Day:  86-degrees  |  Night:  60-degrees
The Fall Lettuce is starting to look pretty good here in the Carondelet Garden on this last Humpday of August.  Can you believe that tomorrow will be September? This year has flown by. My dad always told me that the older you get the faster time flies. He was so correct! It will be Fall before we know it and you know what happens after that.  It is so crazy to even think about.  

The time is flying by and that is what reminds me to try to slow down a bit and enjoy the little things.  Things like growing Romaine from seed and watching it mature.  Enjoying a fresh salad on a Summer's Day.  Little things do mean a lot. What's that old saying? Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.  Not so sure that is entirely true, but I do get the sentiment. Life is so busy. It's a blessing to be older and able to take a bit of time to slow down and enjoy the little things from time to time.  

Today is the perfect day to slow down and enjoy the amazing weather.  Beautiful sunshine and low humidity as we stepped outside into the Garden this morning.  Absolutely gorgeous this morning.  It should be sunny throughout the day with winds light and variable. Try to take a moment to just sit down and enjoy this amazing day. You deserve a bit of a break. We all do! Be good to yourself.  Have a great Wednesday Humpday Gardening Friends!

Day:  88-degrees  |  Night:  59-degrees
It's a turnover Tuesday kind of day here in the Carondelet Garden.  I've lost a few of my Lavender plants so they need to be removed.  All of my Broccoli and Cauliflower were destroyed by pests, so they will be pulled today.  It's getting so close to Sweet Potato harvest time that I'm sitting on my hands trying not to start!  

It's a beautiful morning here in South Saint Louis.  The Doodle Dog and I just returned from our morning ritual around the neighborhood, and it was a bit more pleasant.  We can expect abundant sunshine today with winds out of the NW at 10 to 15 MPH.  A great day for gardening.  Here's to a beautiful day.  Be good to yourself.  Be good and kind to those you may meet. As they say, smile, it makes people wonder what you are up to.  Have a great Tuesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  92-degrees  |  Night:  68-degrees
Oh, my goodness, the humidity is back with a vengeance this morning here in the Carondelet Garden. Holy Moly it's already warm and the day is just starting.  The good news is the Squash is coming along quite nicely.  We've already had Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto and it was amazing.  Can't wait to try more recipes in the coming days and weeks.  I'm ready for Fall, ya'll.

After several busy weeks around here, things are beginning to settle down and return to whatever normal is these days.  The kiddos are back in school, and the sports schedules are just now coming in so it appears it will be a very busy Fall for this old guy.  Soccer, Volleyball and Fall Basketball leagues.  Always fun!  

We have beautiful bright sunshine right now in the Garden, but the weather folks say it will become partly to mostly cloudy later with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible.  Sounds a lot like yesterday.  The winds are out of the SW at 10 to 15 MPH. It's a new week and almost a new month.  Fall is almost here. It's a good day. Be good and kind to yourself today.  You deserve it all!  Have a great Monday Gardening Friends!

Day:  93-degrees  |  Night:  75-degrees
The sun is shining bright out in the Carondelet Garden this morning.  The humidity is also on the rise. It's pretty sticky out there already.  The watering continues as the rain is yet to come.  The Habanero Peppers are starting to come in.  They do seem to love this heat.  Soon it will be time to make the hot sauce!

It's a sunshine Sunday but the clouds are expected to move with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm this afternoon.  There's an even better chance for rain overnight.  The winds are out of the South at 5 to 10 MPH.  Let's hope for a gentle rain and not a gully-washer.  Gentle rains upon the ground. 

Day:  90-degrees  |  Night:  70-degrees
It's a Sunny Saturday here in the Carondelet Garden.  It's been very dry the past few days, so we are back to our watering regime.  We still have Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Fall Lettuce and Carrots growing in the garden as well as our lovely flowers.  Watering has now become our morning priority.

