Paladin Among the Flax

Paladin is in full bloom among the flax in Effieland, the garden our cat Effie and Paladin share. The garden is fenced all around with gates and locks. The top is also fenced to repel raptors.

Effie and Paladin and 102° in Effieland

        It’s 102°– hot, but Effie and Paladin find shade everywhere.

        Our sun-dappled Effie burrows under a poplar.

        Our clever Paladin discovers he can combine some shade with a lookout.

Corn at 23 mph

Corn is resilient, taking a bow at 23 mph. This is a multi-colored popcorn variety.

Twin suns

These sunflowers came to bloom the same day in Effieland, and have remained hale and blooming for about a week. We will harvest their seeds; they are a significant protein source in my meatless diet. In the meantime, we will enjoy their beauty and the incredible vibrancy  of their golden blooms.

First sunflower of the season

It’s a little spooky photographing a sunflower, because bees are fans too. I managed this portrait and a couple of others. The bees hummed, but I was not stung.

Promises

Halvor: I promise I will not drive the tractor until I get my license.

 

Grapes: We will ripen in summer and we will be delightful. You will have many pounds of us from many vines.

Colors and Vines of Effieland

My cats Effie and Paladin are out with me in 96° Effieland, but defer from blog appearances today in favor of napping in the shade.

Lupines come in so many wonderful variegated and solid colors. . .

 

One of my favorite solids is Cream.

 

More poppies have bloomed since yesterday.

 

Grapevines are expansive throughout Effieland.

Paladin and Flax

The blue flax flowers seem a suitable backdrop for Paladin’s dark Tabby markings.

In the pink: Here come the lupines

I welcome lupines as harbingers of summer, especially when they arrive in pink. We also have later-blooming lupines in cream and blue. The ones pictured here are beginning to bloom, and will soon fill their stalks with more petals. Effie and Paladin  took turns today, sleeping among the leaves on the side opposite the flowers.

Paladin of the lupines

Paladin seeks shade among lupines and brome next to the fence in Effieland. Away from the shade, the temperature is 84° F, and Paladin’s fur resembles the coat of a Siberian husky.