At Long Last-

Chrysanthemums on the patio

Ah, but first a little (very little) closure from the prior post about Betty Boop. There was little mechanical damage and the knowing mechanics placed the new battery in a "marine box" which should absolutely prevent any reoccurence of the problem. That's the good news. The claim was filed with State Farm Insurance 28 days ago and nothing has been received at this end. Not good. The last time I filed a claim (1983?), it took a manly lawyer named Ted to get a check written. Perhaps business practices never change.

At long last, summer's stranglehold on Floyd county seems to be relaxing. After a summer of temperatures ten to twenty degrees above normal, a cool front has blown into the county, soon to be augmented by a second cool front. It was 82F on Saturday, ridiculous for the mountains at this time of year. Yesterday was largely foggy, the result of a temperature inversion. As you already know, Mr. Fuzzy thinks there is no better time to photograph than in the fog. For your visual delectation, Here's an image from yesterday, taken with a 196os Russian Iskra camera.

The prolonged summer has caused odd effects on plants. Cosmos and some zinnias have re-seeded; the second crop of the cosmos will bloom in a few days. Remarkable. The food garden went heavy on peppers this year, planting four varieties. Despite the lack of water since mid-summer, they have prospered, keeping the kitchen steadily supplied. One variety is still blooming and all four are still growing peppers.

Several years ago, a common variety of yellow calendula was grown from seed and has done well and perpetuated itself. As a result, this year a second variety was started, a little unusual one. Both are still in bloom as if it was mid-summer.

Another plant begun from seed were the portulacas - in pots on the patio. They, too, have outdone themselves and although past their prime (with which Mr Fuzzy can empathize), still are blooming madly.

 An absolutely wild success has been a particular marigold (must find that seed packet!). Marigolds always are decent but this variety has been outstanding. They've not received any watering other than from the sky and yet the plants are huge. Here is a portion of ONE plant:

 Last but surely not least, the zinnia patch:

 As this is closed, it is raining gently and the temperatures declining. Perhaps autumn will come soon.