Trip to and from Kingston

We'd driven Aug. 11th  to Kingston to visit with Jordan. Our Kingston trip! Joe drives, as the pressure to take photos is too much for him! I am in charge of the photography, mostly from the window. I love the scenery. The big bales of hay in the fields. the clouds, the water. Seeing as it won't be too long before winter sets in, let us celebrate summer!

Heading for Kingston: Rideau Ferry marina:

I like to take photos, but sometimes I shudder. He was standing up, no visible life jacket, casting into the water. 

This always makes me laugh, 'Red Neck Air Force.'

These Panicle Hydrangea are always impressive. 

Wild Grape ivy has taken over the barn.

The bane of Joe's existence... he loathes traffic circles! Is there anything trickier?! 

Hay for winter!

A large farming operation... always impresses.

We headed home...

Whoopsie! Busted.

The clouds began to build.

Yes, a bit of rain fell:

Then it cleared up.

Our local farm, Millers Bay. They have fresh produce galore.

Garden tales

 Things have cooled off some. Outside chores aren't as onerous. A bit of rain fell this morning. The garbage was put out at 6:15, it was a lovely morning. Not as many bugs. You could smell the petrichor. (I learned that word from Gaelyn Geogypsy!)  

Petrichor is the earthy scent often associated with rain falling on dry soil or rock. The term was introduced by Australian researchers Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Grenfell Thomas in a 1964 paper in Nature.  Wikipedia

I saw something move. A large toad! I haven't seen one in a long time. The 2 x 4 is there to stop The Freds from going inside the drain pipe. The toad could get out, I suppose, but I have covered it up. 

We had a chat, but it was somewhat disgruntled. I set it free to eat those bugs. 

Daffodil garden repair

Of course, the daffodils are done, but there are other flowers here. I've written about our massive July 1st and 2nd storms. The bushes on the right were half flattened. They are tall, wild, woodland sunflowers, I think!

I straightened it and tied it once, but the thing fell over again. 

This time I used a strap from a no longer functioning trailcam.

 

The fox likes to circle this garden. I figured out she is hunting for leopard frogs in the grass. I often have to avoid them when I mow the lawn. 

 

The lilac/panicle hydrangea is doing well beside the sunflowers. 

Another natural plant, Burdock. 

Sadly, it is only the beginning of August, but my cherry tomato plants and my zucchini have just about given their all. 

Crumbly Acres August

As I'd written, we had massive rains the first three days of August. The garden is saturated. My lilac/ panicle hydrangea is in blossom. I planted it: Sept. 2024: New plants! I'd been looking for them, and Caitlin spotted some that year. 

Yes, 58 mm (over 2") of rain on the August long weekend.

We had an issue with the gutters, again.  The piece of metal, protecting the fascia, was letting water drip behind the gutter. I bent it out and that helped.

 

Auntie Fred has been here and there. Our nights are getting cooler, and her Momma would hibernate or go to her winter den in late August. Auntie Fred hibernated here in mid-September last year, 2025. 

MiniFred doesn't like spinach!

Yesterday I teased you with an image of MiniFred. I'd used most of a head of cabbage, and threw a couple of leaves out back. Surprisingly Fred liked it.

 

MiniFred has been working out front. 

She is creating a new burrow, #6A. She'll do no harm here, other than eating my wildflowers! 

She likes sunflowers, as well as the milkweed. I see nibbles everywhere. Gardens evolve. This used to hold some hibiscus, but they died. Not enough rain, toom much sun and heat.

The gardens are doing well. I am going to have to rethink the front one where the tree was taken out. As well as the one in back where the hops vine died.