tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15166290235978867642024-03-05T09:48:48.645-08:00Law of the LandA Lawyer's Gardening BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-34284948374877654982011-06-02T19:23:00.000-07:002011-06-02T19:29:44.737-07:00Closing down shop...Hey all,<br />I've been trying to hold on to this blog while also working, being a mom, keeping up Clara's own blog, etc... but it's more than I can commit to for the foreseeable future. Therefore, I'm closing down shop, and will only be posting at our family blog now - Tales from the Zoo (<a href="http://gibsonswafford.blogspot.com/">http://gibsonswafford.blogspot.com/</a>). I will be posting gardening stuff on there sometimes, and would be delighted if any of you wanted to stop by and say hello. I'll definitely still be visiting your blogs. Thank you so much for your readership of Law of the Land these last few years! I never imagined anyone outside my family would read it, and I've come to know so many wonderful people in the garden blog-o-sphere.<br />Take care and happy gardening!<br />GingerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-45998128777346269972011-05-30T20:52:00.000-07:002011-05-30T20:59:08.348-07:00The veggie garden is all green in May<div align="center">I'll have tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, purple hull peas and more soon... but for now, everything I'm cutting from the garden is green.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5QS34TfIaoNQhibPOPFuwocXQlCiyLK_CWmW10wldru0lNvQf47CMf_jiDxJtQ8b01J10HRi4VNWCDDlRx6-NpSsKdfHhAipUxmQiUlzOe9zjGK1J4ucfBAp1uBKCN8hh_22DpEx7C0/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612723956290682978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5QS34TfIaoNQhibPOPFuwocXQlCiyLK_CWmW10wldru0lNvQf47CMf_jiDxJtQ8b01J10HRi4VNWCDDlRx6-NpSsKdfHhAipUxmQiUlzOe9zjGK1J4ucfBAp1uBKCN8hh_22DpEx7C0/s400/IMG_1599.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Basil, green beans and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">parsley</span>, all cut for meals on Sunday.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPjSYyqi8UZbmW2sxVVvko2BHoQ_VseUgHpFpKwrDhgQJ9PrRwsu58L2tmf5NqXvyMH_7k821s6nTjGfsqUbafNHt8IOEhd3bBkVcu4vCW6uh7deSbmH5ynAZQpMnKbrySOFraFaJpVI/s1600/IMG_1604.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612723955211736754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPjSYyqi8UZbmW2sxVVvko2BHoQ_VseUgHpFpKwrDhgQJ9PrRwsu58L2tmf5NqXvyMH_7k821s6nTjGfsqUbafNHt8IOEhd3bBkVcu4vCW6uh7deSbmH5ynAZQpMnKbrySOFraFaJpVI/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" /></a>It was so nice to have an extra day to spend with Clara this weekend! Hope you all had a great weekend and remembered our soldiers.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBycyMCggSTuwJqEX65m1Ei2MyWA8LR1vx2Un9JcOHd5GfHXL4416MjUz5_gSrWZDoNUR1FyGmpHFlBxhO3vycWGI5YHUPM1owRTo2I0JSYm44bibB9woWgsqqTEa9P71Cvc9WyNayrqQ/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612723953604309506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBycyMCggSTuwJqEX65m1Ei2MyWA8LR1vx2Un9JcOHd5GfHXL4416MjUz5_gSrWZDoNUR1FyGmpHFlBxhO3vycWGI5YHUPM1owRTo2I0JSYm44bibB9woWgsqqTEa9P71Cvc9WyNayrqQ/s400/IMG_1618.JPG" /></a></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-10195735393587261712011-05-25T19:13:00.001-07:002011-05-25T19:25:48.121-07:00REUSE - making baby toys<div align="center">I'm planning to make all of Clara's solid foods, sew some of her clothes, and make her some toys. My in-laws gave me a sewing machine for Mother's Day (awesome), and <a href="http://whipstitchfabrics.com/blog/just-my-luck-charm-pack-pattern-series-pt-1/">this baby block project</a> was the first thing I did with it.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnozS__TQEBaHspPerAoEh-zMFNjd0A9a5eLTpFR5FcKCBZLJvj8ksC1ovsrD4WPZbSReJ-5SWBw8xKwxKSnZJiHyKVOXm9rScEcl0he-uPBTgYj757Tb6Q7p-sjZ34A0BEhXYkVXbM_A/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610842470141675218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnozS__TQEBaHspPerAoEh-zMFNjd0A9a5eLTpFR5FcKCBZLJvj8ksC1ovsrD4WPZbSReJ-5SWBw8xKwxKSnZJiHyKVOXm9rScEcl0he-uPBTgYj757Tb6Q7p-sjZ34A0BEhXYkVXbM_A/s400/IMG_1587.JPG" /></a> Only I had a twist! Making it an eco-friendly project by reusing discarded/unused things around the house. The fabric is from cloth napkins my mom had in the 70's and hadn't used in decades. Sewn inside the soft blocks are old cat toys (my cats never liked these bell-in-ball toys, but somehow we ended up with a bunch of them) or nicely crinkly packaging (from a wipes package and something of unknown origin I picked out of the trash - ha) - I was especially pleased to be able to use these things because they couldn't be recycled, so they would otherwise just be tossed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyedBiBnRV1L-CerDX6BPDVnGrAvh-SuWaSJ-W0QASeU28s3Z5BPbKqb-hcrIilSzdCFntdDgmxZyCbTTucZ3JHMOgdMeUBUKI6MU19gXSvv3DOv3Gn2Sh4j7JwKKCkgxwm14QKZ4dvk/s1600/IMG_1563.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610842463581994114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyedBiBnRV1L-CerDX6BPDVnGrAvh-SuWaSJ-W0QASeU28s3Z5BPbKqb-hcrIilSzdCFntdDgmxZyCbTTucZ3JHMOgdMeUBUKI6MU19gXSvv3DOv3Gn2Sh4j7JwKKCkgxwm14QKZ4dvk/s400/IMG_1563.JPG" /></a> Clara likes them!<br /><br />What have you reused lately?<br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-17142048902976447462011-05-18T18:15:00.000-07:002011-05-18T18:28:40.902-07:00The Second R, and a daylily question<div align="center">As stated in <a href="http://lawofthelandblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/3-rs.html">my Earth Day post</a>, I've got recycling <em>down</em>, but need to work on the first two R's. This quick redo of some nasty old plastic yard chairs is an example of reusing. I was seriously tempted to chunk them after scrubbing them and realized they weren't just dirty, but stained. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3wYN4NXhtSN0Hi4xzHryPj1WFkkKRTYAEHnW8KCwiQlRSPFmXDH9-8Op6AtY0SlIEjd_LVbkjQZYrDBgnswqaaH7SaIDq8Neb8omDXh15q1kDZOSr-hbJ2AXyIUTTvSOJVhA5hjwXpM/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608230011463811298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3wYN4NXhtSN0Hi4xzHryPj1WFkkKRTYAEHnW8KCwiQlRSPFmXDH9-8Op6AtY0SlIEjd_LVbkjQZYrDBgnswqaaH7SaIDq8Neb8omDXh15q1kDZOSr-hbJ2AXyIUTTvSOJVhA5hjwXpM/s400/IMG_1515.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">supplies: stuff to clean the chair as best I could, Valspar plastic spray paint, baby monitor</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center">I decided I'd try some of the new plastic spray paint instead. Spray paint certainly isn't eco-friendly, but I reasoned it was better than (a) chunking these chairs into the landfill and (b) buying new plastic yard chairs when I already had two perfectly functional ones. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">I'm pleased with how they turned out. It took 2 full cans of spray paint and the coverage isn't absolutely perfect since there was so much dark staining... but the spray paint worked fine (just like any other) and numerous people actually stopped at the side of the road and told me how good they look!</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QNPcHE5Tq0ZPXoJX1EJ_5VTGvVWfCzv7tm5AklF1DK2xsy4_8pElUm88ilmpv-9xGvo4GmNwGtsrwlLWktvyUWiHWAtt73RZUeEJ3pACg1BrPy8ynwP8IlOScrCcpDgoPwTIbBNWDco/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608230007778963906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QNPcHE5Tq0ZPXoJX1EJ_5VTGvVWfCzv7tm5AklF1DK2xsy4_8pElUm88ilmpv-9xGvo4GmNwGtsrwlLWktvyUWiHWAtt73RZUeEJ3pACg1BrPy8ynwP8IlOScrCcpDgoPwTIbBNWDco/s400/IMG_1536.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> (bowl of just-harvested sugar snap peas on the table. yum!)</span><br /><br />On an unrelated note, I transplanted a bunch of daylilies last week. I know you aren't supposed to transplant perennials that are about to bloom, but I had no choice. Now they are all yellowed and look terrible. Will they put out more growth this year after that dies back? Is there anything I can do to help them look better and get reestablished quickly?<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Hope everyone's having a great week! 2 more days until the weekend - WOO HOO!</div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-70894819925109484972011-05-14T18:20:00.000-07:002011-05-14T18:41:10.184-07:00Expanded bed progress and a BIG thank you!