Summer afternoon

Summer afternoon — summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.
—Henry James, 1934

My garden evidently decided to get busy while we were away. Roses, daisies, daylilies, arugula,  hosta, clematis; everything went crazy. My peonies budded, bloomed and shed their flowers while we were gone, missing them entirely.

I'm very happy to be back. The unpacking, laundry, mail and cleaning can wait. My plan for this afternoon is to take a nap. Later I'll mix a lemon drop, sit on the porch, and watch the plants do their stuff; while the Bosox hammer the Yankees in the background.