Monday Check-in

I'm taking a break from Facebook. I look at key people and key pages I follow...all the national parks and monuments of Colorado...my various favorite bug/bird/animal pages, but I'm taking a break from posting. I keep doing 1.25 mile (with a couple of two milers through in there) with Molly most days and have added another .60 of jogging on my treadmill and light 10 lb weights.
 My favorite tree at the local park:

It is a Bristol cone tree....a young one (probably around 20 yrs)
 Normally see the old ones in the mountains...the oldest Bristol cone trees are around 2462 years old in the area surrounding South Park in Colorado!

Today I noticed some growth from just two days ago! 

The little nodules, the tender pink end, the tiny dots on the bristles....

My jumbo (bee safe) marigold is amazing!  I also planted some cone flowers (Echinacea)-one purple and another 'Cheyenne Spirit' color and some yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)....

 

...and my Dasiphora Fruticosa (shrubby cinquefoil) are blooming! This year I've decided to TRY to learn the real names of plants! 

Took me this long to realize 'Cone Flowers' are Echinacea-the medicinal tea you have when you have a cold!! Maybe in years to come I will attempt to dry and make my own.