I got back from Washington DC last night and now I am officially on vacation / staycation! I can’t emphasize enough how much I am looking forward to these days off. On one hand, I’m itching to travel somewhere fun but on the other hand, having the next 11 days at home is pretty awesome too. I don’t have to pack a zillion things into this weekend because I have next week to get groceries, work in my gardens, watch episodes of Big Little Lies, etc.
This makes me very, very happy and my stress level has dropped significantly.
Here’s me on Monday, visiting the poultry research facilities at USDA-ARS in Beltsville, Maryland … just 17 miles outside of DC proper, there are farmfields, a dairy farm, and turkeys and chickens. I bet you didn’t know that, did you?! And better yet, my good friend Dr. Julie Long heads up all the poultry research so it was so much fun to see her and get a close-up view of what she does every day! I think most people would be surprised at how much research goes into all of agriculture, whether it’s crop farming or raising livestock and poultry.
And here I am along with several of our Minnesota group and Senator Amy Klobuchar (standing next to me)! This DC trip is one of the highlights of my year … I thoroughly enjoy visiting our Congressional offices and discussing all the important issues for turkey farmers. Regardless of all the crazy politics, a visit to our nation’s capitol is always inspiring to me.
Switching gears, though …. I walked about my gardens today to see how things have been doing in my absence, and the answer is – pretty blooming good! (See what I did there?! LOL) We’ve had a fair amount of rain coupled with hot temperatures and humidity so my flowers are really starting to show off right now.
Deep orange Asiatic Lilies.
Classic marigold. I used to give marigolds the cold shoulder but then I realized they handle my hot west sun beautifully and rabbits don’t like them, so … #winning!
Bubblegum petunia … such a prolific grower for vibrant color in your garden or a pot!
Such a beautiful phlox – variety is ‘David’ and it’s so white that it seems to glow in the evening.
The Duke of Earl daylily is a stunner … and also close to my heart as our beloved pug was named Earl so I planted this in his honor!
If I remember correctly, this is plectranthus … but my mom will correct me if I’m wrong! 🙂
Love these Ornithogalum thyrsoides Chinchierinchee bulbs … I think I feature them in almost ever garden post I do but they are so incredibly showy!
Purple coneflower … perfect for Minnesota!
My coreopsis is going crazy with blooms!
Little Lime Hydrangea .. one of my absolute favorites!
Swizzle stick zinnias … another one of my faves!
The Annabelle hydrangea blooms are huge!
And the frog Joe gave me a few years ago for Mother’s Day, just in front of the Joe Pye Weed (which isn’t a weed at all, you realize).
Such a pretty daylily with peach flowers.
I’d say my gardens handled my absence just fine!
It feels good to be home … and also to have Joe home, as well. he was at church camp this week while I was in DC. I picked him up today and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t showered in days, he was immediately starving (of course), and barely has a speaking voice so I guess that means camp was a success! 😉
We’re off to the farm tomorrow so we can enjoy Hector Corn Chaff Days (yes, that’s what the town celebration is called!) and the All-School Reunion with my family. In fact, I’ve got a bottle of rose chilling and some blueberry-lemon bread (this recipe) baking to take with us. That guarantees a good weekend, yes?
Take care my friends, enjoy your weekend, and I’ll be back again soon!
xoxo – Lara