Gratuitous Domestic Posting (TM) - "Plant And Be Damned" Division

I spent the better part of five hours yesterday giving the garden a thorough weeding, pruning, deadheading, etc., etc., counting my blessings that the Dee Cee area is going through a spell of cool and rainy weather unusual for this time of year.

Among my other tasks was the very pleasant one of planting some specimens I picked up during my recent trip north. First were a couple of prarie cup plants given to me by the Missus' brother-in-law when we stopped over at their place outside Boston. This member of the aster family is a monster of a plant, reaching up to eight feet or better and putting out bundles of yellow flowers that are able to catch and hold moisture, hence the name. I placed them at opposite corners in the back where, if all goes well, they should make excellent bookends. He also gave me a cutting of his Mexican milkweed. I've got lots of butterfly weed in the garden, but none with this particular color of flower. And as I counted no fewer than eight Monarch caterpillars yesterday, I daresay it certainly won't hurt to add another sample.

In addition, whilst in Maine I also scooped up a couple of specimens of goldenrod and Queen Anne's lace from the neighborhood of our cottage. In addition to the fact that I wanted a little something to remind me of the place, I happen to think these flowers make a very nice combination. Plus, everyone knows that the business of goldenrod causing hay-fever is a lot of hooey.

No doubt you're saying, "But, Tom! Those are all.....weeds!" Well, all I can say in response is that the only difference between a flower and a weed is that the former is something you want in your garden and the latter is something you don't want in your garden. In other words, it's all subjective. So there.