<div align="center">Scott spent all afternoon removing sod and monkey grass for the expanded bed. Both are being replanted in the desolate backyard (where if the monkey grass takes over, more power to it!). </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjjqHUx1451Tw_fTtY_Q6qQjlDI0p3Tx7H4uknHV7zHyMu_9bB1ETXrTiQmvTzK-yPXYbogWG5q3gjl8381vnWi41greOYnS9bJs54nBM2A84hr03CM9RxnhM2RR1o_UV3e8uTC7GylU/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606747481418372770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjjqHUx1451Tw_fTtY_Q6qQjlDI0p3Tx7H4uknHV7zHyMu_9bB1ETXrTiQmvTzK-yPXYbogWG5q3gjl8381vnWi41greOYnS9bJs54nBM2A84hr03CM9RxnhM2RR1o_UV3e8uTC7GylU/s400/IMG_1529.JPG" /></a> We'll be roughing up the dirt with a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pickaxe</span> and adding in a little Miracle Grow Garden Soil I already had laying around, then will cover it all up with a layer of pine straw (we can't use hardwood mulch because of termites). </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">There were some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">daylilies</span> entrenched in the old monkey grass, and I pried most of them out to be replanted. I will wait to transplant many of the perennials from the back of the bed to the front until they have bloomed. I wasn't going to do much else with this bed in the immediate future since it's not a great time of year to establish perennials, and of course we just became a one-income family....but then I just won Dave @ The Home Garden's awesome contest --- a $100 Lowe's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">giftcard</span> and biodegradable weed-block fabric!!! I am ridiculously excited about both of these things and will let y'all know how the weed-block does. I will probably use the Lowe's card to buy a bunch of annuals to spruce up this bed until I can plant perennials in the fall. THANKS, Dave!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7dRDKrHYIGP_PWDtyf4I7YJhDyxiSK7xxJ7LK40pD_FN1pDqsKHXbFy_W4oYyFo1M37NrQyXqqPUE7WVPROpqftFeHYAVi4WMXSfcfW75P3Fum5O5D0lVHGhLsqO9aQMZ0pjsxCybWw/s1600/IMG_1524-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606747478395504482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7dRDKrHYIGP_PWDtyf4I7YJhDyxiSK7xxJ7LK40pD_FN1pDqsKHXbFy_W4oYyFo1M37NrQyXqqPUE7WVPROpqftFeHYAVi4WMXSfcfW75P3Fum5O5D0lVHGhLsqO9aQMZ0pjsxCybWw/s400/IMG_1524-1.JPG" /></a> Clara supervised us working in the yard today.<br /><br />The bluebirds who have a nest nearby were NOT happy with our lengthy presence. We felt bad, but what can you do? At least they found some delicious bugs to swoop down and eat in the newly exposed dirt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Io8v3jrkEzTlxIMVcntzoNOBikz_repDXaMX2Eq5UrJzzVHfwnDG7O851IoADLL_fANVkCVi1YaE_nVktpI1oMqE25E1u8avWrTLXYSYkrzUuUtnkR8zk4dF04gfuFepr1G1VmoqyCI/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606747469308999906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Io8v3jrkEzTlxIMVcntzoNOBikz_repDXaMX2Eq5UrJzzVHfwnDG7O851IoADLL_fANVkCVi1YaE_nVktpI1oMqE25E1u8avWrTLXYSYkrzUuUtnkR8zk4dF04gfuFepr1G1VmoqyCI/s400/IMG_1532.JPG" /></a> Gratuitous Clara close-up... (for some reason, these Clara pics are fuzzy scaled-down, but you can click them for a clearer pic if you want)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdZOO6Q_mBvIidnywluOmlKHagcmrQ1Y2U-JSPSCp4tXEXO4KkYv__oG9WxBVp5vGp2QjsXLZbC_1vgTDQqVxbTMffji2oJBEjaFqyk_-ctsTuuxAQG4pE_jsU_wS4j_bLurKSHHKBnw/s1600/IMG_1521-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606747464864359842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdZOO6Q_mBvIidnywluOmlKHagcmrQ1Y2U-JSPSCp4tXEXO4KkYv__oG9WxBVp5vGp2QjsXLZbC_1vgTDQqVxbTMffji2oJBEjaFqyk_-ctsTuuxAQG4pE_jsU_wS4j_bLurKSHHKBnw/s400/IMG_1521-1.JPG" /></a> Hope you're all having a GREAT weekend! Thanks for your suggestions and advice for this bed on my last post.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-91725398804496727522011-05-09T19:27:00.001-07:002011-05-09T19:38:37.280-07:00Bed advice, please - and a slight change of focus<div align="center">I don't have any photos, but when I moved into my house, the below bed (a) did not have that monkey grass border, or any border at all between that bed and the ever-encroaching grass, (b) was home to only a few very sickly and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">sunscalded</span> azaleas and a crippled boxwood that was beyond repair. We moved the azaleas to the backyard and cut the boxwood remnant to the ground. Someone then suggested I plant <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">lorapetalums</span> because they were pretty cheap and could take the heat and drought. This same someone gave me a TON of monkey grass to use for a border...</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznD6AFnSqMar1IExmFbKIz1bjqpbvvmNgVcrADs38pJBOZRvlv1OkgkwFiIKaGVKRvSlqzsoCI86K_ObJkjfkyfKxhv8Fg69j6-WJBb0wFBw79NXjAnfAW35zyi-lzqvZ1y2xmdxi6Qs/s1600/IMG_1418.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604908874512224082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznD6AFnSqMar1IExmFbKIz1bjqpbvvmNgVcrADs38pJBOZRvlv1OkgkwFiIKaGVKRvSlqzsoCI86K_ObJkjfkyfKxhv8Fg69j6-WJBb0wFBw79NXjAnfAW35zyi-lzqvZ1y2xmdxi6Qs/s400/IMG_1418.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">I planted perennials in between and around the shrubs, and it worked <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ok</span> for a few years, but now the monkey grass and the shrubs are totally crowding out the perennials and it looks like a mess. So, we're expanding the bed out to the sidewalk. Then I can have the evergreen (or ever-purple) shrubs for interest in the winter, and perennials in front of them in the summer. Here's my dilemma: we're obviously going to dig up the monkey grass, but I don't really want to reuse it at the new front of the bed. It's just too tall and too thick and vigorous. I'd like something shorter and gentler, something like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">catmint</span> but evergreen, or creeping thyme but bigger. Any ideas?? The new border plant will need to be able to handle extreme heat and drought. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">-</div><br /><div align="center">On an unrelated note... I'm going to be expanding the focus of the blog just a bit to include some craft/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">diy</span> posts. I probably won't rename it but may change the subtitle...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX1s5Aos_jtjy2f_U6MkrLs6S73vUc3yltRZUeKeGBPeF34Eu15HMmewyJ_P8qHLN3ig7hvNss9z1BoPuTzKeNCzVWIWwXTeeXIFKsj6Wf8hGwtY5EXleoMhmaBei6NW9Nfuw7FXDdog/s1600/Desktop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604908870245166274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX1s5Aos_jtjy2f_U6MkrLs6S73vUc3yltRZUeKeGBPeF34Eu15HMmewyJ_P8qHLN3ig7hvNss9z1BoPuTzKeNCzVWIWwXTeeXIFKsj6Wf8hGwtY5EXleoMhmaBei6NW9Nfuw7FXDdog/s400/Desktop.jpg" /></a>Here is my childhood desk that I recently refinished for Clara. It was even featured on a <a href="http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/before-after/before-amp-after-claras-twotoned-desk-143880">modern children's design blog</a>!<br /><br />Hope you all have a great week! -Ginger<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-40190802778439432782011-04-26T20:18:00.001-07:002011-04-26T20:32:07.900-07:00Annual Easter Egg Decorating Contest<div align="center">First for a gratuitous harvest photo...</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLA3vmpdXbk52mzJtmOFc9H4XAJtaQNFk0UQSRaD0jBVgEPbrre_Ivjvdoh0U9uOtVdcVOvxl9HxZKX_PUPHVFaWTX3T42GRwphLih140qc_0frjpWlocv8qmHo0l_JbCR-ZyLxjUbePM/s1600/IMG_1320.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600098249919882722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLA3vmpdXbk52mzJtmOFc9H4XAJtaQNFk0UQSRaD0jBVgEPbrre_Ivjvdoh0U9uOtVdcVOvxl9HxZKX_PUPHVFaWTX3T42GRwphLih140qc_0frjpWlocv8qmHo0l_JbCR-ZyLxjUbePM/s400/IMG_1320.JPG" /></a> and a disturbing find at our feeder (cowbird)...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2pjdbEslkeU1pLTLriNzZ4gODJc-ga1_iruZRishNjXtw_UgvPnj0soJEuDSLLmfcWG7dQX32Kc4IQeGZYj-zOKsbyvoylEkOAG1BdGw1q0HVpVg45uGXrZ29wU7_Xx9M78YZeAHdQg/s1600/IMG_1283.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600098246924999218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2pjdbEslkeU1pLTLriNzZ4gODJc-ga1_iruZRishNjXtw_UgvPnj0soJEuDSLLmfcWG7dQX32Kc4IQeGZYj-zOKsbyvoylEkOAG1BdGw1q0HVpVg45uGXrZ29wU7_Xx9M78YZeAHdQg/s400/IMG_1283.JPG" /></a> Our family has had an annual Easter Egg Decorating Contest since I was a little girl. You can see past eggs <a href="http://lawofthelandblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/tenuous-connection.html">here</a> and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6b_DQnM9Y2SHDGMf8xHve-4e6IaVXWozi4MDfShFFPgjeR-IHYIgKBPtv1codMt9bWeZ6Hw2WRTV0krL-4dmgYqhPEK_eQQRJUkO4kqCQ3p3MKuty5umzCG_-gXCt1R-ZH-yNDhS-Vc/s1600/eggs.JPG">here</a>. Here are the 2011 entries:<br />My little cousin Cammy's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nemo</span>:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud4yMH4FPi8qY63aHhgA2tI4UCDrHUW7UdNimZe7hFXVjz7r3Xl7XjHO1g0E9liQhU8sbXytRoL9lzfNYQo9maH5ZsCRUPv9r6xnzmeqBTUvgWYCvn72pnReaIsEhblLU7AdGgBwJDAY/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600098133070892850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud4yMH4FPi8qY63aHhgA2tI4UCDrHUW7UdNimZe7hFXVjz7r3Xl7XjHO1g0E9liQhU8sbXytRoL9lzfNYQo9maH5ZsCRUPv9r6xnzmeqBTUvgWYCvn72pnReaIsEhblLU7AdGgBwJDAY/s400/IMG_1351.JPG" /></a><br />My favorite by far -- Scott's Frankenstein w/operating table.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2juyUMA-d-4ivy1kek6PXjpKeS4RixZRGuTTOM13vlnwTSVTCPE-yRzK6WBY1PWaVQjgk1rhaM3Nq2tiQFybLbWkHwkLCSoHFpV1aILQKVo9N-Sw_6Mc4hHpa-SWzXwYcNwgl4tkzH8s/s1600/IMG_1353.