It is sunny, hot and humid again today in the Carondelet Garden in south Saint Louis.  Clouds should start moving into the area later today with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible during the afternoon.  The Excessive Heat Warning continues for yet another day with highs in the upper 90s once again.  Winds are out of the SSE at 5 to 10 MPH.  The good news is there should be a major break in the heat starting tomorrow!

It's almost the end of July.  The Garden has suffered but we have managed to keep things going with a strict watering schedule and as mu ch TLC as possible.  Mulch has certainly helped to be sure.  I know I am looking forward to a break from the excessive heat.  The Garden is also ready for a respite as well.

We have a habit of taking a lot of pictures of the Garden throughout the seasons.  Firstly, because it is lovely in all seasons but, more importantly, it reminds us of what is what and where it was.  I'm not getting any younger and my memory, though never very impressive, is getting worse by the day.  Photographs are an excellent reminder of what was happening in the Garden throughout the year.  A good habit to have as a gardener.

I do have a bit of a love-hate relationship with my IPhone.  I can be as addicted to the little box as a teenager.  I sometimes have to just put the thing away and turn it off to remind myself that life is happening all around me.  The upside is the new phone we purchased as an INCREDIBLE camera.  I guess we all have to learn to set boundaries and do the best we can.  

If you have a moment, take some time to stop and simply see the beauty around you.  Too often we walk the same path and never even notice the subtle changes.  There is beauty everywhere and we never really notice sometimes.  A small moment to remind ourselves that grace happens when we least expect.  Grace!  That amazing gift that is so undeserved yet given freely.  The unbelievable gift of our Creator loving us, just the way we are, right now!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A very warm start again today here in the Carondelet Garden in south Saint Louis.  We have bright sunshine right now but that should give way to partly cloudy skies later this morning.  Thunderstorms are quite likely this afternoon.  Another hot and humid day on this last Monday in July.  We should see highs near 100-degrees with winds out of the West at 5 to 10 MPH.  I think we are all ready for a break in this heat wave!

In spite of the relentless heat and humidity the flowers here in the Garden have been glorious this July.  I've decided to dump a few of my favorites today.  A touch of grace and beauty to end the month of July with a bit glory.  Flowers simply bring joy to this old gardener's heart!  What is your favorite flower?

Another busy week around the Carondelet Cottage.  Dick Van Dyke wrote a book not that long ago called "Keep Moving!"  That is his mantra as he as aged.  Keep going. Don't stop. Don't let the aches and pains stop you from enjoying and moving.  Dance and sing.  Smell the flowers.  Take the time to notice the beauty of Creation.  Keep moving. Keep loving. That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It is quite warm this morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  I'm not quite sure if I am getting used to it or if the humidity is a bit less this morning, but it was not quite as wet and sticky on the walkabout with the Garden Doodle.  We have plenty of sunshine right now but there is a possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon.  Highs in the upper 90s... again!  Winds are out of the SSW at 5 to 10 MPH.

It is Dahlia season here in the Carondelet Garden.  Dahlias are considered a symbol of creativity, resilience, and grace under pressure!  A bit of meaning with their beauty.  The blooms are showstoppers and the pollinators are having a field day.  Dr. B is loving them in here cut flower arrangements as well.  They love this warm weather and will last well into Autumn.  

We all need a bit of beauty and grace in our lives, especially right now.  These lovely blooms give us both.  Here's to a bit of beauty in this ugly world.  Be good to yourself.  Be kind to yourself.  Get a bit of rest if you can.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The skies above the Carondelet Garden last night after the storms rolled through were glorious beyond measure.  Words are worthless compared to the grandeur of nature.  Simply stunning!

The rains did nothing to cool things off here in south Saint Louis.  It is still hot and humid out in the Garden this July morning.  We should see sunshine this morning with a few afternoon clouds rolling in.  It will, once again, be hot and humid with afternoon temperatures approaching 100-degrees F.  YIKES!  Winds are out of the South at 5 to 10 MPH.  Another day of a Heat Advisory here in the Lou!

I'm trying to keep up with the garden chores, but my time has been limited by the heat and humidity.  It seems the older I get the less I am able to cope with either.  The work comes in bursts and the rests become longer and longer.  As my MIL always said, "Getting old isn't for sissies!"  

This mid-week Wednesday has us finishing a new garden box.  The box is built and just needs a few coats of paint to finish up.  Then we will have a new bedding box for the parterre garden.  Can't wait to fill it up with some beautiful plants!

