It seems that once again I find myself incapable of keeping a diary. I think it must demand discipline, something which I lack. Most times, by the time I have made dinner and eaten dinner I am too pooped to do anything else. That is after a day of working outside. I rarely sit down except to blog on Rock rose. Somehow that comes much easier maybe because I have the pictures which prompt me about what to write.

I have been reading Monty Don's book, the Ivington Diaries. To begin with i wondered why his posts were so sporadic-maybe once a month rather than every day. He's just like I am-doesn't have enough time for all he does. He is brutally honest and I like him for that. No pretenses about his gardening skills, mistakes successes. I really like an honest report from a garden.

I am probably more honest about my garden than I should be. I grumble a good deal about what is going on out there and I really am way over my head for keeping the garden in hand. especially this year with our unusual spring.

There was a time back in February when I convinced myself that Spring would be very late this year. It was certainly behind after the very cold winter we had. Then, almost overnight the heat started. It has continued almost non stop since then. There was one day last week when there was frost on the roof but that didn't last. Now we are back in the summer pattern and to make things worse we have had no measurable rain in months.

One thing that happens round here, when it is very dry, is the appearance of spider mites. I see them on the bluebonnets but worst of all the cedars. Many of our cedars are grey, all the branches infested with mites. I fear we are going to lose much of our privacy cover. I guess it's all part of nature's cycle.