Southern Meadows

Orchid Daze

2012-02-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

A great way to escape the doldrums of winter is to visit the hanging gardens at the Fuqua Orchid Center at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This is exactly what my husband and I did when we attended their Valentine's night in the garden. Here is a little taste of the beautiful blooms we enjoyed as our backdrop to an enchanting evening of desserts, wine and entertainment.

Happy Valentine's Day! xo!

If you sit quietly they will come...

2012-02-11T09:35:00.000-05:00

When I look out the windows of my home I see a flurry of activity in my garden as the birds flutter around at all the feeders. But as soon as I step outside they retreat to the trees at the perimeter of the garden. Watching and waiting...

Cardinal (female) and Hairy Woodpecker (female)

Cardinal (female)

Cardinal (male)

Downy Woodpecker (female)

But if I sit quietly they soon decide that the intruder (me) won't cause them any harm and they soon return to foraging.

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Downy Woodpecker (male)

American Goldfinch (female)

An unusual sighting was this yellow-bellied sapsucker (male). The photo isn't sharp as I was a good 40 feet away but I wanted to show it since it is highly migratory and not one of the birds I see regularly.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is next weekend, February 17-20. Click here to get your tally sheet with a list of birds you are most likely to see in your garden in February. You can observe birds at any location for as little as 15 minutes for one day. Or all day, each day. Be sure to submit your findings on line at the GBBC website.

At long last...

2012-02-10T09:03:00.001-05:00

I was beginning to wonder if our mild winter would result in fewer winter blooms since the spring flowers are up already. But at long last my Camellia are starting to bloom...

with a little visitor...

Happy days at Southern Meadows and happy Friday y'all!

Wordless Wednesday: Hellebore on Parade

2012-02-07T20:45:00.001-05:00

The most precious gift wecan offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, theywill bloom like flowers.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Thank you!

2012-02-03T10:40:00.001-05:00

My week hasbeen very busy and I have found very little time to spend at my computer toblog. You know those weeks when there is one urgent issue that has to be addressed after another and you never get to your weeks "to do" list. Well, it has been one of those weeks. So, imagine my surprise when I finally got to blogging and discovered that I have been awarded the Versatile Blogger award from Julia at Polka Dot Galoshes, Sheila at Green Place , Tammy at Casa Mariposa and Theta at Girl Sprout NM. Yippee! It really made my week to be appreciated by my garden blogging friends!

So the deal is that first I have to tell you seven random things about me, hmmmm....

1. I am fascinated with the world of fungi.

2. I find painting, not artistically on canvas but walls in my house, a form of relaxation.

3. I can't go to sleep if there are dishes still in the sink.

4. I am a warm weather person and don't mind at all when we have mild winters.

5. I love a good glass of wine!

6. My favorite book as a child was Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

7. Don't speak to me before I have had my first cup of coffee :O)

8. Here is a bonus one: My newest addiction is Pinterest!

Now that you know 7, no 8 useless things about me, I am to pass along this award. There are so many wonderful blogs that I read and many have already been nominated. Here are a few worthy reads I would like to recognize...

Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden - As her blog title suggests Kelli gardens in the beautiful countryside of Northern Ireland using organic methods. She has a lovely garden and nice selection of plants with great gardening tips.

A Charlotte Garden - a self described plank geek, Daricia has created a woodland sanctuary in Charlotte, North Carolina. She holds a certificate in Native Plants.

On Botanical Photography - a tree lover and amazing photographer Lula writes about flora and fauna in Belgium.

The Whimsical Gardener - through remarkable photographs and angles Cat illustrates her love for plants and wildlife in her whimsical garden.

Sunny Side Up - see Eve's passion for birds and adventure in shade gardening with her dogs at this awesome blog.

Wife, Mother, Gardener - Julie gardens in Pennsylvania and puts a lot of thought into garden design and succession planting. She always has something wonderful in her garden year round.

Garden Eye View - Donna gardens in New York state with a very keen eye. She is a published poet and incorporates her love of the written word into her posts.

