What grows...

Before

  

After 

Changing of the Pots!

Two of my old terracotta pots.
I purchased new bases and filled them with good garden soil. Later I added a ring of river rocks around the base of each flower pot.

It's Blooming Azalea Time!

             The first of our bright and colorful Azaleas to bloom.

                                       A beauty in pink!

Goodbye Summer! Hello Fall!

Summer is bidding farewell and Fall is well on the way!

Just a few of my favorite things.

 

Outdoors - blazing heat, waving flags and shadows

 
 

 my little yellow rose, always standing tall, full of beauty

 

the beach..sand, water and loads of fun

 

As the crispness of fall arrives I look forward to Halloween, walks in the woods, fall colors and family celebrations! Good Times!

Calling Mr. Sunshine!

This is one of my favorite photos of week. A red sunflower potted on my deck! The shadow of the sunflower sets it off. Shadows are a footprint of a moment in time. Rain, Rain and more of it for this week. So, waiting for the next sunny day!

Sunflowers in bloom

Sharing new photos of sunflowers in my earthbox. I love the brilliant yellow color of this tall sunflower with the red from the hummingbird feeder.

I have enjoyed this box so far. This is not a prize planting but the flowers are living and blooming so that's a big plus. The corn turned out not to do as well. I had dreams of having this huge growth of beautiful, lush green plants. The thought was to move the planter over near the kitchen window when it was most healthy and full. Well, as you can see....I can only dream on and take this into my experience file. Stiil it was fun planting and the busy hummingbirds make it even better!

Yes, there is life outside of Wii!

Is that a huge bee? Or what?

While having that first cup of morning Joe today, I saw what I thought to be the biggest bumble bee I've ever seen! I admit I was not fully awake; it takes more than a sip or smell of coffee to get me going in the a.m.

I looked out of the kitchen window and there it was a big, black insect type butt hovering over the white carnation grass that grows so beautifully below the back deck. Or, what I thought was an insect butt.

The entirety of my morning visitor was hidden beyond the deck boards, except it's back side. Oh, and I have to say the eyes are older than they used to be, not to mention the size of the cobs webs wrapped around my brain early in the morning. Well, it only took a second and the huge bee like "insect" became clearer! Yes, it was the first humming bird I've seen this season. I was so excited!

I have been eagerly awaiting their arrival, as I'm sure many people have. The colors, flight and personalities of these feathered jewels are amazing! I filled the feeder and I'm waiting for the birds to decide that they like it maybe as much as the bright flowers growing around our home.


This is a colored pencil drawing of a hummingbird in purple by me. I like to draw in graphite and now am experimenting with colored pencil. Here is Flower with butterfly that I've done in graphite; this is an early piece.

This beautiful yellow rose was open and greeting me this morning! A great view with the first cup of coffee.

Garden: Spiderwort flower

From the garden....


Spiderwort is a hardy plant in the garden. The blooms are blue in the case of our plants but, there are many species. The flowers open early in the morning and are a nice sight with that morning cup of coffee.

The pro- Plants can be cut down and within a week or so they are up again and blooming. The spiderwort is known as a cut and come again type of plant.

The con- Spiderwort plants spread. A cluster may grow in a nice tended flower bed and then a stray will pop up 10-15ft away. So be specific when placing these wild growers in the garden.

We came to have Spiderwort flowers by pass along plants. Pass along plants are usually well established growers and will do well in a new garden. The best part of getting pass along plants is that with each plant or flower come memories of the person who gave it to you.

A dear friend gave me these plants when we moved to our new home more than 15 years ago. I will always remember her and the lovely garden she grew.

Find more on spiderwort flowers here.

Beautiful flowers on a sunny Day

It was beautiful out yesterday so, I couldn't resist the call of the wild and spent a good bit of time wondering around shooting pictures of nature and the landscape. The landscape around me is an ever on-going project. Check out this Azalea.

A gift I received for Valentine's Day one year. It has been a colorful addition in the yard since.

Vinca Blooming Now!

Photo © JJ Fields 2008

A little purple vinca has shown up for spring in the garden. Another sign of the earth renewing itself.
How beautiful.

Read more about Vinca plants here.

Spring has come to the Carolinas

photo: Kissing daffodils by J.J. Fields

After the cold and sometimes icy days of winter, dry skin, chopping and hauling wood, spring is a welcome sight. The daffodils, raise their pretty little heads, and announce the arrival of spring.
Spring is when the earth warms and becomes fruitful with new grow. The air begins to stir with activity. Butterflies begin to flutter about, spreading sparks of color. Humming bird feeders are taken out, cleaned and prepared for a new season of speedy visitors. And serious spring cleaning begins.

Some of the Carolina's early blooming flowers are irises, crocuses, and azaleas. Azaleas are a native plant which is hardy and easy to grow. This evergreen plant provides texture and color to the landscape year round with some varieties bursting with new blooms early spring.

A sure sign of spring in this area is pollen and a lot of it. The major contributing party here is the pine tree. With about 12 varieties there is no shortage of pollen producers. The distinct yellow dusting of yard, porch, and vehicles becomes common place. Pollen sticks to clothing and hair and triggers many allergies. Pollen may deter some but the true southerners still throw up the windows to air the house out.

Then there are other signs, the kind we may appreciate even less. The fire ants, busy builders and determined warriors, are on the move. The great nemesis they are, they scamper ever ready to invade and irritate. Oh, they never really go away, but burst out with renewed energy come spring. The fight is on!