RANDOM POST ABOUT PLANTS

I am just posting some random photo's of pictures I took while camping and then a few of what's growing in my back yard.

This was a huge three leaf clover that caught my eye.

I thought this tree was quite interesting.  It is growing right out of an old log. 

 Lowland huckleberries.  The huckleberries in the higher mountains are a bluish/purple color.

 Loved these three little trees.

 Here is a plant that refuses to die.  I am not sure what it is but it is taller than I am.  It was in this little corner when we began our addition.  It got stepped on and didn't get watered for months but yet it still comes back every year.

 My first tomatoes of the season.  I didn't even get these planted until around the first of July.

 And of course the zucchini (sp?) is huge.  I just turn my back and I swear it grows 3 inches.

 My one success this year with roses.

And lastly my impatiens basket finally took off.

I hope all of your plantings are doing well wherever you are.

UNIQUE BLOOM, UGLY PLANT

I love the blooms on this plant...

So big and showy,

but this is the whole plant...not lovin' it so much.

The bottom looks like this most of the time

UGLY AND SPIKY!

Does anyone know the name of it?

I just wish the flowers from it lasted longer.

JULY IS IN FULL BLOOM

When I was first married we lived in a small two bedroom rental house that sat right next to the owners farmhouse.  I remember our landlady going around in the summer taking pictures of her flower gardens and remember thinking, "What is the big deal about her flowers?"  Fast forward  thirty something years later and I am out in my yard...you guessed it, photographing my flowers.

I have to marvel a God's work when it comes to flowers and plants.  I plant, fertilize and water the flowers and  mother nature does all the work.  It is amazing.

Here is a begonia that sits on my front porch.  Such a pretty color, don't you think?

This is an Asiatic lily (I think) with lots of little droplets of water.  We got a little rain today and I love how they are so delicately place on the petals.  Mother nature is a creative artist.

Another begonia that is on the front porch.  It is such a cheery color.

In the photo below is my astilbe, which is a perennial. Astilbe plants come in a variety of colors; white, pink, red, lavendar, blue and purple.  They are such a pretty touch to a flower bed.  They are almost feather-like when you touch them.

The petunias that I planted along the edge of this flower bed have really taken off.  If you want a flower that  will bloom all summer then plant petunias (they are annuals, meaning you have to plant them  each year but sometimes they will re-seed themselves and come back the next year).

Day lilies are just that, the blooms only last one day but they do put on lots of blooms that stagger their bloom time so you can enjoy them for quite awhile.

Have you ever planted wave petunias?  This variety are spreaders and will really go crazy, in a good way.  Before the end of summer this particular pot of them will be flowing onto the ground and beyond.

Lastly is my climbing rose.  I bought it new this year as a bare root and planted it in a huge pot with a trellis behind it.  It has barely started blooming but hasn't gotten big enough to start climbing yet.  Next year it should really take off.

I love the little rain drop on the petal.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE YARD?

Spring time pushing into summer, that's what's happening.

The weekend forecast is calling for the temperatures in the eighties-WooHoo!

Here is a close up of a bee working the heck out of this blossom.  This particular plant is called Cranesbill or Hardy Geranium.  It does very well here in the Pacific Northwest.

SPRING FLOWERS CRAFT

My May craft project for our crafty ladies group was spring flowers in gussied up container.

If you would like to see some more detailed pictures of these projects
go to my vinyl lettering blog for set by step pictures.

  

Popcorn Popping or Forces of Nature?

Seeing this idea in magazines recently I decided to try it myself. 

I cut some branches off of my flowering cherry tree about ten days ago and put them in water.

Not really too attractive at this point.

 You can see that there are lots of buds wanting to burst.

 This is what they look like today.  Doesn't that look like popcorn?

I am sure you have heard of 'the forces of nature'.

I like to call this 'forcing nature'.

Spring is on its way, YIPEE!

SIGNS OF SPRING

The crocuses are ready to put forth flowers.  They will be the first to bloom.

The daffodils won't be far behind the crocuses.  Look at those tight buds, they can't wait, and neither can I.

The tulips are being very brave poking their little heads out.  Also the bleeding hearts (shoots on the right side of the photo) are showing some bravery as well.

Another little patch of daffodils.

Can you tell I am anxious for Spring to arrive?   Unfortunately the weather is calling for snow and lower than normal temps. over the next few days, I am hoping these little gun jumpers are hearty enough to stand it.

Enjoying The Last Of Summer

With fall in the air I look around my yard and try to take in the flowers and foliage because in another month or so the nights will begin to get cold again and that means the frost isn't too far behind.

I planted this hanging basket back in May with coleus, impatiens, bucopa, creeping jenny and a begonia (which is hidden on the back side). I tenderly watered and fertilized it in hopes that it would flourish. It didn't disappoint. I will enjoy this beautiful basket until I am convinced that it has bloomed it's last blossom.I feel a sadness coming on with having to say goodbye to summer and giving way to fall and winter.

Once In Awhile...

...I come across something on somebody's blog that makes me do a little jiggy dance. I LOVE THIS IDEA FOR A PLANTER! I found it at Cherry Hill Cottage. Take a moment (or maybe an hour or two) and check out her ADORABLE ideas!!!!!

My Random Wednesday

With no inspiration in sight as to what to blog about I thought I would just do something random.

I made some more washer necklaces...

a new picture frame...
and some more flowers for embellishing some projects I have coming up.

AND EVEN MORE RANDOMNESS:

Some posies...
My newly put together fountain, (the birds are enjoying taking baths and sips of water from it. Oh ya, my 4 year old grandson thought it was a drinking fountain and took some sips too).flowers planted in one of my urn planters that I used for a fall decoration (here) last year.

Wet Spring Makes For Beautiful Gardens

Boy have we had a wet spring, especially the month of May. If there is any bright spot in it all it is that the garden beds are doing wonderfully.

My hosta bed is doing well.

A pretty pink dianthus.
I love the chartreuse color of the blossoms on this Lady's Mantle.

The deep purple of this iris stands out against the green foilage from the other plants


I am not sure what this is called but it has the prettiest magenta flowers on it.




Below is a perennial geranium. It is so huge that it takes over this portion of the flower bed.
My photographic skills lack the ability to really show how beautiful the flowers are on this bush.
I am joining the linky part at A Southern Daydream for Outdoor Wednesday