It's a beautiful Sunny morning with some clouds moving in this afternoon.  Winds will be out of the SE at 5 to 10 MPH.  It's a great day to get out and enjoy the weather. Fall is less than a month away! Be good to yourself this Saturday.  Be good and kind to others you may meet along the way.  Happy Sunny Saturday Gardening Friends!

Day:  88-degrees  |  Night:  64-degrees
The pollinators certainly love our Allium in flower garden.  Pretty excited we were able to capture this bee doing her thing. Always fun watching these guys do their job.  Efficiency in motion. What great design to have something feed themselves and spread pollen in order to feed others as well.  So incredible!

Today is a bit of a Funky Find Friday.  We are heading back out on our Antique Quest. I'm a bit of an antique myself so it's kind of like going home.  Love looking at the stuff that is out there and checking out another man's junk that just might be a treasure.  Looking for some old cookbooks and whatever else we may find.  Wish us luck!

It's going to be a beautiful day to be out and about.  Mostly sunny skies with winds out of the North at 5 to 10 MPH.  The perfect Funky Find Friday to explore the Saint Louis Antique Mall.  Be good and kind to yourself and others as you head out the door into this crazy world. Have a Fun Friday Gardening Friends!

Day:  90-degrees  |  Night:  68-degrees
A little taste of summer is returning to the Southside of Saint Louis today as the heat begins to rise just a bit.  It's summer.  It's expected. It is what it is.  Still nothing compared to what we have already experienced.  No worries from the old man.

I'm in year 2 of my Asparagus growing experiment.  They are looking like a big old mess right now, but I've been told to just continue to leave them alone again this year and by next year I should be able to harvest come June or thereabout.  They are just a jungle right now.  It takes all of my willpower not to cut everything to make it look tidy. Can't do it, not prudent! Patience is key right now. I wait. I sit on my hands and stare at the mess of it all dreaming of the beautiful, fresh Asparagus of 2023.

It's a Tower Grove Farmers' Market Thursday at Rockwell Brewing Company in Francis Park this Thursday. If you are out and about you should stop by.  It's a beautiful setting and you can enjoy a lovely beverage as you stroll through the marketplace.  

Another beautiful, if a bit warm, Thursday today.  Sunshine this morning gives way to partly cloudy skies this afternoon.  Winds will be out of the WSW at 5 to 10 MPH.  Perfect Farmers' Market weather to be sure! Be good and be kind to yourself today.  You deserve it and so much more.  Enjoy this Thursday Gardening Friends!

Day:  86-degrees  |  Night:  62-degrees
It's a Wonderful Wednesday here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  I'm loving this weather and the garden is showing it.  The weeding is all done.  I've been able to get everything taken care of.  Added some new mulch to perk things up a bit in the front flower garden. It looks quite nice if I say so myself. It has been a simple pleasure to work in the garden these past few days.

It makes me remember to be grateful for the good days. Give thanks and appreciate the blessings. We all know that the good times don't last forever but that's okay. We just need to remember to enjoy them while they last. I've not always done that. I took things for granted and missed out on many amazing opportunities because I was "too busy." I'm trying to take a bit of the "busy-ness" out of my life and enjoy the good where I can find it. Maybe it's an age thing. Maybe it's because I have a bit more time and can enjoy the moment. It's easy to tell others to enjoy the little things but it can be so hard to do in the moment when everyone is pulling at you in a million directions. I hope you can take a moment to enjoy something small and amazing today.  If only for a moment.

This Wonderful Wednesday weather is amazing. Beautiful sunshine with light and variable winds. Low humidity and bright, blue skies with puffy, white clouds. Nothing could be finer! Have a bit of faith today, hold on to hope and spread a bit of love as you journey through this day.  Have a Wonderful Wednesday Gardening friends!