Rhone Street Gardens - Scott does some amazing things in his small garden in Oregon. His attention to detail and plant combination has fabulous results.

Canoe Corner - Marguerite blogs about establishing a new home and garden in her Prince Edward Island, Canada community.

Green Apples - this is a fabulous blog by Donna (from Garden Walk Garden Talk) that brings the inside out and the outside in. Donna brings her expertise as an Architect and gardener together to provide breathtaking photos of nature and excellence in design.

For those nominated the rules are pretty simple:

Post the Versatile Blogger Award to your post/blog

Thank the blogger who nominated you with a link back to his/her blog

Share 7 random pieces of information about yourself

Include this set of rules

Forward this award to fellow bloggers and inform them with a comment on their blogs

A huge thank you to Julia, Sheila, Tammy & Theta for recognizing Southern Meadows. And, to everyone who takes the time out of their busy days to visit my blog and leave your comments. Your input and feedback is very much appreciated and makes blogging so enjoyable!

Have a wonderful weekend y'all! xo!

Sunny Days and Winter Blooms

2012-01-27T21:33:00.000-05:00

Winter is the time we replenish our water reserve in the southeast that gets drained quickly in spring, summer and fall. This month we have been making up for lost time in the rainfall department. But today the big yellow ball finally showed itself in a brilliant blue sky and the winter blooms were plentiful.

The hellebore are in their element at this time of year...

The Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Winter Gold' that I have been blogging about is finally starting to bloom.

Witch hazel is also beginning to show its streamers

Some early daffodils were out at the State Botanical Garden when I went to my Native Plants certification orientation.

And their Camellias' are way ahead of mine.

But the big news in gardening this week (well, other than the marriage of National Wildlife Federation and Scotts Miracle Gro) is that the USDA published their new plant hardiness zone map (click here to view). You can search by your zip code making it very user friendly. Has your zone changed? My zone moved from 7b to 8a. What does this mean for my garden? Well, our average annual minimum temperature has changed from 5 - 10 degrees to 10 - 15 degrees over the past few years.

So I now have a larger variety of plants to choose from and can include plants selectively that grow in zone 8. I certainly won't complain about that. It also means that my frost dates have moved and my growing season will be a little longer. My first frost date changed from April 15 to March 15 and last frost date from October 15 to November 15. While the zone is a good place to start in determining if a plant will survive in a particular area, exposure, moisture, snow fall and humidity also play an important factor.

Since my winter has now officially been cut shorter I'd better get started on my seeds because growing season will be here a little earlier this year.

W4W: Reflection

2012-01-25T14:39:00.000-05:00

The beauty of the trees,

the softness of the air,

the fragrance of the grass,

speaks to me.

The summit of the mountain,

the thunder of the sky,

the rhythm of the sea,

speaks to me.

The faintness of the stars,

the freshness of the morning,

the dewdrop on the flowers,

speaks to me.

The strength of the fire,

the taste of salmon,

the trail of the sun,

and the life that never goes away,

they speak to me.

And my heart soars.

~ Chief Dan George

Joining Garden Walk Garden Talk for Word for Wednesday.

An Education in Native Plants

2012-01-20T18:57:00.001-05:00

This week I attended a Native Plant Symposium sponsored by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and the Georgia Garden Club. I heard six speakers that shared their vast knowledge on gardening with wildflowers, trees and other native plants, landscaping and design, conservation, and gardening for wildlife. It was very informative and I came away inspired and excited to get back out in my garden and start incorporating more natives into my landscape.

Of course there were native plants for sale and of course I had to buy some! I am sure that I will blog about my purchases over the next year once they become established and I can show more of the plant than the stalks and minimal foliage that currently grace the containers.

There is one plant that I am so excited to have in my possession I will give you a little preview now. Why you ask? Well, it is a native plant to Georgia which is listed as threatened. It is the Georgia Aster 'Symphotrichum georgianum'.

Photo credit: Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources

This is a perennial herb native to Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina. These flowers require cross pollination in order to set seed so I purchased two plants. It is differentiated from the other late blooming asters by its dark purple flowers and white centers.