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600098127416336066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2juyUMA-d-4ivy1kek6PXjpKeS4RixZRGuTTOM13vlnwTSVTCPE-yRzK6WBY1PWaVQjgk1rhaM3Nq2tiQFybLbWkHwkLCSoHFpV1aILQKVo9N-Sw_6Mc4hHpa-SWzXwYcNwgl4tkzH8s/s400/IMG_1353.JPG" /></a><br />Clara's first ever egg (with a little assistance from mommy):<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJTdXTOcrD1bymfV5HwyBmjjpzkhrABIXhQwwRQDd08VvRI_O6xS250R1uYTCU7wzm1SuOixRtFsoGEACb1GxdCVTtRpL48prVwNFmrFEqZ4wzTApc7gUvj6ROjii8wyJtvrgsfFj0lU/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600098112921282802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJTdXTOcrD1bymfV5HwyBmjjpzkhrABIXhQwwRQDd08VvRI_O6xS250R1uYTCU7wzm1SuOixRtFsoGEACb1GxdCVTtRpL48prVwNFmrFEqZ4wzTApc7gUvj6ROjii8wyJtvrgsfFj0lU/s400/IMG_1355.JPG" /></a><br />Aunt Penny's scuba divers<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayMFI1jaggRQQIAcEGk19kZlMAy1UFI3aeDUTu6jXxC3lg-wKdOQDuaH3K1pJUvNEJxlKxc3HDZsyTaOM5m0qcFbFH7HsFTf8UYjSMSgDtJIrYNqxZfRumJ7VLCcN6E1gBhKUaxEdL9s/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600098108349523666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhayMFI1jaggRQQIAcEGk19kZlMAy1UFI3aeDUTu6jXxC3lg-wKdOQDuaH3K1pJUvNEJxlKxc3HDZsyTaOM5m0qcFbFH7HsFTf8UYjSMSgDtJIrYNqxZfRumJ7VLCcN6E1gBhKUaxEdL9s/s400/IMG_1356.JPG" /></a><br />My mummy:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIvXYxqMgsojAH-URHiJEgExbcez9F6Qu-BFGs-o5xq4F7ecXCgu4WpbdYlTvSA38cWY-nx255R6f0e_UkDIYPKRt9O1sTpmzC1bsv6MIhZwFSgJzSqSMj0MdySZ5q85Lk3l4e91UWRc/s1600/IMG_1357.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600098106236134946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIvXYxqMgsojAH-URHiJEgExbcez9F6Qu-BFGs-o5xq4F7ecXCgu4WpbdYlTvSA38cWY-nx255R6f0e_UkDIYPKRt9O1sTpmzC1bsv6MIhZwFSgJzSqSMj0MdySZ5q85Lk3l4e91UWRc/s400/IMG_1357.JPG" /></a><br />My father-in-law's "little girl":<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi_fA9yVLE6tbEPuaUOHaxggoKicZdBRWJdeh3K7J1yWkbWglcy8ybgPm9XX0usoSg2Qv6fR93EGoWGy7_hAHnsthDamTdlCv-kVoqKiOpI9BaqzNx8558G-T80Tnzvmnv_UrQZqam_8/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600097910049052578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi_fA9yVLE6tbEPuaUOHaxggoKicZdBRWJdeh3K7J1yWkbWglcy8ybgPm9XX0usoSg2Qv6fR93EGoWGy7_hAHnsthDamTdlCv-kVoqKiOpI9BaqzNx8558G-T80Tnzvmnv_UrQZqam_8/s400/IMG_1358.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-z8CKg5rSfIrs3c2Emf3ZzPSPp7SdUHs5xyaGhhjjqVoBD-jnmsor-p1ktHZd945Zq95cS0UHvcJSd3jLnTijForLUNga9DOC6eFxyFUbhnxCloHIPXygJ8cMaXmQsUHc61SHlpwl9U/s1600/IMG_1359.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600097900615374562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-z8CKg5rSfIrs3c2Emf3ZzPSPp7SdUHs5xyaGhhjjqVoBD-jnmsor-p1ktHZd945Zq95cS0UHvcJSd3jLnTijForLUNga9DOC6eFxyFUbhnxCloHIPXygJ8cMaXmQsUHc61SHlpwl9U/s400/IMG_1359.JPG" /></a> My cousin Caleb's chicken and worm:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF-QJvl7zzd7GF9TsahmtGAV421npNsNfSvGOoA3XwMG_koMbBZ2XB1KgcvTH36QugK4WTiv3ALp16nUvv_l-J2gniY2isNw1gbckhQK9b8EqJ9t5pWPB6ZBfUcsRPTgMu1-OrfMpE-E/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600097895338423874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF-QJvl7zzd7GF9TsahmtGAV421npNsNfSvGOoA3XwMG_koMbBZ2XB1KgcvTH36QugK4WTiv3ALp16nUvv_l-J2gniY2isNw1gbckhQK9b8EqJ9t5pWPB6ZBfUcsRPTgMu1-OrfMpE-E/s400/IMG_1360.JPG" /></a> My mother-in-law's "Clara the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fashionista</span>" - best in show!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju__xPtM5tsLyHdfpuJ6gDlV4Rv1kA5WJqlDv8dK-9-THmYVz9byCpUOxdxxwXJJTefPeW9m-4y4WVlmUtW-dnA5clhjdPc2lqSsDcxx9p48jl3aFRbssoLjR9cXQ1R2I59efbq4DF72g/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600097878731115282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju__xPtM5tsLyHdfpuJ6gDlV4Rv1kA5WJqlDv8dK-9-THmYVz9byCpUOxdxxwXJJTefPeW9m-4y4WVlmUtW-dnA5clhjdPc2lqSsDcxx9p48jl3aFRbssoLjR9cXQ1R2I59efbq4DF72g/s400/IMG_1361.JPG" /></a><br />My cousin Erin Raye's sheep and s<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">hepherd</span>:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJqiy9n18rkEyJiVKD4GwroMGCuB329G-VDahbjCiFWETmjPwBvYVfkaEo8tihcVdWjlATPJZpbSMV53opyT5hqDIb0QBjUdTacGs-wNbwRsHROfXl53-0BeyxbeaN6FD7S-YB4nQUdE/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600097874806647650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJqiy9n18rkEyJiVKD4GwroMGCuB329G-VDahbjCiFWETmjPwBvYVfkaEo8tihcVdWjlATPJZpbSMV53opyT5hqDIb0QBjUdTacGs-wNbwRsHROfXl53-0BeyxbeaN6FD7S-YB4nQUdE/s400/IMG_1362.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Which is your favorite?</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-56286955162114249622011-04-15T22:17:00.000-07:002011-04-23T18:42:39.452-07:00The 3 R's<div align="center">Happy (late) Earth Day! My big green goal for this year is to work on the first two R's - reducing and reusing. As you can see from this shot of a fairly typical trash day, I have the third R (recycling) down pat!<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixa5vxfkWDwqolaEBrDo4BFIlnk3WGgfYNEKZD_-G4-on16ZHRpw55fcQVY4dkYpmgtlzza7GZsuD1GV4NiEnZnppNWGFoUGoLKWDt6_d50qTG8zNpSrvncLMp16AUaSrlVLb2MW_Hhss/s1600/trash+day.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596046528502696610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixa5vxfkWDwqolaEBrDo4BFIlnk3WGgfYNEKZD_-G4-on16ZHRpw55fcQVY4dkYpmgtlzza7GZsuD1GV4NiEnZnppNWGFoUGoLKWDt6_d50qTG8zNpSrvncLMp16AUaSrlVLb2MW_Hhss/s400/trash+day.JPG" /></a> We have very little trash. It's mostly pet and baby poop. Food and garden scraps go in the two compost piles. But the bulk of what we use that others might just throw away goes into recycling. For example, aside from the OJ jug and corrugated cardboard in our bins, I also have some (non-metallic) used wrapping paper and various packaging materials (box from Clara's bottles, pasta box, paper insert from air filter, etc).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiao2sil4sMhjXZK2rakaSpm__mKp_j8uAh67DuKc_dgiF_sYA1OAB39cGdLx9sepaXMsiZD9h4JDa2HGr-wmAi7CyNhGj83TF45PC2_RacdbfDpcqOezrXv3_X9eSYziFk-NO8ra6L_S8/s1600/recycling.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596046526990776578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiao2sil4sMhjXZK2rakaSpm__mKp_j8uAh67DuKc_dgiF_sYA1OAB39cGdLx9sepaXMsiZD9h4JDa2HGr-wmAi7CyNhGj83TF45PC2_RacdbfDpcqOezrXv3_X9eSYziFk-NO8ra6L_S8/s400/recycling.JPG" /></a> One negative implication of the large amount of recycling we put out is that we consume way too much. It takes energy to recycle (and manufacture) these things, and it'd be better to find a way to consume less or reuse something that would otherwise be recycled<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRh7EpeeMVCCvyEo5-gGxNbq7vglmKOhQWFbd1YgLClPadMUg7dqiZhwgjDiitHw6gh6azJoe4PG5rJfQcWR5LAlhqksx7qJ_Ca7RoeC13YjzsOD8ClWKMDsQ-p0TZECUE7_gGqyclVg/s1600/potatoes+in+compost.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596046521484374194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRh7EpeeMVCCvyEo5-gGxNbq7vglmKOhQWFbd1YgLClPadMUg7dqiZhwgjDiitHw6gh6azJoe4PG5rJfQcWR5LAlhqksx7qJ_Ca7RoeC13YjzsOD8ClWKMDsQ-p0TZECUE7_gGqyclVg/s400/potatoes+in+compost.JPG" /></a> Potatoes grow in one of the compost bins... no need to buy a special "grow bag." (REDUCE)<br /><br />-<br /><br />I'm going to start my REDUCE plan with something simple: paper towels. I am going to keep one of those journals of how many paper towels I use and what for. The truth is, while some messes (like poop) I'm just not willing to clean with a cloth, most things I use paper towels for aren't such dirty jobs. Sometimes I'm too lazy to go get a clean kitchen towel from the laundry room and just use paper towels to dry the dishes, for example. I'm going to stop doing that right now. Hopefully the journal will guilt me into kicking the habit in other areas as well.<br /><br />-<br /><br />As far as REUSING, there are a lot of things that can be either reused or recycled, and I'm going to make a concerted effort to do the prior. For example, our local animal shelter (MARL) lines cages with newspaper, so I'm going to start (tonight!) saving our newspaper separately from the recycling to take over there.<br /><br />-<br /><br />I hope you all had a wonderful Earth Day! It's an amazing Mother we have...let's take care of her like she deserves this year.<br /><br />p.s. if you're looking for a cute song to get kids into recycling, etc., check out "The 3 R's" on Jack Johnson's Curious George soundtrack. It's awesome :-)<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-66477551825714797812011-04-15T22:06:00.000-07:002011-04-15T22:11:19.178-07:00a tiny bit of news<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvHpxjsC22XcTE_-GgAN-ULYl5nex9AeWOPO1APT10_S_JwKtueshUPJD660Eb_4XBplMdGM59nnslW5wdrBPLWph6Sa8v69YihYAcmRVcAL8wWSwG3QXbXM1RppaK770vWjsiGRdQJw/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596043518005452930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvHpxjsC22XcTE_-GgAN-ULYl5nex9AeWOPO1APT10_S_JwKtueshUPJD660Eb_4XBplMdGM59nnslW5wdrBPLWph6Sa8v69YihYAcmRVcAL8wWSwG3QXbXM1RppaK770vWjsiGRdQJw/s400/IMG_1225.JPG" /></a> We had Clara's trial run with daycare this week, and I just couldn't handle it. So Scott is going to quit his job and stay home with her for a year, while also working on a master's degree at night. I'm a little jealous that <em>I</em> can't stay home with her (Scott says that's the price I pay for being "so successful" - ha ha), but absolutely thrilled she'll be home with her daddy. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">In other news, the irises are blooming! This one is shimmery and fragrant. Love it. