This week was another hot one in central Oklahoma. It has not rained this week but rain is expected tomorrow and the next day. So I hope that the temperature will drop soon. It still hasn’t been as hot as last year but the mosquitoes continue to be out of control. I didn’t go to the farm this week but did transfer the vitex into larger pots on the balcony. They don’t mind the heat and are starting to flower. I saw a beautiful pearl crescent butterfly on the vitex this week. I also saw the sachem and the praying mantis again this week. The sachem was on a zinnia and I saw a tiny fairy bee sharing the same zinnia. It was so tiny it looked like an ant with wings. I saw another eastern tiger swallowtail dark form on the zinnias as well. The zinnias are very popular with the butterflies. My sister saw a pretty checkered skipper in her yard this week. The nicotiana has continued to have blooms despite the heat. The basil is doing well. I think the zinnias, mint, and marigolds would prefer a little cooler weather. They are still drooping during the hottest part of the day. The scarlet runner bean is also still hanging on although it has suffered due to the heat and squirrels munching on it. I have learned how to save the nicotiana seeds and marigold seeds and have collected some this week. The nicotiana has seed pods separate from the flower and they can be taken when they are brown and a little open. For the marigolds, the seeds are found under the flower petals. You just wait until the flowers turn brown and dry up. Then, you can pull the petals out to reveal the seeds. I went to the library and got some new books this week but haven’t started them yet. While there, I saw a booklet about the county fair. It is free to enter so I might enter a drawing and a butterfly photo. I am also considering entering my famous chocolate chip cookies in the baking category. It sounds like fun. I have also been thinking about applying for a local art grant for a project I want to do about the butterflies of Oklahoma. I am not experienced at writing grants but it is also free to apply so I may try my luck. I have been doing some quick gesture drawings and torso studies this week. I prefer doing longer drawings but it is good to change it up sometimes. I made spaghetti and meatballs this week using the tomatoes and herbs from my garden. It turned out really good although the meatballs taste a little like meatloaf to me. I also tried a new herb vinaigrette dressing recipe: https://www.lifeisbutadish.com/herb-vinaigrette/ . I enjoyed it a lot but my boyfriend didn’t like it as much as I did. I am thinking about planting a few seeds this week to transplant in September if I have time. I found that my local Walmart has Promix at half price in this season so I grabbed one. I have some parsley and hollyhock seedlings on the balcony but they are getting eaten by something at night. The hollyhock seedling doesn’t have any leaves left so I am not sure if it will make it. The parsley still has three leaves remaining. I don’t think I will start more vegetables in the fall but plan to do a few flowers. We also plan to add a few more fruit trees this fall at the farm. This week should be great as I will have two whole days off this weekend. I am hoping to go to the farm on one of those days and set up the water for the vitex.
Lisa Ledbetter 