Day:  84-degrees  |  Night:  64-degrees
It's Squash Tuesday here in the Garden.  They've pretty much taken over.  Each morning it's a bit like watching Audrey II from "Little Shop of Horrors" get bigger and bigger.  The blossoms are beautiful and yesterday we harvested our first Butternut Squash of the season!  Soup, glorious soup! We also enjoy a lovely butternut ravioli with a light butter sauce.  YUM!  Have to give a shoutout to Lorenzo's on the Hill for that one.  It's amazing.

One lesson I've learned this year with the expanded Garden and growing vegetables is that there is a lot of work involved. A lot of ups and downs. Successes and failures. Worry, joy and desperation at times. A bit like life in general. Like life as well, the harder you work the better your rewards, most of the time.  Things don't always work out like you planned. We learn from the mistakes, try to fix the problems and move on.  The successes are what get you up and outside every morning.  Ups and downs. Hills and valleys. Joy and Sadness. You can't have one without the other. I had a friend who once told me he lived to make decisions better than half of the time.  He wanted his decision batting average to be .501.  You think just half? Can you imagine a professional baseball player who consistently hit .501? 

Today, I wish you more joy and success. You deserve it. The weather is certainly a joy and success.  Abundant sunshine with light and variable winds.  That's a good day by my standards.  It's a good for a good day. Go out and enjoy some sunshine. Have that second cup of coffee. Maybe call an old friend or visit with a neighbor for a couple of minutes. Have a great Squash Tuesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  83-degrees  |  Night:  62-degrees
Welcome to my Monday Moods.  Some people hate Mondays.  Just think of "Garfield, the Cat." There was a time that Mondays were not my favorite day of the week but lately I've looked forward to them.  A bit of a new beginning every week.  I usually do cleaning and de-cluttering on Mondays.  It just sets the tone for the week, and I get to get rid of some of the clutter around the house, my desk and my work areas.  I also try to de-clutter my mind a bit as well. Push out some of the stuff that just hangs around and doesn't really help and, hopefully, make room for the more positive moods to move in!  

The mood today is joy! The sunshine and blue skies are all over the Garden this morning.  The coffee is brewing, the newspapers arrived, there is some lovely classical music playing on the Smart Speaker.  Life is joy-full!  I wish you a joy-full day as well!

The weather is truly joyful this Monday in August.  Bright sunshine, clear skies and light and variable winds.  As the songwriter said, "who could ask for anything more?" It is a great day to smile a bit more, laugh a bit harder, love a little better, and be filled with just a bit more joy! We've all had enough of the other stuff! Have a great day Gardening Friends!

Day:  85-degrees  |  Night:  63-degrees
It's a sunny Sunday morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  It's simply stunning outside right now.  The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and you couldn't really script a better morning.  Loving this weather!

It's been a busy week and today is going to be a day of rest and relaxation.  Not much planned other than the paper, some coffee, and maybe even read a book.  I know, scandalous! Here's hoping you have a restful, relaxing day as well!

The weather is perfect for relaxing outside. Sunny skies with a few afternoon clouds drifting by.  Winds out of the NNW at 5 to 10 MPH. Nothing could be finer. It's a good day for a good day.  Living our best life here in South Saint Louis. Wishing you a great day as well.  Have a great Sunny Sunday Gardening Friends!

Day:  84-degrees  |  Night:  66-degrees
It's been a really busy week around the Carondelet Garden this week.  In the garden with weeding and pruning and some minor changes as well as in our lives in general.  Running around, errands, working on side projects, meetings.  Whew! It's almost like we had a job again or something!

Our peppers are finally starting fruit!  It's almost like a little miracle.  They have been in the ground since April and just now starting to show signs of production.  The little joys of gardening are many.

A mixed bag of weather for our little part of the Southside of Saint Louis.  Cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms this afternoon.  Gusty winds and small hail are possible.  The winds are out of the SSW at 5 to 10 MPH.  Whew!  We could use a bit of rain but I'm afraid of asking for it!  Be careful out there.  I'm hoping everything holds out until after the Farmers' Market this morning.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others today.  Have a great Saturday Gardening Friends!

