it's been cooler here too. in mid 60s at night - I could use long sleeves and long pants at least when I take dog out in the middle of the night. days are running in the high 90s. this next week it looks like 3 days at 97 and the others in the 80s. that'll be a big help to me. the heat really gets to me these days. the rib does seem better today. still some pain getting up tho. not doing anything strenuous for a time - and little to no arm movement (not out raking or anything) either. If it didn't ease up, I figured I'd need to get a doctor. I'll be working on that come Monday anyway. I had to go to ER about 6 wks ago and it seems doc and I didn't agree on things, so i'm getting a different one. murraysmom - sorry that you lost Fred. that is just devastating! It is hard on the partner canines too. I think time does help, but I still have dreams where my past dogs are in them. I still miss my 2 who got wings in 2010 and 2012. but this monster I have now, keeps me busy - and makes me laugh. She's a nut case. I'd be lonely without her. keep busy and spend time with Carmelita to fill her time too. more tomorrow on other posts. my hands are tired.

Julia: So sorry to hear about the postponement for surgery. It may be a blessing in disguise with the hospitals packed with Coronavirus patients (or not)....... Debra: I hope you get well quickly and if in doubt have yourself tested. I read today that Tom Hanks said that all he feels from having the virus is kind of "blah". Hopefully that's all anyone will feel if they contract it...........Brad: What a hoot on "stalking the wild toilet paper roll". Nan: May everyone recover and your son's business weather the storm. It's absolutely crazy to see what's happened in the blink of an eye. Why people bought up all the toilet paper for a virus that is respiratory in nature caught me off guard. This isn't the green apple two step flu.........I was just bringing out my small pots of daylilies I've overwintered in the garage, when they said we will have a low Friday night of 28. Yo Yo weather indeed....... BTW. We are like everyone else on supplies. I'm wondering where my Sears & Roebuck catalog might be.............Maryl

katiedolittle, It's the ones you sent me, Roger. Intense Rainbow and Pink Pansy have 2 branches each; Bali Whirl has 3 branches. They are beautiful and the leaves are all healthy and green. My Aztec Gold has bloomed already this year and I expect it to do so again ... It's a prolific bloomer. I forgot I gave away all the seed-grown except one, LaJolla Sunset. That one was a runt, so I kept it so I can nurse it. It is now growing beautifully. When I moved, I gave away 4 Miami Rose, 3 LaJolla Sunset, and 1 NoID Pink. One of the Miami Rose had 4 branches. Laura just sent me seeds and I will be planting those soon. I am so excited to have my little garden come together again.

Flea beetles/grasshoppers -- I saw my 3rd grasshopper for 2022, last week. The Asian greens were flea beetle victims in the distant garden. Fairly close to everything was attacked but those brassicas are a favorite and they moved in on them early and strongly. It was something of an experiment out there since Asian greens are grown at home where there is less exposure, especially to wind. But, there are just too many seedlings at a time. Those greens did start off well out there but a second transplanting of the Asian greens burned up! We have had 6 days with afternoon temperatures above 100°. Three of those were 104-5. A little break the last few days but back to the 100's for a couple more days this week, we are told. My first sowing of green beans resulted in puny plants. The cool June must not have been to their liking. The second sowing produced big, robust plants!. The pods are just about ready for harvest. They liked the early July heat .... however, the 3rd sowing of bean seed must have baked during those 100°+ days - emergence was probably less than 50%. Since those plants are so widely spaced, we can try a third transplanting of the fall Asian greens as companions. Ha! Learning from our mistakes?? Well, it works here at home! The first sowing of sweet corn resulted in puny plants also but the ears are fairly good size and we are enjoying those now. Second sowing - robust plants! The tomato plants are rising to waist height out of their sprawl. However, there are few green fruits on them and we have only harvested a handful of Bloody Butchers & cherries. I think that the high temperatures damaged their flowers. I did knock the flea beetles off of them well and they recovered from the attack, weeks ago. Steve