African Iris...

...at least according to Siri. I have always called them Iris Moraea and I think that is also correct. These were particularly large, beautiful specimens near the Brush Creek trail. We intended to go back to Howarth Park and walk around Lake Ralphine, but it was heaving with people and more people in cars were trolling for parking places so we decided to change venues. Unusually, we didn't meet a soul on the Brush Creek trail. they must all have been over at Howarth Park.

Coming from Berkeley public parks and playgrounds were few and far between and school playgrounds were designated parks though they weren't available to the public during school hours, we've always been impressed with the number of public parks and swim centers in Santa Rosa. Howarth park, which connects to Spring Lake has a good kid's playground, a little train, a lake with paddle boats and kayaks, tennis and pickle ball courts and a baseball diamond. there's a a lot going on there in the summer.

Tim texted us this morning that they were at Kaiser Hospital where grandson Eden was being prepped for  surgery, so we were waiting to hear how it went until about 2pm when another text arrived saying all went well and they were back home. Another reason I rant about the viciousness with which transgender youth are being denied care. It's difficult enough without such blatant cruelty. Another reason I'm glad we live in California.

John has spent the afternoon designing and building a support structure for the green bean plants he bought at Oliver's the other day. He said he bought three pots and it wasn't until he got them home that he realised there were four plants in each pot! Once an engineer always an engineer. I think I probably would have stuck a few poles in the ground but he's been busy with pvc pipe, wood, screw eyes and string! Looks  like there will be a LOT of beans and tomatoes in a couple of months.

I made another square and ordered some rather mundane gifts for John's birthday coming up...mostly jeans and tee shirts but, wait for it, some boxer briefs! I know he'll never order them for himself and I know he'll never wear what I consider to be more 'interesting' clothes, so hopefully he'll appreciate his regular comfy favorites.

Thanks as always to bIker Bear for carrying on with the flower Friday challenge.