Memorial Day weekend

A real nice weekend, a mix of reading outside in the yard(Roseanna by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, 1965, about a fictional Swedish Detective Martin Beck. It was very good, set in the 1960s when people got telegrams and sent letters and had to wait around for information) and some minor miscellaneous odds and ends. Also ate chips and dip, ice cream sundaes, pizza, homemade cinnamon Nutella rolls, and chicken wings, drank beer, mint Mojitos and Mimosas. A real nice weekend.

Had an idea for a new trough design.
In place of using hardware cloth(wire mesh) as a frame,  I though I'd try to sandwich fiberglass mesh tape normally used when taping drywall between 2 layers of the hypertufa mix.
I made a 1:1:1 mix of Portland cement, feather stone dust and sifted peat. I also added some fine vermiculite, some extra Portland and added a concrete bonding additive for additional strength.
I used a plastic container as a mold and put in a thin layer of mix on the bottom followed by strips of the fiberglass tape.

I then added additional mix over the tape and worked it in so both layers fully encapsulated the mesh. I then went up the sides of the container in the same way, sandwiching the mesh between layers of the hypertufa mix.

Hopefully, the trough will be strong and lightweight.

Current Blooms:
Clematis, Nellie Moser

 Hardy Geranium, cinereum 'alice'

Our newest Peony, Scarlet O'Hara, it fades after a few days to a pink.

Dwarf Coral bell - Heuchera grossulariifolia

Beers in the Fridge:
Nothing new, running low, need to pick up some summer beers.