We have been in the middle of a heat wave as well as a technology meltdown.

“My” computer is tucked in a corner of the bottling room, a room closer by twenty seven steps to the living room couch than the three computers in the shipping wing. This means it requires much less effort to roll off the couch and take over this computer than to seize control of an office machine.

You may wonder why any of my kin are vying for control of something as antiquated as a desktop computer in this age of iPhones. Even now, we remain in a quirky spot in the hills of New Hampshire where no one’s cell phones work. We can’t even get a photo to launch on our Facebook page these days as our DSL line is so far from wherever it needs to be to actually work.

For these reasons and many more, “my” computer is everyone’s default computer, and much like a hearth of old, there are usually people of all ages, shapes and sizes warming “my” seat. “My” computer sees so much traffic, I swear the UPS guy routinely stops in to use it on his way through to pick up our packages.

You know what, I could explain why “my” computer died last week, but it’s really a long boring story: TMF as in Too Many Files probably sums it up best.

And needless to say, when old Bessie died, many of my seat warmers were very happy to whip out and buy “me” a replacement.

With my TMF problem, I have to admit to being relieved that “I” needed a new computer. Just getting to the Google home page took so long it required the patience of Mother Theresa (and she is perhaps the only person I know of who hasn’t used “my” computer lately).

So today, there is a new computer in “my” spot. As William was both a part of old Bessy’s demise as well as a part of the solution, I feel it is only fair to dedicate this first blog on the new computer to Will and his trials and tribulations in the garden.

Yes, it’s a first. A plant actually whipped itself across Will as he walked by it and gave him this injury.

The offending plant? This Hops vine that grows so fast in a Dr. Seussian sort of way that I can’t say I am surprised that it slapped Will on his way into the house.

Will, the Hops plant may not be feeling too apologetic, but I am sorry for your injury. Now, get out of my chair and let me post this.

First a few more Rose photos. This is their moment in our gardens! Here’s La Belle Sultane Rose. This is one of the first Roses that I fell for. After her arrival, I began to look for more and more old fashioned shrub Roses. They offer so much beauty, fragrance and wisdom, and they’re tough enough to survive our winters!

Here’s Alchymist Rose early this morning. This one often dies back hard in the winters, but she always comes back strong. Her coloring is nothing short of mesmerizing.
Madame Legras de St Germain Rose shares the fence with Clematis Montana.

White Roses are a challenge to photograph. In photos, they look much more washed out than they are in person. Here’s Madame up close, but again, she is much prettier in person.

Final Rose photo of the day is Konigin von Danemark. She’s the one for dissolving shame spirals and any ideas that we aren’t lovable just the way we are. She really is love incarnate.

Now my scotch tape story. Last week, Emily assembled a list of all the Flowers that still need photos on the website. I was very surprised to find we didn’t have a photo of Blue Flag Iris. Since this has been part of the collection since our first years in the late eighties, it seemed an odd oversight- also annoying to find this out now since the Blue Flag Iris are all gone by in the gardens here.

On my lunchtime walk with MayMay, we went on a route we haven’t taken in a few weeks and gratefully stumbled on a lone Blue Flag Iris looking quite woebegone in a ditch. Unfortunately as I picked the Blue Flag Iris to bring home to photograph, I added insult to injury and pretty much tore her petals off.

Feeling a bit desperate, I decided to try taping the Flower together for its photo shoot. The falling petal on the right is taped on and there have been other repairs. Despite the triage, there was something that still looked a little beat up about the Flower. After the photo shoot, I decided it’s droopy and bedraggled look ( through no fault of its own) wasn’t representative of the Essence, and I would have to wait ’til next year for a photo after all.

A few minutes later white picking up piles of weeds at the top of the drive, I caught a flash of purple tucked behind a group of Celandine. There was another lone Blue Flag Iris. So much for my theory they were all gone.

Here it is! A Blue Flag Iris that really sings of this Essence’s glory. I thank all Blue Flag Iris involved in this morning’s photo adventures and the Roses too!

Roses reaching to the skies (Will Baffin Rose)

Roses for our Beloveds ( the Dog Rose)

Roses of Courage ( Alex Mackenzie Rose)

Roses that ease our winter chills (Frontenac Rose)

Roses in bud (Belle Poitebine Rose)

Roses everywhere!

Vegetables too!

And more to plant!

The wedding was wonderful! However the month of May waits for no gardener, so I have been scrambling since the occasion to get all the gardens planted.

Today, with all but two gardens done, I pause to post a few photos from the wedding weekend. Being a bit distracted during the actual events, my photos are all about the preparations and slightly off the topic- I seem to have misplaced my camera whenever anything actually bride and groom related happened! We will have to await the bride and groom sorting through the lovely photos staff goddess, Lauren, took before there is anything else to share!

Yes, I really did mean it when I said “slightly off the topic.” Maybe I should have said “VERY off the topic.” This is Jim right after the wedding rehearsal. Two packages of honeybees that were supposed to arrive several days before the wedding were delivered right as we began the rehearsal. They really needed to go right in their new homes ASAP so Jim donned the bee suit and got to work as the rest of the group left for Lizzy and Miguel’s for the rehearsal dinner.

As we welcomed in the delightful Ramirez clan from Texas, it felt unexpected but also fitting that we were introducing new bee families to the farm at this auspicious moment.

If you wanted to know how the lanterns turned out, you are in luck as I managed to take pictures of this part of the occasion. Here Lauren and Catherine untangle strands while Emily and Ben fill an apple tree at Lizzy and Miguel’s house with loops.

In this shot, on the morning of the wedding, I am getting ready to make the bouquets. I have Martha Stewart’s instructions in front of me for how to wrap Flowers with floral tape and assemble a bridal bouquet. I have plenty of hot tea and Catherine is at her station in front of the sink offering moral support. This seems to be the point at which my camera went AWOL. More photos later from other sources, I hope!

Reina has been shampooed- with Bella attending in a supervisory role.

Window boxes have been primped.

Greenhouse plants have been moved out of greenhouse to summer quarters as part of tidying effort.

Vegetable plants have been told they need to chill in the cold frames for another week ’til a post wedding moment.

Gardens have been weeded and yes, I know I posted this photo on Facebook but give a MOB a break. One victory photo was all I had time for!

Slave laborers have been fed high quality take out food.

And yes……Lanterns have been assembled.