Water Hyacinth

Every year now for the 5 I have purchased a Water Hyacinth and grown it in a planter filled with water.  They are so lovely!

Presidential Prediction II

June 30 In The Park

Signs of Summer.

 Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis

Salmonberries, Rubus spectabilis

Garden Update I

First, I tackled cleaning up the pathways and some basic weeding.

Garden Up-date II

Second, I added some flowers and cleaned up the Kentucky field stones in the front of the circle garden

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Romeo's Does Summer

Connecting the Dots

Florentine Vegetable Soup with Sweet Italian Sausage Meatballs

You make it in two parts.

1) - The meatballs. 

Sweet Italian Sausage

Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

I combine sweet Italian sausage with seasoned bread crumbs and finely shredded parmesan cheese. I form the meatballs into small orbs--half the size that I would for Spaghetti, they should fit on a soupspoon. And I brown them in a little olive oil and set aside.

2) - The soup 

Water

Knorr brand condensed Beef Stock (2)

Kosher Salt

Oregano (dried)

Carrots

Onion

Celery

Portobello Mushrooms

Spinach (frozen cut leaf)

Tomatoes (canned diced with roasted garlic and onion)

Parmesan Cheese (shaved, for garnish)

Start with two quarts of water and two Knorr condensed beef stock, some kosher salt and some dried oregano (a generous amount --like a tsp). Then in went 4 small carrots, 1 medium onion, 3 larger celery stalks and 12 oz.of baby portobello mushrooms, and after simmering for about 30 minutes, add the meatballs with a package of frozen spinach (cut leaves) and a can of diced tomatoes with roasted garlic and onion. I avoided the tomatoes with basil--too sweet. I let that simmer on low for about an hour so the flavors would all condense.

Then I served it with some shaved aged parmesan and a couple of slices of Olive Bread to sop with. I would make this again and serve it to guests in a heartbeat.

A Word On BREXIT

One of the consequences of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union will most likely be an unraveling of the "United" Kingdom! How ironic. It seems a no brainer that Scotland will be checking out ASAP...and then Northern Ireland will achieve what years of war could not. I don't have a horse is this race, but it does seem like an interesting turn that will bite the exitor's in the balls in the near time--say the next 5 years. For what was once a great Empire, to now shoot itself in the foot...

Republicans Keep Americans In The Dark

Latest Additions To My Garden Zoo

Most recent additions to my Garden Zoo.

 Ball Python, Python regius

 King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah

 Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus

 White-lipped Green Pit Viper, Trimeresurus albolabris

 Black Mamba, Dendroaspis polylepis 

 Pogona Lizard, Pogona vitticeps

 Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus

 European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus 

 Arctic Wolf, Canis lupus arctos

 Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina

 North American River Otter, Lontra canadensis

And the Brazilian Tapirs, Tapirs terrestris,  were moved to a new space in lieu of the arrival of 4 new members.  Ergo the River Otters were moved into the former planter of the Tapirs.

Some Birds Of Summer

A dear friend found this lovely little vintage Birder's guide and bought it for me.  It was printed in 1930.  Here are some of the entries of birds I live with.  Aren't the prints wonderful?

 My Carolina Wrens are so curious and so creatively industrious.  They build amazingly intricate nests.

 The Catbird is like my favorite!  Always around when I'm working in the garden.  Always so chatty and friendly...and brave.

 Ubiquitous immigrant from across the pond--like many of us!  And look at how in 1930 this pour little bird is vilified.  Sad.

The Tuft Titmice are my neighbors.  They are community minded and love my fountain.  They are not overly intrigued by human commerce, but why should they be?  They are so engaged in there own!

We Are Hemorrhaging

These are the cities/places where mass shootings have occurred in the past 50 years.  These are defined as stranger killings of 4 people or more.  Those with 7 or more fatalities are represented on the map and have the location highlighted.  There have been 894 Americans killed in these mass shootings and 114 of them were children under the age of 18...  We are hemorrhaging.

How The Dems Get The Senate Back