It’s Friday, June 19th (known as Juneteenth in the US or Emancipation Day) and the Ranch hands are here to share scenes from our garden with our hosts and friends, Rosy & her brothers for this week’s edition of Nature Friday. Be sure to click on the link to see what’s been going on elsewhere in Blogville.
Norman: Hello mates, since we’re the sniffers around the Ranch, we only thought it fair to share some of what we sniffed out.
Elsa: Ahem…not so fast dog breath…I searched out some of these things too. You probably pee on more things than you actually sniff.
Norman: I say dear sister, that’s rather rude unkind of you. I beg your pardon, I must protest by saying I do my fair share of sniffing. Remember it was me that found those sunflowers that are popping up all over.
Elsa: After which you promptly ‘watered’ them.
Norman: There, there now…let’s not go there. First off, in the purple category, mum’s clematis is in bloom. And what a beauty it is!
Elsa: Yes, it is rather nice but hope those are real water droplets!
Norman: Oh course, it is. I. know. the. rule: “no ‘watering’ of flowers in the garden.”
Elsa: Yeah, but you do tend to break that rule. I thought I heard mom say just yesterday to not pee on the peonies.
Norman: Huh, erm…what? I don’t recall her saying any such thing! And frankly I’m a bit cheesed off that you think I’d deliberately break the rules.
Elsa: Whatever dude. I sniffed out some Hemerocallis, known as Stella D’Oro lilies. These babies re-bloom…did you know that?
Norman: My goodness, I rather think those are quite smashing! They’re not far from a tree which grows in our garden that I’d never seen before. Mum says it’s a Catalpa tree and they grow quite large. With their large heart shaped leaves, they’ve begun to bloom now. These trees grow quite tall reaching 40-60 ft. (12-18 metres) and grow relatively quickly. The flowers appear in broad panicles in early summer while ‘fruit’ appears in late summer or autumn. Known as siliques these pod-like beans grow to approximately 20–50 centimetres (8–20 in) long and are full of small flat seeds. These trees provide good shelter from rain and wind, making them an attractive habitat for many species of birds. They do not present many threats of falling limbs (despite having soft wood), but the dark-brown ‘fruit’ husks that drop in late summer tend to be a bit of a nuisance.
Elsa: I notice you check it out every day when we head out for our walks.
Norman: I’m just reading the canine bulletin board. Please note I myself, have never watered it.
Elsa: Yet. Why don’t you show everyone the sunflowers that are popping up all over the garden.
Norman: Right…this one just popped up a couple of days ago. I guess they like the sunny, hot weather we’ve been having. Rather cheery flowers, wouldn’t you say?
Elsa: I suppose so. You’re the flower sniffer, I just sniff for grass spots to do face rubs/rolls in.
Norman: Ah yes, sister, you do tend to find strange spots in which to roll. Not sure what that’s all about. Care to share?
Elsa: Nah, if I have to explain you wouldn’t understand it.
Norman: If you say so. Anyway, we’ve enjoyed sharing all the blooming lovelies from the garden this week and I am personally chuffed to bits to say I no longer have to wear a cone of any kind! Life is pretty good though mum says for me not to get too excited…I still am on activity restrictions for another week or so. Still, it feels good to get out and walk about sniffing for flowers without that bloody cone. I ‘pawsitively’ feel groovy these days, especially in my new tie-dyed scarf mum made for me.
Elsa: You do look pretty spiffy if I say so myself, big guy. And thanks for helping out with the nature flower parade. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Juneteenth weekend celebration. Cheers!
Norman: Cheerio, mates!
Elsa: Ugh, this guy is so thick. It’s live, love, bark! 🐾 you British dolt!
That is attractive and interesting
Many thanks.
thanks regards
You’re too kind, Jan. Have a great Fourth!
Norman looks adorable!! I love the flowers especially with the rain drops.
It was early in the morning right after I watered (I only wish we’d get some rain!) 😁
We were getting too much rain. And now nothing. 🤣🤣🤣
In the first 19 days of June, we were 90 or above for 12 days. 🥵 I can do with less record setting days.
Wow!!! That is hot. We got a few hot days too which is unusual for June. I am thankful for air conditioning.
It has been unusually hot for June. July and August are the really hot ones so I’m rather dreading it. In the good news department, there’s only 91 days until autumn. 🤣
🤣🤣🤣
What a great conversation you both had, Norman and Elsa. No watering…really 😉 Granny says that to me too, she says she can see…and smell… it immediately. Mostly the flowers can’t handle mine…MOL…Your flowers look tremendously, so I believe it 😉 Pawkisses for a Happy Sunday to all of you…oh…and have I already mentioned that you look so handsome with your new look🐾😽💞
We’re a little late to the party, but it happens. With us it happens A LOT.
Ducky is recovering from a skin infection caused by the itch/scratch (bite, lick) cycle resulting from an allergic reaction to something (what, however, is still a mystery). Thankfully, I caught it early and got her to the vet when I saw that the 3x daily applications of coconut oil wasn’t helping. (Wasn’t hurting, either, thank goodness.) But that said, Ducky is also happy to now be walking around “coneless”; and sends sympathetic best wishes to Norman for his continued recovery.
Sorry about Ducky’s skin infection but glad you got it squared away. Cones are the pits any time but especially in the summer when it’s hot. Extra ear rubs for your sweet girl.
If peonies weren’t meant to be peed on, they shouldn’t have named them pee-on-mes….
🤣
I’d fly there for the sunflower seeds but someone probably “watered” them.
Only the leaves get watered. 😉
liked watching
Thanks for swinging by and for the follow. We <3 visitors.
