At the Garden Center ~ Hydrangeas

Another garden center find: Hydrangeas.  We have lots of Hydrangeas around our yard.  We have lots of sun, and they seem to enjoy that.  People ask us what we do to get so many blooms, etc., and we say... ignore them.  Yep.  It's survival of the fittest around here.  No special treatment.  Alas, our Hydrangeas are "only" white, so I enjoyed these colorful beauties!  I hope you will too.

At the Garden Center ~ Sunflowers

We stopped in at a local garden center the other day.  We hadn't been there in  a long while, and things were definitely thinned out for the end of the summer season.  As we wound around the place looking at clearance items and castoffs, we were rewarded with this beautiful sight...

...a wide swath of sunflowers.

Each one was perfectly beautiful.  We caught them at just the right time!!  I was reminded of the fun that we had growing sunflowers when the kids were little.  Some of them reached past the gutters on our house -- which was BIG FUN for the kids!!

Have a sunny Tuesday!

Rose of Sharon ~ Enjoy the View!

Our Rose of Sharon is blooming beautifully, and I brought a small budded branch into the house [along with some Northern Sea Oats], wanting to watch the transformation... so pretty!

Hibiscus Update, and a New School Year!

We interrupt the usual Project Life Monday blog post pattern to bring you this Hibiscus update.  Also... I was lazy this weekend, and didn't get to take any new photos for a Project Life Update.  Stay tuned... hopefully tomorrow.

You might remember that I told you about our first Hibiscus blossom HERE,  and I marked the date for future reference.  I was pretty excited when that first bloom popped open, and I promised to show you more... when they opened.  It's been chilly around here this summer -- and I think they were waiting for a warmer day -- which we've had a few of lately, so... without further adieu...

I love these crinkly crepe-paper like petals!

This one was not taken to give me any bragging rights.  It's only so that I have a measure, year to year of how big these blooms get.

The intricate centers are amazing!

Well, it's back to school today.  This year our daughter is attending the local Career Center during the first half of the day, and then, will catch a bus back to the high school for her core classes in the afternoon. This particular week, that means half days until Wednesday, when she will participate as a mentor in freshman activities during the afternoon hours.  On Thursday her real full-day schedule begins.  

Around here, the anxiety has been building.

We are anxious to get "firsts" behind us.

First Bloom ~ Hibiscus

Yesterday was the day.  I sat at the kitchen table eating my breakfast, and I saw it -- the Hibiscus' first bloom!  Looks like there are plenty more where this came from, and I'll try and catch pictures of those too, but couldn't resist showing you this shot!

Have a great weekend!  ~Sally

Hibiscus, a Bunny, a Skunk -- and This Summer!

...and not necessarily in that order

Hmmm... Hibiscus is ever a surprise.  When we purchased this plant last year, it was already blooming, and we enjoyed it's beautiful pink blooms.  Then came the harsh winter, and when spring came... NOTHING.  We thought it was a goner.  But, sure enough and better late than never -- it came back.  It grew tall fast as if we were living in the tropics, though there's been nothing tropical about this summer in NEOhio.  Finally, in July, I took a picture of this somewhat complex thing that I thought was the beginning of a blossom.

photo taken 7/16/14

In fact, it seems as if that was the beginning of many blossoms!  That centralized burst of green has turned into lots and lots of these:

photos taken 8/8/14

At least, I think that's what has happened.  All I know is... I'm pretty excited about this bud (below).  I'm actually seeing a little pink there!  Could be any day now, I suppose.  Although, if it's anything like our tomatoes that don't want to turn red...  I hear they like a little heat.  Hmmmm - at this point, all bets are off for more heat THIS summer.  And that's not a complaint.  It's been a lovely fallish-summer.  I just might have to wait to see my Hibiscus bloom and to eat ripe home-grown tomatoes until next year.

Ironically, as I do my blog-reading, other bloggers are saying that it's been a hot, hot summer.  I suppose they are knee-deep in Hibiscus blooms and homegrown tomatoes too.

