Helianthus salicifolius 'Table Mountain' sunflower I found on the clearance rack at our local nursery. A couple of years ago, about this time in summer, on a rack way in the back of my local nursery, I found an interesting plant. It had coarse, willowy leaves, and I think it must hard to be both coarse and willowy. It had healthy foliage and was doing its best in a container so I felt a bit sorry for it and brought it home. Helianthus salicifolius 'Table Mountain' sunflower is a cultivar of two native, H. salicifolius so I still consider it a wildflower. From the Missouri Botanical Garden, "It is the result of a controlled cross-pollination that took place in Auckland, New Zealand in 1993 between Helianthus 'Golden Pyramid' (female) and Helianthus 'Autumn Queen' (male)." Table Mountain sunflower is a bit of a flopper, but it leans upon 'Wanda' phlox. Neither seems to mind the other....

Survivors, the strong ones, the pioneers, the natives . . . am I speaking of people or plants? The same rules apply. You gotta be tough to make it out here. Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus) on 'Ambrosia' melon. Thanks for the i.d. from Gardens With Wings. http://www.gardenswithwings.com/butterfly/Fiery%20Skipper/index.html Perhaps, as the song says, "Only the good die young," but I don't think so. Instead, Billy Joel should sing, "Only the strong survive." Sometimes, they even thrive. This year, in the vegetable garden, I purposely chose varieties from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. I figured seeds grown in the south were the ones most likely to survive a summer from Hades. Then, I was lucky enough to meet Ira Wallace at the Garden Bloggers Fling in Asheville. Unfortunately, I was so busy conversing with her I forgot to get her photo. Ira is charming and thoughtful, and I understand why her company does...

Grated zucchini can be used in so many ways.Last night, as we ate zucchini fritters, my daughter, the Diva, held a piece aloft on her fork and said, "Mom, you should write a book, Zucchini Squash, Thirty Ways in Thirty Days." I laughed. "Honey, are you tired of zucchini?" Lost in her idea, she didn't answer. "By the way, every time you use that phrase 'Squash Thirty Ways in Thirty Days' you owe me ten cents. I've patented it." At which point, I noted that she had neither patented, nor copyrighted it. So began a discussion on legal rights. Just another night at the Nash family dinner table. So, how shall I fix zucchini tonight? I've frittered it, fried it a la my Grandma Nita's recipe, served it raw with a dairy-free dip, sautéed it in an iron skillet, and pickled it. Tonight who knows? Maybe a vegan risotto with zucchini and...

It's Bloom Day and Sunday to boot. For those who live somewhere other than the center of the country, I'll give you the forecast in two words: hot and dry. Okay, it was three words, but we don't count "and," do we? It's not as hot as last year, but the Bermuda grass is finally starting to burn up all over town. The rural grasses are turning amber too and setting seed like the prairie natives they are. Our weather is terribly dry. Popup showers, caused by the heat and a Gulf Coast front "thingee" have been popping up. Nothing has popped up here. Nary a drop. However, with well-timed soaker hoses and a drip watering system, I do have plants and lots of vegetables. If I'd quit frying them, I'd lose weight, but I do love a fried piece of summer squash once a week. And, our new find...