Hanging around

It's been cloudy, hot, and humid, not exactly weather that encourages outdoor exercise. I need to mow but one mower is in the shop and I fear the other one needs to go as well. But it's a work week anyway so my days are busy and we've had a couple of evening activities this week. Not much going on dog-wise, just hanging around.

Bailey at Decipher Brewing Tuesday evening.

She's still very suspicious of strangers but is easily won over with a treat.

I took a bag of them, most of which ended up in her stomach by the time we left.

Two dogs, one bed. 

Paisley usually chooses to share a bed with Elvis instead of using the empty one next to him. 

Ford has been trying to move into Maya's old spot at my feet under my desk.

One dog, two beds. 

Bailey stretching out.

Della is almost always on the bed in her crate next to my desk.

Elvis tries to take that bed sometimes and I have to make him move.

Elvis didn't leave any space for Paisley, forcing her to use the other bed.

Ticks and tall grass

It's the first of the month so everyone got their heartworm preventative today and another dose of flea and tick repellant. I really wish they made Frontline for humans. I did some puttering, inside and out, got a pump and fountain operating in another one of the ponds, but didn't do a whole lot else. I need to mow, but one of the mowers has a broken drive belt and the other one isn't running very well at the moment. We went to a Pride event in town in the afternoon, and did some grocery shopping on the way home. In the evening I took everyone out to the pasture for a while. I walked the trails with the dogs, but my legs are still tired and heavy feeling from the six miles I walked on Friday.

Mercy

Mercy and Candace

Elvis

Ford

Ford and Bailey (in mid-pounce)

Paisley and Ford

Mercy

Norman

Norman followed by Bailey

Front to back: Ford, Norman, Bailey, and Mercy

Della and Bailey

I spotted this guy and got all the dogs headed off in another direction.

There's a bird nesting on one of the shelves in the shed. It flies out the window every time I go in. I assume there are eggs in the nest, I am leaving it alone.

Candace has a nice smile on her face.

Plants and ponds

I've got some garden progress pictures that I need to get posted because they will soon be out of date. Things are growing and changing rapidly, with the exception of my caladiums which are very slow to sprout and unfurl their first leaves. Perhaps I'm watching them too closely. 

I haven't yet shared any pictures of my ponds. That's a work still in progress but I added a nice new one yesterday. I'm slowly working on reclaiming the area where they are located. It was a round bed planted with a few azaleas by the former owners. Most of the bushes had died and the bed was invaded by grass, weeds, and even some poison ivy. I've got five ponds installed now, three with pumps. Now I need water plants. 

There's a few random dog photos too, of course.

Sun-loving coleus is the best thing to come along in years.

So much color and so easy to grow.

I grew some cannas from bulbs in planted this year but these overwintered from last year and came up on their own.

I took this picture just a couple days ago.  These morning glory vines have now reached the top of the trellis. No blooms yet though.

This was the last set of pots I planted. The hostas are overwheming the containers right now, but things will grow.

This is the large black iron cauldron in the hosta bed pictured above. Those spouts in the center are from a very large elephant ear bulb that I started in my cold frame and then moved into here. I think this will be a massive plant later this summer.

This is in the round bed in the center of the driveway under the saucer magnolia tree that blooms in the very early spring. 

A magnolia blossom in the process of opening. This tree isn't particularly attractive, it needs some trimming, but the flowers are always nice.

This is where I first started planting this year and so it's further along than the other containers.

And now, some dogs.

Bailey

Norman

Flamingo garden

Della and the flamingo garden

Elvis through the boxwoods

Paisley and Elvis

Candace

Saturday's pond project

Paisley and the not yet installed new pond.

There are now five ponds in this area, and there's still room for more, although I might be getting carried away. I think this is enough for now. I need to work on getting some plants established in them.

There's a beautiful day lily blooming in the center and there was yellow iris in bloom until just a few days ago. I want to get some ferns and other native plants growing in here too. Maybe some hostas.

Elvis in front of the ponds

Ford having a drink

Della, Ford, and Paisley lined up by height this morning after I did heartworm and flea/tick prevention for the month.