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Have a great weekend! -Ginger </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-81111157663637477312011-04-11T20:27:00.000-07:002011-04-11T20:48:08.490-07:00April flowers, more wasp drama, and a mystery bird<div align="center">Hello everyone! Hope y'all had a great weekend and for those of you who work, your Monday wasn't too bad. This bird is in the top corner of our carport every night now. What is it? And why is it there? </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594534252807470402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd5wa4bBj9Lkd5wBr5_opRFY4GuORq_EKl-5Rm55IhqFTu36BRIFeor88sW63v0f70UPqa7sXPoVTwrwwRuk_rj4ncWItC0CM1x_l6SppOJ59mJxWL1Wo7vmCS_xvlPXTI6Uqx1xl2GM/s400/bird.JPG" /> <br /><div align="center"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Spiderwort</span>... I cannot believe they sell this. It is SUCH a weed here!</div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594534106831208370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIibFyxYOt4TGHRo8JgQnGx-yVEsAXKLKrQjcgNWqP2exDND-4PkmrPdFguLKuK9E6LAr55DDfYtOh7H9sznf2YvHx2JvLCxjDkhJCeRAGoZ7IGNkEXLg0HUyzEF8LixbnXbvKOqPcMvo/s400/spiderwort.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEgIgBYY8jCM-1qkAlA9qlO5VUDb11bRKHVdp_VaCRAR627q2WloxvAKSjCXmqSut6dMFrGKV7Z7EN57wbzijggKzqbDSXvtjF6Ci3f7U1mjoljK3AJcTFgD8REvsBvpXH66nNbimKqQ/s1600/spiderwort+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594534470144510626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEgIgBYY8jCM-1qkAlA9qlO5VUDb11bRKHVdp_VaCRAR627q2WloxvAKSjCXmqSut6dMFrGKV7Z7EN57wbzijggKzqbDSXvtjF6Ci3f7U1mjoljK3AJcTFgD8REvsBvpXH66nNbimKqQ/s400/spiderwort+2.JPG" /></a> See? It takes over the lawn, and when you mow it down, comes back bigger than ever! Did I mention that sometimes the roots connecting the plants are 5+ feet long? Nightmare to dig up, which is why my side yard looks like a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">spiderwort</span> farm. Sigh. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1wvh9oWIbTSuaOWUOD6LHFxVOwxulqSX4cmycMRB86AmLo9zW_MqoBFxL09CLnYuSI5Q2kJAzjm4EVStyTaisWRoIdpwORHve1Jmo1VL2qrJta1iNs8Oyo3SzbqpLoUCNzdTaUgYq3A/s1600/spiderwort.JPG"></a>In more pleasant flower news, fragrant, old roses are blooming:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-Fl1AW3ZlpVjccZA1v2PAvr7W1WJdNNZRIOVfUbatI2ApLeV6e8l0u5j-DEGys3ytzt7NXW4zoXx4e2N8h1zL6I0aGmIfv2_6CfKcJY5nD6Ea0ljepU4S2LXMGMbzUiljI9m93XeeY4/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594534102651868642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-Fl1AW3ZlpVjccZA1v2PAvr7W1WJdNNZRIOVfUbatI2ApLeV6e8l0u5j-DEGys3ytzt7NXW4zoXx4e2N8h1zL6I0aGmIfv2_6CfKcJY5nD6Ea0ljepU4S2LXMGMbzUiljI9m93XeeY4/s400/IMG_1155.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo8ZPTn3_t1DRqI4twT4Y-zCiQbV6r7mMVa0dkCusgBYAADEXZ2Vb6_MzL4FbcKYJOIsuCMoU4uINOfxBf8RSRYCpMLLgHqmSQPpfa0FIYrtDAEfHHE9G0IfpCIH2K8Dp3kpARZu1vpw/s1600/IMG_1158.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594534105388205586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo8ZPTn3_t1DRqI4twT4Y-zCiQbV6r7mMVa0dkCusgBYAADEXZ2Vb6_MzL4FbcKYJOIsuCMoU4uINOfxBf8RSRYCpMLLgHqmSQPpfa0FIYrtDAEfHHE9G0IfpCIH2K8Dp3kpARZu1vpw/s400/IMG_1158.JPG" /></a> And irises in the little fish pond that I dug up from my mom's real pond: <br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sG8W3OF8AsnR07as_G4Hw7q_TSTMDa7HWhR2iPXgvSQBZ0l9ZWVIbYv0gkIyVbosmM0EiGaSu-5rWHGjT7fmg81RTJ0ywNSRtm9BH4jaf8KPVyoOAncyABGOcWTaMCt6dGy_svbD-lw/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594534097526960610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sG8W3OF8AsnR07as_G4Hw7q_TSTMDa7HWhR2iPXgvSQBZ0l9ZWVIbYv0gkIyVbosmM0EiGaSu-5rWHGjT7fmg81RTJ0ywNSRtm9BH4jaf8KPVyoOAncyABGOcWTaMCt6dGy_svbD-lw/s400/IMG_1184.JPG" /></a> Clara starts daycare this week (to get us both used to it) and I start back at work next week. I am in major denial mode, so I spent today playing "domestic goddess." Like my slab of warm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">focaccia</span>? <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuEXYnhttmnEwkhWDSTKTKxWWkxxKPlzfsOmqKnTF8wLdUBRSYEulDi67neWVGVk7jOPjZmtCWBEyr51SzZLU6aGpJQbPc4VF2wctjOPNtjy1ur4Y9fTSLdYaC_nIqN0vYFNH9gp3yaQ/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594534094621224946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuEXYnhttmnEwkhWDSTKTKxWWkxxKPlzfsOmqKnTF8wLdUBRSYEulDi67neWVGVk7jOPjZmtCWBEyr51SzZLU6aGpJQbPc4VF2wctjOPNtjy1ur4Y9fTSLdYaC_nIqN0vYFNH9gp3yaQ/s400/IMG_1223.JPG" /></a> I'm telling y'all this because I may be MIA for awhile after going back to work. I'm going to be busy and probably pretty sad. But I'll check in with your blogs when I get a chance, and greatly appreciate your patience as I adjust to a "new normal." </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>One more thing before I let you go. I tried the inverted coke bottle traps for the wasp problem, to no avail. I only tried using juice as bait. I couldn't bring myself to use meat, for various reasons, but mostly because that's a disgusting thing to leave outside in a coke bottle in 80+ heat! I also tried these fake wasp nests from gardeners supply - and they were an utter failure for me, though they have good reviews so they must work for some people. (If anyone wants the extra package (of 2) I have, let me know and I'll mail it to you.) So, we're back to square one, and big red wasps are still terrorizing me every time I step in the veggie garden. Not sure what to do now!? <br /><div></div><br /><div>Have a good week! -Ginger</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-46587760871374704192011-04-02T17:35:00.000-07:002011-04-02T18:32:27.113-07:00New blooms, veggie garden progress, and mailorder source reviews<div align="center">Bear with me... this three-section post may be a bit long, but hopefully it won't be boring!</div><br /><div align="center">I. Here are some new blooms for the season, in order of appearance: rose, sage, phlox, iris:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHNpPnbYsxsFHvxUYIg5fJM3hk3dCGTRq6WKc4OhVB3_yGbWUS5I4nnioAJLLsNa56R4hZmgFvS6uNE1Lnf17pe34tkDLbD9YMLKxC8qcWdeMePoYpgSeZTj6PyJhubWf1RKZRsgGPIM/s1600/rose.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591162939149424946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHNpPnbYsxsFHvxUYIg5fJM3hk3dCGTRq6WKc4OhVB3_yGbWUS5I4nnioAJLLsNa56R4hZmgFvS6uNE1Lnf17pe34tkDLbD9YMLKxC8qcWdeMePoYpgSeZTj6PyJhubWf1RKZRsgGPIM/s400/rose.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EhETHL-n2hQqtAY4w41xfIp_ZJ6pQ5v6Z_PYat-bePW-R8NDoRoOSIhrh3i7ea8BjYu0Y5ZswIVW5py_oOoV3ZDU2DaGJT-rAjG5Yz_dPyWm0mHj4ZB95smNiLZe37WwOc-x5QYWfWI/s1600/sage.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591162934950255218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EhETHL-n2hQqtAY4w41xfIp_ZJ6pQ5v6Z_PYat-bePW-R8NDoRoOSIhrh3i7ea8BjYu0Y5ZswIVW5py_oOoV3ZDU2DaGJT-rAjG5Yz_dPyWm0mHj4ZB95smNiLZe37WwOc-x5QYWfWI/s400/sage.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6uwXNR_dNGix7QqdXvS-YAoZkFI0EAxdVqXFCpV5aiWRF0Wqs9jdU6mx6PmwbWuMf2S3xuS-UgdCu7vGaSOyK9vh9qsZPgBpWktyLkNnKg-zryJZmmQfh1KLwFArDuDWAov6AoSC2ew/s1600/phlox.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591162932003876610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6uwXNR_dNGix7QqdXvS-YAoZkFI0EAxdVqXFCpV5aiWRF0Wqs9jdU6mx6PmwbWuMf2S3xuS-UgdCu7vGaSOyK9vh9qsZPgBpWktyLkNnKg-zryJZmmQfh1KLwFArDuDWAov6AoSC2ew/s400/phlox.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a63iu1lJHDD4rTbwOh2_v5DWaEonygZnZeiW15u80YAiIHhuVEYLN2BecS3gDFHRUh_llAbX60KWHvsD5H58pgaQCEDloRzp8Zp8hEu_2QR_v3rAfY8k5qrzgtxhJnpz1VrYz3rd8JU/s1600/iris.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591162929314712978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a63iu1lJHDD4rTbwOh2_v5DWaEonygZnZeiW15u80YAiIHhuVEYLN2BecS3gDFHRUh_llAbX60KWHvsD5H58pgaQCEDloRzp8Zp8hEu_2QR_v3rAfY8k5qrzgtxhJnpz1VrYz3rd8JU/s400/iris.JPG" /></a> <br /><div><br /><div align="center"><br /><div align="center">II. With only two weeks left at home with Clara, I'm getting a little frantic. I am going to miss her SO MUCH when I go back to work. With that in mind, I'm trying to get the garden in pretty good shape so that all I have to do is water and pick veggies most of the late spring/early summer - and I can spend most of my free time at home with the girl. </div><br /><div align="center">Because of my pregnancy and her birth, I didn't do much from seed this year - just lettuce, carrots, a few tomato plants, basil, squash (sort of...see below), and of course peas, beans and cucumbers (the easy stuff). </div><br /><div align="center">Growing in the garden now:</div><br /><ul><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Lettuce, which has been producing for a month or so but will start to get bitter from the heat soon. </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Carrots.....which are this big now.... they will also suffer from the heat soon, so we may just have lots of finger-sized carrots. Still, it's the most success I've ever had with carrots, so I'm not complaining.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591162924453636306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NzH-xJzKJhIlgOML5xrs8UfRhUI-BFmsuEG4y_s2lwb6W4xjuCLW5JnMIkTjOnr8Gn1tVb9A4UlbzTSWnechyphenhyphenkzPoj0eHMHkM4xbZeZbcN17MX5XlnV2Rsm3_McXGo5WrUADmPJH4_0/s400/carrot.JPG" /></div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Shallots....leftover from last year. They did so poorly and I thought I dug them all up, but apparently not. Will be interesting to see what's underground.