So Much - So Busy

And , feeling so much better ?  Don't know why but I'll take it. Still have pain but it is more tolerable for some reason . Stress certainly makes my pain more severe and I think I am feeling more calm and free flowing since some of my life stressors have calmed down .  Also, haven't taken much time to watch the Big Box in the living room that constantly shows us a crazy mixed up life that doesn't seem to improve much . Seems as if it is getting worse day by day .

I have been doing one project after another outside , gardening (which I am loving) and general maintenance (fixing leaky faucets and spray painting garden furniture) along with a little  of this and a little of that . The list is long !

Recently, a nearby neighbor posted a comment on our Nextdoor Website that she was selling organic starter plants for seasonal veggie gardens . So I took a little drive over to her curbside , protected with my face mask and purchased a few plants . It was a little bit of fun with like minded gardeners !

I brought home three tomato plants, one acorn squash and one zucchini plant .  They are growing fast and I had to pot them up so I can prepare my raised bed . The soil is good but filled with lots of roots that need to be removed . It is a very slow process for me . I have already removed a large barrel full of roots ! 

My little collection of plants is getting larger .  I wish I could find someone to shovel the raised bed for me . Most of you know that my ground soil is not really soil . it is rock and clay !

It has been a few years since I planted tomatoes in the raised beds and they did not do very well . Very possibly the tremendous amount of roots interfered with good growth and anticipated amount of  production .

I just thought of a photo from years ago when I still had my precious sweet Cavalier King Charles doggie and she loved cherry tomatoes . Look at this sweetheart climbing a support trellis to get her daily treat! 

Pretty good tomato production that year don't you think ? About eight years ago .

And, of course Ivy is sleeping next to me as I type this post . Yes, she sleeps a lot especially during the day . Night time is play time . Go figure - she is a Cat !

Now a few flower photos .

Lots of wonderful color .  See you soon .


ps. It was a Gopher Snake , not a Garter Snake !

Mary

An Uninvited Guest To My Garden

(google photo)

And, she is not welcome in the future . Females are bulkier and longer than males .  Yes , this is a Garter Snake and my quiet response to seeing her at my feet was "Oh, my God".  I had been watering my red planters and she was lying somewhat coiled between the two daylily plants .  She was not there a few moments before when I went to the garden to specifically water the planters.

I slowly moved away and walked to the other side of the house to get my camera .  By the time I returned she was on the sidewalk - at red symbol on upper right side of below photo .

Yes , she was very long and was slowly slithering (yes slithering) along the sidewalk and eventually left the sidewalk and took shelter under the nearby Azalea Plant .

I think this is the closest I have ever been to a snake and I am still feeling very unnerved by the experience !  I have seen snake skins occasionally but this has been a very different story !  I have been spending a lot of time in my garden even though my back has been very troublesome .  I take many many breaks along with the use of ice packs and that makes it possible even though I am never without pain .  Where there is a will there's a way even though modified ! It troubles me that I have spent a lot of time close to the ground and sometimes on my knees ! I hope the snakes don't want to bother me any more than I don't want them around me .  The warmth of the sun draped ground can attract them out from shelter .  They are not poisonous but they will bite if startled !  I am so thankful I did not step on it !!!

This post is far different than the pretty flowers that I planned to show you .  That will wait until next time .  The garden is very pretty and I think I have enjoyed it more than anytime in the past .  It is one of the many blessings that I am feeling during these challenging times .

Blessings to all of you .

Mary

A Little Walk In The Garden

Following a lovely rainfall last night .

It was just day before yesterday that I tied up the drooping White Peonies so the stems would not break and I am so glad I did because the rain would not have treated them well !

The Snapdragons and Columbine are a nice addition to the White Garden this year .

 These are some of my Herbs (Chives, Oregano, Tarragon, Rosemary and English Thyme) that are are flourishing .

This is a plant that I have had for years and it never disappoints . It must like it's location and soil/rock conditions and sun exposure.  The name is Bowle's Mauve Erysimum , also known as Wallflower . It seems to me that it blooms all summer long .

This sweet plant is new to my garden this year . At the end of last season I picked up a few plants ar Walmart that looked like they were about to be trashed and of course they didn't cost much !  It's name is Glory 0f Sunninghill Azalea and it has Orange Red flowers . It was very small and acts like it likes Me !

The side of my driveway has a nice size flowerbed that has never seemed to me to be planted properly .  But I think that has changed with these Rhaphiolepsis - Jack Evans that bloom with purple tinge and bright pink flowers . Since I bought these at two different times I think there are two different varieties , but I can't remember the name of the other one . However, they all look the same to me .

Also, at the end of last season I planted two six-pack of Purple Echinacea (Coneflower) plants among the Rhaphiolepsis .  I think that will be a nice complimentry plant and they are so easy to grow plus I think they are self seeding .

 The cement ducks came with me to this home 25 years ago .

And , here are a few more pretties .

Iceland Poppies - more of them another time .  I have always dearly loved these flowers , so delicate and fragile but also proud as they stand so erect .

Never can have too many petunias ?

It is 3 PM , Monday afternoon and it has started to rain very heavy again . We certainly need the rain and the garden loves it .

Thanks for visiting me in my garden, today .

Be Well .

Mary

I See A Lot Of White In The Garden

Tall , Stately , White Iris are Extraordinary this year . There are some Dusty Miller , White Daylilies , White Hollyhocks , White Foxglove, White Azalea , Guara , White Spirea , New Dawn  White Climber Rose and White Gladiolus keeping the Blue Bottle Tree company . And, soon there will be a lot more flowers in full bloom .

Wishing Good Health and Patience to All .

Mary