My 3rd Act

LUCKY!!!

A guided cave tour with visitors gazing up at large, jagged stalactites hanging from a warmly lit cavern ceiling. A guide in blue gestures toward the formations. #FantatsicCaverns #Soringfield #artyear #photography #Americana

A red open-top cave tour vehicle drives through a stunning underground cavern with passengers inside, surrounded by glowing stalactites and textured rock walls. #TheMotherRoad #Caves #touristattraction

Route 66 Missouri: Fantastic Caverns. A 55min drive-thru cave tour.The only one in the U.S.! Great for kids & folks w/mobility challenges. Much easier than walking cave tours, and a cool 60 degrees. #1 tourist attraction in Springfield .
#route66 #Missouri #roadtrip #findjoy
#Caverns #getyourkicks

Yes, I believe that’s correct

Good luck! (and your Black Eyed Susans look so happy. Nice work!)

Mine are so close to blooming (Pacific NW - zone 8b). The plant here has apparently been blooming for 20+ years!

That’s so cool!

Love this!

Close-up macro photo of a fuzzy bumblebee collecting nectar from a vibrant purple lavender flower. The bee's delicate, translucent wings shimmer in the sunlight and appear gold in color. Its black and yellow-striped body is covered in fine hairs. The lavender blooms are in various stages of opening, showcasing rich violet hues and intricate petal textures. Background is softly blurred, emphasizing the bee and flower. #bumblebee #pollination #Augustblooms #gardening #gardens #bees #bloomscroll

The angle of the shot makes this bee’s wing look golden. I also really like what feels like “side eye” for bothering them at work. 😂 Seeing bees throughout our gardens brings me immense joy! 💕🐝 #findjoy #garden #flowers #lavender #savethebees #bloomscrolling #MacroMonday

Yes! I believe Stargazer and the one below is Corvara. They’re from the Costco multi-packs by Longfield Gardens. I’ve been very impressed with price and quality.

Wow!

Stunning!

Gorgeous!! 🥰

I agree! and the forecast for this coming week looks like we’ll finally get some where I am.

WOW!

@ellkell.bsky.social it also looks like even though most of Tacoma is also 8b, some portions are 9a. Microclimates are fascinating!!

Interesting! I’m out on the Peninsula - Zone 8b. Definitely still in full bloom here. From what I’ve studied, bloom time for St John’s Wort in Zone 8b is June - September. Mine has been blooming for at least a month, but so many other flowers were blooming that I hadn’t posted it yet 🙂

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Oh! and even though Cosmos are considered annuals, they can sometimes come back the in the PNW for a couple years if you let them die back on their own and then cut them off at dirt level before the first frost 🙂

I do love a good crackhouse plant! 😂 especially the $1 ones that need life support. BUT that being said, if you decide to get Hibiscus, they’re one of the plants that I think it’s worth the investment to get them from a nursery.

Oh no! That IS too hot! We’ve been very dry so we’ve been watering them, but temp has been mostly high 70s, low 80s.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you! It’s taken a few years but I love it!

I love your cosmos! I need to add some of those to my yard.

Turns out Hibiscus is much easier to grow than I imagined. It just took a couple of years to start blooming - but worth the wait.

WOW!