Bad Blogger

I have been a horrible blogger this year but for my final Labor Day project I am finally going to post something so I can join Bloomin' Tuesday over at Jean's blog. 

My heart just wasn't into gardening this year.  I guess I was just tired: it has been a busy year with work, my daughter's graduation, family obligations and vacations. 

As referenced in a few previous posts, we also have had months of turmoil with a mentally unbalanced female that had been bothering us.  I am happy to report that after she violated our Harassment Protection Order in July (we are one of four people with a protection order against this woman, in a town with one traffic light and one gas station),she was arrested and brought to court where she proceeded to 'pull rank' on the judge and informed him that she is a forensic investigator with the FBI.  The judge finally decided that it was time to do something about this woman and sent her directly to a mental health facility where she is still being held and is hopefully being given the psychiatric help she so desperately needs. I realize my garden blog isn't the place to vent about personal issues, but when something this bizarre happens, it's difficult not to discuss. 

I hope that by next spring life will be back to normal.  Luckily my garden went on happily without me, in spite of a hot dry summer and no fertilizer. 

I'll start off with the only butterfly that I caught on camera this summer.  I found it this afternoon on a wildflower/weed at the back of our yard (anyone know what this wildflower is?  It grows in our yard every year - is it Joe Pye Weed?  Ironic if it is since I've wanted to get some for a few years now and just haven't):

  
The side garden is going strong, by far my favorite garden in our yard:

Coneflower Pink Swan, Sedum Autumn Joy:

The best mistake I ever got: this was supposed to be Coneflower Pink Swan; I absolutely love this plant.  It's growing nicely with Phlox Nora Leigh:

A different view of the side garden from our under-deck patio:

This a view of the side garden and the outside of the pool fence from the back of the yard:

Back of the pool fence; KnockOut Roses are still blooming as well as Rudbeckia:

Although I tend to ignore my blog for a while and then do a very long post, I am making a concerted effert not to do that this time.  I am saving some pics for other posts over the next week or do. 

On that note, I will end it here with a view from our deck, which is where I ended my day while enjoying this gorgeous weather and enjoying dinner with hubby (you can see the side garden through the railing).....

...... after I spent some quality time here.  I hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend!