Wisteria

Just wanted to share some springtime beauty, my wisteria. It was beautiful in March!

Mulch

Yippee! I took lots of sinus medicine and nose spray then raced outside to do a little mulching. I managed to the work the beds that border the front brick stair walkway. It was in pretty good condition and quite moist which is surprising since we are in a drought and the rain has been sparse. I spread out 3 bags of Earthgro mulch from Home Depot. It took a little over an hour. I found a fire ant bed and treated it with amdro and some other poison. These little fellas have been fierce at our house this year. I believe they have completely covered the whole yard. They probably are just moving their homes around when I bother them. Oh well, winter is around the corner (cross my fingers) and they will go deep under the ground. The allergies kicked in again so I hit the shower.

Suggestion on where to get wildflower seeds.... there is a place outside of Fredericksburg, Texas, called Wildseed Farms, and they have an awesome seed collection. If you can't make it down there for a visit you can always visit their website www.wildseedfarms.com they are reasonable and their seeds always germinate well for me. It is a good idea to get them planted in Texas sometime in October or early November. However, last year I put them out in late February and still got a nice show.

Plant Poppies Now!!

If you want to have beautiful poppies like this in the spring be sure to get your poppy seeds in the ground soon. Poppy seeds are so so small, it is best just to scatter them out in a sunny location and then just ever so lightly cover them with bedding mix or compost. Aren't they beautiful!

Picture of my Moonflower

I finally figured out the picture thingy!! Now I can show some of my gardens! Yay.

Allergies!! UGH!

Allergies got me this weekend. Unbelievable! The beautiful fall weather arrives that I have been waiting so patiently for and so does my allergies. Burning, watery eyes, scratchy throat, drainage, sneezing, what can I say. I was only able to watch from the window because each attempt to cruise the gardens sent me running for the puffs. I think I emptied all but one box. I did go out early this morning and take some photos of the beautiful huge moonflowers on the arbor. I will attempt to post some. Oh, how I would love to start my cleaning of the beds. I need to go to the flower store and hunt down some pansies and mums. I need a load of compost. This weekend I can officially put out the pumpkins and fall decor! I just love the change of seasons. Feels like a new beginning. Oh guess what I found, my tomato plant from the summer somehow survived and it has a tomato on it. I hope I get to watch it ripen and then enjoy it before the mockingbird. The lawn needs mowing and edging. I am trying to get the guts to go out and do it but allergies. Do you think the neighbors will look at me strange if I am spotted mowing the lawn in a gas mask and sweats? Maybe they will think I am just trying out my Halloween costume. He He He!

Hardy Perennials

Susan, a friend of mine and my former neighbor of 18 years, asked me for some gardening advice. She wanted to know what she could put in the garden of her beautiful new home that would be hardy and easy to care for. I went out to my garden to explore what had survived the blistering hot, dry days of this summer. To me these would be the ones to try because if they survive 2006 then my goodness they are consider troopers in my book. So here is what I came up with as I explored. I will try to post some photos but I am having a little difficulty figuring out how to do that on this blog thing.

Feel free to add any plants that have survived in your garden, I am always looking for new suggestions as well.

Easy Texas Perennials

Salvia Greggi- full sun , height 3 ft and spread of 3 ft., blooms March- November, red, white, pink, purple, orange, the red performs the best but the others are great too. Great for hummingbirds and butterflies.

Texas Lantana- full sun or part sun, blooms orange, yellow, or pink, April-Nov, can spread up to 5 feet wide, don’t get this confused with the regular lantana, it must say texas lantana or Camara and Horrida

Pincushion Flower (scabosia)- butterfly blue and blooms continuously except for Jan and Feb, 2 ft., clumps, full sun to part shade, likes well drained soil, butterflies love it

Rosemary-full sun, 3 ft tall & spread, evergreen, needs well drained soil

Indigo Spires Salvia- Full Sun, 4ft X 4ft, blooms blue 18” spikes from April-Nov

Flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadridus v. wrightii)-full sun, or part shade. bushy 3 ft tall and wide, blooms orange-red June-November, woody, cut to 6” at the end of season, Also called the hummingbird bush.

