TDIF! Welcome to the this week’s edition of Nature Friday on the last Friday in June. We’re joining those adorable Pacific Northwest anipals,’ Rosy, Sunny, Arty and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard. Where in the bloody blue blazes did June go? It seems like just yesterday we were walking in snow boots all bundled up in sweaters and mittens and now we’re spending most of the day sitting in front of a fan sipping a cool beverage. Perhaps because 2020 was the year from hell seeming to never end that 2021 is on a speedy trajectory to put as much space between it and last year’s train wreck. Either way, it’s hard to comprehend the year is half over.
Before we take a look at nature, did you know today is “National Take Your Dog to Work Day?” Celebrated annually on the Friday following Father’s Day, today is another way to honor one of our most beloved pets. Created by Pet Sitters International (PSI) in 1999, National Take Your Dog to Work Day celebrates our love for dogs. If your employer is one of the approximately 300 businesses who host a National Take Your Dog to Work Day event, good for you! When I was working, I’d have given my left arm to bring a pet to work and think it’s why I’m so enthusiastic about bringing smiles to nurses and staff during pet therapy visits. Does your company allow you to bring your pet to work with you?
So now let’s check out what Nature brought us this past week, shall we? On Sunday I spent the day celebrating Father’s Day with my dad, son, grandson and one of my brothers. It was great fun spending the day with 4 of my favorite guys in the world, made even more fun over a terrific lunch at a local Mexican food restaurant with yummy food and yummier margaritas. Could we have a table for 5, er…no make that a table for six?
Umm, sorry, ma’am…pets aren’t allowed in the restaurant. Since I wasn’t able to take that little guy inside with us to lunch, I just watched him out in the garden.
The Stella d’Oro reblooming daylilies are alive and well right now and make for a blooming cacophony around the neighborhood. These beauties prefer sunny conditions but will tolerate some partial shade and will tolerate humidity and heat. Their watering needs are mostly average, but they will require more water during dry spells. Generally, Stella d’Oro is an easy to grow daylily that will generally tolerate a variety of conditions and make a lovely addition to any garden.
Not willing to accept competition from daylilies, Clematis vine is another strong contender for beauty of the week. One of my favorite vines, this particular guy greets me on my daily walks with the dogs. Don’t you just love these pale purple blooms? One of the better flowering vines that has adapted well to Colorado’s arid conditions, they come in a variety of shades of purple, blue, pink and white. Shades of red and yellow are also available. Clematis do best with at least 6 hours of sunlight in well drained soil and do not like their roots being water-logged, so mulching around their base is critical.
While most of the Western U.S. continues to scorch with record setting triple-digits, the Mile High City gets a slight reprieve beginning today through the weekend. We’re hoping some showers will accompany the mild temps. While there were a few thunderstorms last night, mostly it was just noise with few drops. With 4 active fires burning in the state, rain would be most helpful so we’re keeping our paws crossed.
So what plans do you have for the weekend? Don’t forget to give your precious pet an extra ear or belly rub from us while you’re enjoying some of nature’s finest.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Love clematis!
Me too. I wish I were a better steward of the purple ones I have climbing up a wrought iron gazebo. Luckily it’s pretty forgiving of my benign care. 😉
I tried them here in crazy zone 10A. Not great results.
They don’t like ‘wet-feet’ at all. Luckily I’m so stingy with water so that’s never going to be a problem but I should add more compost around the base. I probably need to do better about removing the dead wood from the previous season I think.
Yes, they have some unique water and pruning requirements.
I was so sure I had responded to this post but I guess it was one of those open, get side-tracked, close the computer and well…
What a lovely lizard.
It has been take your dog to work ever since people started coming into the office sporadically. We have the boxer, Colonel Mustard – sweetest boy ever; then we have Maggie, a chocolate lab who is more shy but still lovable. Maggie has a sister who must come when no other dogs are there because she only loves Maggie. Her name is Lexie and she is a sweet Pittie. And lastly, we have Capri, a lovely little golden, who is a rather rambunctious young 9-month old lady. It’s been fun having them running around.
That daylily Stella d’Oro – is she related to the hemerocallis? Those purple clematis are a lovely shade as well!
All around lovely post, my friend!
What a wonderful office space! I’m sure I would have been far my productive if we’d have had canine visitors.
You’re too kind. I was fascinated by that lizard. Quick as lightning.
You know your plants, lady-hemerocallis is a kind of daylily.
What a lovely lizard.
And a real speedy one at that!
Where I work in a nursing home, us employees can’t bring our pets in with us, but sometimes the management does on the pretense of letting the residents enjoy them…for a while we even had our own ‘resident pup’ but he left when his manager (the then CEO) left for other venue
And thanks so much for the seeds! I got them yesterday:)
One day in the future, I shall have to let everyone see how the plants they (hopefully) produce are doing…
Hurrah…so glad the seeds arrived! Fingers crossed that they germinate for you. 🤞🏼
I love just about any flower that is any shade of purple – it’s my favorite color! And I love daylilies.
As for “National Take Your Dog to Work Day”, when I was still working, the company I worked for had s**t fits whenever I had to take one of the dogs to the vet. They were a bunch of a-holes; so when they decided it was time to excess those of us who refused to uproot our families to move to Arkansas, I pretty much thumbed my nose at them. I never regretted it either. Especially when I learned that many who did make the move were later excessed anyway. Nice company, huh?
