Nature Friday ~ July 19, 2019

We made it to Friday-woohoo, no thanks to the blistering heat Mother Nature has been doling out. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing this weekend, we’re also celebrating the 72nd birthday of astrophysicist and epic guitarist from Queen, Brian May, PhD. Commissioned by NASA, this anthem, his first solo song in 20 years, celebrates the latest mission by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, which just set the record for the most distant spacecraft flyby ever. So let’s hear it for May and the universe. And because it’s Friday, we’re joining our good friends and Nature Friday hosts, Rosy and her brothers from LLB in Our Backyard.

Mother Nature and I are not on speaking terms this week. Like most of the country, we’ve been baking in triple digit temperatures. Luckily the humidity in these parts barely registers in the low teens so at least we don’t have that with the heat. We are looking forward to 65 days from now…the official arrival of Autumn. I know, I know, I heard your digital groaning at that thought but neither the Knuckleheads or I are hot-temperature fans. Sure we enjoy the longer daylight hours , but the heat, um…no thanks.

So this weekend we’ll be lifting our eyes toward the skies enjoying the universe’s wonder, and then take a look down here on Mother Earth to take in summer’s bountiful lavender harvest at the annual festival tomorrow at the Denver Botanical Gardens, Chatfield Farms location. Here’s an image from last year’s festival. What are your weekend plans? Stay cool and enjoy nature this weekend.

Lavender
Lavender Festival, Chatfield Farms, Denver Botanic Gardens

Nature Friday

Live, love, bark! 🐾

72 thoughts on “Nature Friday ~ July 19, 2019

    1. White, pink, lavender and purple. Such beautiful varieties of color in an amazing plant that smells divine.

  1. I tried to grow Lavender here – without success. Mind you I tried to grow a lot of things here – without success. Heck I even managed to kill a Bougainvillea. I just wish this lack of success would translate into weed management.

    1. Weeds are a whole different category but know all about the lack of success with various plants. Can’t grow a dianthus to save my soul. *Sigh*

  2. Since I whine all winter long about the cold, I’m trying my best not to complain about the heat (and yes, it’s the humidity here that makes it so much worse). So far, so good. Check back with me about mid-August, however! 🙂

    1. It’s hard not to fuss about the weather that we have. Opinions on it go both ways and in between.

  3. It has finally cooled off! I need to go to Denver Botanical Gardens. I read about how much people love it. But, I never spend a second longer than needed in the heat down there when I go visit my dad. Maybe this fall we will do it! Beautiful post!

    1. Yes, finally a respite from the unrelenting heat and with nearly 2″ of rain yesterday on top of a drop in temps. The lavender festival was good though next year, I’m foregoing the crowds (I don’t need to experience of over-priced vendors, food trucks and local bands. I nice stroll through the various plants and the historic farm buildings will be plenty enough. I always try to attend the main gardens on ‘off-days’ and never during the sweltering dog days of summer. Enjoy the more temperate temps today.

  4. We have had a few pleasant days but supposed to be 99 by Monday – ugh
    hugs
    Mabel & Hilda

  5. Hard to believe it’s been 50 years already! Where have the years gone?! I’m proud to say that one of my uncles worked at the Grumman plant on Long Island that built the lunar module – or at least several parts of it – at the time it was being built. And I think he was still there when Buzz and Neil actually landed and then walked on the moon’s surface. It was probably the most historic event in my then nearly 16 years.

  6. They are pulling out all th stops here in Houston to celebrate the Apollo 11 anniversary. It is sooooo cool.

  7. 🎵 New horiiiiizons…🎵 Okay, it’s not “Another One Bites the Dust” but it’ll do. Brought back one of my pet rants: don’t people realize that our future as a species is in the stars? No, not me, way too old but someday we will truly move into space and explore the infinite. Why, then, do we waste so much time, money and energy having fights and being mean to each other and focusing on all the petty squat instead of striving for the stars? Never mind, old man rant #43. Get off my dam lawn.

        1. {Giggle} I’ve said it before and it merits a repeat…the AJF is one smart cookie!

  8. Fifty years since the lunar landing. I remember sitting down and watching the landing at the Golf and Curling Club where I worked. My heavens fifty years ago! The lavender fields look lovely and they will be gorgeous still when the flowers start to show.

