Planting Party

I can't imagine my life if I did not live near my family. Yesterday around 4 pm I sent a text to my brothers Doug and Galen and their wives inviting them to come over at 5 pm today and help plant flowers at the flag memorial in honor of our nephew Tyler Troyer at the park behind my house. I mentioned homemade ice cream with fresh strawberries and other snacks would also be available. Not only did they all come, but my lovely niece Venisa and her husband Anthony also joined us. 

I forgot to tell them that the weeds had been neglected for quite awhile too. I also forgot to take a "Before" picture. 

 Did I mention that Venisa and Anthony brought their new labradoodle puppy along?

 There were tons of snails in the spiky plant that Anisa is pruning above. Carol actually touches them! We needed nephews Cody and Brenden to see how many they could collect!

 Doug found time to visit some friends who live on the other side of the fence.

 These girls are such great workers! Notice how they stayed focused and on task!

Here we are with the finished bed. Red geraniums, purple and white wave petunias, and blue lobelia. Not very original but easy, dependable and beautiful. I invited Michael and Terri to come check it out and Michael was kind enough to take this group picture.

 Then back to our backyard where we partook of refreshments and Will showed off one of his latest projects, a little "wood gas reburner". It's supposed to be smokeless. As he explained it, he is tired of people complaining about smoke and putting a bunch of wood on the fire just before they leave. He's always looking for a solution. (I think he's still looking for a solution. I believe there was a bit of smoke.) But entertainment is never in short supply.

So, thank you, brothers, for marrying such awesome women and for having such wonderful children! And perhaps you should all plan to come back in a month so we can have a deadheading and weeding party!