what is this shrub?

i love this plant, i just dont know what it is! it's not that i am lazy: i dont have any of my books over here in virginia...i do have the internet though...ok, maybe it is because i am lazy...this is a lovely shrub that blooms daisies in october! i have to water this woody guy (like a hydrangea) a lot during summer, so it cant be a native to this semi-arid area.
really pretty.

today's menu includes stuff from the garden!

with all of this year's personal gardening disasters, there has been some success! the square foot garden i planted ten days ago is doing quite well (?). im not sure why: its august, 96° and we haven't had rain in a while, but i'm just going with it! i thinned the arugula and used the micro-greens along side tomatoes grown in sandy loam from my coastal virginia farmer o'bier to top off today's tuna-fish sandwich: super yummy! not sure if i can do anything with the beet greens i also thinned: i will let you know!

sunflowers galore

never really thought about how sunflowers were grown commercially, though i have volunteers here in kensington. this photo was shot in heathsville, virginia.

thank god for the farmer's market

my tomatoes in maryland are non-existant...and still not red in virginIa, but farmer obiers grows amazing fresh produce...the sweet potatoes i bought from him last week turned into incredible gnocci with a a fresh tomato sauce. mmm....