Days 25 - 27: My Flowers

Dahlia

Despite the torrid heat during this month of July.

the flowers on my balcony garden have done pretty well.

There are so many of them that it's difficult to know where to start.

Pretty in Pink

Fresh yellow

A tiny red rose which was part of the Mother's Day plant arrangement

sent to me by my son this year.

Hydrangea

Tiny Asters

Blue Campanula

and white too.

Geraniums: pale pink

and darker ones too.

Phlox in different shades

Here is a collage of the many different kinds of flowers in my window boxes and big pots this year

My flowers are my biggest joy in the summer months

and I eat all my meals outside

surrounded by their wonderful colours.

My herb garden is doing well too:

A Rosemary tree

A big plant of Basil which I use a lot

Lemon Verbena for herb teas

and mint.

I have run out of chives and must get a new plant!

Day 24 - Steamboat

Today took me to a neighbouring lakeside town to enjoy the beautiful weather.

At least once a year, I love to take a cruise on one of these steamboats

on the Lake Léman.

This boat is called 'Simplon'

which is the name of  a mountain pass in Switzerland.

The Simplon Pass (2.005 m or 6.578 ft) connects Brig in the canton of Valais

with Domodossola in Piedmont Italy

and further on to the big city of Milan.

Off she sails to her next destination further along the lake!

Day 23 - Entrance

The entrance to the houses or buildings where we live is important.

Although I live in a building bordering the town centre,

I appreciate the fact that there is greenery and some flowering bushes 

along the path leading up the the entrance.

There's something welcoming about big hydrangea blooms

that line the path where I live.

The greenery nearby and the trees that are planted

are compensation for living in a built-up area.

I have all the advantages of  shops nearby and great public transport

but can still enjoy a little of nature where I am.

To get out into the real countryside, I need to take some form of public transport

like a bus, the metro or the train.

All of them are very easy to reach from where I live.

Day 22 - Gardening

A Gentian plant was missing on my balcony

I was happy to find it at the market yesterday.

It goes so well with the Edelweiss flowers that I already had.

Two mountain plants together.

This morning,

my walk took me up into the neighbourhood above mine

and I bought a beautiful bright Begonia plant

for the end of my balcony near the kitchen.

I had originally seen a deep pink one I liked 

but it had been sold.

This is a welcome flash of colour!

There's still some planting to do

of aromatic plants:

Basil and Lemon Verbena.

It's been a good day and the temperatures were perfect to do some gardening!