Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
What's that noise?
I was sitting quietly drinking a cup of coffee this morning when I heard it. An unfamiliar sound. It kept getting louder and louder and almost sounded like I was at a football game full of cheering fans.
Then it hit me! The first sound I heard was rain! Not just humidity in the air but real soaking rain. I realized it wasn't really raining that hard to make such a loud noise. I listened a few more minutes and discovered what it was.
The grass,
the trees,
the flowers,
and even the birds were cheering!
Then it hit me! The first sound I heard was rain! Not just humidity in the air but real soaking rain. I realized it wasn't really raining that hard to make such a loud noise. I listened a few more minutes and discovered what it was.
The grass,
the trees,
the flowers,
and even the birds were cheering! We are finally getting a whole day of rain!
Monday, July 25, 2011
It's Bloomin' Tuesday!
Welcome!Here we are after another hot, humid rainless week. We did get a little during one night and it rained all around me Sat night and today. My grass is all brown and even some of the fall plants are starting to turn brown.
My Clematis haven't bloomed like normal this year. Usually the whole vine is covered with blossoms. This year they have been blooming a couple at a time.
This one Dr. Ruppel, climbs up a metal crib side under the deck.
The rabbits decided the Pink Champagne needed to be cut back this year. I went out in the spring to untwist it and I ended up with a 'tumbleweed' in my hand! I've been wanting it to climb onto the roof of the shed for years and this is the first time it's gotten close. The bloom from this one is in thebutton for Bloomin' Tuesday.
The purple one was given to me and I don't know the name. It is the only one that bloomed normal and it's out front.
I do like the purple color of this one. I'm very excited that I found an Autumn Clematis this year. I've been looking for a few years now. I can't wait t0 see if it blooms this fall.If you'd like to join our tour just add your name and permalink to Mr Linky and, please add a link to this post on your blog. You can grab the button here or click the one on my sidebar for more choices.
Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!
Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Chipmunk Holes!
The girls and I came up with the perfect use for all the chipmunk holes in my back yard.
All it took was a yogurt cup from my recycling bin.....
...and the girls golf set!
The perfect use for irritating holes!
All it took was a yogurt cup from my recycling bin.....
...and the girls golf set!
The perfect use for irritating holes!Monday, July 18, 2011
It's Bloomin' Tuesday!
Welcome!I'd like to thank all of you that are joining our garden tour. I love seeing all your blooms and garden art!
We are still hurting for rain in Western New York. This first shot is of some astilbe and my blue hydrangea in the darkest corner of my shade garden. Even tho I've watered almost every day these plants are shriveling up. We are supposed to get rain today but none so far.
A close up of the 'Twinkle Pixie' Phlox from last week.
The middle garden is busy with bloomin' cone flowers. There is always lots of bee activity around these blooms.
The heat doesn't seem to bother the perennial Sweet Peas that climb up the lattice and around the window frame on the side of the walkway.
The peachy day lilies have also decided to show off this week.
I finally got to dead head the lily border while the girls were outside playing. I don't go out much in the heat and humidity we've been having.
The trumpet vine is full of buds and blooms. I saw some humming bird zooming around the yard today. I'm trying to show them to the girls but they are just too fast and the girls don't really know what they are looking for.
There bright orange blooms on the deck should attract their attention
Another view of the middle garden with the 'Candy Stripe' Phlox in the front.
The heads of these phlox are huge this year but they aren't standing up very well.That's it for my heat hardy plants this week. If you'd like to join our garden tour, add your name and permalink to Mr Linky and put a link to this post on your blog. Then sit back with a cold drink and take a tour of gardens from all over the country!
Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
McCoy Vase
Some of you may remember my post about this vase I got when my Mom passed away.
Several were in 'want/need' of one. It is a McCoy vase from the Rustic Line, made in about 1945.
You are in luck! I found one like it at a sale and bought it for my Etsy Shop. I just put it up for sale if you are interested. Click on 'jaosmith' under the Etsy pictures on my side bar to go to my shop.
Several were in 'want/need' of one. It is a McCoy vase from the Rustic Line, made in about 1945.
You are in luck! I found one like it at a sale and bought it for my Etsy Shop. I just put it up for sale if you are interested. Click on 'jaosmith' under the Etsy pictures on my side bar to go to my shop. Friday, July 15, 2011
Favorite Things Friday
Loosestrife!
(Remember to click on the picrures to enlarge)
Many years ago, when I was just starting to garden, a customer brought me some plants. I don't remember what the others were but my favorite was the yellow loosestrife. Loosestrife is an invasive plant but that doesn't bother me, in fact I like invasive plants in my 'wild' garden.
Several years ago I found some purple loosestrife, Lythrum Virgatum. This plant is planted on roadways because of it's ability to spread. Mine is planted among the yellow and the yellow is definitely more aggressive!
