Saturday, August 1, 2009

This is something really odd. Two different colors on the same plant. It has both purple (as it should have) and white flowers.

We had just started our morning walk and I let my dogs loose so they could go in their own paste when I realised that Erna refused to go away from my side. Couldn´t understand why until I looked at her head. She has a a large swelling on her left cheek. I´m pretty sure it wasn´t there when I put the keach on her. So we turmed around and went home again. Then she had no problems at all to run ahead.


The shape is a bit different too. It doesn´t have the petals that sticks out around the edges. Is it more or less beautiful? Neither I think, just different.

Helianthus maximilliani, Maximilian sunflower. It´s a perennial sunflower that behaves quite nice. Most perennial sunflowers spread like weeds ( like all artichokes for instance) if they are allowed, this one doesn´t.



The swelling is most probably from a wasp or perhaps a bumble bee. If it was a bee I would have found the thorn (not the right word I think, but You know what I mean). But it is very close to her teeth so I really hope she hasn´t got an inflammation around her teeth instead. But she behaves much like my oldest dog did when she was bitten by a viper (the only poisounes snake we have here), refuses to leave me when we are outdoors. Have to check this through out the day. If it isn´t better until tomorrow morning we´ll have to call our vet.

Hyssopus officinalis, Hyssop. Can be used as a spice and it loves my garden.

But otherwise it´s a beautiful morning. The sun shines and it is getting rather warm, but the nights are getting colder now. Tonight we had around 10C (50F) and I´m wondering how that affects my tomatoe plants. I really want to have at least a couple of tomatoes :-) But an even bigger threat to my tomatoes is the magpies I think. If they see anything that catches their interest they take it.

Phlox paniculata. We call it Autumn phlox, but I found the english name to be Summer phlox.

Phlox paniculata. I have sown this from seeds I´ve gotten from a person who tries to get a clear blue phlox. As the picture shows he still has a bit to get there.



I was thinking of buying the paint to my cottage today even if the weather should change and stop any painting. I have all autumn to paint the cottage so there´s no hurry. But since Erna isn´t all that well I´ll stay home instead. One never knows how things can change, she is old and doesn´t heal so easily any longer. And if we have to go to the vet I can buy the paint on my way home, the place I´m buying it is a neighbour to the vet :-) Now it´s time for a pot of tea and then the kitchen stairs :-)
Have a great day now, I will!




Aconitum 'Bicolor', Monkshood. It´s said to be sterile so I wonder howcome it grows behind my garage? This is a plant that before was used as a poison in murder mysterie books. It is deadly poisounes but to hide the really bitter taste one has to mix it in over 200 litres (53 US gallons) :-)
Close up pictures will come later.

8 comments:

jaz@octoberfarm said...

stinger i the word you were looking for. the bee leaves it's stinger after it stings. poor erna!!! i sure hope it is nothing serious. i think one of the worst things ever is when a pet gets sick. it could be an infected tooth which would be painful. i am leaving in an hour for the antique show. it is about a 2 hour drive so my post will be late today. joyce

Anonymous said...

Pets have a way of letting you know they are hurting. I hope Erna recovers OK but if it is in the gum line or tooth, better let the vet care for Erna. It might be a tooth has to be pulled at their age, you never know. Good luck Christer.

Lovely photos, thanks.

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Joyce!
Yes, stinger is the word! Thanks!
The gum seemes totally okey though, but one never knows. So if i´t isn´t any better tomorrow morning I´m calling our vet. She eats without problems too, but like I wrote one never knows.

I hope You´ll have a great time at the antique show!
Christer.

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Z&M!
Thankfully she has surprisingly good teeth, but she can have punktured the inside with something so infections can come in, if it not is a wasp sting. She eats as usual and seemes in good spirit despit the fact it must hurt.

So if it hasn´t changed until tomorrow I´ll call the wet!
Have a great day now!
Christer.

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Christer..I commented on this post too...and it is also not here...I must be losing it or something...how strange. I am going to continue to check my comments...

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Mona!
This time they have been saved here. Irritating when this happens!
Christer.

GartenGrl said...

Hmmm...My hyssop is a lighter purple color...looks very different. I will have to look into this.
GartenGrl at Planning Plants to Plant

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Hi Garten Grl!

There is another species called Hyssop, Agastache foeniculum. It could be that one You have if it looks different. But the Hyssop I have can also come in different colors too.
Have a great day now!
Christer.