Echinacea purpurea is also know as Purple Cornflower and is native to North America. Well know for it's medicinal purposes, it is a beautiful and unusual flower in the garden. 
The back staircase is getting covered
in a lovely layer of Morning Glory
that is climbing it's way up all the rails.
This particular Morning Glory has huge leaves and produces beautiful pink & purple flowers in the morning and will leave us with tons of seeds for next season.
Here's a better look at the "Magic Beans" that grow purple and then turn green when you cook them. Great deep Purple flowers and beans and lots of foliage.
The Magic Beans are coming along nicely (although we do have to water at least twice per day), and are starting to inch their way to the top of the trellis. I am looking forward to seeing the effect once it is all grown in.
Ninja hangs half off one of the chairs as he chills out for the afternoon. He loves sleeping on one the chairs when he is under the cover of the tablecloth, kind of like he is playing "Fort" and is hidden away.
Angelina takes 5 as the kitties chill out for an afternoon nap, today all of them crashed out around the same time.
Houdini has discovered that one of the laundry baskets also makes a great place to take a nap, even if he does have to squeeze himself in a bit. Even at about 6 months, we can tell that there is still a bit of growing to go with the size of those paws!
Feng Shui believers hold the lily as an emblem of summer and abundance; to the Chinese, lily means "Forever in love".
Houdini takes advantage of an afternoon outdoors and lazes around on the cool grass. It's been really hot and muggy here in Montréal, and the cats are always hanging low and looking for cool spots.
Angelina is in heaven today as vacation time has started and the little monster can spend more time in the garden looking for trouble. As you can see, her little whiskers are getting quite long and full, and her ears are still not in proportion to the rest of her, but we think that should all catch up soon.
Nothing says Summer like a Sunflower, and the first of many have started opening and drinking in the light. They'll be food for the various "Boids" and squirrels later this season.
Angelina waits patiently for Houdini to come out of hiding so the games of Tag and Hide & Seek can continue.
Angelina is adorable, playful and always getting into mischief. She also has the most adorable "batlike" ears and can hear the sound of cat treats from great distances.
Angelina is always full of beans .... now she has decided that she wants to climb the Bean trellis to reinforce her need for excitement. Luckily she loses interest quickly and the beans should survive.
Houdini shows his size ( oh my god ) but even by stretching up high, things are still out of reach. Good news for them boids...
Houdini knows that the birds come to the feeder, it's just he hasn't really clued in that they don't come if you wait under the feeder...
Angelina and Houdini are about 6 months old now, and you can see how quickly they are growing, as well as the size difference between the 2 !
Things have been hot and steamy in Montréal, and the garden plot has been taking advantage of it. The cucumbers are growing like crazy and we harvested our first ones yesterday, and have already had fresh zuchinni and radishes. The beets,carrots and peppers are coming along nicely.
Ninja fakes a lawn mower accident for the benefit of the camera. For his next trick, he'll make half his body disappear.
It's dinner time, and as time goes on it seems like we have 3 sizes of kitty, small (Angelina) ,medium (Houdini) and large (Ninja).
Angelina waits for the "Magic Beans" to continue their climb up the arched bamboo trellis that we put in the middle of the garden. The beans will soon be in bloom with their purple flowers before they start producing their trademark Purple Beans.
When I find spirituality in my garden, it seems to go hand in hand with hard work and diligence. Like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day, a feeling of peace will come over me and grab me by surprise. I don't really know why or how it happens. But then again, I wouldn't want it any other way.
Houdini is checking out the activity on the beautiful "Purple Loosestrife ~ Lythrum Salicaria" which is coming into full bloom with tons of beautiful purple flowers.
Angelina blends in with her surroundings as she beats the heat and takes a break on the dining room table.