Russian Sage- full sun, 3 ft X 3ft, blooms a lavender blue from May to Oct

Yarrow-(achillea)- Full Sun, Partial Shade, 3ft x 2ft, blooms yellow, white, red, and pink from April-June, very drought tolerant, with nice fernlike foliage

Purple coneflower (Echinacea)-full sun, blooms purple or pink, height 2-3 ft, bloomtime April-Oct., excellent performer

Turks cap-Full Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade, 4 ft X 3ft, red blooms May-Nov

Texas gold columbine- partial to full shade, blooms yellow March-May, height 2ft,

Sundrops (Calylophus)-full sun, blooms yellow March-November, use in front of bed as a border, height 1 ft,

Verbena- again get the perennial one, I believe it is call Homestead Purple, front border plant, full sun or part shade, blooms March–Nov and grows 1ft by 2 ft.

The plants I have listed are very hardy but of course they all need good drainage. And remember to prepare your soil. Silvercreek materials has a great bedding mix that is very reasonable by the truck load. If you need their number let me know and I will find it. Happy gardening. Oh yeah, Planting in October is a good idea. Green Mamas on Davis Blvd and Stuarts Nursery in Weatherford carry these plants.

Happy Gardening!!

Great Gardening Time

Well Texans, the fall weather is on the way and you know what that means....perfect time to get those gardens in shape. Within the next month I hope to have worked the beds and put out the wildflower seeds for next spring. Today is a good breezy day to just look around the yard and make your to do list. I noticed my bradford pear tree is blooming, what is with that? Spring is not here. I have a feeling this drought is going to confuse more than just us on what to do, nature is confused. The coyotes were out this morning, howling and celebrating. It sounded like they caught their prey and had a feast. Aw, the circle of life, how difficult it is for the little guy, struggling to survive. Hakuna Matata!! No worries! Then boom a Coyote appears. Ooops!
I hope everyone is enjoying this fall like weather. My windows are up and the house is getting a much needed airing out while I do the Monday chores. Fall is fantastic. I can't wait for pumpkins!!!!

Rainy Day!!

Don't you just love a rainy day? I sure do, everything is so clean and perky. The flowers bloom brighter, the grass is greener, the pavement is free of dirt, and even the birds seem happier. This has been a wonderful gray day!

Baylee found her shoes for Homecoming, so cute too! Ben left to go back to his home and school in Houston. We enjoyed his surprise visit, even though it was short, it was nice to have him around. His laughter and great attitude brightens up the house. I am so proud of how successful he has been so far on his own. He even made the guest bed when he got up in the morning, something he never did even once when he lived here. I will miss him but we will do our regular text messaging.

This morning in the paper I read about the new book, For One More Day by Mitch Albom, coming out September 26th. I love his novels, and this one I hope is just as gripping as the others. I definitely know who I could chose to spend my "one more day with". It has been over 15 years since my sister in law was taken from our lives. I have missed her so, especially in the last year. I have needed her by my side to share life with me. She listened so well and had so much love that I can still feel it when I think about her today. She would have been able to direct me and help me understand life's bumps. Her son, Adison, is a wonderful young man and Gina would be so proud of him and how he grabs life by the horns. It is amazing how much he is like her even though he was only 2 when he last saw her. Yes, I would definitely want one more day with Gina. We would take the kids to the zoo or park and just play with them and have a wonderful day. We would go shopping at the mall to check out the latest styles. Gina was always awesome in keeping up with the styles and finding the bargains but yet sometimes splurging on the "got have it" item. Yes, we would have a wonderful day together!

I also read in the weekly review, first in a series on American Values, an excerpt from the book Baylee is now studying in sophomore English, To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch says to his daughter, Scout, "If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it". This is such a true statement. I think I will be looking for this in the paper weekly now because it seems to be an excellent commentary. It is so easy to judge one another when we don't really understand the core of what they have experienced.

This week will be a busy one, with work, school, gardening, birthdays, and just everyday stuff. Trying to take one day at a time and enjoy it to the fullest as the gift that it is, that is what I will be trying to do.

I did it!!

Well, Marcia you should be proud of me, I did it!! And it was easy just like you said. I am a lurker no more. I will try to be a good blogger!! I enjoyed our great talk today. It made me really miss the good ole days with my great neighbors on Parkhill Avenue.