Wedding countdown

If mother nature throws me a bone I just might be able to put a dent in the gardens. Remember, we have under 3 weeks before the wedding. I need to work a few things out in the area where the ceremony will take place. The grass isn't as thick as I would like it, but at least the damn mole has taken a hike.

This area needs some attention. Its a waiting game between me and the plants. I am waiting on them to grow, and I am sure they are waiting for me to move them. That is usually what happens, when I run out of patience.



This might look like its an overgrown weed patch, but its not. I need to go to war with the mint. All of the herbs need to be cut back. Hey I got an idea, how about harvesting some of this. lol Anyone in the need of some mint?

Now this area won't see any attention until after the wedding. I am thinking of trying to get the Moon flowers started in this area.

I am on the lookout for Clematis buds to start forming. I still have high hopes that the arbor will be blanketed by tiny white flowers soon.


We tackled the wedding programs over the weekend. I got this idea from the Internet. I thought was brilliant. I also knew that my sister had made program/fans for my nieces wedding. We used paint sticks for the handles. Glenn painted them with leftover paint he had.


I might add, that this project took 3 of us most of the day to complete. For starters, we couldn't seem to find the short golf pencils. One place even told us to go to a golf course and steal some. We opted for plan B. We went to the dollar store. They did not have any white so we just painted them. We had to cut them and drill holes in them first. We waited for them to dry between coats. We had to drill holes in the handles. Then tied them all up with some ribbon. A true ghetto garden project for sure. I think they look great.

We are not going to throw rice, because that is politically incorrect. We decided to go with grass seed. I have the perfect place for us to throw it. lol


Another re purposed basket. Viola. I am going to add a little flower action to the basket.

West Lawn happenings

Bambi has struck again. Omg, they are wearing me out. We will just hope she bounces back from this intrusion.

I don't think these Castor Bean plants will have time to produce seeds this year. But wth do I know, I wasn't expecting these two.



The love pond.

Sunflower time

Standing out in a crowd.

The Moulin Rouge Sunflowers

I need to make sure I get some seeds from this. I want to plant her again next season.

She is still looking lovely

The Congo Roja

Aunt Lois' spring photos

With all the heat we have had lately, I thought I would post a few photos of a cooler time. The following are some photos of my Aunt Lois' gardens. At some point and time, we are going to build a bench beside the pond.


This is her Bridal Veil Spirea.


The Beauty Bush. How stunning this would be in a hedge?

Before a storm

I decided that the heat was not going anywhere, and I had things to do. We are throwing a wedding next month. If this wedding goes down in our backyard (in the case of rain, new location lol) it must be fierce. That means all weeds and spent flowers were on the top of the list. The first thing on the agenda was the ditch lilies. They had been put through it. The blooms were nothing but a memory, and the foliage had seen better days. They looked god awful and had to go. I looked for a better photo of the bloomed out lilies, but was unsuccessful. In the photo below, you can see them on the bottom left.

And now they are gone. They should bounce back a little before the wedding. BTW, I have more paint for the two plant stands, and those planters will be replaced for the wedding.

I still need to put down mulch over the removed lilies. Do you recall the free mulch we were given in the spring. I just so happen to still have some mulch left over. Of course it is buried under at least 10 inches of weeds. I wish I were joking, but it is my reality.


Switching gears just a bit, the sunflowers have taken off. They were not all successful. Most perished a week after I put them outside. Most of these are the Moulin Rouge Sunflowers. I cannot wait to see them bloom.

A field full of Queen Annes Lace.

So I started this post bitching about the weather. Well mother nature does have a sense of humor. After I swetted all day in the heat, a storm came through, gave everything a drink and took the heat with it. Now if it can be cooler when I get to work in the yard again, life would be good.

Today in the gardens

I want to start by saying, it has been hot as hell and I am over it. I couldn't possibly get out in the yard to do any kind of maintenance, and that is not a good recipe. I have much to do, but the heat zaps all motivation and energy right out of me when I step outside. It is all I can do to get some things watered. We had a storm last night, which left us with some much needed rain, but it was not enough. I watered everything in the back gardens thoroughly a couple days ago, and you wouldn't guess that I had. We have potential to get more rain in the next couple of days. Lets hope.

I ran across this little surprise in the serenity gardens. This is the Luna Pink Hardy Hibiscus that was started from seed. And a perennial to boot. That is my kind of investment. It averages out to about 25 cents per plant. I have others around the yard but they are not in bloom as of yet. I also have some in red.

Something I say a lot in my gardens, "I have no idea what this flower is called". I know it is an Oriental Lily, but that is where it ends. I have done a little research, and I do mean a little, but I found this Mona Lisa Oriental Lily. I am not convinced this is what I have, but we are getting closer. If you have any ideas, I would certainly love to hear them.

Here is a close up. I am realizing that this photo does nothing for details. I will get another photo tomorrow.


A little update of the daily lives of my Plumerias. I have three Plumeria plants. The successes of all three Plumerias have been all over the map. The oldest one, that I brought back from Hawaii is a smashing success. Both branches are going to bloom this season.

This photo was taken over a month ago.

Right branch as of today. I am not sure you can see the tiny buds in the center.


Left branch as of today. This is what I have to look forward to from the other branch in a month. Lol. It is odd that both branches aren't blooming at the same time. The up side, is that it doubles the bloom time.

The Plumeria that I got at the farmers market last year is in a happy place but with no blooms.


Then we have the newest edition to the family. The white Plumeria that I got from Aunt Lois. I discovered it had root rot last week. So after immediate action I am hoping that she will be rooting very soon. Lets keep our fingers crossed. If it dies, I might not ever get another plant from her. lol I would post a photo, but camera's are not allowed in crisis care. lol


The ever changing face of the Hawaiian Bird of Paradise. She has been a joy to watch. It is almost like she is gaurding the Lanai.


The double purple Datura is blooming again. I never know what I should call her. Datura, Angels Trumpet, Devils Trumpet, Datura Hindu, who the hell knows. I just end up calling her fabulous. I have heard that Brugmansia's are angel trumpets since the bloom is facing down, while the datura's are known as devils trumpets since the bloom is facing up. Really, do you care? lmao

Lord Baltimore has yet to disappoint. Every morning I step outside with my coffee to be greeted with a new bloom.

I should be weeding.

I should be weeding the gardens instead of taking photos. It is just to hot and muggy to capture any kind of energy today. While the weeds live another day in the gardens, here is a few more things going on. No blooms on the Bougainvillea yet. I am being patient but wth.

The blooms on the Pinky Winky Hydrangea are emerging beautifully.

She continues to add to her bloom everyday.

You will definitely be tired of Plumeria photos by the end of this summer. I won't however, Lmao. BTW would you consider this pink or red?


The blooming Plumeria is on the right side of the arbor. It has always had two branches, but only one branch is in bloom. I noticed today, that the branch on the left side is also going to bloom. It took about 5 weeks from the time I noticed the buds to when the first flower opened. Unfortunately, I do not think that those will be in bloom for the wedding.
BTW I will try to post as often as I can, but its BB season.

This weeks blooms

Honey and I got a great deal on this Lord Baltimore Swamp Mallow. Does it really matter what this is called, when all you want to do is place this behind your ear and grab you Diva shoes. lmao

This bloom is as big as your head.

Here is dad's Moon Flower plant. It is covered in blooms.

The Variegated Hydrangea bloom is still going strong.

Double blooming purple Datura.

I remember how excited I was last year when this Hibiscus bloomed. She looks lovely again this year.

This year, she brought friends.