Category Archives: flowers

Aug31

Seeds

Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 by Dianne

First of all, I want to thank Zoey over at Perennial Passion for the Lynchis Coronaria seeds she sent me recently. Zoey had a flower game-a letter mix-up and I guessed them all and got this awesome prize in a sweet homemade envelope-love it. So in return, I am drying some seeds for her. If anyone else would like purple or lime zinnia seeds, let me know. I’m also trying to get the Autumn Harvest heads on a few of the sunflowers before the birds get to them.

Tonight it dawned on me that I planted saved marigold seeds from last year and hadn’t seen them. The marigolds are in their glory right now, but where were the ones in the circle garden? Here they had fallen over, but they were the yellow marigolds with the big flower heads. I thought they may be the white ones. I’ll save them too.

I’ve been to Big Lots twice today, by myself and then later with Bri. They bought out a local drugstore and the stuff is 30% off. I noticed they had compact flash cards for the camera, so that’s why Bri and I went after dinner. We got a 256 mb one for about $11! They also got some neat scrapbooking stuff in, many items for $1! I was playing with some of the new stuff when Bri wanted to go there.

Sean went to a pep rally for the football team tonight and it was fun. He got to see Coach Joe in person for the 1st time. This has been the slowest week here! It will be a week since we have been to PSU soon.

Aug29

Touch of Autumn

Posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 by Dianne

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I realized that I haven’t taken too many flower photos lately. I wasn’t thrilled by what I saw around the yard-2 feet tall weeds! I thought I had kept on top of them, but the heat and rain really caused an uproar. I was out tonight pulling weeds, even from the back patio! The ants were not happy. I’m not going overboard, but I will get the gardens/yard presentable. Since I have to pay for online photo storage soon, I am going to start and use Flickr for my photos here. I can upload at their full size too. I love the colors in this sunflower!

On one side of the house, we have a yellow jacket nest in a window well area. They really fly in and out of it quickly, and I’m afraid to even walk by. It’s also near my fairy/gnome garden and glider, so I haven’t really been near that area for a while.

I had a craving for a brownie sundae, so Bri took me to Baskin Robbins tonight. I can’t remember the last time I ate ice cream. I’ve been good and have cooked well balanced meals all this week.

Sean called and said he went and checked his car and started it up. It’s a good distance from his dorm. We are hoping he gets brave enough to start and drive around soon. I have a care package almost ready to mail. It just needs his favorite goodie-7 layer cookies.

Aug12

The Coleus experiment continues

Posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 by Dianne

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I’m a little bleary-eyed from tweaking my nature photos for the Cafepress.com store. I was also going through my Flickr photos looking for good ones. I needed a break, so I went outside and noticed that my little coleus plants had really taken root and needed their own pots:

I love the crimson red ‘stained glass’ one. I also realized I didn’t have any from the lime green or frilly one in my windowbox, so I clipped some to root. The mama red one needed to be topped, so I stuck what I pinched in more soil. I’m giving some to mom, but I want to try and overwinter the young ones in my front window.
Here’s a hanging basket that I recently planted with some coleus babies in it:

Sean bought me a new weed whacker today! It’s a Craftsmen and can that sucker trim! I wasn’t up to doing it today, but it should cut the time I spend trimming in half. Bri used my old one yesterday and lost the spring that held the spool in place.

My friend Gret and I are doing an artsy challenge-do one collage page a day in a book. She’s a few days ahead of me, but it’s fun! The pages aren’t huge, but you really have to think about what you what to do. Mine today:

The bees, wording, zinnia and elves are from a 1952 kids science book.
And last but not least, a neat shot, worthy of my new store, maybe?

Keep my friend Barbara in your thoughts and prayers. She had a sad thing happen to her lately. Big hugs.

Aug10

Flowers amongst weeds

Posted on Friday, August 10, 2007 by Dianne

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When I way checking out the front garden the other day, I noticed this:

I hadn’t seen it this year or for a while! What a neat Clematis plant. It sure looks pretty around the bells.
And as a new purchase back in May, 2005.

