You can't beat that--two for the garage sale price of one! I am surprised that so few people seem to decorate for our biggest summer holiday and nation's birthday. But I bet everyone was at a barbecue or swimming or something and not sitting at the computer!

The hummzinger feeders I bought last year at Walmart have a metal S hook which fits perfectly on the sheperd's hook. This year, all the hummzingers (at Walmart) now have a black plastic hook that won't fit so I have to use twist ties on the new ones. Guess it's cheaper to make the plastic ones, but I sure don't like it. Hummersteve, I clean mine pretty much as you do, but I use a toothbrush around the ports. Don't know why PP doesn't make a pop off base like the hummzinger. It sure would make our job alot easier! Many years ago, my brother bought 2 absolutely beautiful, rather pricey feeders from I think, National Geographic...not positive about about that. Anyway, they had a curved tube from the base. They hung next to a PP and believe it or not, the hummers wouldn't use the fancy feeders at all! Sometimes price just doesn't matter. BTW, our Walmart and Lowes no longer carries the style PPs we use, so I've ordered a few on line. Here's hoping we all have a successful hummer season! OK ya'll, when do we start counting???!!!

I'm just north of Concord NH. My new perennial bed looked great in spring when the bulbs were blooming but then when thru a dull spell. Now it's showing promise. I had hoped it would be showy for 4th of July company but, oh well. Full sun: several different yarrows beginning including the new all red one, echinacae (one bud blooming, the rest getting ready), clary sage (won't grow again, I remember this biennial as taller and fragrant, this is a dud), shastas, day lilies and one newly planted lupine is putting up a flower stalk. Semi-shaded garden: feverfew, day lilies, primroses (afternoon sun) and spirea just finishing, fringed bleeding heart continuing, hostas putting out flower stalks, monarda just beginning. Palace purple heurchera putting out flower stalk. Perennial yellow foxglove. In addition to late planted annuals, self-sown dark red poppy and calendula (some Flashback) blooming here and there. Old herb bed: nepeta mussini (catmint), lamb's ears. It looks like the astilbe transplanted in 2007 when we moved is being choked out. There are in what was supposed to be a temporary holding bed. I'm behind!

Happy Canada Day! We've traditionally spent our Independence Days near the grill, before tailgating at the local fireworks show. This year, we are setting sail to a couple of Mexican ports with two teen children and a 3-year-old grandson in tow. It should be interesting, to say the least. I learned a long time ago that, although cruise lines serve lobster, steak, etc., it's usually just mediocre. They are, after all, cooking for 2,000 people. My goal, other than to relax and get plenty of photos of the kids, is to beat my wife at Cribbage at least half a dozen times; not lose at the craps table; and come up with at least 3-4 good food-related topics for my blog. I think I'm just as excited about my Sunday lunch plans. It seems there is an Alfie's Fish 'n Chips still operating near Houston. This chain went bye bye long ago. It won't be 5-star fare ... or even 2-star. But I'll get to revisit one of my (young) childhood faves and write a Yelp! review to boot. Have a safe and happy Fourth, everyone!