There are only 30 populations of these plants that have been observed in Georgia but only 15 of these small populations have survived. Eight of them are in State or National Forest lands. Habitats have been destroyed from the use of herbicides along roadsides, the invasion of non-native invasive plants and development.

The Georgia Aster is threatened and is a candidate to be federally protected so I was issued a certificate showing that the species I purchased was collected legally.

This is just a taste of what I am going to get as I have enrolled in a certification program in native plants from the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. It is a knowledge based, field directed program which requires 80 hours of course work, electives, field trips and volunteer service to complete. My first class starts tomorrow and covers winter tree identification; something I admit I could use some extra study in. Stay tuned...

GBBD: January 2012

2012-01-15T09:41:00.003-05:00

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day has arrived. Can you believe we are already half way through the first month of the year? My zone 7b garden has beenexperiencing a fairly mild winter so far. As I drive around the countryside I am seeing signs of spring....some daffodils and cherry trees are blooming already. But the winter blooming flowers are saying "hold on, not so fast!" "We haven't had our time to shine". And Mother Nature answered by blowing in some more winter like temperatures this weekend.

My hellebore have been shooting up new growth, budding and blooming.

The heather mingled amongst the azaleas are blooming and giving some winter color to the garden.

Erica x darleyensis 'Mediterranean White'

The rosettes of the dragon's blood sedum are their signature red and pop against the dull grays and browns of the surrounding landscape.

Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'

The Oriental Paper Bush I showed last month is slowly starting to open. I am so anxious to see these blooms since they are new to my garden this season. Maybe I will have a full bloom to show next month.

Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Winter Gold'

The camellias are also working hard to bloom

Camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka'

as is the witchhazel.

Two plants, considered weeds by most, are readily blooming. Dandelions, a member of the Asteraceae family, are edible. Often used as a tea it helps kidney function and dissipates gallstones. They are remarkably nutritional being extremely high in vitamins A & C and beta carotene and potassium, iron and copper. If you do eat them be sure that they haven;t been treated with chemicals.

dandelion flower head

The pollinators that were out during our balmy 'winter' days surely appreciated the henbit that is happily spreading in our lawn and the hill garden. Henbit is considered a very invasive annual winter weed that is common throughout the southeast. It is a member of the mint family and is edible, raw, cooked or as a tea.

What is happening in your garden this month? Do you have blooms that are out of season too? Be sure to visit May Dreams Garden to see what is happening in other gardens around the world.

Big Box Surprise

2012-01-13T09:50:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I was at a big boxstore desperately looking for a new coffee maker. We've had the worse luck withcoffee makers...they seem to break after about 1 year...just after thewarranty expires. Having done a lot of research on line and narrowing down mysearch I saw that one of the big box stores had a limited quantity. When I arrived at the store,they didn't have the coffee maker I wanted in stock (I guess that would be thelimited quantity part). Utterly frustrated I decided to take a walk through theLawn and Garden department thinking that would make me feel a little happier.Now, normally I don't purchase plants from big box stores because (1)historically I haven't had luck with the plants surviving (diseases or buginfected) and (2) I like to support my local growers & nurseries.

But, while I was walking around my eye was drawn to a rack of blue, no indigo, no cobalt bluecolored plants. Whatever shade of blue, they were electrifying... (*note these photos look more violet/purple than blue. I couldn't get my photos to the true color)

They lookedlike something from the daisy family. The tag identified it is SenettiPericalllis, commonly called Cineraria. Well, as I was standing there admiringthem an employee came up and said that they were 50% off because they had comein too early; making them $6.00. Well, that certainly made them even moreappealing.

So I started to justify and at the same time talk myself out of the purchase...Are they native?...No, they come from the Canary Islands. Arethey drought tolerant?...No, they like consistently moist soil (don't let themdry out). Is it a perennial?...not sure in my zone (7b); probably more for pots.They can take light frosts and temperatures to 32F.

