 25 MPH.  Higher wind gusts are possible.  It's a new week here in the Garden.  More time to plant and tend the soil and learn a bit of patience as we wait for the coming harvest.  There is a time for everything, right?  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you continue your journey today.  Have an amazing Monday Gardening Friends!

Day:  72-degrees  |  Night:  50-degrees
Let the sunshine in!  After several rainy, gloomy days the sun is finally showing its lovely face here in the Carondelet Garden.  The veggies have loved the extra moisture and I'm sure the sunshine will be welcome as well.  The garden is so green right now!  

Abundant sunshine today!  Winds out of the NNE at 5 to 10 MPH. We will be heading out into the garden to get some cleanup done.  A great day for weeding.  I think the Marigolds we started from seed are ready to be planted.  Busy day for this old gardener.  Be good and kind to yourself and others as you begin your Saturday.  Enjoy the sunshine Gardening Friends!