I'm trying to keep my mind and body busy right now.  I need the work and distraction from a world in disarray.  The Hopi have a word that describes our world right now perfectly:  Koyaanisqatsi.  It means "life out of balance."  It does give me hope that things have been out of balance before and have been restored.  It can happen again.  I pray. A little faith.  A bit of hope.  Keep on loving.  

It is cloudy and sticky out in the Carondelet Garden on this Monday morning in late July.  The old rain gauge tells me we had more than 3 and one-half inches of rain in a short amount of time early this morning.  The radar is showing even more rain headed out way this morning with skies becoming cloudy for the afternoon.  Highs will be in the lower 90s with winds out of the SE at 5 to 10 MPH. Sometimes I pray for rain and need to be a bit more specific in my requests.  

Another busy week ahead for Dr. B and the Big Guy.  It's all a part of living and getting older.  It's just the way things are, and I guess I'll just have to get used to it.  Grumble, grumble, grumble.   

I've built a small, raised bed for the front parterre garden to give a bit of height in the back of the garden.  We are planning our plantings now and it's exciting to add a new bed.  We have definitely used every square foot of available space on our little cottage grounds here in south Saint Louis. 

Staying busy.  Trying to stay hopeful.  Keeping the faith alive as best I can.  Trying to share a bit of love along the way.  Keep planting. Keep growing.  Enjoy the harvest when it happens.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It is cloudy, humid and wet here in the Carondelet Garden on this Friday morning in July.  We finally received a decent rainfall last night, but it didn't cool things off very much.  We should see temperatures in the low 90s today with scattered thunderstorms developing later this afternoon.  Winds are out of the ESE at 5 to 10 MPH.

I was able to grow one Lupin this year.  Just one.  The others died.  One survived.  It was beautiful.  I've been told you must kill a plant at least twice before you really know it well.  This is the second year I have killed lupins.  I still have no idea what went wrong.  Yet, I love this sweet little plant and I will not be undone!  We shall try again!

We have a break in the busy-ness this Friday and are heading out for a bit of adventure and fun.  Here's to the beginning of the weekend.  A bit of escapism today.  Celebrating tomorrow and, hopefully, a relaxing Sunday to round out the weekend.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

Another warm, humid Wednesday morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  We had a few sprinkles yesterday here in south Saint Louis but not much to speak of, so the watering continues!  It is going to be another hot, humid day with highs in the upper 90s under partly cloudy skies.  We have a very small chance of rain later this afternoon.  The winds are out of the SW at 10 to 15 MPH.

I love these lovely orange flowers.  The simply brighten up the back porch with their beauty and grace.  The take a lot of water but they are worth the effort.  The blooms are lasting a long time!

The old gardener is beat this morning.  Yesterday was a long day hanging new shutters for the big graduation party this weekend.  They do look pretty good if I say so myself.  Last night we finished patching holes in the living room, kitchen and main bedroom for my beautiful niece.  I'm tired but filled with joy at the accomplishments of these young people and their constant love.

While I was busy yesterday, Dr. B was busy in the garden refreshing the flowers in the back walkway and it is stunning!  We should have beautiful blooms throughout the rest of summer and into Fall.  When we first married, she swore she had a "brown" thumb.  We discovered she did not... hers is the greenest of thumbs.  

It's a good day for a good day.  As a good friend used to say all the time:  "Ain't no one stealing my joy today!"  Be good to yourself and kind as well.  Smile at a stranger, they may need that right now!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A cloudy, humid start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden.  The rains yesterday were more than welcome.  We might see a few more pop-up showers today as well.  Mostly cloudy skies will be the norm with highs in the mid to upper 80s.  Winds are light and variable.

It was a busy weekend and a busier week ahead for the old gardener.  We have a high school graduation party and heading off to college celebration this weekend.  We have been helping organize the garage and replace all of the shutters around the house.  The rain slowed us down, but it did give us the opportunity to organize and template everything.  All should go to plan, and everything will be ready for the big day.  We have blood tests today and later this week more tests.  The question of the aging:  "What medical procedures are you having done this week?"  

I'm getting to that age where I sometimes feel like I don't have much to contribute anymore.  Many of the things I've always been able to do are now off the table.  Then the texts start flying.  It's always the girls who aren't afraid to say something.  Then I'm off grabbing my toolbox and heading over and helping get things started.  That's when it hits that the role is changing.  I don't necessarily have to do it all anymore.  My job is to teach and mentor and then turn it over to the new handypeople.  

