NOTE: This post contains slideshows and if you are reading it on your phone, it is best viewed direct from the SITE, rather than in the READER.
All photos taken August 3, 2021.
It has been a stressful summer in more ways than one. Too hot, too dry and too smoky. The lawns and trees are paying the price, but the petunias are still blooming their pretty little hearts out. Yesterday was not hot, but, it was smoky and despite a small shower or too, it is too little, too late. My Schubert seems to have given up and started dropping leaves. Guess there is only so much growing power available. Fall’s a comin’.
Not much to tell. After working for 3 companies over 43+ years (38 years 7 months with my last company), I finally got that promotion I had waited my entire career for……retirement.
I have been exploring this new career for the past 7+ years and while it is not always exciting, the chance to do what I want for myself and my family instead of what my company wants has been very fulfilling. Early on, there was a long list of projects in my “to-do” hopper and I attacked these projects with a vengeance for the first 9 months of retirement. Eventually, my brain told me that this was not what retirement was about, so it took me another 5 months before my industriousness again took over and I attacked another line of projects, this time somewhat shorter and less complicated, as well as many new projects related to the family weddings in 2016. After going hard for 6 weeks and 3 weddings, my body was telling me to relax, then the flu bug hit and as soon as that was done with me, my sciatic acted up. No rest for the wicked. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic changed the whole retirement gig. I was lucky to not be still working, for sure.
I enjoy photography, gardening, working with my hands, walking, cycling, skiing, travelling, reading and creating special photo and video productions obtained in my first pastime. I may never become wealthy in any of these pursuits, but I already feel I am rich in life experiences far beyond any expectation.
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31 thoughts on “Tell Me It Ain’t So!”
Many of the trees here in Penticton have been turning brown for a couple of weeks now. It’s just too hot (and we’re in another heat wave, just not as hot as the last one) and there hasn’t been enough rain. I will soon be returning to the north and won’t be back again until the end of Sept, so I’ll see how they are making out then.
I think our trees only have so much life in them. When the things get too hot, they accelerate their cycle. My tomatoes are ripening 2 weeks ahead of sched here. I expect this year will see the leaves off the trees by mid September. No long lingering fall. And the mountain ashes are loaded with berries, so here comes winter. Safe travels back up to YK. Thanks for reading Lynette. Allan
I take it that its normal for trees and bushes to start dropping leaves in August. Sorry, my keyboard has gone haywire, so if anything looks unusual, that is why
Not normal, but it has happened. Everything is 2 weeks early this year due to the drought and heat. My tomatoes are ripening early and have you seen the amount of berries on the trees? Thanks for reading. Allan
It seems they love the heat, so will become the flower of choice for these planters. I am also seeing portulacas coming up now from last year’s volunteer seeds. quite a profusion of blooms. Thanks for reading Marion. Allan
Your flowers are beautiful! Good to know that petunias are so resilient! Sorry to hear about the heat, dryness and smoke. It’s been hot and humid here in Southern Ontario and we are in desperate need of some rain too. Our grass is all brown. I’ve been watering some of our flowers twice a day in the hopes of keeping them alive, but they all look very pathetic.
We have enjoyed a break from the heat for the past week, but it is back today for 3 days and likely smoke on Sunday. The good thing is the cool mornings. The petunias continue to amaze and the vine ripened tomatoes are delicious. Thanks for reading and commenting. Allan
Beautiful photographs of your lovely flowers. By the way global warming is just a nightmare and it is only getting worse. The US such a culprit and Countries like Africa are starving due to lack of water. So sad. We are so fortunate and blessed if we have water to drink and wash in. Our insect world is turned upside down in NC. I love petunias. Yours are lovely. Hugs 🤗 Joni
Thanks Joni. Climate change is real, whether it is too warm, too cold, too wet or too dry. Greed is in the way of common sense and we will all pay the price. You and I will just have to keep doing our best. Thanks for reading Joni. Allan 🤗🤗
It turned out that this was the year to plant petunias. They survived the what waves. I think we will plant them again next year. All is good here Angela as we head into fall and the inevitable winter white. Thanks for reading. Allan
There will be snow. In this area, snow can come in any moth if the weather patterns shift. Typically we get snow by mid October and snow that sticks by Hallowe’en. Winter temps here can get down to -40C or lower. Yay. Thanks for the conversation Angela. Allan
The blooms last so long and no dead heading is required. We planted Portulaca there last year and they struggled. Surprisingly, they seeded themselves before I pulled them out last fall and a few bloomed starting this past week. 🌸🌸👍
Picture This 
Many of the trees here in Penticton have been turning brown for a couple of weeks now. It’s just too hot (and we’re in another heat wave, just not as hot as the last one) and there hasn’t been enough rain. I will soon be returning to the north and won’t be back again until the end of Sept, so I’ll see how they are making out then.
