Summer time and growing season

My garden has grown big time the last month that I been away. Yesterday I decided it was time to do some cut back and bring some semblance of order to the back yard. The blue porter flowers were totally out control.
The weather was pleasant early in the morning but by 10 am the sun was up the heat index was more that I could take, all I had time to do was clean the pond and cut back one of my small beds, next week I’ll go after the rest of the back garden.

Picture before

After

The home renovation goes on

As you all know, my family and I moved in late June to the house next door while our home was renovated. The idea was to be back home by Labor Day, the renovation was supposed to be for a new kitchen and two bathrooms. By now the job has grown and it has touched every room in the house. Every time my wife tells me “as long as we are doing this why don’t we do that” I cringe.
Labor day approaches the job is nowhere near completion and way over budget. Every morning the contractor tells me “Don’t worry I will be out of here by Labor Day, I have another job pending” words that don’t give any relief.

My cell rings at the most inopportune time during the day at work and it’s always the same “we need your authorization to do this or to buy that” I am at the point where I say yes to everything. My advise to any one considering a renovation is, “Don’t” buy a new house instead.

My garden has been abandon for the last two months, I simply don’t have the time or energy to go out there and spend time with my plants, there is contraction equipment and materials all over. They keep telling me that they will clean it up, but the way I see it I am going to need to start from scratch in about 50% of the garden.
During all this chaos my orchids are blooming.

Hi, Blogger friends! The family and I had a very nice vacation at Sanibel Island Florida. The weather was great and the island was fantastic.
Here are some pictures.

The wild life is all over the island.

Shelling is a popular past time in Sanibel (It's addictive; the wife and I picked our share)

Biking in the island is a great past time. The island has bike trails all over (who needs a car?)

Gardening in the island is a challenge; the best way to go is with native, drought resistant plants.

I came back to the real world this week and I wish I hadn’t. My house renovation project did not progress as fast as I had planned. My boss decided to come to Miami for his annual inspection visit, and my garden looks abandoned with overgrown plants, weeds, and many casualties from the heat and lack of rain. I shouldn’t complain, though-- I had a great vacation!