Only Hort/Bot geeks will truly appreciate my latest fun fact, which is: did you know, the wild blue chicory flowers (Mediterranean origins) that grow along roads, the chicory roots that are ground up for a coffee substitute, the salad greens called chicory, the Belgian/French endive, and red endive also known as radicchio (this:) ,

are all in the same family?  Ok, maybe y’all knew that, but I just discovered it by accident.  Blue flowers, identical to the roadside weeds, were growing on the radicchio stalks, and upon researching them, I found out all the above.

While I have you captivated (?), here are more okra shots (again, boring, but exotic to me), a sweet banana pepper, and more purple pole beans.  The latter are normal size; that’s how long these okra got, by comparison.

Which leads me to my other fun fact of the day–the humble okra and this tropical hibiscus are both in the same family, which also includes hollyhock, mallows, rose of sharon, and perennial hibiscus, among many diverse others.  I think they’re all beautiful and exotic in their own way.

Since we appear to live in a tropical climate now, I’ve added some tropicals to the mix–tropical hibiscus and mandevilla. They’ll eventually winter over in our future sunroom–until the climate changes to actual tropical.  Coming soon…

For now, the ubiquitous, common, but uncommonly colorful sunflowers, morning glories, black-eyed susans, squash blossoms, okra, partridge pea, and my latest, comfrey flowers, rule the day.

We hopefully contributed to my son’s birthday by coming over and watching the kids while he got some work done.  The kids and I made him cards, decorated with balloons and streamers, cleaned up the great room, and played in the pool.  We added our blueberry and cherry pies to the excellent apple pie (we really do like pie) and cinnamon walnut babka D&V made.  Eventually Avdi opened his presents, and we all had hotdogs and fixings by D&V, with ample pie for dessert.

My son has a lot on his plate (besides pie) right now, but I hope in some way we eased some of the load and made his day better.  He works so hard to take care of his family and meet all his heavy obligations, and it’s clear they love him and are loved very much.  I know I for one am savoring and storing up these days I’m able to spend with my son and Gkids for future, leaner times.

These are my fireworks.  Much less noisy, smelly, and hot.  For me the 4th is just the day before my son’s birthday, the real occasion.  Also, I’m not into nazi military campaign parades at the taxpayers’ expense, while children are dying at the border.  It’s hard to feel patriotic toward a country that allows such criminal injustice.  That’s all I’m saying.

It’s like a greenhouse out there this morning, especially after an evening rain.  Colors are exploding more than ever.

The first silk appeared on some corn.  Mushrooms are multiplying, a good sign that the soil quality is improving with  organic amendments.

Misu sits like a sphinx each morning, overseeing her queendom.

In keeping with the summer theme, I made this fresh watermelon, mango, and mint salad to cool things down.

It’s so hot here, you just stand outside for a few minutes and you’re pouring sweat.  I have to restrict my gardening activities to minimal maintenance and snapping a few photos.

Misu stays hydrated any way she can, when not flopping in cool places.  Even the raven family takes advantage of the bird bath (and veg garden), though they’re still too shy to sit for photos.  They aren’t too shy to pull out all my veg markers, though.  We watched them at it the other day.  Tricksters.

Here are more sunflowers, morning glories, and the persistent first zinnia.

Despite the heat, the acreage must get mowed.  I earned this watermelon margarita, made from scratch.