What a tough decision. Itdoesn't really fit the profile of the plants I choose for my garden. However,they were so stunning and for $6.00 hard to pass up. After all, blue is myfavorite color, they add some much needed color at this time of year; eventhough I will have to keep them in the house for a few weeks before the dangerof night frosts have past.

In the end I took the plunge and purchased one.When I got home I read that they can have as manyas 200 blooms in a 10 to 12 inch pot. Wow!

The Senetti Pericallis was a nice surprise purchase which brightened my day even though, I am still searching for that coffee maker...

Mindfulness

2012-01-06T22:59:00.000-05:00

My kids wentback to school this week after more than two weeks off but we’ve been slow toget back into our routine. We all really enjoyed our uninterrupted familytime, sleeping in and not having to rush out the door every day and we are a bit in denial that it is over.

January isthe month for organizing, making lists, setting goals and New Year’sresolutions. Now I am an organizer and a list maker and Ilove starting the year with a fresh outlook and lots of plans. But last year I was inspired (by The Whimsical Gardener) to ditch the list of New Year’s resolutionsand pick a word for the year. The idea is to choose a word to be your inspiration for the year. This year my word is Mindfulness.a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present. Instead ofletting your life go by without living it, you awaken to experience.

Usuallywhen I am working in my garden my mind is always thinking (insert planning)forward to new garden designs, plants to add, or the long list of chores thatneed to get done. So this year, my aspiration is to be more mindfuland slow down, quietmy mind and be in the moment. Really feeling the soil running through my fingers, hear the butterflies whisper as they flutter by and see the beauty in everything.

What direction will you find yourself going this year?

Garden Review & New Year Wishes

2011-12-31T08:36:00.000-05:00

A Year inReview

(click "YouTube" button to view in full screen)

Thank you all for yourawesome support you have shown through your comments, advice and friendship.

Warm wishes and may yourgarden bring you many wonderful surprises and treasures in 2012!

W4W: Weathered

2011-12-27T20:41:00.001-05:00

Weather Report: “Sunshine isdelicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there’sreally no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather” ~JohnRuskin

How we all love to talk about the weather, especially gardeners. And this winter one could say the weather has been particularly unusual. So it is apropos that the Word for Wednesday hosted by Donna at Garden Walk Garden Talk is Weathered. Be sure to link over to read Donna's in depth post on our changing climate as well as to see other interpretations of weathered gardens.

I searched my photo archives for any images I had taken that demonstrate how my garden had been altered in color, texture, composition or form from exposure to weather. It was more challenging than I anticipated. What I did find were some more artistic expressions of "weathered" in nature.

The hosta leaves that were hit by a hard frost earlier this month begin their decay but still provide interesting shapes.

Some old, weathered bird houses in a friends garden have seen better days but provide pops of color.

This picture was taken this summer in Pascagoula, Mississippi near my in-laws farm. The cypress trees found in the swamps along the coast provide protection against erosion and flooding in this area. These forested swamps are like a "speed bump" for the storm surge caused by hurricanes.

These roots near Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina have been exposed from years of erosion and weathering. People have also left their mark with carved graffiti on the bare roots. You can check out an interactive image of this Medusa tree here.

I love the creative elements that are naturally produced in gnarled limbs, fallen trees and stumps giving them a worn appearance.

A wasp hive, long abandoned, sits amongst the fallen leaves to decay and return to nature provides some interesting texture to the winterscape.

While the snow and cold altered the structure of the fungi on this fallen tree making them sag and droop giving them a tatty look.

Freezing temperatures created a shear of ice on parts of this flooded area in a Michigan park we visited over our Christmas travels to my family. Living in the south I don't often see both ice and water like this. It is beautiful.

When we visit in summer we spend a lot of time along the Lake Michigan coast which is made up of sand dunes. These dunes are constantly eroding due to winds blowing shoreward at up to 25 mph.

Lichens, fungi, mosses, grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees are all part of the dunes ecosystem. These plants have evolved to adapt to the harsh environment. The dune grass helps hold the sand in place and protect from the wind erosion.

