Beauty and Bounty

I've taken the day off.  No work, no stress...il dolce far niente.**  

After walking the dogs this morning, I came home, dinked a bit on the computer, answered some emails, commented on a few blogs, checked in with my mother, made a smoothie, and went outside to see how my contrary garden grows.

Above is a photo of my beautiful Dahlia.  I'm not usually a pink girl, but I just love this.  The color is so cheerful, especially with those bright yellow centers.

A closer view...

[Digression...

Once upon a time--during my Georgia O'Keeffe period--I shot many a roll of film, just on flowers, with my trusty Nikon.  Several of them I was able to sell, plus I framed a few to give as gifts, keeping just two for myself, which I have hanging right now--one in the hall and one in the den.  There's something so exquisite about a flower.  I find them erotic and sensual and intensely female.

Occasionally, however, there comes a flower that is inherently male, no question.  This is one of a red poppy, the one that hangs in the den.  There is absolutely nothing feminine about this stud at all.  He's bold and flashy, though slighty scary, and very macho.]

So, after the Dahlia photos, I went up the slope to check on my zucchini.  And honestly, I really think these plants should be studied by science.  It's not natural for a plant to grow this fast.  Just a few days ago I had several fingerlings, today I have at least two child-sized baseball bats.

I cut the two largest from the vine before they got even bigger and took over the world.  I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do with them.  Maybe a frittata, a quiche, or just plain ol' fried slices?  Cripes.  I'm only one woman.  How much zucchini can one woman eat?  Guess I'm about to find out...



**the sweetness in doing nothing.