Summer Color

 This is Pride of Barbados and I love it ! The leaves look like a Mimosa tree but it's much heartier and drought tolerant.  We planted it two years ago and it dies back in the winter but comes back and blooms all summer.  LOVE!  Butterfly and hummingbird friendly Mexican Firebush is in the background.  We've had so many hummingbirds this summer- it has been so fun to watch them zoom in and out of our yard. 

 Coral Honeysuckle is another hummingbird bush and I'm hoping it will be stronger next year.  I have a trellis for it to grow on but planted it late in the spring and it only grew about 5 feet.  My kids go outside sometimes and drink dew out of the little trumpets- they say it tastes sweet.  :) 

Of course I adore Bouganvillia.  I've tried it a few times and think I finally have the trick.  Mine is a variety with thorns so I came up with a simple solution.  I've gone outside with a pair of scissors probably 3 times the whole summer and just trimmed off any thorns.  It took about 3 minutes and voila!  Here is where I found my growing tips.  Also their color started to fade at some point this summer so I added a couple of Tablespoons of Epsom salt diluted in a gallon on water.  The color returned within a week!

Isaac

This has been a big year for Isaac.  He graduated from Elementary with excellent grades and behavior.

 He got his Arrow of Light and moved into Boy Scouts
























 He played flag football, soccer and swam on summer league.

 And he is a pleasure to spend time with.  He is always quick to thank us for things or to offer a hand when he knows we need it.  He's funny and bright and kind and we'll keep him!  :) Can't believe he's going to be passing the sacrament before the year ends!  Time flies :)