</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Sugar snap peas are about 6 inches tall. I may have planted them too late. We'll see. </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Herbs - basil from seed, perennial oregano, new thyme and rosemary plants to replace dead ones.</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Cucumber, green bean, and purple hull pea seeds have been planted but aren't up yet. </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">A variety of bell peppers and eggplants (all bought at lowe's) are in the ground. </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Tomatoes - I have about 15 plants, a mix of heirlooms from the Tasteful Garden (see review below), a recent garden show, and volunteers. Some big and some little, some purple and some yellow/orange --- but no "red slicers" in sight!</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="center">Squash... y'all know my awful problems with borers made me swear off squash. Well, I'm trying one last time - growing these expensive zucchini seeds from Kitchen Garden Seeds that don't need a pollinator, under row covers. Is that a lot of trouble for such a humble veggie or what?! We'll see if it works. The variety is "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cavili</span>" and I read about it in Organic Gardening magazine while in labor at the hospital! Slightly disturbingly, only one of the eight I planted has germinated yet...</div></li></ul><br /><p align="center">III. I recently ordered plants from Tasteful Garden, High Country Gardens, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bluestone</span> Perennials. I wouldn't even want to judge them on how they turn out, because if it's bad, it's probably MY fault. So here's a summary of my experience ordering and receiving the plants:</p><br /><p align="center">Tasteful Garden - Lisa from Shower Fresh Garden turned me on to this place in Alabama. I like buying plants that weren't grown 1000 miles away. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pro's</span>: huge selection of tomato (and other) plants; great, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">recyclable</span> shipping materials; all plants were large and healthy. Con: expensive for tomato plants...but certainly worth it if I can keep from buying pounds of heirloom tomatoes every week at the farmer's market!</p><br /><p align="center">High Country Gardens - the ONLY source I could find for clematis <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">scottii</span>, which I needed for the family garden. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pro's</span>: amazing catalog with some unusual plants, and a focus on plants that can handle heat and drought; plants arrived in great shape - moist and not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">smooshed</span>. No con's!</p><br /><p align="center"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bluestone</span> Perennials - one of very few sources I could find for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">clara</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">curtis</span> mums, another plant needed for the family garden. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pro's</span>: they carry a huge variety of mostly perennials. Con's: this was the least impressive <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">packaging</span> job I've ever seen, and they use <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">styrofoam</span> peanuts. Come on now, if you think peanuts are necessary, use the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">compostable</span> cornstarch peanuts! Also, these plants were smaller than I expected. I paid $12.95 (plus s/h) for 3 plants, knowing they would be in small containers. But the plants themselves were just tiny sprigs stuck in the tiny pots. Not impressive, though they did appear healthy. </p><br /><p align="center">[FYI - for anyone who is wondering, the third plant in the family garden is Hidden Ginger - but sweet Darla of More Family and Flowers gave me that!] </p><br /><p align="center">- </p><br /><p align="center">Hope y'all are all enjoying some warm weather and gardening this weekend! - Ginger</p><br /><p align="center">p.s. thank y'all for your advice on the wasp problem! I am going to make some of those coke bottle traps and will let you know if it helps.</p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-24839231747029437292011-03-26T18:28:00.000-07:002011-03-26T21:27:02.243-07:00march wrap-up and a wasp question (help!)<div align="center">March has mostly been a month of beautiful weather here. I'm still enjoying being home with Clara, and terribly sad I have to go back to work in 3 weeks. I've gotten to spend just a bit of time outside (and contracted my first case of poison ivy of the year - yuck!). </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">This was taken a week or so ago. I love the hot pink lorapetalum with the bright yellow daffs! </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhws14iYBK06WmNhGCbFmulhQZBBFdV_mgwdSK7TvmrPQXvSPgwPq3X2qSWXO7h98gEZfbjkCfIEmkan4idElCDs8XH-SdIghxzDt-I92gSK6bx8kN26DwrQvmhxOQzVxrrTL513x-Zja8/s1600/lorapetalum.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569335090385618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhws14iYBK06WmNhGCbFmulhQZBBFdV_mgwdSK7TvmrPQXvSPgwPq3X2qSWXO7h98gEZfbjkCfIEmkan4idElCDs8XH-SdIghxzDt-I92gSK6bx8kN26DwrQvmhxOQzVxrrTL513x-Zja8/s400/lorapetalum.JPG" /></a> I also love wild violets and let them grow wherever they want in our yard.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6TbD1dSmOnFsLIcTMcIHEm78i1JIi0eDOtP3MFS_Wl7r3m4sbh1Dnv5QR_XQTGXWVUyfGODFL4kcjMZ0GZhyphenhyphenDmAKid3Y8EvBwh6pi3uLQzerwvZsLuxnK4wcCRrEW0vfI3Iqe5sWRCo/s1600/violates.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569329150364066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6TbD1dSmOnFsLIcTMcIHEm78i1JIi0eDOtP3MFS_Wl7r3m4sbh1Dnv5QR_XQTGXWVUyfGODFL4kcjMZ0GZhyphenhyphenDmAKid3Y8EvBwh6pi3uLQzerwvZsLuxnK4wcCRrEW0vfI3Iqe5sWRCo/s400/violates.JPG" /></a> It's always exciting to see the first fern frond unfurl.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTYvoGLcM2BlOITsll6m5C5wtAdOCU4-3GETh7cwQrcSx25zncZj5BLZhxqgt4sTl_RSkcXPHg5J2FnKm0ytUHDt8fxfdPcthNlUmX28P4VAJ0j2KDeX1NTE1gNwpFTaCmPFEgOH_ODU/s1600/fern.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569330615814914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTYvoGLcM2BlOITsll6m5C5wtAdOCU4-3GETh7cwQrcSx25zncZj5BLZhxqgt4sTl_RSkcXPHg5J2FnKm0ytUHDt8fxfdPcthNlUmX28P4VAJ0j2KDeX1NTE1gNwpFTaCmPFEgOH_ODU/s400/fern.JPG" /></a> First harvest of 2011!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW7g2UgMAI-QxJ8VeYwHslUTcMybZItjo_UPZu3hPrIBmZnmbGlT3OvV7r5lrlCxxL54ForQwGupm2DiHV533rMPTrEt9A_mS2k_oNSu_eJWOD_Isw3fWp94CO0-itp0Nj9iX0lO0iQw/s1600/lettuce.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569107959933282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW7g2UgMAI-QxJ8VeYwHslUTcMybZItjo_UPZu3hPrIBmZnmbGlT3OvV7r5lrlCxxL54ForQwGupm2DiHV533rMPTrEt9A_mS2k_oNSu_eJWOD_Isw3fWp94CO0-itp0Nj9iX0lO0iQw/s400/lettuce.JPG" /></a> ...turned into a delicious pecan-encrusted mozzarella salad. mmm... if anyone wants the recipe, let me know and I'll email it to you.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFGb_L8EASiO8MEcG8a9Nf2VBWt2PQ8DNeNf2M6x7-cHATccvekZLepFN8wm_7Eu1tbZSSBTT3FNf2eSBSGNr-wPyujQX1D_q3_Uxrs_bFn6HPIhPEfCWgE3CQaFPZDa1pG_oAca1zME/s1600/salad.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569103221207554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFGb_L8EASiO8MEcG8a9Nf2VBWt2PQ8DNeNf2M6x7-cHATccvekZLepFN8wm_7Eu1tbZSSBTT3FNf2eSBSGNr-wPyujQX1D_q3_Uxrs_bFn6HPIhPEfCWgE3CQaFPZDa1pG_oAca1zME/s400/salad.JPG" /></a> All three of the original fish we got in 2009 are still kickin'.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMWzDv92JuMmJbuIKQd6sthTNXpkIDIudz3BL2195QimAXYAekQsCEUe0Qa1KGaoyX1u21bKv3apPutLOjradCImxIwGXXJASsE79dGuksYBK8E_d4UdbkUGcRoEd-hXRNYnBFirlCS8/s1600/fish.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569099705274082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMWzDv92JuMmJbuIKQd6sthTNXpkIDIudz3BL2195QimAXYAekQsCEUe0Qa1KGaoyX1u21bKv3apPutLOjradCImxIwGXXJASsE79dGuksYBK8E_d4UdbkUGcRoEd-hXRNYnBFirlCS8/s400/fish.JPG" /></a> And now for some much less likable wildlife.... we have a lot of red wasps in Mississippi. At my house, they all gravitate to this one structure. They have since Scott built it a couple of years ago. Can you help me figure out WHY, and more importantly, how I can get them away from there? It's in the middle of the veggie garden, so it's quite a nuisance to me. They don't seem to have a nest there. It's like they are scavenging/mining for something.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIF9zUhl_RNVFXeSZt7Av2dOKxHeKrHdrubJdRGurhpPhHkBsoL1-KIr9ehEmq9fBYJYpm3eDMhg7h3dBe_sV1HzZSySISvNOK4DQmVnt7AImid9nFXOc5wAoqigpXEME58-xKtiB21M/s1600/wasps.