    Jean

    1. I know, it’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years. Man I’m getting old! LOL

  9. We are not big fans of this heat either nor are we fans of the biting flies that plague our yard now. It’s so bad for Millie that she acts like she is being tortured when she has to go outside to do her business. As the black dog in the family she is a big target for those pests and they buzz between her ears until she can escape into the garage. They should be gone in a few more weeks but until then Millie’s outdoor time is at a minimum.

  10. Our plans are to stay indoors as much as possible unless Mom Nature gifts is with bearable temps and humidity levels. Ducky and I are not hot-weather fans, either.

    1. Hope it cools down soon out your way. Staying indoors during this heatwave is getting old.

  11. I love lavender. The smell the look and everything about lavender. I want to go to Colorado again. It’s been too long.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend. ♥

      1. Awk…I nearly evaporated just wrapping my head around that kind of humidity!! Currently the humidity here is just at 8%. 😲Yup, single digits.

    1. Not sure what made me smile more, the idea of cool or umbrella drinks. Cheers for the weekend. 🍹

    1. I wish I could enjoy the heat, but my body says no how…no way. Have a great weekend.

    1. My condolences. I can’t even imagine. While the temp is just shy of 100 currently, the humidity is 8%. It’s hot definitely, but if our humidity was almost the same as the temp, I’d probably pass out.

    1. Snort! 8% humidity with just shy of a 100. Compared to most of the Midwest, that’s nearly a cold front.

    1. My ‘mounds’ aren’t that remotely symmetrical either. Then again I don’t have a team of volunteers tending the grounds. LOL

  12. Awesome space video and love the gardens! Enjoy the festival this weekend! We are planning to do our best to stay cool. My sisters and I are getting together with my Mom for the day on Saturday. Always cherish the times we can all spend together, so looking forward to it! Happy weekend to you and your crew! 🙂

  13. Monika,

    I don’t mind autumn one bit, and there ain’t no groaning over such a though. Not with me, anyway. I don’t like the idea of having to be turned over every thirty to forty five minutes whilst baking, thank you very much.

    Great tune!

    1. Yeah, shake and bake is not my idea of fun and games. Glad you enjoy May’s piece. He still has magic fingers flying over a guitar. Happy weekend.

  14. Thanks for sharing the wonderful videos. It’s wonderful to celebrate the 50 years since landing on the moon. Can’t wait to see what more they do during our lifetime and beyond. Hope you are staying cool and have a fantastic upcoming weekend.

  15. Love Mr. May’s music with the video. How fantastic that he was asked to create the music.
    As for the heat. We are not quite as bad as you except our humidity levels are through the roof. It’s hard to breathe. Plus my A/C is dead!!! Come Monday I shall be able to sleep (I hope)

    As for lavender… I had some at the old house. Will have to plant more here…

    Have a fabulous weekend, Monika!

    1. Brian May is an incredible guitarist and had Queen not become such a big deal, he probably would have pursued astronomy most seriously. When I hear about the heat indexes with high temps and humidity all over, I’m grateful for the dry conditions. To a point. I don’t do well in heat but couldn’t move it the humidity were high too. Plus my hair will be all kinds of frizzed up. LOL Hope the A/C is revived soon. Happy weekend.

      1. I’m sure he would have!
        I’m not a fan of huge heat and humidity. I’m thinking a nice 75 is perfect…
        Monday… MONDAY!!

        1. Yup 75 is good…as a high. 😆If there’s gonna be humidity I want to be on a beach with a big beverage with an umbrella in it.

          1. Well ya. Duh.
            Si… una cervesa por favor. Et una por mi amiga, tambien! Or…
            Ya mon, breng me dat cool one (while Bob Marley plays in the background)…

  16. I love that the musician is both a scientist and a creative, blending his interests!! We might join you at the festival. We were going to Cheyene and decided not to. There’s also a modern quilt show outdoors in Monument.
    The humidity is higher a few miles east of you, making the temps much harder to deal with. It’s supposed to break soon. I know it’s hot around the globe too.
    As I read somewhere, good thing there is no climate change or it would be worse! lol

    1. I just hear a story indicating that areas in the northern hemisphere are getting much warmer. Eek! Hopefully I’ll run into you tomorrow. Go early, wear closed toe shoes and bring lots of water-you’ll need it. 💙

  17. I have a lott of lavendar in my yard, along with salvia and penstemon. I just got the only color of lavendar Ii was missing, pink. My next task is defending the yellow lavendar from the heather. Bees and hummingbirds love my yard–something blooming all year around. On top of that, the Chinese tallow is blooming.

    1. You stay cool as well. Maybe I should start flapping my wings for rain dances.

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