Gnome for the Holidays

I love to use nature's freebies to ramp-up my entry --just as much as I like decorating indoors for the holidays.   I like to experiment and create things that can carry me not only through Christmas but to the end of January (at least).  I bought the sled for $3 and the gnomes for $2 each at yard sales this summer.  It's hard to buy Christmas decorations in July (or sweaters, etc.)...but when December rolls around I'm always glad I did.  I re-painted the sled (it was badly weathered) and was quite tickled with the results.   I'll subtract the gnomes and keep this out until it starts to look dry and unhappy.   My school vacation is coming up and I plan to stop neglecting my blog.  I'm sure you'll also be keeping track of your favorite blogs as I will to sustain you through the winter months ahead.  Merry Christmas to everyone!

Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May

I gathered some of the last roses for the season to make a happy bouquet for all to enjoy.  It is amazing..they are sparse and on struggling bushes-- individually,  but when put together I must exclaim wow!

I am dreading the time change this weekend.  Already I'm racing home to continue to plant a few remaining plant orphans.  Too soon I'll be on the couch with my garden magazines for company and a head full of plans that I will never have the time/energy to execute.  Oh well, such is the life of a gardener!

Hedgeapple Happiness

  I was yard-sale-ing this past weekend and saw a bunch of these in the road...so I immediately stopped and gathered a Wal-Mart bag full of them.  I love the chartreuse green color!  I know my sister and sister-in-law thought I was crazy but I planned to do something decorative on my back entry (of course).

 


I tell you, a gardener never stops learning about things does he/she?  I have heard of "hedgeapples" all my life but never really knew what they were all about.  Heck until I did an internet search I thought they grew on vines (they grow on trees).  Their real name is Osage orange.  Apparently they were widely planted in rows as an impenetrable cattle fence before the advent of barbed wire.    They are also believed to have bug-repellent properties.  This blog has a very interesting post if you'd like to know more:  http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/osage-orange-uses/

I just think they are a wonderful (free) fall decoration!

Thankful For What I Have

I read in the Lowe's Garden Ideas booklet today...(I'm paraphrasing) that if you are unhappy with the way your garden looks right now just snap some pictures and then make a note to look at them in February...suddenly they will look gorgeous!  I thought that was funny (and true enough).  Since we have a long growing season it is easy to get weary and tired during this hot, dry month.  So like the article says I have decided to focus on the positives!

Let's all do the "wave!"

Bronze leaf canna, carex and heliopsis

Helenium



Banana- Love the splotchy leaves.  (This should be fun to overwinter!)

A little Vinca goes a long way.  I am noting things that have not flagged in this horrid heat...vinca and lantana top the list so far.  Most of my potted annuals have bit the dust already.

Variegated ivy, white begonia, sensitive fern and climbing euonymous.  Cooling shades of white and green.

The "working" area of the yard.  My tire o' herbs has done well. 

Cashmere bouquet is running rampant around my spring house, I forgive it though when it's blooming so well when not much else is.

Any "birdie" want to go camping?  I picked up this sweet camper birdhouse at Burke's Outlet.

Obedient Plant

Pink anemone...love this late season plant.

Well that's about it for this time.  I am off for a 4 day weekend, so with cooler temps and low humidity forecasted (due to hurricane Irene), I plan to be out and about. Glad to finally post again, I've missed y'all! 

July Flower Fireworks

Well July is "officially" here although June felt much like July!  My garden is in its usual state of disarray since I can't last out there for hours like I do in the spring and fall.  I have been gone 4 days on a Niagara Falls vacation..what a weather change!  It was zero humid, nice breeze with highs in the 70s-80 and 50s at night!  What a slam back to be submerged in high 90s again today.  I hear we got several inches of precious rain while I was gone..hallelujah! 

Looks a bit like fireworks doesn't it?  This is a passalong daylilly from my friend Glenda.  I like the markings!  This is my first bloom to see of this one.  Always exciting!

This sunflower "planted" itself!  It is taller than me (which is not saying much I know!) 

Big ole daylily bloom on a short plant...I like it!  It is a beautiful orange.

Of course I can't travel without "borrowing" a cutting of something!  This came from an old cemetery in Pennsylvania.  It is the cutest mini-rose, I hope I can successfully root it. 

Good old faithful tiger lilies!

Elephant ears are getting ginormous.  There's some yellow cannas blooming alongside.

Well it seems like I have a yellow/orange theme going in blooms.  I admire anything that can look so happy in this heat.  I leave you with a parting shot of me and Glen at Niagara Falls.  I can almost feel that wind and mist as I look at this picture.

Does Absence "Really" Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

Wow, I have really been absent from blogging but hopefully somebody missed me.  Nothing like 98 degree heat and humidity in early June to run one indoors to blog.  I could barely get a few pics of my daylilys this evening..camera lens kept fogging up!  I had to drag out the water hose yesterday and water the new transplants and annuals in pots.  No rain in sight..this is a weird weather year so far. 

First blooms for this delicate clematis:

This little white rose isn't even knee high but man can it kick!  It was LOADED.  No idea what the name is..found it on a street corner hanging over where I could snip a cutting..hee hee.

Gooseneck loosestrife.  Don't gasp..I know this one can be invasive but where it is I think it'll be fine.  It had proven to be a difficult spot for much else to grow.  I love the curved form and tough as nails habit.

Daylily I bought from Rabbit's Daylily Patch near Florence.  If it was a named one then I have forgotten!

Another "Rabbit's" find planted last year.

Ms. Annabelle Hydrangea is showing out too.  Been planted about 3 years going on 4.  Stunning no?

I'll have more to share when daylilys peak and I can get some long shots of the garden .  Pretty much a sea of green right now.  As long as it does not turn brown from all this heat I'll be happy.

Eye Candy

No foreplay this time...just jump on in!

Orange rose= Westerland

Paris and Nicole (the resident flamingoes) bid you farewell till next visit!