Burr Man

Burn weekend!

And since it hadn't rained all week, I really wanted to take advantage of the fire. So, while it was smoldering I went to the "no man's land" at the north border and went after some weeds. The space is wild with a shrub border that I'm trying to rehabilitate and make cohere as an effective border. It's a challenge. The neighbor, whose grown kid came outside, sat on the deck, and watched me battle the invasives, doesn't really bother with the space at all. So, if I want to rid it of buck thorn, garlic mustard, and other foul invasive species, I got to do the work.

Seven wheelbarrow-full of greenery went into the flames today. Of course not all of it burned -- because it was green -- but weather permitting, there is still a few more weekends to burn before the season comes to a close.

I worked up a sweat.

And, I collected a burr and nettle or two in the process.

Sharon looks mildly annoyed as she plucks the stickers from me.

The photographer, Arianna, just thought it was funny.

Herbst

Autumn officially arrives sometime tomorrow. 

We've already experienced unseasonably cool weather. But, today was nice and I walked around the garden and started cutting back this and that.

It's hard to believe Summer is behind us.

Pollinators are still busy: spot the bee . . .

The Winterberry has fruited. Against the backdrop of perennial sunflowers -- Lemon Queen -- the red berries really pop. As you can see from the photo, flower petals have already started to drop. In a couple weeks, I'll cut the flowers down to the ground and the berries will be all alone.  

Bruno's hibiscus: The last bloom . . . 

In Spring I moved the clematis from beneath a rose through which it was supposed to climb to a bird bath. The vine is sprouting new growth and should perform exceptionally next year.

The gigantic sedum in all its glory. I brought this to the Cottage Garden at the front of the house two years ago. It loves all the sun it gets here. I'm in the process of replanting the bed and so will move the sedum a few feet to the left, where it will better serve as a focal point.

Date Night

One of the perks of Sharon's new job is that she is a bona fide member of the press. Yep, she actually has a press pass. With that comes the opportunity for her to see plays for free in exchange for a review at the Epoch Times website.

Sharon says that she wants to go into town every Thursday to see a performance. I think that's ambitious, but . . . .

Theater companies customarily set aside complimentary tickets for the actors' family and friends, press (and their guest), and so forth. Tonight I accompanied Sharon to the Looking Glass Theater to see Death Tax.

Looking Glass is one of those storied Chicago theater companies -- much like Steppenwolf -- that started back in the days before the interweb, cell phones, and GPS devices on our dashboards. Thank goodness for the latter because starting for the city at 5pm is indeed a stressful proposition. Had it not been for the "alternative route" suggested by the GPS, we might very well have been late. As it was we arrived only minutes before the start of the show. Sufficient time to use the rest rooms but not much else.

You know that moment when unexpectedly you see somebody you know? You're taken aback, maybe astonished. That's what happened to me as I walked through the lobby the entrance of the seating area. A few well heeled, but young-ish, folks were in line having their tickets checked for seat numbers when a noticed a fellow to my right. Somebody who was part of the party, but had not yet joined them. It was one of the original founding members of the Looking Glass theater, a Northwestern grad, and television personality. I noticed him and after a pause recognized him. Just as I recognized him he looked at me and realized that I knew who he was. A kind of "Oh no" expression momentarily crossed his face. Much to his relief, I'm sure, I joined Sharon, who'd witnessed the exchange, and we were shown to our seats.

Not being a devotee of Friends Schwimmer needn't have have concerned himself about my disrupting his evening out with pals by asking for, say, an autograph. But, when he took his seat next to mine, Sharon did make some comic remarks.

As for the play . . . .

Well acted, of course, but not a traditional setup in the least. On the drive home we bandied about ideas about what it all meant. You can read Sharon's take on it here.

Little Thespian

On Friday, Arianna auditioned for the school play. The production is a staging of three short Alfred Hitchcock-like radio mysteries. It's a comedy. 

Arianna was hesitant to audition. In fact, she said she would not audition. Something changed her mind. I'm glad she did because she was awarded three parts - one in each of the shorts. 

First meeting is Wednesday.

Play goes up in early November!

Pollinators

Lovely day. A bit warmer than Saturday - yesterday. 

If you take time to stop and observe there is really a lot going on in the garden his time of year. 

The New England Asters are blooming and the bees are swarming all around them . . .

Self-sown brown-eyed susan amidst feather reed grass and spiderwort in its Autumn bloom . . .  

A view toward the front of the house, the new mixed bed . . .

Neglect . . . bindweed overruns a yew at the side of the house . . .

Sedum in bloom and in demand. Just look at the number of pollinators on the blooms! You can't believe how many different types of bees visit the garden throughout the growing season . . .

Oh, no! What's this? Yesterday's labor . . . the island in which a Butterfly Bush is planted is now connected to the east border. The larger shrubs are my neighbors lilacs. The space will be planted primarily in purples and blues with white and gold as accent colors.

Constancy

Homework is a constant.

Math in particular seems to be assigned every night.

Although the amount of the work is not insurmountable, it is a bit more challenging.

Hmm

I was digging in the Cottage Garden when Arianna came outside looking for Sharon. I told her that Sharon went for a walk and asked her if I could help her. I stepped out of the bed. Arianna opened her textbook and said, "I don't know if you can help me Daddy. You have to be able to think."

I assured Arianna that her Mother would be back at the house momentarily.  

Creatures

Beautiful, bright Saturday morning. Heat has moderated considerably. What a bizarre stretch of weather we've had of late: hot and humid - Summer like. Not what you expect once school is underway. But this morning the weather was fine and I began my day surveying this and that with the camera.

I know it's my imagination, but it seems too early for Sweet Autumn Clematis to be in bloom . . .

Insects aren't unusual in the garden, but grasshoppers are a rare sight . . .

Caterpillars too . . .

 And this . . . 

I'd never seen anything like it before. So itty-bitty, so green . . .

 

Football Friday

Arianna was asked to go to tonight's football game. She took a change of clothes with her to school and she and several girls spent time at one of their parents' house in Elgin until game time. Initially Arianna was wary of accepting the invitation. But, when Sharon and I drove to St. Ed's to pick her up she was all smiles.