Walk in January

My mom left this morning and we are getting settled back into our routines. I finally got my tulip bulbs planted. I took Quickbeam out for a walk this afternoon to see what was happening. January is starting as grey and damp as December was.

There aren't a whole lot of things to see, but here and there are a few things of interest. These are the seedheads from my crepe myrtle tree.
I was surprised to see some buds on my Butterscotch Jessamine. I don't know if it is going to frost before it blooms.

And finally, there is still a little life left in the hen and chicks on my succulent bird feeder.

The Elephant in the Room

A few years ago I was a frequent business traveler to San Diego. There was a wonderful nursery there that I used to visit and I bought this little elephant statue there. I have kept him on an endtable in the living room ever since and he has helped to bring some zen-like tranquility into the house. Alas, this is the year of child-proofing and rearranging so I moved him out into the garden. I think he will probably be happier there.

And yes...the phlox is still blooming. :)

Merry Christmas!

First, I wanted to wish all of my friends and family Merry Christmas. I appreciate everyone who has visited my blog throughout the year. I take pictures and write for my own pleasure, but it is always fun to share with others. It is always a challenge for me to limit my activities to the time that I have available, since I am interested in everything. :) Off to eat Christmas candy and take long naps!

Published!

For those out there that like to blog, write and take pictures I was wondering if you had been introduced to Blurb. Blurb.com is a website where you can download software, plug in your pictures and writing, upload it and get a book. My dad came down for a visit earlier this spring and he showed me the website. He has been working on a family history that he plans to publish using it. I also have a cousin and his wife that have published some books through it. I don't know much about the official publishing method, but this appealed to me. You can capture a special trip, family event or other thing in a book and the prices aren't that outrageous.

I decided that I wanted to capture the pictures and writings from my blog. I figured that I could do an update each year and keep a record of how things develop. We started with a bare lot and I want to see where we go. I figured that there might be some of you that would also be interested in doing something like this. I finally got my book up and ordered and I can't wait to see what it looks like. So, I'll keep you posted!

My Book

Green Thumb Sunday 12/21/08 - Fungus Rules

There hasn't been a whole lot going on in my neck of the woods for quite a while now, and today the most interesting thing is the rash of mushrooms in the front flower bed.

I have always been fascinated by mushrooms though, ever since I was a little girl. They are so delicate and only last for a day or two. We have had so much rain here lately though and even when its not raining it is damp and overcast. So I guess it is the perfect recipe for a couple of really good crops.

The only other real object of interest is the fact that my froggy bottoms have started to rust.

This was a wrought iron stepping stone that my friend gave me when I left North Carolina and I got them placed this summer. I expect that I will eventually bring them in and make a wall ornament after they get sufficiently aged looking.

Sunshine! Blue Skies! 60 Degrees!

For the last few weeks it has been rainy, icy at times, foggy and overcast all of the time. I was starting to think I might have SAD and need a sun lamp. It doesn't help that it is pitch black outside by 5 PM. I took off work a little early and took Quickbeam outside and lo and behold we saw blue skies. So it was time to do an inventory.

I know that everyone is probably sick of pictures of my phlox, but is still plugging away and I am extremely curious how long it is going to keep blooming. There are a few blooms on each of the plants. It also looks like there are a few buds opening up on the Alyssum plant.

Imagine my surprise to see a dandelion blooming in the yard. I have never been one of those that has to have a weed-free yard and I have always enjoyed seeing cheerful dandelion blooms.

There is a large bloom with probably 20 plus mushrooms in the front flower bed. Since I was carrying Quickbeam (and the ground was wet) I couldn't get down to get a really good picture. My camera lens seemed to be kind of fuzzy.
The lack of leaves helped to expose the bird's nest in my crepe myrtle tree. I tried to avoid getting too close to it this summer.

So that was our expedition today. It felt really good to get outside and get some fresh air. I let Quickbeam run around for awhile and she enjoyed the time outside also. Keeping her from eating leaves and grass definately keeps me busy. :)

Green Thumb Sunday 12/14/08

We finally got a really cold snap and good freeze over the weekend. The sheet of ice shown above is in the lotus planter. I didn't post last weekend because the weather was miserable and there wasn't much to show. When I got up early Saturday morning there was a really heavy frost all over everything so I went outside to check it out.
Here is my elfin thyme with a good dusting.

And here is the seed head on the Joe Pye Weed. And then later that afternoon, in spite of everything...

More phlox!

Last Two Standing

I am down to just two plox left as the only blooming plants left. The nighttime temps have been in the 20's and daytime in the 40's and 50's. We are supposed to get some snow on Monday!

