LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

Well, what a sight I saw when strolling through my garden this evening!  Seems as though this frog has a fancy for the cute little frog I purchased to put by my pond!  I just laughed when I saw the sight!

 He was just sitting there like he knew that is where he was supposed to be!  How funny is that???

This Thursday I am joining Tracie and many other gardeners in Cottage Flora Thursday at http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/ for some fun sharing of gardening pics!

Go Check it Out! 

I caught this bee buzzing around in the shade of by beautiful blooming Crape Myrtle

 Also in the shade of my Crape Myrtle I found this Hosta bud! 

 The shade is also treating my pink Impatiens well!

As far as the sun goes, a lot of my flowers are really taking the heat hard, however, my Butterfly Bush is still going strong and how beautiful it is!

 The Shasta Daisies are still doing well and are being frequented by a new crop of Pearl Crescent Butterflies.  By the way, this picture was taken by my youngest daughter!

 Another cool place in my garden is my pond!  Along with the frogs enjoying the weather, Goldie, my Koi is also doing very well!  She has tripled in size from last year!!! This is also a picture that my daughter took, she is quite the photographer!

My pond has brought me a lot of enjoyment, I was so happy when my husband decided he would put it in for me!  What fun!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer and beating the heat!

Thanks for visiting my blog!  Happy Gardening!

Mindy

MY DAYLILES

Today I am joining Mary at http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/ for Mosaic Monday.  Check out her site to see all the beautiful and creative mosaics everyone is sharing.

These are some of my different daylilies!  Hope you enjoy!

Happy Gardening!

Mindy

THE SMELL IN MY GARDEN THIS MORNING!

When I awoke this morning and took my morning stroll, there was a wonderful smell in the air!  As I got closer, I also heard the familar sound of bumble bees!  I knew it could only be one thing . . . .  My Crape Myrtle was in full bloom!  Wow was it beautiful and it was obvious that I wasn't the only one enjoying it, as the sound of bumble bees filled my ears!

  

 I couldn't believe all of the bumble bee's buzzing around!  They were all definitely busy!  Each one looked like he was on a mission!  It was actually an amazing sight to see! 

Even despite the heat, even at the early time in the morning, I still enjoyed my morning stroll!

The Crape Myrtle's have such a lovely smell and it permeated my garden area!

Have a good weekend! 
Happy Gardening to All!

FERTILIZER FRIDAY/FLAUNT YOUR FLOWERS FRIDAY 07/22/11 EARLY!!!!!

Well my gardens here in Southern Indiana are really getting some heat thrown on them, our temperatures have been 95+ with a heat index above 100 degrees all week.  There is no relief until possibly Saturday.  Even though we have had such oppressive heat, I have still managed to find some blooms in my gardens. 

I am doing my "Flaunt your Flowers Friday" early because I have to work tomorrow and will probably be unable to do it, as I will be working about 11 hours or more!!  Hope it is O.K. to share my photos early!  Check out http://tootsietime.com/ and see whats blooming all around!

HAPPY GARDENING TO ALL!

 

MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER'S POEM

I wanted to share this poem that my 12-year-old daugher wrote.  She has been getting out in the garden with me and is enjoying it very much!  She also has her own camera and has been enjoying taking her own pictures, including the one below.  She especially enjoys seeing the butterflies fluttering around in the garden, which inspired her to write this poem:

THE BUTTERFLY

The Butterfly -

Fragile and light, but yet mighty and charming.

Filled with beauty on the inside and out.

They soar through the air majestically and gently land on a flower.

They effortlessly indulge the nectar, and delightfully soak up the sunshine.

You grin when you see them, and they secretly smile back.

They make everyone joyful, as they show their exquisite colors.

They display their extraordinary patterns, flaunting there elegance.

So unique and so flawless, flourescent and luminous. 

So many words can describe a butterfly, elegant, unique, charming, and equisite; but I'm just going to say BEAUTIFUL!

By Caitlynn

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GARDEN!

 

My "Hanging Tomato" system!



Today I wanted to share some exciting things I found in the garden!  I absolutely love vegetable gardening!  There is something very exciting about growing and caring for plants that in turn give you yummy food to eat! 

This is a picture of the "Hanging Tomato" system that my husband built for me.  We created this after many years of trying to keep our tomatoes staked up properly.  The only tricky part is that it is very important that they are waterered daily!


