All Is Not Lost...But

Yeppper, the lawn is gone. It's either lack of water because I did ignore it the last four weeks and only about one inch of rain fell, or it's just plain stagnant air that creates disease. It wasn't this bad last year. Plenty of  90 degree plus days this summer.

What were once Shasta Daisies...

This thing finally took off and a blue Morning Glory flower appeared the other morning. Strangely it flowered until the evening unlike the others that peter out about 11AM.

I don't know how these Columbines are going to make it. About 6-8 weeks to the first frost. I started some from seed back on May 7 and finally let them loose about three weeks ago. Still so fragile. Left of screen...

Zinnias have no problem around here except for some wilts now and then, but that's everywhere. Creeping Jenny and a perennial Hibiscus thrown in there.

Cactus Zinnia I think they call them. About 5-6 feet high...

Joe Pye weed leaning. They weren't there last year as the area was a wheel barrel ramp...

Coleus, purple?? and some other things that didn't grow as the seed pack suggested in a spot that is extremely wet underneath (6-8 inches down) because of the drain field. Coleus are from cuttings about six weeks ago.

Lantana, Red Salvia (damned those things grow, dead head every two weeks) and more Zinnia from the porch...

These whachamacallits did real well this year...I'm too hungry to remember...lunch time

Dog Days Of August

Somebody made that phrase popular and now I understand the context. It's just been too darned hot and humid to get motivated and do much around here. I did predict this summer would be hot:( Some plants are getting that powdery mildew problem including Impatiens. I thought those critters were immune to practically everything. My Dianthus up the drive are croaking (50% remain), yet the ones near the house are doing very well. And none reseeded. I was hoping for that. Must be the type?

One bright spot on the right of the fence is the shamrock ground cover with small white flowers. It took them awhile to get going. Finally amounting to something. Maybe next year the area will be full.

Here are some projects from last month. A new rock garden in the woods with another trail. Some of the new hostas found a home there and Impatiens moved from another spot. Oh yea, some Creeping Jenny in there along with some small Columbines I started from seed. Hard to say if they'll make it as they're so fragile looking. I got tired of looking at them in small pots on the porch.

Moving up to the drive on the west side of the house is another railroad tie garden. Hostas and some other stuff I don't remember in there. Naturally more Impatiens and those other shade plants... Begonias(not faring too well)

On the other side shows some leftover flagstone that I cut into pieces to create separate areas...

And look what I found in the septic system. The biggest culprit, not to mention 200 pounds of roots growing here and there was a two foot glob that clogged the drain field pipe. I prefer not to go there again. I now can understand the importance of building inspections. I doubt they had one for septic in '91 when this place was built.

So that's about where things stand nowadays. The next project is doing something with the septic area. Rather than dig, dig, and dig in case it has to be pumped again, I liked the idea of creating a rock pile (right of photo) so I know where the stupid thing is next time! Looks like it's time for some better steps (I moved the old ones) over here and maybe a small platformed deck overlooking the new garden areas.

And yes, the Morning Glories finally came out...

Time For Some Maintenance

I let this repair drag on mainly because I didn't want to hear the worst case scenario. My fear is the drain field may be clogged from who knows what. Having discovered and uncovered part of where the septic was two months ago, the honey truck was finally called in. Knowing very little about the systems, that darned Sycamore only 20 feet away tree started leaching into it. Scott the crapper pumper mentioned in typical Georgia drawl..."Kin, you jest mite have some roots growin' and cloggin' it all up(where it empties into the drain field) on the other side."

Shown in the first pic is a side view before pumping. This is a 1,000 gallon tank (two people have said that) that I guess measures something like 10 x 10 x 10...but it looks like only five feet wide? Apparently it extends about 10 feet to the left in the picture below.

Shown from above or on the side porch, all sorts of smallish roots and matted material...

So that's where I'm at now. I need to dig up other side so I can access the other lid and find out what's clogging it. Hopefully it's a simple cure because the drain field runs into my new garden areas. Why this tank was built this way doesn't make sense, but this place was designed as a weekend retreat and not a permanent home. Accessing the tank requires digging under two foot of soil. I suppose it needs to be pumped every 5-7 years according to Scott but I have plans for a wooden stair way here similar to the one on the other side of the house but longer... That sure screws things up!

And we have a roofer in the house. After the bird feeder got dumped a few months ago it needed a roofing repair....

Random Happenings

Yesterday afternoon while sitting on the porch having s half a smoke, I heard this yelp..or so it sounded like it,  then a domino effect sound. I knew the log pile fell over. I thought it had been leaning. Guess that's why a cord is measured four feet inn height. It got up to five or six feet. Shown is Lewis inspecting the grounds this morning. I wouldn't have minded if that neighbor dog that yaps at 5 AM was under it, but nope.

Good thing my elephant ear didn't get buried, but lost were 3 or 4 Caladiums.

What good are those little dogs that "mouth off" for no reason? Two weeks ago the place sounded like a freaking kennel out of control. It was horrible! There are something like (3) adult mutts and four or five puppies. I had enough, and made my displeasure known. It was okay for a few weeks until the past few days. First time I've been displeased with my neighbor.

Now good old Lewis (pictured) is a good dog. He barks when necessary, not just to exercise the jaw for nothing. A few days ago while visiting, Lewis begins barking. I figured some critter was about. Sure enough a Heron across the creek appeared unfased by his barking and didn't budge. I don't think Lewis wanted to chase it, as he did his thing from my porch.

Look here, a sunflower opens up. I can't understand why someone up 52 on the way to town has rows and rows of these things and yet mine are decreped looking. Oh well, I don't know how to spell it either.

El Presidente or whatever Lily flowering. Those things aren't healthy looking either...Forget all the Calla Lilies (not shown). I guess they'll wait till next year.

Here's a bright surprise up the drive. It wasn't there last year and is going to town. It's either some kind of wild morning glory, potato vine? Loaded with buds. Incidentally, one flowering morning glory this morning on the side of the house up the chicken wire trellis I built. Maybe all is not lost?

I gave up on the Allysum along the wall here. Now there's some creeping Jenny. Hopefully it will fall over the wall nicely over the next few months. Hard to see, just planted but they're in between the mounding Petunias on the edge. Those sprawling Petunias (last year) are a better choice there.

We just may have some tomatoes soon...someday.

Fish fertilizer. I've been hearing about it..not sure how well it works but I did put some in the hanging planter a few days ago and the plant greened up big time.

July 4 Parade In Ellijay

I never made it last year, my first full year in the area, so I wasn't about to miss it this year. Come to think about it I haven't been to a 4th of July parade in I don't know how many years. Impressive turnout if you ask me, with most of the crowd seemingly out of town folk from the half dozen I polled. The parade starts down near the Pepsi plant or at the corner of Sailers Drive and River Street, runs up River around the roundabout and north to the school area where the annual firework display is held.

What's a holiday without politicians pushing their promises and tossing candy to the kids? I had one guy try shoving a flier in my face when taking some of these pictures. Dude, sure I'll vote for you...but can't you see I'm doing something here?

Old cars...to...

little dogs...and..

Girls on horseback waving their southern heritage...The one in the rear had a smile for miles.

American Legion...

Looking west to the roundabout...

"What's next?" Asks Ryan after the parade ended.

"Let's just sit here and watch the people" These two girls really stuck out walking back and forth repeatedly. Ryan finally asked them what the purpose was.

"To look cool." Oh my, you figure that one out but this is what I discovered while searching the subject on Google. Sad, if it's the case here.