Around here, we turn the air off at night [that is, if it's been on at all] and fling the windows wide open.  Lately though, there has been a cry of "skunk" during the night, and all of the windows get slammed shut.  It seems that those of us who are innocently wrapped in blankets in the house -- and far out of the skunk's way -- shouldn't have to deal with his stench smack in the middle of our dreams.

Thank goodness I've never met the skunk at the door when taking the trash out at night!  I don't even want to think about that!!  Though we have much evidence of creature comings and goings around here, this guy [below] is usually the one that jumps out to surprise us... or just lays flat-out on it's belly under tall-growing flowers.  Either way, I'll take Mr. Cottontail ANYtime.

How's that for a lot of random thoughts?  Yep.  All rolled up into one post.

P.S.  Don't worry.  I'll let you know if and when the Hibiscus blooms!  *wink

Just Showing Off!

By far, the biggest show-off in our garden this year is a $5 mid-summer addition --this Purple Queen Bougainvillea!  Since we just planted it this summer, we didn't necessarily expect any big show of color, so we were really happy when we saw how quickly it adapted and thrived!  This baby can grow to 15' tall if supported. Next year, we will definitely need a trellis, as it will have the entire growing season in this spot, which obviously suits it just fine!

I love the color.  It's not really purple, and not quite fuchsia pink -- but somewhere in between.  The flower petals are veined, much like a leaf, and they are delicate, yet strong.  In fact, I haven't seen any blooms fail yet.

Interestingly enough, we also purchased a Bengal Orange Bougainvillea which has yet to see a flower -- and it's planted a mere two feet away from the purple one!  Go figure.  Though it's very healthy, it hasn't produced a bloom yet, so I'm anticipating a show next summer.

Are you enjoying any garden surprises as we head into fall?

Today's the last day to enter the giveaway HERE.

The winner will be revealed THIS SATURDAY, 9/21.

What's Up? Maters!

Well, it looks like it's any day now for our Roma tomatoes.  Several of them are right on the edge of being fully-ripe.  I can't wait for BLT's with our own tomatoes!

On the other hand, it doesn't look so good for the Bell peppers this year.  I've taken a few pictures of them, and each time I return to find that the tiny pepper has been gobbled up.  The one in the picture below?  Gone.  (Sad face!)  We use a lot of peppers around here, and chili season is almost upon us as well -- so, you know... there's that.  But, it doesn't look like we'll be using our own peppers this year.

I'm blaming the groundhogs that we've seen around here lately.  That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

What's Up -- and What's for Dinner?

I see great things for our family in the future.
You probably can too, if you look close enough.

For starters, I see Stuffed Peppers and Bacon-Cheese Dreams -- two of my favorites!

These green Bell Pepper and Roma Tomato plants came back from the edge.  We bought them in the very early spring, knowing full well that there were still frosts to come.  And sure enough, one of the late spring frosts zapped them pretty good.  We thought they were goners.  But somehow, they made it back from the edge that we thought they had gone over.

Here they are today.  The pepper is moving along slower than the tomatoes, but seriously?  Who could've known there would be this much green in their future?

Are you growing veggies in your garden this summer?

If so, which ones?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Vee's note card parties are the best.  The ladies that participate are a sweet and responsive community unlike any other blog-partiers that I've ever partied with.  Thank you, ladies... not just for your kind comments about my note card photos, but also for your kind wishes of sunshine & happiness for this weekend's graduation party.

God has assured me that it's all under control!

I'll tell you all about it on Monday.  (As if I could wait any longer.)

What's Up? 7.15

Black-Eyed Susans and Northern Sea Oats!

Around here, blossoming Black-Eyed Susans come around the time of our son's birthday.  Generally, they are open within a week of his day -- one way or the other.  Also, they sort of mark the half-way point of summer.   Hmmmm, let's just go with the birthday thing.  I'm not ready to think of summer as half-spent quite yet.

One of the things that I love about Black-Eyed Susans is how they unfurl.  Those petals get so twisted up.  It's hard to believe that they won't stay all knarly.