Stuff I've Done

Here's an interesting list from my friend Kiy. She has the link on her site for the original. Here's how it works:

So there is this list floating around and you are supposed to bold the things that you have done in your life. Should be fun! Feel free to play along!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in Arlington Cemetery
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Green Thumb Sunday 11/23/08 - Hard Frost Survivors

We had our first really hard frost on Friday evening, and woke up yesterday morning to 22 degrees. I figured that would be the end of any blooms that I have, but I still have a few stalwarts hanging on. It looks like Alyssum is going to be the main star of my blog for a while. :) I went out and inventoried yesterday and the pickings are getting pretty slim now. The alyssum by the pond is protected from sunlight early in the morning and probably doesn't start getting exposed until 11 am or so, by which time it has been warming up to the 40's.

There are still a few odd blooms on the light blue creeping phlox.
The few remaining Black-Eyed Susan blooms got touched by the frost.
There are still a few lily pads left on the water lily, but they are starting to get a little ragged now. Not too ragged for my bird friends to use them for a bird bath though, as noted in the post below.
And one of the main stars of the show now, Coneflower seedheads.

Those are the major happenings now. I have some wild tulip bulbs to plant today if I don't keep procrastinating. I picked a variety with low winter chill requirements so I'm hoping to get them to rebloom.

Bird Bath

I saw today what was possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen in my garden today. I'm going to try and post a video that I took of it.

Here's what happened:

I was walking by the window in the living room and happened to glance out at my pond. I noticed that there were a lot of little sparrows (that's a guess, I haven't ID'd them) landing around the edge of the pond. And then I noticed what they were doing, they were hopping down on the lily pads and taking a bath on them. I had never seen birds do anything like that with either of my ponds. I would imagine if the birds had been any bigger it wouldn't have worked because their weight would have made the lilypad sink. So since I had my trusty video camera I tried to capture it. The video isn't too good for these reasons:

• My vido camera isn't that high quality, it's a small handheld that is meant to be very portable
• I had to reduce quality on it when I shrank it for a smaller file size
• It was taken through the screen on the living room window
• It is kind of shaky because I am holding it

I have tried previously to move to get a better picture angle, but the birds notice the movement and fly away. So I did the best that I could with it. I'm not sure if you will even be able to see them, they were pretty small.

P.S. I looked at it when it was posted and it was pretty blurry so I don't think you can see them. It did however remind me that I need to pull out the horsetail so that I have a better view of the pond surface from the house. I need to anyway because it is shooting out runners under the gravel as far as three feet away. :P

Green Thumb Sunday - 11/16/2008 - The Old Reliables

It's getting to be slimmer pickings in the garden now, and the plants are few and far between. The temperature dropped to 30 degrees last night and daytime highs have been in the 50's. I noticed that the alyssum tumbling into the pond is still there (above). For some reason I always seem to overlook it. It has been a steady, reliable bloomer in the garden all summer long and into the fall now. I have never really been much for annuals in the garden but this one is definately going to have a place in mine from now on.

I got a big pot of Hen and Chicks earlier this summer to break apart and plant in the succulent bird feeder. I tucked the ultimate mother into a corner between the bricks around the pond area and a rock stepping stone. It has been multiplying happily all summer and I am pleased to report that it seems to be happy where it is.

The creeping phlox has gotten well established in several places and seems to be at home. The whole 'scree garden' concept seems to be taking root and growing now, no pun intended.
The Black-Eyed Susan has been giving consistent splashes of color in the back of the garden all summer long. It's also been self-seeding prolifically so I will have to be giving away some young plants next spring.

And finally, the Blanket Flower has also been plugging along all summer. Now that there are fewer flowers it is still decorating the bird feeder bed with seed pods. I think that I'll be moving some of this into the scree garden next spring.

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day - November 2008

There are very few things left blooming in my garden right now. Oddly enough, my Neptune (above) rose bush is absolutely covered with buds right now. There are even a few on my Elle (below) bush beside it. They are in a protected alcove in the front side of the house and that might be their secret. They even had rain droplets on them this morning, to make the perfect pictures.
The only other rose bud was on Gingersnap, but it wasn't that open yet.

Green Thumb Sunday 11/9/08 - Neptune

Yesterday in my survey of the garden I found several buds on my Neptune rose bush. There are fewer and fewer blooms that are still surviving so I am trying to savor these last ones. Neptune is a lovely lavender color and they are extremely fragrant. Here's hoping that I have a few more. :)

How do you dew?