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569096965995634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIF9zUhl_RNVFXeSZt7Av2dOKxHeKrHdrubJdRGurhpPhHkBsoL1-KIr9ehEmq9fBYJYpm3eDMhg7h3dBe_sV1HzZSySISvNOK4DQmVnt7AImid9nFXOc5wAoqigpXEME58-xKtiB21M/s400/wasps.JPG" /></a> Thanks in advance for your advice! And now for the obligatory/shameless Clara pic.....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31F3QHgx0UcYMJ6dT7XeOchbq8pUQ5G8ihWvXZlTrh-Qp_PZTRyRgYv5rTcuZ316PzYGRMfA6r7nve1ZnLyLqpt1y9eYP2u0ytyvJOcyU9j5dIHjco27um4a1xkxyLK7vyMERWSigLDg/s1600/clara.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588569094440801394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31F3QHgx0UcYMJ6dT7XeOchbq8pUQ5G8ihWvXZlTrh-Qp_PZTRyRgYv5rTcuZ316PzYGRMfA6r7nve1ZnLyLqpt1y9eYP2u0ytyvJOcyU9j5dIHjco27um4a1xkxyLK7vyMERWSigLDg/s400/clara.JPG" /></a> Have a great weekend!</div><div>-Ginger</div><div></div><div>p.s. I still have two extra packets of lima bean seeds if anyone wants them</div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-88489349409856035992011-03-02T17:06:00.000-08:002011-03-02T20:31:27.736-08:00Early spring blooms<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbMjEpVjWSEw2-lwAwCAPWws8M_IIT_7YBU-i-5sQI2Ze2fue356Mn1l56E86JelrXGetN5gx-hRvUWu13NtY8kaBMTuA4kNRP0d4FSpX2sj6ufWocF2kwuZWOyJApUqlbKqZiiRud9M/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579657170728396594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbMjEpVjWSEw2-lwAwCAPWws8M_IIT_7YBU-i-5sQI2Ze2fue356Mn1l56E86JelrXGetN5gx-hRvUWu13NtY8kaBMTuA4kNRP0d4FSpX2sj6ufWocF2kwuZWOyJApUqlbKqZiiRud9M/s400/IMG_0525.JPG" /></a> Of the two apple trees we planted last year, one is blooming these precious pale pink blooms (tons of them). The other looks weeks away from blooming, which may be a bit of a problem since they were supposed to be cross-pollinators! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hmm</span>.... we'll see!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwE097PS-N8qGrFAlewclVp38PZf1CiWpc9VmhyQ-8aZWKiHR8HUZJEq-Z6APFjeSHI5IH88hanFihH7auYwg_MJ_yOf0wnFGq9xh0zMTsuOvs9B4uMmsEjHrGewTbk-kEV-KPNxOoDE/s1600/IMG_0473.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579657097644406610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwE097PS-N8qGrFAlewclVp38PZf1CiWpc9VmhyQ-8aZWKiHR8HUZJEq-Z6APFjeSHI5IH88hanFihH7auYwg_MJ_yOf0wnFGq9xh0zMTsuOvs9B4uMmsEjHrGewTbk-kEV-KPNxOoDE/s400/IMG_0473.JPG" /></a> Pansies and violas are planted in late fall here and will live until late spring with zero care if planted where they can just collect rainwater and some sun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPnwIAU0GD3c_-AOkPf97gEH2KOsmy6IG5RWFrhMn-4jFYkP-H7Gz1ZxbnXwnMaWcs6uQlu3QuW_vZlc-Vc0NGx9xkghW3LstQ7-M68mIoPgu0hQvztRaV8cEvz1oKU-rGEGIiRgJt1k/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579657094989391730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPnwIAU0GD3c_-AOkPf97gEH2KOsmy6IG5RWFrhMn-4jFYkP-H7Gz1ZxbnXwnMaWcs6uQlu3QuW_vZlc-Vc0NGx9xkghW3LstQ7-M68mIoPgu0hQvztRaV8cEvz1oKU-rGEGIiRgJt1k/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgXs8E0dJ1oVeC-l4MIBz0u1zp6Djw3A0CIfQhq_qpXx428tAi0cAk3ErieW0qDVK0mLCINo_6ITevZJc28ttlhhUtsoL3sla7RwMsGs4ai8tRugRxLXtaxWP5J66y38T-HMzJZq2CIE/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579657091265807394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgXs8E0dJ1oVeC-l4MIBz0u1zp6Djw3A0CIfQhq_qpXx428tAi0cAk3ErieW0qDVK0mLCINo_6ITevZJc28ttlhhUtsoL3sla7RwMsGs4ai8tRugRxLXtaxWP5J66y38T-HMzJZq2CIE/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" /></a><br />I have two varieties of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">lorapetalum</span> blooming, but only caught a photo of this one. They are so FUNKY! I love it. The other's blooms are a pale pink.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyR11Opm5Apma3B0ovaH2tWdqTSN9UX9YN8JUzPEjpYPSP3MVaiuhu2SKX1lDM0TdDQ8yKogQW81E1842vGrNCE38BelzAe9okXKoMZLpfMXRqEkpRpPUWPIA26XdQKdozO3ROn-k0ZA/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579657088311176578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyR11Opm5Apma3B0ovaH2tWdqTSN9UX9YN8JUzPEjpYPSP3MVaiuhu2SKX1lDM0TdDQ8yKogQW81E1842vGrNCE38BelzAe9okXKoMZLpfMXRqEkpRpPUWPIA26XdQKdozO3ROn-k0ZA/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" /></a><br />This has been a bad year for camellias here... poor blooms, late blooms. This 50-year-old 10+ foot tall shrub usually blooms from November through the end of January, but is just getting started this year. No idea why, though I'm quite relieved it's going to bloom now rather than never.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HMvj19GqfXuUyhUWdcTXq-Ev2y_U5OH9lCfxxV-uF1IJup777EpNbL1y1a6B48-LoGQRUCKq5U8Q0Focrijq1PtNhg5Uy2mpZlqTygTPiiSZcHHdXZYCcHJhmngjyi54K04ZAXFECr8/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579657085589430642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HMvj19GqfXuUyhUWdcTXq-Ev2y_U5OH9lCfxxV-uF1IJup777EpNbL1y1a6B48-LoGQRUCKq5U8Q0Focrijq1PtNhg5Uy2mpZlqTygTPiiSZcHHdXZYCcHJhmngjyi54K04ZAXFECr8/s400/IMG_0468.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8utp13tFVgkkSyuTPLIOpg2PlfDRr3rsv92ZEVcHkcsgNDhjvQCt9EjyXSm4JQ6zrqKLPL-_rA49J4dDZz9n0Pr5hbheGex4C8Nhs7SraoQsAWatM4St9Q1miCBiEthRjMlHa58FfMfQ/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656889563568146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8utp13tFVgkkSyuTPLIOpg2PlfDRr3rsv92ZEVcHkcsgNDhjvQCt9EjyXSm4JQ6zrqKLPL-_rA49J4dDZz9n0Pr5hbheGex4C8Nhs7SraoQsAWatM4St9Q1miCBiEthRjMlHa58FfMfQ/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" /></a> Daffodils, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">muscari</span>, hyacinths and crocuses are popping up, and more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">daffs</span> will bloom over the next couple of weeks.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3iTASp-az5laIR1asqRm5fNnbs_UG5bD4PmkCDQKvJDaUnnmeQPqlUA1eKz2J58xGLDv5dPaBeFhgl6Yc_d_Pz71x0K0zW86l7RjHMQP4rqPF-Utt-l-5esV5hLn6P7-Zlsiec3hzsw/s1600/IMG_0466.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656881787578898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3iTASp-az5laIR1asqRm5fNnbs_UG5bD4PmkCDQKvJDaUnnmeQPqlUA1eKz2J58xGLDv5dPaBeFhgl6Yc_d_Pz71x0K0zW86l7RjHMQP4rqPF-Utt-l-5esV5hLn6P7-Zlsiec3hzsw/s400/IMG_0466.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O06CddCuwdjpRJrb952_1bGSJc5yjSNejvM71_t_WyhjZIKyRv-7iakEwLm7DS3SnGtJF6Hu6H2190qCKmKp-QkqhY-vxLFLW5sUKr4aJmdy5x8IfSQfURDkJ6gmXY19DBN8pFMw1L4/s1600/IMG_0465.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656871446626850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O06CddCuwdjpRJrb952_1bGSJc5yjSNejvM71_t_WyhjZIKyRv-7iakEwLm7DS3SnGtJF6Hu6H2190qCKmKp-QkqhY-vxLFLW5sUKr4aJmdy5x8IfSQfURDkJ6gmXY19DBN8pFMw1L4/s400/IMG_0465.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIYrgvN5IbR8eQxgEhw5XgCnR6c41MlRjC9kH-avbgyUKyp24pdJ9wgLB8ZRjLJix7gvQqbREInX0zFWHA4y4_pSfnZx71Ov8A3efPUvwxrBMl2OASHf_kvAiWQw__v_BnwfPPDrGsU0/s1600/IMG_0464.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656866811458770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIYrgvN5IbR8eQxgEhw5XgCnR6c41MlRjC9kH-avbgyUKyp24pdJ9wgLB8ZRjLJix7gvQqbREInX0zFWHA4y4_pSfnZx71Ov8A3efPUvwxrBMl2OASHf_kvAiWQw__v_BnwfPPDrGsU0/s400/IMG_0464.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXEdwE7T-OCsUfvRSe2fpySr9r-iEKqzzcTn3K9X4u0xTeDE0Jrw_AKtx8JhjZm3XcppZXvNW4QFWNLPIn53UrSR5NmOH4lDj0rpXGH-6upvuMscduXJo6491MbFbZwoMK24JlkYRrvQ/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656864127098818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXEdwE7T-OCsUfvRSe2fpySr9r-iEKqzzcTn3K9X4u0xTeDE0Jrw_AKtx8JhjZm3XcppZXvNW4QFWNLPIn53UrSR5NmOH4lDj0rpXGH-6upvuMscduXJo6491MbFbZwoMK24JlkYRrvQ/s400/IMG_0463.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAmUL_fr7XzNJxGWkDjHloaFmkuWTZQYfygYsNI7moDX6ERP83YtPvzWWxPIqyeDxSCzByI1JTQnkppaEYGkrD5GHSxqtP074bqnccip4eMRhD3EX4yB06YWcanrL0mzIycF8KLs8oYU/s1600/IMG_0462+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656683352269618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAmUL_fr7XzNJxGWkDjHloaFmkuWTZQYfygYsNI7moDX6ERP83YtPvzWWxPIqyeDxSCzByI1JTQnkppaEYGkrD5GHSxqtP074bqnccip4eMRhD3EX4yB06YWcanrL0mzIycF8KLs8oYU/s400/IMG_0462+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><br />There are white crocuses in bloom, too. Haven't seen any of the purple ones this year.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656669224393970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunrgUW2C6UzAqN0ya0KIX_B3sherzL-uSVX2Y7YkeDgvDbuecNFpu30wV1AnEL-gmN25g8kNDmm8ect3GcxtNa_TyRnpTHeVxpSCLDggWvFXsMnFjOHD0Hoth9icseSTcdwbiqkgW6zw/s400/IMG_0747.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlO91jozuAMWXe5tpyn1CtmGMAY2I-Hn6h-YJap2lsOcSRzolQU54_XUDeIuExuDaNOHM_k8ExyqWBhMCPXlaLBWvDSP_gK8ZuobDBjdhxOEQHtlLsqxVw3k_KNPX_VhxLK8UkrIu0XE/s1600/pear+day.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656673807401602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlO91jozuAMWXe5tpyn1CtmGMAY2I-Hn6h-YJap2lsOcSRzolQU54_XUDeIuExuDaNOHM_k8ExyqWBhMCPXlaLBWvDSP_gK8ZuobDBjdhxOEQHtlLsqxVw3k_KNPX_VhxLK8UkrIu0XE/s400/pear+day.JPG" /></a><br />I write about them every year, and every year people say what awful trees they are.... Our house came with 3 HUGE <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">bradford</span> pears that are DECADES past their anticipated life span. Two of the three had already split, and one of those was taken down last year. This is the biggest of the remaining trees - isn't it ridiculous?? But it's beautiful in bloom, provides tons of shade and interest, and isn't in danger of falling on a house.... so I'm not taking it down anytime soon.