1)
Before Shot-
Made some bread - Crusty Rosemary & Olive Oil bread (I added peppers, basil, marjoram and doubled the rosemary).
2)
Went shopping picked up about 14 tomatoes plants, 10 peppers (sweet, bell, Hatch and hot), a native Milkweed, zucchini, cucumber et al. (The Marigolds are for Dia de los Muertos.)
3)
Planted same. This is a native Milkweed I purchased and planted today (Narrow Leaf). Apparently, non-Native Milkweed may be harmful for Monarch Butterflies. This one came with a Monarch caterpillar! (circled)
4)
The baby Monarch caterpillar which came with the Milkweed.
5)
After Shot.
6)
18,000 steps later, Mary Lou and I celebrated with a glass of vino. (I count my steps to judge my daily activity/health level.)
Rainy day today. Light rain and some wind on and off all day. Mary Lou, Maggie and I were thinking about a trip to Temecula wine country ... but postponed to trip for a drier tomorrow. Rain is scarce out here ... consequently it is very welcomed. All the plants seemed to be happy.
Between showers the sun poked through.
COTiP- A bit of Wine Country
Lorenzi Estates
Temecula, Southern California
1)
Salud - A toast with our first tasting.
2)
Great clouds on a cool, but very pleasant afternoon.
3)
Lorenzi Vines, the best vino in the Valley.
This was on Sunday and Coachella/Stagecoach was wrapping up adding significant traffic which gummed up the 15 Freeway.
4)
There was entertainment ... Mike and Mo. Nice and easy stuff, perfect for the vineyard. We chatted and they discovered Mary Lou ... consequently ... Mike and Mo sang Ricky Nelson's "Hello Mary Lou".
COTiP (Cleaning out the iPhone):
Sunday, SoCal is experiencing June Gloom. At the end of Spring and beginning of Summer, we experience heavy overcast, gray mornings. We call it June Gloom ... but it quite nice actually. Very cool mornings in the upper 60'sF ... burning off in the early afternoon for very pleasant days in the upper 70's. When the sun pops out, so do the butterflies. I have literally nonstop butterflies in the back, Monarchs, Whites, Sulfurs are constant with the occasional Swallowtail, Morning Cloak and Painted Lady. Taking a break from pruning the grapes and basil to watching the Nations League finals in Munich. Half time score Espana 2 - Portugal 1. A very good game.
Some poppies have sprung up unexpectedly and unannounced in the gaps between the BBQ Patio pavers.
1)
I love 'em.
2)
Bees love 'em.
They have seriously limited access to my BBQ's and prep tables.
As they mature, I'll keep a close watch on the seed pods, which will be moved to areas more conducive for poppy cultivation.