Thanks
I love that you adopted an English sheepdog with an accent. Not all of them keep it but Norman could fit in the British countryside quite nicely.
Why thank you. I personally think OES’s never lose their accent but can’t imagine Norman talking any other way. 😆
What a wonderful tour! Thanks you two……that clematis is a “knock out” – that was always my Mom’s favorite color for them too – don’t have clematis in our own yard to enjoy this year – maybe next year. Normie – I just KNOW you are over the moon with happy to be rid of the evil cone! Mostly we’re happy that you have recovered from your very scary condition that caused your operation. You are one tough dood!
Hugs, Teddy
We all love that clematis for its beautiful color. If memory serves mum’s, it’s the lovely Jackmanii cultivar.
And you’d be correct, Teddy…I am practically over the moon about being coneless. Summertime is no time to wear a cone around one’s head. It makes this double coated boy way too hot!
Your fur-iend,
Norman
You have such a great garden! That clematis, kärhö in Finnish, is my favourite, you also have many plants not growing here.
I love the conversation between Elsa and Norman.
Have a nice day!
Kristiina
Thanks, Kristiina. That kärhö is the Jackmanii cultivar, my favorite. Such a beautiful shade of purple. All our plants are specific for our mountain desert climate. Water is too precious to try for non-xeriscape type plants. We hope you and Kosmo have a wonderful weekend! ‘Haleja’ from all of us.
How cute, haleja to you all. That Clematis Jacmannii is amazing!
Yes, we think so too! We lost a couple on the wrought iron pergola over the years and replaced them since I love that purple color so much.
Thanks so much for the tour of your lovely garden you two! So many flowers to choose from…Mama says she especially loves the clematis!!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
Thanks Rosy, Jakey & Arty. We’re big fans of the Jackmanii cultivar clematis. That purple just blows me away, every summer.
Thank you for you for showing us your beautiful flowers and for the two entertaining and informative guides
Thanks for the kind words. We try to provide humor and useful info whenever we can. We can use more of each these days. 😊
Your so handsome Norman and the flowers are beautiful.
Thanks, I try. 💙
Thanks; we are pleased to be able to share our garden flowers with everyone.
Oh, you do look quite groovy, Norman! Thanks for the lovely nature tour, you two! ♥
Our pleasure. We both hope you have a groovy weekend.
Wonderfully done, Norman and Elsa! In our old house, we had Hemerocallis. I do miss them so. Will have to plant some here, one day..
They are a great edition to any garden.
Agree
Great story, Elsa and Norm: loved to read it, and am still smiling.
Have a great weekend, and stay healthy,
Pit
Thank you. We do make quite the pair, don’t we?
That makes us glad…guess our work is done for the weekend!
Great tour, Norman and Elsa. Thank you.
Thanks John. We’re hoping mom lets us do more garden tours in the future. We have better noses for sniffing out good stuff. ☺️
Yes and portable watering devices.
Oh Elsa and Norman cracked me up! I do wish though that Elsa would share her secret about the rolling! Would love to know why our Yorkie insists on doing that!
Happy Junettenth to you and all! Happy Weekend!
That face rolling is a mystery for peeps. We dogs know why but we ain’t sharing. Bark, bark!
Your fur-iend,
Elsa 🐾
Well we all are entitled to our secrets. 🙂 Here is a treat for you Elsa. Ssh! Don’t tell Norman.
So pretty. Glad Norman no longer needs his cone, although I always think that pets with cones look like flowers! 😀
That’s a great analogy! I’ll ask Norman if he wants to be my flower bouquet. 😁
<3
Kids,
You rock the casbah as garden correspondents. And you’re serving up nature’s most succulent
dishes at that! Well done. 🙂
Thank you, kind sir. We figured since we have the whole nose thing going on we could probably do as good a job as mom, if not better. She didn’t buy it if you can believe it. ‘Pawrents!!’ Go figure.
You guys hit it out of the (dog) park.
Hilarious! Well done and thanks for the tour of the garden! Extra skritches for the dogs for a well presented post.
Many thanks. As you can tell we never get enough scritches. At least not in our minds.
Mee-yow wo Norm you are so hansum inn yore tye dye!! Furabuluss!
An Elsa yore so funny THE way you teeze Norman…that meenss you REELLY like him alot rite??
All THE flowerss are gorgeeuss! Clematiss iss mee faverite…so purpell…..
**purrss** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) LadyMew too
Thanks sweet kitty. Norman thinks I’m teasing him but sometimes I’m quite serious. Don’t tell mom though. She gets upset if I bully…Er…give Norman a hard time. 😉
I think we can all agree that “don’t pee on the peonies” are words we can live by. Norman’s expression makes him look like the most sincere dog in the world. I’d buy a used car from him.
That big lunkhead would sell you one too!
Your fri-end,
Elsa 🐾
Best news is no cone. One more week of light duty and you’ll be right as rain.
Lovely conversation and lovely nature shots. Watered or not.
Have a fabulous weekend. My best to your mom. 😍
As a now coneless bloke and ace waterer, I am right grateful for your kind words! Have yourself a ‘pawfect’ weekend.
OMG Norman… you are so cute! Tell mama you’re doing insect control by peeing on flowers! Doesn’t matter if it doesn’t really help, you’re a doggie! you do what you can! And that face! “You aughta be in pictures”
Why thank you very much for the kind words. You think my sister will act as an agent for me? 😁
Insect control? Hmm, I think I can carry that excuse off.
cheerion and live love bark… and thanks for a wonderful post!!!
{Both dogs blushing} Thanks!