AUGUST BOUQUET

I had forgotten how much I love Phlox which has been blooming continuously in my garden since mid-July. It makes such a lovely , fragrant cut flower and since they're so many of them in the garden I won't miss the ones collected for the vase.

The two varieties above are 'bright eyes' and 'orange perfection. ' 'Laura ' the purple phlox with a white eye has finally gone out of bloom.

My phlox are so thick this year that I must make a note to divide in the Fall. I will give the excess to friends and family because I don't have the space for more. Or do I ? Maybe that variegated kind that Carol of May Dreams Gardens has. I'm still on the hunt for it.

THIS YOU GOTTA SEE TO BELIEVE

MY POOR PEAR TREE

Can you see my lucky Irish charm in the upper left of the photo ?

My Asian pear has been the target of some nasty birds that have destroyed almost half the crop. I hung noise makers and chimes to alert my " bird dog " Cleo which didn't seem to work so then I strung netting around it and while it seems to save the lower pears I still see pecking marks on the upper ones.

The poor tree looks awful but I am bound and determined to have some pears for myself. My daughter suggested that I put out a bird feeder , but I'm against feeding the birds in summer because I want them to eat the harmful insects in my garden.

Anybody have some other suggestions ?

GARDENING ON PAR WITH YOGA

A new book I'm reading THE PILATES PROMISE by Alycea Ungaro, says that weeding engages the entire torso, including the obliques and is more effective than a typical crunch which targets only the upper-ab muscle rectus abdominis . I hate crunches but I don't mind weeding ! .


In addition, gardening is a potent calorie burner, blasting away 160 calories in just 30 minutes. To triple your tummy toning keep midsection muscles engaged while doing yard work with this Pilates technique : As you water plants, draw your belly button in toward the spine, then keep the muscles taut as you work. " This move tightens the abdominal muscles to lengthen the torso and narrow the waist, " says Ungaro. " And maintaining the posture for five-minute intervals will train your muscles to stay contracted for improved posture and balance. "

So lose those garden wheely things and reach, reach, reach for the weeds !

WHAT TO DO WHEN IT'S RAINING ALL DAY

Korean style " Om Rice "

The Chicago Air and Water Show was rained out on Sunday. Mother Nature's been having her own water show for the past two days. We must've had 4 or more inches of rain. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Since I'm not able to get out in the garden my thoughts turn to cooking. When I have lots of veggies and meat leftovers I chop everything up into small pieces and stir-fry it in a few spoonfuls of vegetable oil . I then add 1 cup of cold rice per person ( cooked short grained ) blend all ingredients well and cook for about five minutes. I then season it with black pepper, a little light soy sauce and sesame oil and stir fry a few minutes more.

I crack about 3 eggs, mix with a little water, and pour in a thin layer in a non stick frying pan to make an omelet ( some older Koreans can't say omelet so they shortened it to om ! ) . Arrange the fried rice on a plate and invert the pan . Position the omelet over the rice and top it with a little ketchup for sauce. I usually draw a silly happy face with the ketchup.

Everyone is sure to love this dish.

GEE, AIN'T IT FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY ?

MOI : FIRST IN CLASS
( Class Roll Call, i.e. , because my last name started with an A ! )

I've been busy all Summer whipping 30 year olds into shape on landscaping jobs. Makes me feel good that in my sixth decade I still have the stamina to put in 8 to 10 hour days on the job.

Guess my bubble got busted real good when I recently received an envelope from Sweet Home Alabama. Inside was an invite to my 45th high school reunion. Now if that doesn't make you feel your age I don't know what will ! As the old song goes, " Gee ain't it funny how time slips away ? "

Winfield, in the northern part of the state, is known for it's annual Mule Day festival which in addition to judging the best mule, has all sorts of events, games, food, bazaars, etc. The event draws 25,000 people, remarkable because the town has less than 5,000 residents ! I wonder what they do with all those visitors since there's only one or two motels and B & B's in the entire town. These can't be cousins or kinfolk can they ?

Mules Line up for Judging

Every year since graduation I've " threatened " and " aimed " to go back and see many of the 55 classmates I've known since childhood. Guess my aim is off because for one reason or the other I've never made it back. Everybody knows everybody there, and their business as well. You don't need a telephone because news travels fast through the grapevine.

When the first American soldier was killed in the Afghanistan war they announced that he was Johnny Michael Spann of Winfield, Alabama and a graduate of Winfield High School, the same that I attended. . I wondered if he was one of the Spanns' I went to high school with. Doesn't this sound like something out of " To Kill a Mockingbird " ? When I first read the book I realized how much I was like Scout.

Someone once posed the question, " Is there life after high school ?" Should I go back home after 45 years ? Will anyone recognize the skinny, nerdy girl I was back then ? I mean I've gained a few pounds, wrinkles, etc., but then, haven't we all ?

They say you " can't go home again. " Should I ? Good grief, I just realized my wardrobe consists of nothing but gardening clothes . I've got nothing to wear ! And I need to lose ten pounds !