This morning I walked out in the back yard to see what was going on. I just happened to look down and see an absolutely perfect spider web, gleaming in the morning dew. The web pictured above is just about the size of a half dollar. I guess it pays to take mt eyes off of the fall colors every now and then. :)

Peepers

When I was checking what was going on in the front flower bed I noticed my Cranesbill geranium was peeping out of The Mum That Ate Alabama (T.M.T.A.A). It has flopped and sprawled all over and is still covered with blooms. I need to get it out of my other plants but don't have the heart to cut it back right now. The weather is still absolutely beautiful, in the 70's during the daytime. I'm enjoying it while it lasts :)

Angel Face

I went out into the garden yesterday evening to feed the fish and spotted this lovely hiding in the Angel Face rose bush. I have a few blooms straggling on my various roses and I am treasuring each of them. Angel Face made a remarkable recovery from black spot earlier that left it entirely naked of leaves. As she settles into her new home I look forward to many more years of blooms to come.

Monte Sano

We went to Monte Sano park this afternoon because it was such a beautiful day. We haven't been back there since last fall when we went up to see the colors. The fall color has just started to pick up some, but we still have a few weeks to go before it peaks out.

There were a couple of vivid trees, but overall it is mostly greens.

We let Quickbeam down so that she could walk around some, since she is walking on her own now. She did pretty good except she wanted to keep picking up rocks and eating them. It was an amazing day - warm, bright and sunny, fall colors. We won't be having too many more of them before winter hits.

Green Thumb Sunday - 11/2/08

I wasn't expecting anything from my Japanese Anemone this fall since I only planted it a little over a month ago. It did get a bud that sat there stubbornly for two weeks or so before it started to open. I have been waiting and waiting for it to open all the way but this seems to be as far as it is willing to go. Frustrating plants. ;) I have covered it through the frosts earlier this week in hopes that it will finish opening but it doesn't look like that is meant to be. Oh well, there's always next year. :)

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

Green Thumb Sunday 10/26/2008 - The Catbird Seat

There is a small nursery that I pass on my way to work every morning. It took me a while before I finally stopped by, mostly because small nurseries usually don't have that much to see. This one proved to be an exception. I found several good steppable plants at the beginning and kept meaning to go back with my camera. You know what they say, better late than never. :)

They have a pretty goo.d collection of succulents, which I may have to revisit when I redo my succulent bird feeder next year.
There are still quite a few plants that are blooming, and among them I found...
My beloved 'Bishop of Llandoff' dahlia. I had just planted one in North Carolina before we moved and it broke my heart to leave it behind. Can you believe that I didn't walk out with one? Believe me, I regret it now. ;)
See who I found at home amongst the plants?
And finally, more evidence that fall is finally here. :) Happy Green Thumb Sunday!

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

It can't ever be easy

We went to my favorite lunchtime getaway today to take some pictures for my book. The Catbird Seat is a nursery that is only a few miles away from my work. I have a whole bunch of pictures to post for Green Thumb Sunday tomorrow but today I thought I'd focus on this. My grandpa loved owls and collected anything that he could find with an owl on it. He was also an avid gardener though he was mostly into vegetables. When I saw this owl statue I had to have it to put out in my garden so that I could think of him when I saw it.


We also had a little drama this morning because the battery in the car died and we had to get it jumped. The people in the nursery were extremely nice and backed their 1-Ton landscaping truck up to jump it for us. In the meantime the lady gave Quickbeam a decorative gourd to keep her busy while the grownups worked. Thank goodness she's at the age where she can still be distracted by things like that. ;)

Rain

It rained really hard for most of the morning today. I got soaked going out for lunchtime, and was generally sleepy all day from the gloomy light coming in from outside. It is a good thing it rained of course, because we are still behind in rainfall for the year. I truly like it when it rains, but I'd rather be at home and not needing to go out when it happens. I like especially being able to take naps on rainy days, because there isn't much that makes me sleepier. It also feels so cozy being inside my warm house when it's cold and rainy outside. If I can put on a pot of soup I feel even better. :)

Fall-ish

It has been chilly and dark for the last few mornings that I have left for work. I get to see the moon rising over the cotton fields, and the dew on the grass. There is a slight change in coloration on the mountains as I go home in the evenings. I can't wait for fires in the fireplace, hot chocolate and wrapping up on the couch to read. I also love bonfires outside, roasting marshmallows and making big pots of chili. My 'Arabian Nights' Dahlia is still faithfully plugging away and has flowers on it. I hope that I do a better job next year of keeping up with all of the happenings going on in my garden, this year has been too exhausting. On the brighter side, when I fed the fish tonight, look what happened:

That's right, fish actually showed up! Okay, it's a first for me so I'm excited. As I was walking over to check out the happenings in the pond a frog hopped off of the lilypad into the water. I tried to get a picture of it but it refused to cooperate.