Labor day means different things to different people, that's for sure. Since I work in the field of "labor" it will always have that feel to me. For most I believe it is a nice way to have a three day weekend at the end of the summer before the hustle and bustle of a new school year starting. This has always felt much more like a New Year to me than January 1st. Cleaning things out from flower beds to closets, making lists and menus. I do love the cool crisp mornings and warm sunny afternoons. Truly my favorite season.
It is also at this point that I am ready to start to back off on all the watering I do in my garden and all those hanging baskets that were just mere sproutlets last spring. It is kind of joke to see how far into September I get before they give it up. Part of the problem is that I start doing more traveling away from home for 3-4 days at a time and things just don't get watered as well by the well meaning husband. He seems to think that if he stands 10-15 feet away and shoots the water toward the plant, that that is good enough. And if it rains, well, that's watering, isn't it??? It tell him, it isn't watering under the eves!! But, whatever.
My garden and flower beds have grown and changed over the years. The one constant I have always had though are my marigolds. Ever since we bought our first house in 1975. I remember buying that little 6 pack of marigolds and simply digging one hole and popping all of them right in there. Seems goofy now. It took a few years to figure out that once they are planted you have to pop off their heads, and water and feed liberally for a few weeks so you get marigolds like I have now. I'm sorry the photo up there is sideways, and I can't seem to figure out how to turn it the right way.
A friend gave me some dahlia tubers this summer and here is the biggest flower in my yard. This beauty is 12 inches across!!
Need to figure out what to cook for dinner for the kids and grands today.
Hoping everyone does something today, just for themselves.