I’m a little inspired (a little) to weed one of these days to see what else is hiding from me!

Aug5

Another surprise!

Posted on Sunday, August 5, 2007 by Dianne

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A few years ago (pretty sure), I bought ‘dinner plate’ hibiscus seeds from an eBay seller. I actually raised about 4 little plants and planted them where I have the glads, irises and box hedges. Last year a plant came up and I was sure it was just a weed, so I snipped it off. I didn’t want to ruin the garden with a big, gangly weed! Sure enough, up it came again this year and some of my brain’s cobwebs cleared as I thought to myself, didn’t I plant a hibiscus here? Look what bloomed today!

I know what you are thinking-not quite the size of a dinner plate-more like a saucer! The link above considers these ‘hardy’ hibiscus and that they are a perennial. Check out all the buds (and you aren’t seeing all of them) and they are suppose to bloom until the first killing frost. The guys were visiting Pops and I ushered them out to see the blossom and hadn’t a Japanese beetle started to nibble it! Pops got my old cellphone as I am getting a flip phone in a few days.

Here’s what was for dinner last night:

Squash frittata-with a little turkey bacon, cheddar, fresh Italian parsley and basil thrown in!
Does this remind you of Little Miss Muffet?

Awesome Autumn Beauty Sunflower (background-8 power/ cable lines!)
I’ve getting so organized in certain ways (nesting because my baby bird is leaving maybe?). Last night I tidied up my photo files here on the computer. What a job and a half! I have lots of new folders and deleted things too. Today I tidied up a big pile of my ATC papers, etc. I am learning from my mom that you have to do this or you will forever be looking for one little thing like she is.
Tonight we are having a pot roast and some of the fresh green beans we raised.

Keep cool and hope for rain!

Aug4

Just had to share

Posted on Saturday, August 4, 2007 by Dianne

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I saved this little waterlily flower the other day. I purchased two waterlilies at Wally World a few months ago. They were suppose to be orange and yellow. I put the yellow one in the in ground pond and the orange one in my above ground container. They come in a mesh bag with the peat moss packed inside. In the middle are the waterlilies. First the smallish leaves appeared and that was it until a few days ago. I noticed the little flower head was still entrapped in the mesh. I stuck my hand in and it was free. In one day it was touching the surface. Today it opened! It’s more of a peachy color, but so pretty. I am lucky to get one or two blooms and this is the third I’ve gotten. The first two were from it’s neighbor plant and they were white:

My two buck Peace rose is blooming. It looks like it belongs on a wedding cake!

Here’s a trio of more pale yellow sunflowers. The deer left them alone in my yard but nibbled all my brother’s flowers and he lives in a well populated neighborhood and his were planted on a steep hill!

I’m not showing you the weeds of course, but the first cooler day, I’m out there with the weed wacker going to town. More photos from today will be added to Flickr on the right.

Aug1

Say hello to my little friend

Posted on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 by Dianne

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The few times I ventured out today I was scolded by a catbird. Now I know they are usually very friendly birds and I have had a few sing to me as I rested in the chaise lounge, putting on a fine show and making me smile. So I figured there may be a young one around somewhere, but where?

After dinner I promised the kitty I’d take him out and he did ‘his usual’- walking, scratching, eating grass and sniffing. We neared a little spirea bush and I felt eyes on me. Sure enough, there was this little fella watching us while mom kept scolding us nearby. I was completely startled for some reason.

After tying Cos up, I ran in to get the camera and Sean followed me out. I took about 5 photos, probably dazed the poor little thing! I then got it in my head that he was way too close to the ground in this bush (like a few feet up) and that the neighborhood cat or some other critter would eat him as a snack. So I found a stick, hoping he would perch on it, but he just flapped his wings and hopped across the yard to the forsythia along the road. Cos was watching all this and went as far as he could on his harness, creeping along very low to the ground. Birdie must have found his roost as it was quiet once again.