This time last year north Georgia was covered in a blanket of snow. December this year has been much milder with temperatures a good 10 degrees or higher than average. These extremes really create unpredictable conditions for plants. I have plants blooming already that under normal conditions don't bloom until February.

Japanese Flowering Apricot

Hellebore

How does your weathered garden look?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T11:24:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas

Foehliche Weihnachten

Prettige Kerstdagen

Joyeux Noel

from my garden to yours!

Wordless Wednesday: Watching you like a Hawk

2011-12-21T07:31:00.000-05:00

GBBD: December Sparkles

2011-12-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that it already mid-December and the last Garden Blogger's Bloom Day post for 2011. December has been a rather mild month with only two hard frosts. That was enough to put down most of the blooming plants for the winter but taking a walk through my garden this morning revealed some interesting finds.

The creeping phlox seem to be a little baffled by our mild weather. Normally spring blooming, the phlox have started to bloom early. A heavy dew had them sparkling in the morning light. Almost as if they were decorated for the holidays.

Hellebore are also blooming earlier than normal. They usually show their faces in late January to early February. But we have been enjoying temps in the low 70's this week! So they decided to have an early show. According to the Farmer's Almanac we were at 39.2 last year. What a difference a year makes!

The Coral Bark Maple is particularly intense this month with its very deep coral color.

The Oriental Paper Bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Winter Gold') is new to my garden this year. I am looking forward to seeing the blooms open around mid-January to early April. In the meantime I am enjoying their spectacular large silvery buds. They hang like ornaments on a tree.

The euphorbia and creeping begonia are looking very festive with their red and green tones.

The tropical milkweed is putting out presents. The pods are opening to reveal many brown seeds. The fluffy floss is spectacular when the light reflects on the filaments and the morning dew drops hang onto the ends of the hairs. These gifts of nature will blow where they may.

And lastly, I really love the browns of the dried hydrangea 'silver dollar' blooms. They are just splendid in every season.

You can enjoy other December gardens from all over the globe by linking over to May Dreams Gardens.

Happy Holidays y'all!

Calamondin Ready for the Holidays

2011-12-09T16:27:00.001-05:00

Citrus fruit is a staple in our household. We use them in cooking, decorating, gift giving,beverages, as aromatherapy, and simply eating. A new addition to our palate isCalamondin, a citrus plant originating in China and introduced to the UnitedStates as an “acid orange” in the 1900's. Hybrids between citrussubspecies have been cultivated for so long it is sometimes hard to know thespecies exact origins but it is believed by horticulturists that the Calamondinis a hybrid of lime and either mandarin or kumquat.

We purchased our tree two years ago. We keep it in a pot so that it can easily be moved to the right location. The plant is hardy up to 20degrees F so it does need to be brought inside over winter and placed in a welllit area. Ours started fruiting just before our first hard frost hit and we brought itindoors and keep it in our potting room in front of a large window.

In the United StatesCalamondin is grown mostly as an ornamental as it makes a great patio plant butthe juice can also be used as you would lemon or lime...in beverages, to flavorfish and meats, teas, cakes, preserves, pies and sauces. It is deliciously tart!

During warm months we placeit outside in direct sunlight or half shade. It grows best in temperaturesbetween 70 to 90 degrees F.

The tree can produce bloomsyear-round in the right environment and it can be blooming and have fruit atthe same time. The blooms are incredibly fragrant. The fruit is green to start and as it matures it turns orange. The fruit is most abundant from November to June. The bees andbutterflies love the nectar and fragrance of the blooms too!

The fruit also has somemedicinal qualities. You can rub the juice on insect bites and it will stop theitching and irritation. The juice can be extracted and saved in ice cube trayscovered with a plastic bag for later use. But for this year it looks like we will have ripe fruit for our holiday cheer!

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 30!

2011-12-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

Thirty Days of Giving Thanks has come to an end. This has been a wonderful experience for me. The days passed a little more slowly as I savored the special moments each day. As I focused on my November garden I became more aware of the often overlooked and perhaps under appreciated things in my garden. It also gave me time to reflect on all the wonderful people in my life and all the joy they bring.