This is my happy place.  We are doers.  We like to help and get our hands dirty.  We may not be able to do the all-day marathons anymore, but we can share our skills and knowledge.  We still have things to contribute.  That is enough.  That is grace.  That is blessing upon blessing.  That is all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

Bright sunshine and high humidity to start the day here in the Carondelet Garden.  The sunshine will stick around this morning with a few clouds moving in this afternoon.  The high will be in the mid to upper-9, 0s with winds out of the SSW at 10 to 15 MPH.  We are back to watering by hand again.  

The flowers have been truly impressive this year.  Many are starting to fade but these last Clematis are truly beautiful!  Just what we need right now.  A bit of hope and grace in the midst of turmoil and strife.  

Between old age, a young pupper, aches and pains, and the world condition, I am struggling with getting a good night's sleep.  I feel tired and exhausted even after rest.  It seems the world right now is not conducive to sleep and restoration.  I pray for a break from the madness.  I keep going back to good old Saint Francis:  "God grant me the serenity to change the things I CAN change.  Accept the things I CAN'T change, and the wisdom to know the difference."  Sometimes easier said than done.  

Yet, I still believe.  I still cling to a bit of hope.  I struggle with faith but do not abandon faith.  I hang on to love.  I see it in the garden with the bounty coming in so rich and plentiful.  There is still so much good in the world.  The smile of a stranger.  Someone stops to hold the door when you need it.  Simple.  Ordinary. Grace.  My goal is to smile more.  Laugh more.  A little bundle of joy with her little girl giggles reminds me that real life continues and we must move forward.  Change what we can!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a bit foggy and quite humid on this Wednesday morning here in the Carondelet Garden in south Saint Louis.  The fog will burn off later this morning with partly cloudy skies and highs near 90-degrees once again.  Winds will be out of the NNW at 5 to 10 MPH.  

Our Digitalis "Foxglove" is gorgeous this season.  It has truly become one of my favorite plants and I'm absolutely in love with the purple blossoms on this particular plant.  A bit of grace in this messed up world.

I'm heading back into the garden for a bit of hope this morning.  The heavenly moisture has perked up the garden in so many ways this Wednesday morning.  I'm heading out for hope with a bit of faith and as much love as I can.  We are picking more tomatoes and heading over to see my little joy bundle of a great-niece this evening.  There will be little girl giggles and lemon bars to share.  I think we could all use a dose of little girl giggles right now.  Pure, absolute, joy!  That's all the news from here int he Carondelet Garden.

It is partly cloudy and humid on this Monday morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  We should see a mix of clouds and sunshine all day with a high around 90-degrees.  Winds will be out of the North at 5 to 10 MPH.  Not a bad way to start the week.

The rains from yesterday missed us entirely so the watering regime continues.  It's a process that must be done but we could certainly use a bit of that wonderful heavenly moisture.  The plants certainly appreciate it more than the City Water supply.  Yet, beggars can't be choosers, and we do what we must do to keep things alive and as healthy as possible.

July seems to be that month where this old gardener catches up on every type of medical appointment imaginable.  Today it is the dentist.  I am not proud of it but I loathe going to the dentist.  It is a bit of a phobia, I guess.  My current dentist couldn't be kinder and does an outstanding job.  Yet, I dread the thought of going.  It's the smart and good thing to do so off I go this morning.

​It's a good day for a good day.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you start your week.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

Oh, what a beautiful morning here in the Carondelet Garden in south Saint Louis!  The day started with 67-degree temperatures and low humidity.  A perfect morning to walk the Garden Doodle a bit longer than usual.  She was in heaven!  Mostly sunny skies this morning with a few afternoon clouds coming around.  Highs in the low 90s.  Winds are light and variable.  A gorgeous day!

"When Cardinals appear, angels are near!"  I used to hear my grandma say that every summer when a Cardinal would land in her yard.  This has definitely been a bird-watching year here in the Garden.  The songbirds have been singing their hearts out every morning.  The robins built a nest in our ferns, and we had babies!  Such a bit of grace in a world turned upside down and sideways!

Today is the perfect gardening day for a mid-summer Wednesday.  Our blueberries are struggling in their current location.  Definitely a wrong plant, wrong location situation so I'm going to be brave and move them to a new raised bed location.  It is protected and a bit of its own microclimate so I'm hoping they will thrive.  Gardening is a constant challenge with some successes and some failures.  That is part of life.  I was told once that you never really know a plant until you've killed one twice!  I'm beginning to believe it, even though it still hurts!

Into the Garden I go on this stunning, sunny Wednesday in July.  Be good to yourself, and kind as you journey about this first week of July.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.