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I think our trees only have so much life in them. When the things get too hot, they accelerate their cycle. My tomatoes are ripening 2 weeks ahead of sched here. I expect this year will see the leaves off the trees by mid September. No long lingering fall. And the mountain ashes are loaded with berries, so here comes winter. Safe travels back up to YK. Thanks for reading Lynette. Allan
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Thanks, Allan.
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You’re garden is lovely, as it always is. Glad it survived the drought
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Oy. You should see my water bill. The transplants I got from your yard made quite the difference in the back border. Thanks for reading Colleen. Allan
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Best wishes on your new blog!
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Thanks Marion and thank you for coming along. Allan
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I take it that its normal for trees and bushes to start dropping leaves in August. Sorry, my keyboard has gone haywire, so if anything looks unusual, that is why
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Not normal, but it has happened. Everything is 2 weeks early this year due to the drought and heat. My tomatoes are ripening early and have you seen the amount of berries on the trees? Thanks for reading. Allan
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That makes sense. I am eating tomatoes like crazy and yes! Lots of berries!
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🍅🍅🍒🍒👍👍
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Thank you for welcoming us to your new site with flowers, I wish you every success!
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Thanks so much for the follow and the read. 🌻🌹
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Beautiful pictures of flowers 💐🌸!
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Thanks for reading Priti. Glad you stopped by. Allan
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❣️❤️🌹👌💐🤗
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Your petunias are beautiful and so colourful. So pleased they have withstood the variable weather conditions.
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It seems they love the heat, so will become the flower of choice for these planters. I am also seeing portulacas coming up now from last year’s volunteer seeds. quite a profusion of blooms. Thanks for reading Marion. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your flowers are beautiful! Good to know that petunias are so resilient! Sorry to hear about the heat, dryness and smoke. It’s been hot and humid here in Southern Ontario and we are in desperate need of some rain too. Our grass is all brown. I’ve been watering some of our flowers twice a day in the hopes of keeping them alive, but they all look very pathetic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have enjoyed a break from the heat for the past week, but it is back today for 3 days and likely smoke on Sunday. The good thing is the cool mornings. The petunias continue to amaze and the vine ripened tomatoes are delicious. Thanks for reading and commenting. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beautiful and colourful flowers ☺️ the fall is certainly on its way as the air begins to feel crispier and morning dew begins to appear. 🤗 Aiva
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Our current heat wave is over today (fingers crossed). All we need is rain. Thanks for reading Aiva. Allan
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Beautiful photographs of your lovely flowers. By the way global warming is just a nightmare and it is only getting worse. The US such a culprit and Countries like Africa are starving due to lack of water. So sad. We are so fortunate and blessed if we have water to drink and wash in. Our insect world is turned upside down in NC. I love petunias. Yours are lovely. Hugs 🤗 Joni
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joni. Climate change is real, whether it is too warm, too cold, too wet or too dry. Greed is in the way of common sense and we will all pay the price. You and I will just have to keep doing our best. Thanks for reading Joni. Allan 🤗🤗
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So true, so true my friend. Great photographs. Thank you for sharing. 🤗 Joni
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What glorious petunias! You have green fingers like my neighbour. Hope you’re doing well Allan.
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It turned out that this was the year to plant petunias. They survived the what waves. I think we will plant them again next year. All is good here Angela as we head into fall and the inevitable winter white. Thanks for reading. Allan
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It certainly did – stunning colours. Are you pretty much guaranteed snow where you are? In London snow rarely settles.
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There will be snow. In this area, snow can come in any moth if the weather patterns shift. Typically we get snow by mid October and snow that sticks by Hallowe’en. Winter temps here can get down to -40C or lower. Yay. Thanks for the conversation Angela. Allan
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I bet they brought you a lot of joy and reward. I love watching things blossom and bloom, especially when you’re not too sure how they’ll turn out.
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The blooms last so long and no dead heading is required. We planted Portulaca there last year and they struggled. Surprisingly, they seeded themselves before I pulled them out last fall and a few bloomed starting this past week. 🌸🌸👍
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