For a while, we really let these flowers take over the long stretch of garden at our back lot line.  You know who loved that?  The goldfinches.  We had a feeder back there amongst the flowers, and it was their happy place. You should've heard them sing!

Since then, we've thinned that area out a lot as we've acquired other plants.  It's been fun to see where the birds and squirrels have seeded the Black-Eyed Susans though!  They show up all over the yard when we KNOW that we haven't planted them there!

Since we started vacationing in The Outer Banks years ago, we've admired the many varieties of seagrasses that grow there.  This variety is called Northern Sea Oats.  We came across it late last year.  It did "okay" last year, but it didn't really thrive.  Actually, I kind of forgot all about it.  It's planted right next to our Oriental Poppies, so it could've really gotten lost in the shuffle.

One day in the early spring, I happened to spot something that (though not very big) looked established and healthy.  I happened to think of the Sea Oats, and left it alone.  Sure enough!  It came back.

I'm anxious to see how it changes when we move into autumn weather, but I'm not wishing the time away -- trust me.  I'm enjoying this beautiful show of green.  It's right outside my kitchen window, and I love to watch it sway in the breeze!

So, how about you?  What's up at your house?

P.S. For those of you who have been praying... the Chicago Team (and our girl) made it home safely Saturday evening!  We are so grateful to God for his watchful eye over this group of kids, and their leaders -- and for the things they were able to accomplish in HIS NAME last week!

What's Up? 6.20

I haven't done a "What's Up?" post in couple of weeks, so let's get caught up.  I believe these are called Vanilla Butterfly Daisies.  I never dreamed that these would return this year.  I think I have a lot to learn about daisies!  We just bought this plant last year, and it didn't really thrive.  As blooms died, I dead-headed the plant.  Right?  Wrong?  You tell me.  All of a sudden, I was left with NOTHING.  It was a sad state of affairs.

I was looking for a daisy that would be as prolific around the yard as Black-Eyed Susans seem to be around here.  [The birds have transplanted them, and I find them growing everywhere.  Lucky I love them!]  I thought how nice it would be to have bright "splashes" of white around the yard -- as much as the Black-Eyed Susan's golden yellow.  It's only been one year -- so it's hard to tell if this Daisy will eventually become so at home here that we will have to "divide" to conquer.  Here's hopin'.

In the meantime, here it comes, and the question remains.
Daisies -- Deadhead?  or no?  [I'll try to remember to take a picture for you when it's actually OPEN.]

I can't wait to see these Torch Lilies open.  It's always fun to see the transformation they go through!

I'm not sure what these yellow flowers are.  Anyone know?  I'm pretty sure they snuck in the back door with other plants that were gifted to us.  It's always a nice surprise to have things like this pop up in the yard!

And Hydrangeas!  How I love them.  Several years back, my dad shared a few plants with us.  They grew, and we soon had lots of shoots to transplant around the yard.  For some reason, they like our yard.

One time, a friend from church stopped by to drop off his daughter.  He wondered aloud at our secret to having nice hydrangeas.  I was embarrassed to tell him that we basically ignore them.  I've mentioned before that our garden philosophy is "survival of the fittest."  We don't baby anything too much.  Initially, we put "grow through" plant support circles around each plant.  That has been a tremendous help in supporting the plant.  In the fall, we trim the plants back to 12-18 inches.  That's it for the TLC around here.

This guy.... should have throat issues by now.  He sang ALL. DAY. LONG. yesterday!  And then, when I went out to take pictures, he perched on the neighbor's roof as if to say, "Yep.  It was me.  What're you going to do about it?"  Have I ever mentioned that I have a "Birds" ringtone for my incoming texts?  Yeah.  It was a confusing day.

But back to the garden... Look at all of the apples!  Again, we do nothing to baby these trees.  There are no pesticides used.  Mostly the trees are a fruity screen between us and our backyard neighbors.  We've had a few apples here and there.  Nothing wonderful.  No bumper crop.  But hello?  Look at all of those apples!  When you stand under the trees and look up, it's apples, apples, apples!

So, what's up at your house?  Don't you love an ever-changing yard?