Today, I want to give a special shout out to my wonderful gardening partner, my husband. I am so fortunate that he shares my love for gardening and the outdoors. Without him our gardens wouldn't be what they are.

He has cleared all the underbrush from our wooded lot so that we actually have a place to garden; he digs the holes for all the plants in our rock hard clay, and lays all the hardscaping. He is much better at envisioning the garden design than I am. He was the brains behind the woodland garden beds and paths, installed the wall between the orchard and the vegetable garden, built the raised beds for the kitchen garden and planted all the trees. Not to mention all the regular maintenance like mowing, laying mulch, trimming and pruning. The list goes on and on…I am so blessed that he shares my passion and together we create our special retreat.

A huge thank you to everyone who has visited my blog and provided their support, thoughts and comments and shared in my journey. I am grateful for all the inspiration, advice, creativity and passion for the natural world and gardening that you provide. xo!

And, a special thanks to Cat at The Whimsical Gardener for hosting this inspirational challenge! It has been fun!

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 29

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

As November is the month for giving thanks this year at our house we created a Thankful Tree. The idea is to write notes of thankfulness and hang them as reminders of our grateful hearts.

Since I have been posting daily this month of things that I am thankful for I thought I would share some of the notes my children added to our tree:

Family, Friends, Home, Our Garden, Nature, Books, Camera, Health, Clemson, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Holidays, Frogs, Snakes, Our Dogs, Prehistoric Animals, Walking in the Woods, Maps, Drawing, Architecture, Movies, Legos, Arts & Crafts Wednesdays, Founding Fathers, Junior Master Gardeners, Board Games, K'nex, Birds, Climbing Trees, Soccer, Challenge Class, Armed Forces, Our teachers, Family time, Swimming, Traveling, and Game Night.

This activity was a great way for my children to think about all the special people and things in their lives and appreciate all they have. Since they enjoyed this so much, for the month of December we will be creating a Christmas chain. Each time a member of the family completes a good deed, such as sharing a toy or helping bring in the groceries, he/she writes it down on a red or green strip of paper and adds it to the chain around the tree. As Christmas nears the chain will get longer and longer and they can see how their kind contributions have made the chain grow longer.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 28

2011-11-29T08:02:00.001-05:00

After

all this time

The sun never says

To the Earth

"You owe me"

Look

What happens

with a love like that

It lights

the

Whole

Sky.
~Hafiz

Thankful for glorious sunrises. Such a great way to start the day.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 27

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

There is no season such delight can bring,

As summer, autumn, winter and the spring

~ William Browne

Winter~Spring~Summer~Autumn

Theweather as been all over the place recently from 80 degree sunshine tohard freezes at night. But I am thankful for the changes. Since I have lived in places where spring or summer lasts one or two weeks or summer is endless I am always grateful to enjoy four full seasons of Mother Nature's glory.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 26

2011-11-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

The Indian Hawthorne shrubs around our home are full of pomes (fruit). They are a good source of food for birds, especially during the winter months.

We have five shrubs so it looks as if there will be plenty to go around.
I am grateful that they produced an abundance of tasty blue pomes (note: should not be consumed by humans) since most birds only eat about 25% of their daily food from feeders during the winter .

* * * T I P * * *

I don't normally shop at big box stores but yesterday I was at Lowe's and discovered that they have rolled out a nationwide recycling program (read more here) for plastic pots, trays, tags and hanging baskets regardless of condition or place of purchase. This is a great initiative especially since many curbside recycling programs don't accept these items. Please help spread the word so that we can keep these out of our landfills.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 25

2011-11-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

A hard frost late last week put an end to all the beautiful fall foliage. So yesterday my husband and I spent a good 6 hours gathering leaves (yes, we have that many) for the compost. I caught a glimpse of this Japanese Maple leaf as the morning light shone through it. It was a stunning glow and was extra special as it was the last one hanging on.