Day:  87-degrees  |  Night:  68-degrees
This beautiful weather streak continues this Working Friday in mid-August.  It's been a busy week in the Garden. Lots of weeding getting done.  Some hard decisions were made on some plants and ideas are forming for possible changes. The joy of gardening is no two days are the same.  You really never know what you will discover as you step outside every morning.  

I'll be heading out soon to get work started.  An early start before the heat sets in.  We should have some lovely sunshine today.  The temperatures are getting a bit warmer, and the winds are out of the South at 5 to 10 MPH.  It's a beautiful day.  Enjoy this beautiful High Summer day.  Smile a little bit more, laugh when you can, and spread as much joy as possible!  Be good and kind to yourself.  Happy Friday Gardening Friends!

Day:  84-degrees  |  Night:  62-degrees
After a brutal beginning to summer, we are experiencing a beautiful high summer filled with low-humidity and gorgeous weather.  What a blessed relief.  The flowers are beginning to rebound from their suffering, and everything is looking quite lovely.  

We have been on a few antique hunting adventures these past few days.  Nothing too extravagant, just a bit of a flutter.  It's been a lot of fun to venture out, but I've been neglecting the Garden a bit and a few weeds are appearing.  That means it's time to head back to work.  No rest for the old gardener.  Truth be told, I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty.  It's true meditation and time to get things right in my soul.  

Sunny to partly cloudy skies with light and variable winds.  You couldn't ask for a more perfect day for weeding!  Here's wishing you a blessing of a day.  Be good and kind to yourself and others.  Have a great Thursday Gardening Friends!

Day:  84-degrees  |  Night:  61-degrees
A gorgeous morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  Bright sunshine fills the blue sky.  It's fresh and clean after yesterday's cleansing rains.  Everything looks just a little bit happier.  It's that kind of day.  Petrichor is the wonderful word that describes the smell just after a good rain.  I love the idea that it's base comes from the Greek word:  ichor.  Ichor is the "ethereal essence" the Greeks believe flowed through the veins of the gods.  Thanks Google!

The beautiful sunshine will last throughout this Humpday.  Winds will be out of the NNE at 5 to 10 MPH.  An absolute stunner of a Wednesday.  Be good to yourself.  Be kind to yourself and those you may meet on your journey.  Happy Humpday Gardening Friends!

Day:  74-degrees  |  Night:  62-degrees
A wee soft morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  A gentle rain is refreshing everything this Tuesday.  The freshly planted fall vegetables are loving this weather.  The cooler temperatures and now this lovely rain is the perfect start for the new plantings.  It's lovely when it works out.  We all know it doesn't always work that way.

I was reading a weekly newsletter from CNN entitled "The Good Stuff."  This just struck me as so cool:  "Did you know there's really no difference between a flower and a weed?  It's all how we see it.  Violets, chicory, Queen Anne's Lace and Chinese wisteria are just some examples of pretty plants that can be beautiful to some, but annoying and invasive to others.  I find the dictionary definition of weed to be quite poetic:  'a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of rigorous growth.' So really, weeds are just strong souls that need the right place to grow, and the right people to appreciate them!"  Here's to finding the right place to grow and the right people to appreciate you!

A lovely rain shower with lots of clouds.  Light and variable winds and the rain is planning to stick around for a while.  It's a good day to relax a little.  Maybe have another cup of coffee.  Be good to yourself.  Surround yourself with good, kind people who appreciate you!  Have a great wet Tuesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  82-degrees  |  Night:  66-degrees
Isn't she lovely?  The African Marigolds are so tall with a delicate flower on top.  You can't see it in this picture, but this Marigold is almost 36-inches tall.  It's pretty amazing.  I wouldn't plant it where I did again, but I do love the plant.  Still pondering for next year.  