Earlier, Bri came out and planted my three $2 (or so) rose bushes from the Kmart sale. He thinks they are too close together. By the time he planted, I tapped down the soil, found the rose food and watered them, I was pretty sticky. Bri went in the garden to weed around his ‘$15 peppers’ (that’s what I call them as that’s how much they cost) and he was just drenched to the skin. I think we are finally finished planting things! Now we’ll get a heat wave and dry weather so it will be harder on the new plants.

Sean goes for his first fillings ever tomorrow morning and wants me to come along. I hope my post nasal drip and itchy throat will be better by then. Major annoyance the last few days. My eyes have been red too. I was also a little grossed out by boneless turkey breast I had for dinner, it’s rather sticky, but I followed a recipe on the package and it was good! You dip the turkey in a soy sauce and lemon juice mixture. You are suppose to use scallions for the center of the roll-up, but all I had were chives. Stick them on wooden skewers and broil them for 6 minutes on each side.

I hope for a cooking break tomorrow, but I’m not counting on it.

Jul29

Getting taller than me

Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 by Dianne

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I’m pushing 5’3″ and so are most of my flowers in this bed! Well the sunflowers are taller than me now. I look a little beat in this photo from the past few days of emotional turmoil. Mom apologized today and I said we should have followed our plans for Tuesday and stayed out of the stores. Mom was out yesterday with Jim her boarder to get the rest of her stuff she left behind on Wednesday. She brought her camera and took photos of my gardens and flowers. I was flattered.

Here are my flower shares for the day:

I’m surrounded by Cosmos, zinnias (out of shot) and sunflowers. Bri took this photo.

This is a Fantasy lily that the previous owners planted out back so they’ve been there over 20 years.

The Mexican Sunflowers (torch flowers) are blooming too! I am raising these from seed too.

By the way, everyone is talking about their bargains and I got 5 rose plants (two trees!) for under $15 at Kmart last night. They were getting rid of their plants at a buy 1 get 1 free special. I tried to pick the nicest ones as they were really neglected. When I got them home, I snipped off the dead branches and gave them a dose of Miracle Grow and bug killer (you never know what you’re bring home!). I have the rose trees across from the front door for now. One is like a fuchsia color and the other is a Peace rose.

Jul26

Flowers-Late July

Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 by Dianne

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Jul15

A small request

Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 by Dianne

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Sometimes you read a passage and it touches you. You need others to read it as it needs their attention. Thus was the case with the bio of little Celeste, one of the featured kids on the Make A Child Smile (this link is always in my sidebar) website for July. This dear child has a rare degenerative disease. She is in a wheelchair and her mom says she is the sweetest girl, especially to her little sister Amira. Amira climbs up on Celeste’s lap to be close to her. From Celeste’s mom- Despite her many limitations, Celeste lives life to its fullest. She has a wonderful sense of humor and has a smile like sunshine. She loves the simple things like sitting outside on a summer day and feeling the breeze in her hair. She loves to go for walks, listen to the birds outside, swing at the park. Celeste will be 8 on the 19th. If you want, I’m sure a card will be greatly received by her. Here’s an Art card I made for her and included with my own card:

Her name means heavenly or something to that effect.

Also did one to remind me of the friendly catbirds. The background is paper that looks like it is embedded with grass plus a little yellow tissue paper. The bird picture is from an old magazine.

And these are Stargazer lilies that I had planted in a pot last summer and nothing came up. I was surprised to see them appear in the spring and then bloom this week.

I saw two ‘firsts’ of the summer- a Monarch butterfly and a hummingbird! It’s about time for the hummer. I have flowers that they love-salvia, nicotiana and the butterfly bush, which the hummer was checking out. The Monarch was just zipping around looking happy to spread it’s wings. A funny sight to me was seeing a bumblebee taking a nap on the middle part of one of the cosmos. I could really get a good look at his furry body, beady black eyes and cool little antenna.

It’s going to be a hot one again this week. Take it easy.