Today I am thankful for the little joys found in my day.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 24

2011-11-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

The leaves in autumn do not change color from the blighting touch of frost, but from the process of natural decay.-They fall when the fruit is ripened, and their work is done.-And their splendid coloring is but their graceful and beautiful surrender to life when they have finished their summer offering of service to God and man.

~ Tryon Edwards

I am thankful for all the leaves that lay on the ground that will become leaf compost and make my garden grow better next year. In nature everything has its purpose.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 23

2011-11-24T07:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks giving

1. a. An act of giving thanksb. an expression of this; esp., a formal, often public expression of thanks to God in the form of a prayer,etc. 2. an annual U.S. holiday observed on the fourth Thursday of November as a day of giving thanks and feasting; it commemorates the Pilgrims' celebration of the good harvest of 1621

Today I give thanks for the food before us

The family and friends beside us

And the love between us

To all my American friends, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 22

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

A hard freeze late last week put an end to most of my fall blooming plants. So my thoughts turned to planning for next year's garden. A source that was recommended by Organic Gardening was the Seed Savers Exchange. They specialize in heirloom seeds and happen to have a 50% off sale on their 2011 seeds. Before ordering from them I checked out their review at The Garden Watchdog, a directory of garden mail order companies where gardeners can review their purchases and experiences with these companies. (This is a great resource if you haven't used it before.)

Here are my purchases~

Star of the Veld (Ursinia anethoides): this is an annual with long lasting golden flowers with silvery foliage. Drought tolerant. Prefers poor soil.

Evening Sun Sunflower (Helianthus annuus): Flowers in shades of orange red and burgundy. Very dark center and multiple heads and extended bloom time. 6-8' tall.

Orange Sun (Helianthus annuus): Bright orange double flowers with 6" heads, reminiscent of large chrysanthemums. 6-8' tall.

Diablo Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus): Meaning devil in Spanish. Beautiful when planted in random pattern. 2-3' tall.

Red Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Bright pink and red vanilla scented flowers in June and July. Grows 5' tall in moist soil with good drainage. Perennial (hardy to zone 4).

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita): pleasant fragrance. Graceful plant are 12-20" tall with endless masses of 1" daisy-like flowers that can be used to make tea. Annual

These were my kids' picks:

Moon & Stars (Citrullus lanatus): known as sun, moon & stars because the fruit is covered with pea-sized bright yellow "stars" and usually one larger "moon". Foliage is also spotted. Fruit have sweet pink flesh and brown seeds.

Dinosaur (Lagenaria siceraria): (aka swan gourd) perfect for gourd craft swans. Total length 18-24" with a 8" bowl. Best when grown on a trellis.

I am looking forward to germinating these seeds in late winter. I will certainly post about them next year.

* * *

I am thankful for having such a great selection of seeds available at my finger tips. I few clicks and the shopping is done. I am also thankful for resources like the Garden Watchdog that make it easier to find reputable places of business on-line.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 21

2011-11-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

Our Aloe Vera plant, aka the healing plant, has been the go to first aid kit in our house for many years. It has been a life saver for minor cuts, burns, scrapes and skin irritations.

I am thankful for all the wonderful medicinal qualities of this plant. It is a welcome succulent in our home.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 20

2011-11-21T07:41:00.000-05:00

I am thankful to start the Thanksgiving week with a quiet Monday morning. Kids are sleeping in and we don't have to rush around getting ready for school.

Looking forward to a week spent with family and friends.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 19

2011-11-20T14:48:00.001-05:00

My children: Danielle, James & Sean

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

Today and everyday I am thankful for my wonderful children .

I am blessed with such precious gifts!

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 18

2011-11-19T17:48:00.001-05:00

Enjoy the little things in life...
for one day you'll look
back and realize
they were the big things

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Spent the day baking with my daughter.

Thankful for time spent together with her.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 17

2011-11-18T14:02:00.001-05:00

TodayI am thankful for the rainbow of colors the crepe myrtle is displaying. Magnificent to see so many colors on one tree.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 16

2011-11-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

As a Master Gardener I have the distinct privilege of teaching children about gardening through the Junior Master Gardener program. I have two groups of 3rd graders (at a Title I school) that I teach (in a volunteer capacity...I am not a teacher by profession) every week as part of their curriculum. I weave in science, math, art, nutrition and life skills into the gardening lessons. Periodically, I also teach groups of children about 'gardening for pollinators' at a local educational garden supported by my Master Gardener group and I go into other area schools to speak about gardening.