<br /><br />It even looks cool at night. The blooms are like big snowflakes.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuHxUH-s07d8ktRGy8wtL7DT6u4O_z-7VgEr7LWZxUOgG9dz8G5k-Qf62xVaZ_mgZnM60pdGvb1zRPWZ7lsLcRkOyCR-YzPDyB1vqrfizAg2f6NI4HCBxeTQVo8fWJaNEsEU8lYn-lgg/s1600/pear+night.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656671978457298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuHxUH-s07d8ktRGy8wtL7DT6u4O_z-7VgEr7LWZxUOgG9dz8G5k-Qf62xVaZ_mgZnM60pdGvb1zRPWZ7lsLcRkOyCR-YzPDyB1vqrfizAg2f6NI4HCBxeTQVo8fWJaNEsEU8lYn-lgg/s400/pear+night.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I haven't done much gardening, but have lettuce ready to harvest and carrots still <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">cookin</span>' in the raised beds. Basil, a few tomato plants, zinnias and one eggplant started from seed have been moved to transitional pots. Planting sugar snap peas tomorrow. </div><div><br />Here's my excuse for being a worthless gardener - and the light of my life:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPilh0wxNQGB0Q8IVS6XHaiBCIrcRoEgpGeRXdlhW9Q0-XlGTL8MX-4l1tmyGnOWmrzYzVpuKosY0Q0WHGBGhAYYXsr-hzjyJW8OvTHh0DmjlGgOa3xXkw0IVPv1hgw19OgBCAs3_I4GE/s1600/IMG_0724-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579656662772550322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPilh0wxNQGB0Q8IVS6XHaiBCIrcRoEgpGeRXdlhW9Q0-XlGTL8MX-4l1tmyGnOWmrzYzVpuKosY0Q0WHGBGhAYYXsr-hzjyJW8OvTHh0DmjlGgOa3xXkw0IVPv1hgw19OgBCAs3_I4GE/s400/IMG_0724-1.JPG" /></a><br />Clara will be 5 weeks old tomorrow!<br /><br />-</div><div> </div><div>On a totally unrelated note, I have two seed packets for lima beans bought last fall that I'm not going to use. If anyone wants them, let me know and I'll mail them to you (first to stake a claim will receive both packets).<br /></div><div><div>Hope y'all are having a great gardening week :-)</div><div>-Ginger</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-82160928597308674752011-02-12T21:42:00.000-08:002011-02-12T21:51:43.723-08:00Can't be crocus time already?!<div align="center"> I just love the demure burst of color crocuses add to the drab winter landscape. Still, this year they caught me by surprise. Can it really be crocus time already?</div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573046046950096770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotkeR3m8Y1p9iQvoSaJjeXHPycGnY9zJ-SKWb05CmR2pEkABenUkrrtCe3khbYa-Q-qhHDKEIG0viVIkBJHlsHkr0ByvnJSt5FC4ik85-YeRe1H7paGi1-r4RaLU61lqOx52ZTwYvyCM/s400/crocus.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573046148874016418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZQKg2K-W5LJMCJeqCffBXHcml8t1th-5b1kvspuBUw5SNANBozrZRFKjSztc9omfD0e-Z3UCpQrwcmNvK6H-DPXf4IO9p3eU97dMEuuM5e5qoJlsmgTLEnvqjqf1jtVn2YP_tBzlzfU/s400/tree.JPG" /> Last year we were in New Orleans around <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mardi</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gras</span> and caught a few strands of beads. I saved them all this time intending to make a "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mardi</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gras</span> Tree" at our house. Here is our little pink dogwood adorned for the season.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqyuWt_PTOv1sGId4pScvEUqkQO9w0KTBQweJ3fafyDUPTdeC1f-idgPkgziwc3e0EBrejB7BpIopoo4DnixhcRjvheXSYWlh40VyxQDQIEHDx6OwGhLihVIIpqg5fEvjaKObjVQRH3U/s1600/IMG_0390+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573046037326412338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqyuWt_PTOv1sGId4pScvEUqkQO9w0KTBQweJ3fafyDUPTdeC1f-idgPkgziwc3e0EBrejB7BpIopoo4DnixhcRjvheXSYWlh40VyxQDQIEHDx6OwGhLihVIIpqg5fEvjaKObjVQRH3U/s400/IMG_0390+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><br />Last but not least... Thank you all so much for your congrats on the arrival of our sweet Clara! Here is a picture of her from today, with a precious outfit given to her by Lisa of A Shower Fresh Garden!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGeAQBrD4EgLmeyisTMvK41Dt-R8N_Z3v89ti2WhJvZQfbRRJTnMXKlHH9kjT_7X64qjFyTeyLXm5eB_OLL_h7zP_YC7Js3anwhfgAKG0eExWVgfFFFeHSSm8j3bBjm47JkyguCC67_Q/s1600/lisa+b+outfit.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573046035151956610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGeAQBrD4EgLmeyisTMvK41Dt-R8N_Z3v89ti2WhJvZQfbRRJTnMXKlHH9kjT_7X64qjFyTeyLXm5eB_OLL_h7zP_YC7Js3anwhfgAKG0eExWVgfFFFeHSSm8j3bBjm47JkyguCC67_Q/s400/lisa+b+outfit.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I have no idea how I'm going to have time to garden with a baby, a demanding job, and a husband who works nights out of town <em>and</em> is in school.... but I'm going to try! </div><div> </div><div>Have a great weekend! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">GG</span></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-71836032262913764282011-01-28T21:42:00.001-08:002011-01-28T22:10:23.630-08:00Clara is Here!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbe2Pu7TSRLJpGE17SbEHHq1oAFQ_jOqm_5TBQs8SqqZCORrl64CBLG3paC_FTfa-71Qe2FQuIjIy_CeeHsqXQH7YTWHWJpz_CtodjRlLM9AGm4btnOcBTJb9Mwmw4J6TeLJGsHHPMPc/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567486183442226866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbe2Pu7TSRLJpGE17SbEHHq1oAFQ_jOqm_5TBQs8SqqZCORrl64CBLG3paC_FTfa-71Qe2FQuIjIy_CeeHsqXQH7YTWHWJpz_CtodjRlLM9AGm4btnOcBTJb9Mwmw4J6TeLJGsHHPMPc/s400/IMG_0076.JPG" /></a> Born January 27, 2011 at 6:35 PM<br /><div align="center">6 pounds<br />21 inches<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBViN49IBIzSZvLj3y67iUDRnTu1FqS_f2IEESa-6knlK7QQm8J2xUGJOhNjYZ6185VjK2T0_p4HeAGFdxoTs4SsrvSuNuqcfFAVvKNSGjjcqJd_zX7vqI-aBtVdzO791m29Bt8FjAhc/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-59401951877033686892011-01-25T21:09:00.000-08:002011-01-25T21:37:39.825-08:00No baby yet.... Will you help me with my new garden plans?No baby yet…. She was due last Friday, and we’ll go in tomorrow evening for them to induce. I worked through 4 pm today then we went out for a nice dinner. I still need to finish packing our bag, but don’t have much else to do to distract me from the nerves tonight….<br /><br />In response to my last post, Janet @ The Queen of Seaford suggested I start a “family garden.” Such a great idea! However, I need some help! We can either go with full sun or partial shade. There is nowhere in my yard that isn’t hot, dry and with clay soil (though it’s been well-amended in certain parts). Here are some of the plants I’m considering:<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>For baby Clara:</strong> Leading the pack is Clara Curtis Mums. These types of mums grow so well here with no care. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen this particular variety or not. In some photos they look salmon pink while in others they look pale lavender. Another plus for this plant is that I can definitely find some to order.<br /><p><a href="http://www.millcreekgardensohio.com/images/LargePix/Dendranthema%20Clara%20Curtis.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566360781772670226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmIUJHt9BXCzEmiAONXXo39QNVnUgxewWquGdLW45SzZnpxM7mXF7yMZFD-4QuutPJIV5w5BmLtlJwYSJVt6FuunWfaxM37TDjJQaJx3Jc28y57ADnnGX-QyN-F1Ohros6phmxfFCJZc/s320/Dendranthema%252520Clara%252520Curtis.jpg" /></a><br />Other options include white Clara Goula Louisiana Iris (probably needs more moisture than I’m willing/able to provide), or maybe a shrub (Clara Indian Hawthorne with white flowers, or Clara Brooks Camellia – which is mentioned on mygardenguide.com but I can’t seem to find a picture of, much less a seller for). </p><p><strong>For Scott:</strong> Definitely the most challenging of the family…. There are a couple of azaleas with “Scott” in the name (“Eliza Scott,” “Scott Gartrell”), but none I can find for sale… I thought about Scottish Thistle, but I’m not sure if it’s the kind of thistle that grows around here, and frankly I’ve always considered thistle a weed! Then there’s Scott’s Clematis – a weird hairy bell-shaped clematis that grows more like a shrubby perennial than a “normal” clematis…. <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/features/wallpapers/images/clematis_hirsutissima1024.jpg"></p></a><a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/features/wallpapers/images/clematis_hirsutissima1024.jpg"><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566362054962180706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnt3mKF52aTYYJC8aogKGO3anJ1fnX4gMdjgY1-6l04GHJO7JLzyYfmuwbHladMFSDq9bqKXSDhmzva8y1LrTFGCesw-Ufp0N3UikFp2zj9D05bxZ2RYvJDGlrnXNU3L-dEtd02kwN6k/s320/untitled.bmp" /></a><br />Any other ideas? </p><p><strong>For me:</strong> I’m thinking “Butterfly Ginger,” even though I killed some I bought last year at a plant sale. What is the trick with this plant? Watering to get it established then neglect? I’m open to other kinds of gingers that will grow as perennials here. I’m also open to other plants altogether with “ginger” in the name…. perhaps the orange “Ginger Bread Man Daylily” (though, I already have a ton of orange daylilies)? Frustratingly, lots of plants that I find on the web don’t appear to be available in the US or I can’t find a seller for, like Iced Ginger Rose (grown only in Australia or New Zealand??) or the gorgeous orangey-pink Ginger Rogers Rose… </p><p>Scott suggested we add the pets to the family garden, but that’s a bit ambitious at this point I think! Anyway, I’d greatly appreciate your input and ideas. And thanks much to Janet for the concept!