The Fall plantings are almost done.  Lettuce, Broccoli, and Cauliflower are all looking very good, and all grown from seed.  The Carnival Carrots are also sticking their little heads up and we will be thinning soon.  The life of a Gardener!  Little joys everywhere!  

The skies are beginning to clear here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  The winds are out of the NNE at 5 to 10 MPH.  It's a beautiful day so enjoy the weather.  Be good and kind to yourself.  Have a great Mid-Month Monday Gardening Friends!

Day:  88-degrees  |  Night:  66-degrees
Another beautiful day here in the Carondelet Garden.  I just love the color of this Calla Lily.  The bright yellow just makes you smile.  Something about the beauty of flowers growing in the Garden that just makes things feel a bit better.

We need a little something to make us smile right now.  There was another shooting in our little corner of the world again this past week.  We were enjoying coffee on the front porch when we heard the shots ring out. It's sad to admit that we didn't even really flinch.  We just quietly picked up our newspapers, coffee cups, and grabbed the Doodle Dog and went inside and went about our day.  That is a little frightening to me right now.  How did we get to the point where this is just a normal occurrence?  I'm not entirely sure what the answer is.  I just pray for peace.  I try to check on my neighbors and clean my alley and take care of what I can. 

It's going to be a sunny, warm day here in our little Garden in South Saint Louis.  Winds are out of the NW at 10 to 15 MPH.  Another lovely day for working in the Garden or maybe visiting a craft brewery?  That sounds like it just might be the ticket! I wish you safety, faith, hope, love and peace this Sunday Gardening Friends!

Day:  88-degrees  |  Night:  72-degrees
It's a butterfly kind of day here in the Carondelet Garden in beautiful South Saint Louis.  We have been blessed with some amazing mornings these past few days.  It's such a relief to enjoy a cup of coffee and read the newspaper in the Garden.  

It's a Farmers' Market Saturday for this super cool old couple.  There's just so much to do this weekend.  It's hard to decide.  Maybe we'll just do it all!  How are you planning on spending your weekend?

Enjoy your weekend because today's weather is outstanding.  Sunny Saturday skies with winds out of the SSE at 5 to 10 MPH.  A perfect summer's day in South Saint Louis.  Be good to yourself today.  Be kind to yourself and anyone who may cross your path.  Have a great Saturday Gardening Friends!

Day:  82-degrees  |  Night:  60-degrees
What a pleasure to step outside the back door and into the Garden on this lovely morning in August.  Simply the most stunning day here in South Saint Louis. Low humidity, bright sunshine and the flowers are so happy.  My fall lettuce is planted and coming along quite nicely so salads are on the menu more often in the next few weeks.

I love the changing seasons here in the Midwest. You can already tell the days are getting a bit shorter as it is getting darker just a littler earlier every evening. Fall is coming at us like a freight train but that brings so much joy as well.  College Football on Saturdays, Fall Festivals, Bellerive Day on October 1st, and the bounty of Fall harvests.  You can almost feel it in the air this morning.  Yet, I know, Summer has not gone away, so I enjoy it while I can.

Today is a Happy Friday kind of day.  We have very little on the calendar, so it is coffee and newspapers on the front porch. Sunny skies and winds out of the NNE at 5 to 10 MPH.  Here's wishing you the best day ever! Be good and be kind to yourself.  Have that extra cup of coffee and maybe sit outside to enjoy it.  You'll be glad you did! Happy Friday Gardening Friends!

Day:  87-degrees  |  Night:  65-degrees
Welcome to another edition of Thirsty Thursday.  It's another absolutely stunning morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  It is so nice to be able to open the windows and get a breath of fresh air through the house.  The Air Conditioner is breathing a sigh of relief from running non-stop for so long.  The plants are beginning to show signs of recovery as well and, most importantly, we are able to return to our porch sipping ways in the evening.  Thirsty Thursdays on the porch are back, at least for today!