This week I spoke to a group of 2nd graders about gardening with a focus on color and texture in the landscape. It was tied to a book they just finished reading called The Chalk Box Kid where the main character of the story creates an imaginary garden.

To complete the gardening lesson and tie it in with art and creative thinking I planned a hands on project using color. They used Q-tips with paint to create a colorful tree and other plants and insects they may find in nature.

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to pass along my passion for gardening and the environment through my volunteer work. My hope is to create an interest in gardening, appreciation and respect for the environment with these children. If one child grows up to be a gardener I have accomplished my goal.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 15 & W4W

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year when blooms begin to fade and the leaves are falling from the trees revealing the structural elements in my garden. My eyes are now drawn to some of the underlying features that are often overlooked at other times of year when our eyes are more drawn to the showy flowers or fascinating foliage. Today I am joining Garden Walk Garden Talk for Word for Wednesday. Today's words are Texture and Pattern.

As I look to nature I find interesting textures and patterns in the fungi growing on the decaying stumps

Grasses also provide interesting structure and texture

Another element that provides interest in the landscape

is the bark like this dogwood

or this river birch

Looking even further to the ground the vast variety of ground covers such as mulch, pine straw, gravel, pebbles, rocks or soils provide another form of contrast

The foliage of the lamb's ear has great texture, especially for kids,

who like the softness of the leaves.

The variety of ferns provide texture and patterns throughout the woodland garden

Succulents give great texture particularly those that change color during the winter months like this Dragon's Blood Sedum

or Angelina Sedum

Sedum and cacti also provide great texture
with their structure

as well as interesting patterns.

The wildlife in my garden also presents itself with some interesting patterns and textures such as the bumpy skin of this toad,

The scales on this anole,

the skin from a rat snake,

the wings of a dragonfly,

and the soft tail of the squirrel

What type of texture and patterns do you find in your garden? Link over to Garden Walk Garden Talk to take a look at other interpretations.

~ Thankfulness Thought of the Day ~

I am thankful for all the diversity Nature has to offer. The textures, patterns, structure and contrast provide elements of surprise, interest to our eyes, range in the landscape and most importantly diversity.

After all variety is the spice of life.

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 14 & GBBD

2011-11-14T19:00:00.000-05:00

Gardeners are an amazing bunch of people. One of the many benefits of blogging is meeting other gardeners from all over the world right from my desk top. It is a wonderful experience to see gardens from every corner of this earth, to share experiences, knowledge, philosophies, plants, seeds, laughs and make friends. For this I am ever thankful!

~Today is Garden Blogger’s BloomDay ~

Most of the blooms are pretty spent so I went looking for
color in my garden.

The foliage of the St. John's wart is fabulous with its graduation

of color from green to orange to red.

This Japanese Maple, although small,

makes a powerful punch with

its stunning colors of orange and red

The coral bells are offering

varying shades of purple and red.

The Sumac has lost all its leaves but
is providing some colorful fruit for the birds.

The asters are still providing a blast of color

and food for the pollinators that are still busy at work.

The viola (Viola walteri 'Silver Gem')in the woodland garden
still have a few blooms to show off.

The Buddleja that was transplanted this fall

to a new bed is liking its new home.
It is still putting out lots of blooms.

I am thankful for all the plants that continue to bloom and those that add colorful foliage and liveliness to the landscape.

Be sure to check out all the posts from gardens around the world to see what is blooming in their gardens this November.
Linking to GBBD

Thanksgiving 30 Day Challenge: Day 13

2011-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Well someone has to enjoy frolicking in the leaves don't they?

Sasha and Biscuit didn't want them to go to waste
before they become compost.

Isn't it great to live in the moment?

I am thankful for those random memories that put a smile on my face.