Sadly they’re probably typical. I basically retired early because of my work. They didn’t care that the stress and demands were affected my health while my mom was in hospital and hospice over 100 miles away (worked horrible hours all week snd spent the weekends driving back and forth to see mom). My boss actually asked if I’d consider working part time just to accommodate him knowing that the work/stress pretty much caused me to lose 30 lbs. from it. My department manager realized it and was heartbroken the I felt my only option was to retire. I had worked for the firm for 25 years and had a stellar reputation. Their loss. 😡
I’m with you on purple flowers. They bring so much beauty to the garden.
Lulu: “Here I thought restaurants mostly discriminated against dogs, and now I hear the discriminate against lizards too. Is there no end to their silly rules?”
Apparently not. Discrimination seems to be everywhere these days.
I’m reading your post while sitting here waiting for my next 2 grooms to show up. I’ve already done some much-needed painting this morning, and am doing a good house cleaning tomorrow morning before meeting the new Rabbi (from where I work) at my house and 2 more grooms. Then more grooms on Monday with a trip to the vet for a vaccination for Xena. Well…you asked!
So glad you had a great weekend last week with your best guys for Father’s day. And can you believe they woudn’t let the little lizard in the restaurant, LOL!
Enjoy the rest of your day and weekend.
Wow, I feel like such a slug compared to you. Impressive accomplishments! Well done.
It’s unfortunate restaurants in the Southwest discriminate against Southwest critters. 🦎 I mean it’s not like he was a scorpion!
Exactly!
What a beautiful collection of flowers this week…we can’t believe that lizard was refused entry into the restaurant LOL!!
Thanks. Yeah, I didn’t want to say they were biased against lizards…but… 😆
I can see how hot it has been by the petal scorch on that clematis, poor thing doesn’t like the heat! Hopefully, you’ll get some rain to dampen things. Have a great weekend!
Thanks. Yes we’ve had a number of triple digit days lately. Enjoyed a small shower this afternoon. The dogs however were not amused by it 🙃
Work? What is that again?
Ha! Not everyone can stay home. Hope you gave Max extra treats and belly rubs today. Just because. And I hope he’s feeling better these days.
What a kewl Lizard frend you have there Miss Monika!!!
It must have been lovelee to see yore furamillee again.
Yore Tiger Lilliess an Clematis are speck-taculur…trulee……
***purrss*** BellaDharma an <3 LadyMew
Those lizards are quick as lightning! I was barely able to freeze frame for a second! He wasn’t very thrilled about posing for me.
Are Lizardss fast like Squirrelss??
Much faster!
Take you dog to work? What is work?
🤣
My old house had a bright blue clematis. I miss it. As soon as I get time to work on the yard here, I’m going to try to find the same variety to plant.
Ooh, I’ll bet it was gorgeous! Love blue in the garden. It’s a great attractor for butterflies and bees.
I am a huge fan of clematis – and that purple color is my favorite. SO nice you had a visit with family – I saw my sister for the first time in over a year….so wonderful to HUG again………
Love, Pam
Hugs have loads more meaning these days for sure!
So pretty! Will do a rain dance.
Thanks, we can definitely use any good juju to wake up the Rain Gods. Happy weekend.
The chickens killed our clematis bush! They thought the area around it was perfect for dust bathing, but the plant didn’t like that. I kept meaning to move it….best laid plans and all that! A portion of it may still be salvageable, if I can get around to doing it this time!
Our weather has been more spring than summer like lately, but it’ll be hot again starting tomorrow I think.
Have a great weekend!
Doggone it. That’s too bad. Clematis can be tricky and they’re definitely picky about their ‘feet.’ Hope you are able to save yours. Have a super weekend.
both of those flowering bushes thrived in my Maryland yard, and boy did we have the humidity being so close to the bay! heat and humidity. I miss them here. The high heat seems to slow down some growth in our part of CO close to you but such a different microclimate.
The heat certainly can affect plant growth but the elevation and thus UV levels are more intense probably more contribute more. Here’s to a splendid weekend to you, Drew and sweet Milo.
We’re enjoying our stay with Mary’s daughter Sarah and two lovely and friendly doggies: one is her own and the other is the one she’s dog-sitting with.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Pit
Outstanding. Glad you had a good visit. Hope your weekend is equally outstanding.
Love your nature Friday. Nature is so soothing.
Love the lizard and we have many here. We just love them. The flowers are beautiful.
Now I’m hungry for Mexican food.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups and a smooch to Norman. ♥
You’re too kind, Sandee. Yes, Nature has amazingly soothing qualities to it. As for Mexican food, I recommend a nice crispy chile relleno. 😋
When I worked, our employer allowed pets most days. It was a mostly positive experience, so those of you working enjoy those furry creatures.
Oh what a great environment. Wish the law firm would have been as forward thinking! Happy weekend!
My plans for the weekend? To go to work for my dogs as usual….
Haha…they no doubt deserve it. Wishing you, Leo and the Thugs a great weekend.
Mom doesn’t go out to work, so she let me help her wash the bedroom windows and curtains. I did not get a coffee break.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Sounds like there were child labor laws that were violated. Hope you get some treats for all your snoopervision work.