Red Oak House garden notes no. 27 and lunch with Bob

"Do everything with a mind that lets go. Do not expect any praise or reward." Ajahn Chah

My father is spending the day with us and while I dead-headed the daylilies he contentedly read the morning paper on the back patio.  Can you tell I come from a line of readers?

My delight this morning was in finding a new blossom on "Love in the Library" daylily. I'm a librarian so, naturally, I was willing to pay a wee bit of a stiff price for this at the annual auction a few years ago.  I didn't care what it looked like, although I must say it is a lovely blush pink, isn't it?

Love in the Library daylily

A few more lovelies for good measure:

Dakota Sunshine daylily, another that I just had to have for THE NAME

Little Light of Mine daylily

Fun Fling daylily

Bama Bound daylily

Strawberry Cream Cupcake daylily

Gordon Biggs daylily

More of the tomato harvest in a beautiful bowl I bought from my friend Tama Smith of Prairie Fire Pottery

Earlier in the spring, I dropped some zinnia seeds in here and there to fill gaps.

The first ruby-throated hummingbird showed up last night on the hanging fuschia.  They also like to feed on my red bee balm.

We had lunch today with our friend Bob Martinson, and a special lunch it was.  Bob wanted to meet my Daddy.  Big-hearted Bob and his wife Jodi had spent Memorial Day in Normandy, France, and they brought home some incredibly thoughtful mementos for my father, who was on Omaha Beach on D-Day.  Daddy told him some of his World War II stories and signed the framed photograph that Bob had purchased (one for his wall and one for Daddy's), the iconic Robert Capra image of D-Day.  I confess that some of us were a little choked up when Bob presented Daddy with a vase filled with sand that he had collected at Omaha Beach.  How he got this home in his luggage is beyond me.  Bob and Daddy and Jim belong to the fellowship of service members and it is good to pause and remember the incredible sacrifices they have made so we can all be free.

What friends we are blessed with.  From the bottom of my heart, Bob and Jodi, I thank you. Now let's eat some tomatoes!