The forecast for today calls for partly cloudy skies with winds out of the NNE at 5 to 10 MPH.  The humidity is low which makes things just feel a little nicer.  It's a good day for a good day.  I hope you get a chance to enjoy a wee tipple this evening.  Enjoy the beautiful weather.  Have a great Thirsty Thursday Gardening Friends!

Day:  82-degrees  |  Night:  61-degrees
"Oh, What a Beautiful Morning! Oh, What a Beautiful Day! I've got a wonderful feeling. Everything's going my way!" Love the enthusiasm and positivity of that song! Today is definitely a beatiful morning.  Just a stunner outside in the Garden this morning.  

It's been a whacky few days, technology-wise, for this old gardener.  There was a time that I was pretty adept at fixing and trouble-shooting tech things.  Unfortunately, that time may have passed.  It's funny how things change but stay the same.  These days I am totally understanding the European Union's laws trying to standardize certain components in phones and computers.  It is becoming a bit maddening! Yet, I don't want to go back either!  It's just a bit of a learning curve!  Thank goodness for YouTube and Google!

A beautiful morning and a beautiful day ahead!  Mostly sunny skies.  Winds out of the NE at 5 to 10 MPH.  A good day for, well, just about anything!  Be good and kind to yourself and others today!  Have a great whacky Wednesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  80-degrees  |  Night:  68-degrees
What a difference a day makes.  Much, much cooler out in the Garden this morning.  The heat has been brutal on our squash.  Such is the life of a gardener in South Saint Louis.  You win some, you lose some!  

Today is a fun day.  We are taking the middle and oldest to their Golf Lessons at Tower Tee.  The summer is quickly ending for these little guys as school begins for them next week!  Wow! Time is fleeing us.  My dad told me that the older you get the quicker time passes you by.  Truer words!

Cloudy skies this morning iwth a chance for stray shower or thunderstorm.  Winds out of the NNE at 5 to 10 MPH.  It's a good day for a good day! Have a great Tuesday Gardening Friends!

Day:  93-degrees  |  Night:  72-degrees
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The writer of Hebrews must have been a bit of gardener.  Pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?  Faith in things hoped for, conviction of things not seen.  It is seedling time for fall veggies and that is exactly what I'm experiencing hope and waiting with conviction.  I hope your Fall seedlings are progressing as well.

It's still quite hot but we have hope of a break in the next day or so.  I hope so as some of the plants are really showing major signs of stress from the relentless heat and weird rain cycles.  The life of a gardener.  You have to take a bit of the bad to experience the good.  Unfortunately, the squash is some of the worst hit by this weather.  I'm still hopeful.

We are still under a Heat Advisory this Monday.  We have bright sunshine this morning with the expectation of thunderstorms moving in this afternoon and especially tonight.  Winds are out of the WSW at 5 to 10 MPH.  Try to take it a bit slower today.  Be good and kind to yourself and others on your journeys.  Have a great Monday Gardening Friends!​

Day:  95-degrees  |  Night:  76-degrees
Opened the door and was slapped in the face with a hot, damp cloth! Whoowee! It's sticky out in the Garden this morning.  The Doodle Dog and I looked at each other twice before heading out on our walkabout.  We did it, but wow, we are both a bit knackered.  

The Hibiscus is loving this weather.  We love the color of this beauty. Dr. B is a sucker for Hibiscus, and we wanted something in the very back between the garage and the fence.  This seems to be pretty perfect. Love getting a bloom every day.  It's just a little something to look forward to every morning.  A bit of grace to start things off.  We all need a little grace.  

Another Heat Advisory this Sunday morning.  Bright sunshine this morning with a few afternoon clouds.  Suffice it to say, it's hot and humid.  Winds are out of the SSW at 5 to 10 MPH. Hopefully you will be able to hit a swimming pool or at least hang out in an air-conditioned pub this fine day.  It's a good day for a little grace. A wee bit of down time to recharge those batteries for the coming week.  A day of rest for the weary.  Have a grace-filled Sunday Gardening Friends!