Here is a picture of one of the gardening systems that my husband has created for me.  This is an earlier picture so you can get an idea of what it looks like!  The plants are very grown up now and it is hard to see exactly what the system looks like!  I have a lot of fun with this!  As you can see I have a potting table in the center of the structure where I can work! 

Here is another earlier picture to give you an  idea of what it looks like!  This side has a raised bed on the ground, along with some container planting as well. 
I hope to add, this fall, one or two more raised beds next to this one with a walkway in between each!  I will have to fence in the area where I will plant my lettuce, as the bunnies love it way to much! 

I love it when the tomatoes begin to turn red!  They are so yummy!  We usually have to pick a few green ones early to make "Fried Green Tomatoes"
 In this picture I was able to get a green tomato, as well as red tomato hiding amongs the leaves!

In this container I have a "Tomatillo" plant, a "Yummy Bell" pepper plant, and the one closest in the picture is a "Mini Belle" pepper plant which I started from seed indoors back in April.  It is especially rewarding to start plants from a bag of seeds that was around $1.50.  I am very proud of this one, considering the entire bag of seeds cost $1.19 and I currently have five of these plants growing in my vegetable garden! 

 In this container I have: A regular "Jalapeno" plant.  A "TAM Jalapeno" plant (this is a mild Jalapeno that was created at Texas A & M University) It is very mild and delicious! Also planted here is a Bonnie "Bell Pepper" plant! 

This container system was all built by my husband.  It is all very nice because it is all within arms reach and very easy to take care of! 

In addition, the bunnies cannot get to the plants! 

To the left of the pepper container, in the white colored planter are some seeds that I planted of Wisteria!  I am not sure where I am going to put those yet, but will have to be deciding soon!

Of course my post would not be complete without at least one or two pictures of some of my flowers currently blooming

 

Pink Garden Phlox with Shasta Daisies

  

Triple Blooms on Hibiscus Plant



Pink Crepe Myrtle



Rose from my mini rose bush!

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE LITTLE TOUR OF SOME OF MY GARDENS!  HAPPY GARDENING!

Mini Rosebud

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES!

ITS FERTILIZER FRIDAY "FLAUNT YOUR FLOWERS"

Just wanted to flaunt some blooms currently in my garden!  It is Fertilizer Friday at http://www.tootsietime.com/!  Check it out there are some beautiful blooms going on!

CALL TO WORSHIP

 You don't have a garden just for yourself.  You have it to share.

 

Augusta Carter    



 Good Gardening is very simple, really.  You just have to learn to think like a plant!Barbara Damrosch



Happy Gardening!



 

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PEACOCK MAIDEN

Also, don't forget to join GARDEN BLOGGERS BLOOM DAY JULY 2011!  Check out the beautiful blooms there!  http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/

BRAVE WORLD



THUNDER AND LIGHTENING

MY FIRST TOMATILLOS

After having some Tomatillo salsa last summer, I decided that this summer I would try to plant this very interesting Mexican plant.  The salsa was so amazing that I just had to give it a try. 

I did learn, however, as you will see below, this plant gets very tall.  Therefore, planting it in my raised bed table, was probably not the best idea!  Next year I know to plant it on the ground and use a tomato cage as well.




As you can see, the plant is very tall and towering over my pepper plants!



I bought my plants at Lowes 2/$2.98!

I will share the salsa recipe and further pictures of the actual Tomatillos once they are ready!  I can't wait!!!

TOMATILLO "HUSK TOMATO"

CREAMED CUCUMBER RECIPE

I found a really good recipe to help use up the surplus of cucumbers everyone seems to have at some point in the gardening season!            

CREAMED CUCUMBERS

3 to 4 cucmbers, peeled and sliced

3/4 c. mayonnaise-style salad dressing

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. white vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Optional:  1 onion, thinnly sliced

    (I did not use onion in mine)

Place cucumbers in a serving bowl.  Mix together remaining ingredients, except onion and pour over cucumbers.  Mix well.  Fold in onion, if desired.  Cover and refrigerate several hours before serving. 

Makes 6 to 8 servings

OUR REVIEW:  This is really a good recipe.  You will be surprised at how they taste!  I was very excited to have tried this one!

 

The Finished Dish!





THIS RECIPE COURTESY OF:
"MOM'S VERY BEST RECIPES"
GOOSEBERRY PATCH