Last year at a plant sale at our local Audubon I found what I believe was labeled red loosestrife. I wasn't really sure what I was getting but I bought is anyway.
The 'red' also has yellow flowers but the leaves are a nice soft burgundy that looks great with all the green around it.
As I shared last week, I traded some yellow for some Gooseneck. I have been looking for this for years but it's very rare to find any loosestrife at garden centers because of it's invasive nature.
I was very excited a couple weeks ago to find a new loosestrife at Lowes! This may be my favorite! The Beaujolais Loosestrife has graygreen foilage and large dark burgundy blooms.
I only bought one pot but may look for another so it will spread faster.
If you are looking for a colorful plant to fill in a large area, Loosestrife is a great choice. The only problem you may have is finding it. If you see some in a yard stop and ask for a shovel full. I'm sure any gardener would be glad to share. Better yet, take a trip to Western New York and I'll share mine!
Many years ago, when I was just starting to garden, a customer brought me some plants. I don't remember what the others were but my favorite was the yellow loosestrife. Loosestrife is an invasive plant but that doesn't bother me, in fact I like invasive plants in my 'wild' garden.
Several years ago I found some purple loosestrife, Lythrum Virgatum. This plant is planted on roadways because of it's ability to spread. Mine is planted among the yellow and the yellow is definitely more aggressive!
Last year at a plant sale at our local Audubon I found what I believe was labeled red loosestrife. I wasn't really sure what I was getting but I bought is anyway.
The 'red' also has yellow flowers but the leaves are a nice soft burgundy that looks great with all the green around it.
As I shared last week, I traded some yellow for some Gooseneck. I have been looking for this for years but it's very rare to find any loosestrife at garden centers because of it's invasive nature.
I was very excited a couple weeks ago to find a new loosestrife at Lowes! This may be my favorite! The Beaujolais Loosestrife has graygreen foilage and large dark burgundy blooms. 
I only bought one pot but may look for another so it will spread faster.
If you are looking for a colorful plant to fill in a large area, Loosestrife is a great choice. The only problem you may have is finding it. If you see some in a yard stop and ask for a shovel full. I'm sure any gardener would be glad to share. Better yet, take a trip to Western New York and I'll share mine!Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wooden Bowl/Wheelbarrow
I found this vintage wooden bowl/wheelbarrow at a sale for $1.25. I bought it not really knowing what I would do with it.
Once I came up with an idea, I drilled a couple holes in the bottom.
Then I dug around in my gardens for some succulents.
This is what I came up with.
I love it on the wicker table on my deck.
Once I came up with an idea, I drilled a couple holes in the bottom.
Then I dug around in my gardens for some succulents.This is what I came up with. I love it on the wicker table on my deck.Monday, July 11, 2011
It's Bloomin' Tuesday!
Welcome to Bloomin' Tuesday! I'd like to apologize again for not posting last week. I usually post every week for BT.
I worked in this garden beside my neighbors garage for a few hours on Sunday. Instead of separating plants, I just enlarge the garden, where possible. I expanded this one about a foot all around. Right now there are blanket flowers, false sunflowers, tickseed and perennial sweet peas blooming. I did need to remove some of the sweet peas because I couldn't see the rusty wheelbarrow at all.
This area is on the house side of the walk way. These Mullins are among my most favorite blooms. The pink phlox, pixie twinkle, is blooming behind it. 
The 'wild' garden on the other side of the walk is continually getting wilder! I'm excited to see the gooseneck loosestrife blooming for the first time! I traded with a lady that came to the garden tour last year for some yellow. I'd been wanting this for awhile but since it's invasive, it's not usually sold here.
The cone flowers and the red corcosia are just beginning to bloom.
At the bottom of the 'wild' garden it's blue! Blue bellflower, sea holly and light blue camponella are all going strong. 
Cone flowers are just getting started in the center garden, too. The false mallow, party girl has joined the party also. She does spread around quite well!
I like the punch of color the blue hydrangea adds to the shade garden. I moved this a couple years ago and wasn't sure if it would bloom again. The hosta blooms and pink and white astilbehelp brighten up this dark corner.
The day lily border has also come alive! I never did get a shot of the Stella D'ore and now there are 2 shades of yellow and a peach here and there. The yellow always seem to bloom first but by next week there should be a couple shades of peach.
I only have a couple clumps of this yellow throated burgundy and they don't show up well because they are shorter than the others. Maybe I'll remember to move them this year.
There's a lot of bloomin' going on in Western New York and after all the spring rain, we are wishing for more! I need to water the newer plants most every day now and the weeds are getting harder to pull.I'm anxious to see what you all have going on in your gardens! Just add your name and permalink to Mr Linky and add a link to this post on your blog to join the tour. Just a reminder, I try to have this post up by 9 Monday night so you can sign up then if it's easier.
Happy Gardening!
Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