<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-85336648598583145722011-01-17T17:32:00.001-08:002011-01-17T17:45:55.305-08:00January Update and Last Pre-Baby Post!<div align="center"> Happy 2011, y'all! I hope everyone is well and warm, and I apologize for slacking both in reading your blogs and updating mine. Clara is due on Friday, so I've been pretty busy with baby stuff and trying to tie up a lot of loose ends at work before I take some time off. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">It was fairly warm today, so I spent about an hour in the garden cutting down old perennials and such. Not much is going on. In the edibles category, lettuce and carrots are growing with pretty much zero care:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcX4MY5Qo6B-kvXIb1JY-qjQ7eghbIegnHwea_YBhHoawHotVirGr4y0Ds0uL3qHPClzOPGtMtgNM_6wSJ4UNWVRO66Da_8wpDIQgMTq_wwx4r9fNVQFSgsJsN63TXRB5ImXaCUkmMzk/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563333185239395362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcX4MY5Qo6B-kvXIb1JY-qjQ7eghbIegnHwea_YBhHoawHotVirGr4y0Ds0uL3qHPClzOPGtMtgNM_6wSJ4UNWVRO66Da_8wpDIQgMTq_wwx4r9fNVQFSgsJsN63TXRB5ImXaCUkmMzk/s320/IMG_0054.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MAv4Spm_16QeFM1lOUhnRNnlMYmt8MRzn-Y4zswCJXqCGSzn61mt96cH788Lhee_ljYm7sCvL77blyXHnIrWtSwLv5BX9NrP20XGfhzTsQ1tOnotgY-pr1dFJRavmzDE80-HIgSRDUQ/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563333016617953810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MAv4Spm_16QeFM1lOUhnRNnlMYmt8MRzn-Y4zswCJXqCGSzn61mt96cH788Lhee_ljYm7sCvL77blyXHnIrWtSwLv5BX9NrP20XGfhzTsQ1tOnotgY-pr1dFJRavmzDE80-HIgSRDUQ/s320/IMG_0051.JPG" /></a> Not sure if it was the hot summer or what, but our camellias have been off this year. The pale pink fall-bloomers only had a couple of blooms. The hot pink camellias that usually bloom for months are just now starting their show, as evidenced by the only bloom I could find for a blog pic, hiding under a leaf.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDM1HpI1acwpfUG_dG4uZJ3hp2YJpDisLekhAnhHZ8kkxDxyY5IyLwT2VcU7BYNMentGjX71wIOSbGHA1n5R3CfFvA-k5DQOZUOc36y-VR2P2McWb4NOu5OlNPx916TUgF1jj9bU41VY/s1600/IMG_0050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563333012756509202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDM1HpI1acwpfUG_dG4uZJ3hp2YJpDisLekhAnhHZ8kkxDxyY5IyLwT2VcU7BYNMentGjX71wIOSbGHA1n5R3CfFvA-k5DQOZUOc36y-VR2P2McWb4NOu5OlNPx916TUgF1jj9bU41VY/s320/IMG_0050.JPG" /></a> Many of our perennials are showcasing healthy new growth, including this patch of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">shasta</span> daisies:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2mm_tYpHepa-9JO35zp_3UpjE1I4mk0T-tlbKsOYJEVdyRf3kAO4Be0RWesK46AC1-PxJuL9F-gTaepYujDeLb338ifuUPZ6vYp2QIQ7xd5lOgNw9yOeHxvxxD6GotiTf4bKHTBI-b0/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563333012573082466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2mm_tYpHepa-9JO35zp_3UpjE1I4mk0T-tlbKsOYJEVdyRf3kAO4Be0RWesK46AC1-PxJuL9F-gTaepYujDeLb338ifuUPZ6vYp2QIQ7xd5lOgNw9yOeHxvxxD6GotiTf4bKHTBI-b0/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" /></a><br />Asters:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4lgrSo1bJXNr-jx3nvNE6dk5EjWfbbpAfBkUdH8EyornTFBV-CAT_h0oEQUei-4uQb0U3GtQCHcuNwz3BPi5tQDIGRpdk8bctQRASsPffHma_VQHDwwg1M3d3u9EvK-_e748HThoN5M/s1600/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563333009310299650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4lgrSo1bJXNr-jx3nvNE6dk5EjWfbbpAfBkUdH8EyornTFBV-CAT_h0oEQUei-4uQb0U3GtQCHcuNwz3BPi5tQDIGRpdk8bctQRASsPffHma_VQHDwwg1M3d3u9EvK-_e748HThoN5M/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Coneflowers</span>:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXp0X-yjwipZx7gbO_Yiii1mjLb-hsYLfd27g5qKwiJNkTisGld0iwEQ1FH8SHte5ignLsOiwQ69P59d40Bc815K_12QTTCMtCs61BDgdJmMarrVxfMbcHYsh6I9Bq6zwaPbp9xtYJknk/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563333010802234066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXp0X-yjwipZx7gbO_Yiii1mjLb-hsYLfd27g5qKwiJNkTisGld0iwEQ1FH8SHte5ignLsOiwQ69P59d40Bc815K_12QTTCMtCs61BDgdJmMarrVxfMbcHYsh6I9Bq6zwaPbp9xtYJknk/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I'm anxious to see if many of the perennials I planted last year that seemed to wither to death in the extreme heat will be back. </div><div> </div><div>My seed-starting operation this year has been relegated to one tray of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and basil under a single incandescent <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">lightbulb</span>. I almost skipped it entirely, but if there's ever a time to be thrifty, it's when you are trying to take a long (unpaid) vacation from work! </div><div> </div><div>Take care and check back soon for baby news! -Ginger</div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-50047120124820354842010-12-12T08:06:00.000-08:002010-12-13T06:25:34.501-08:00Natural Science Museum Photo Contest 2011<p align="center">Happy December, y'all! It finally got cold here and killed the remainder of the summer veggie garden. There isn't much gardening to do this time of year, other than raking some leaves into the beds and piling some in the compost bins. I have lettuce and carrots going, but it usually rains enough that I just leave them alone until harvest time.</p><p align="center">You may remember that last winter I entered the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science's photo contest, which takes photos in several categories taken on the museum grounds. <a href="http://lawofthelandblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/mississippi-museum-of-natural-science.html">Here is my post from last year</a>. I ended up entering 2-3 photos based on your recommendations, and won 1st prize in the landscape division for the b&w photo of the cypress swamp.</p><p align="center">Here are some photos I took at the museum back in late June that I am considering sending in this year. Please let me know your candid thoughts!</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-UqhAuTzVngFT8NDGmIzDmFFtsQdK1faieM00lHl-sONCiPlCaDV9KhCGIrBNHCkDLKw9uX5Dh_WRDxI2ya9EpKkiXUjbDYgMOyE-Z_-3y8lZdmdxBwqyCdHQSg6gVanZZu8tQR0qSg/s1600/IMG_1396.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549828814310033346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-UqhAuTzVngFT8NDGmIzDmFFtsQdK1faieM00lHl-sONCiPlCaDV9KhCGIrBNHCkDLKw9uX5Dh_WRDxI2ya9EpKkiXUjbDYgMOyE-Z_-3y8lZdmdxBwqyCdHQSg6gVanZZu8tQR0qSg/s800/IMG_1396.JPG" /></a></p><p align="center">This is a photo of the skeleton of some leaves after bag worms (I don't know the scientific name) stripped the branch of everything green. I had it printed on glossy paper and it's not as crisp as it needs to be to win, but still kind of a cool concept. It was just too hard to focus with my non-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">DSLR</span>, I think. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1dPUSrG2HXouQkG6TYqAUgkIRMPA97ytSuZ-Ultx4YXoR32mw7FbzTBN2Bdk6IFBYK1saahaDWz1rK8m3JHgOzyxi-2_NgYwJrAGM8BvSQlaBSt1C4rYhegWLJApSP-iPxW-dAhWMzQ/s1600/IMG_1379.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549828813538101058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1dPUSrG2HXouQkG6TYqAUgkIRMPA97ytSuZ-Ultx4YXoR32mw7FbzTBN2Bdk6IFBYK1saahaDWz1rK8m3JHgOzyxi-2_NgYwJrAGM8BvSQlaBSt1C4rYhegWLJApSP-iPxW-dAhWMzQ/s800/IMG_1379.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">Above and below are two b&w photos of the creepy bag worms at work! I love how you can see the spines of the worms on the outside of the "bags." I had these printed on matte paper and they printed pretty true to what you see here. Do you like either, and if so, which one more?<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf-XS5KLOZHqKsUgVkfFsxGqqmj9FMOcOpwT0-vfROY_AhtLjZmL6YiDyLIxuMX1Bczx31d6frmqkY6r9rIsgm-0Fva-Skkxx5iwSiZ4QuShIRdpbhu2_aAaSlMlLsPiVJROBvLfJqRY/s1600/IMG_1375.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549828806843653154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxf-XS5KLOZHqKsUgVkfFsxGqqmj9FMOcOpwT0-vfROY_AhtLjZmL6YiDyLIxuMX1Bczx31d6frmqkY6r9rIsgm-0Fva-Skkxx5iwSiZ4QuShIRdpbhu2_aAaSlMlLsPiVJROBvLfJqRY/s800/IMG_1375.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Thanks for your input. Have a great rest of the weekend!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-83716717503698091682010-11-28T14:03:00.000-08:002010-11-28T14:30:07.944-08:00Late November Updates<div align="center">Happy late Thanksgiving, everyone! Apparently my new MO is to post once a month... so here's the end-of-November update. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The yard looks pretty drab, but there are touches of fall/winter color, such as hollies, camellias, and pineapple sage (the latter will go dormant after our first bad frost):</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMhR0VtiqzlxHlxUrLgRUGg2qCCrTGOywGX3UsA0xB-uhS1DbaHMIb-uoWz5Z_rqZeEdH8-uGcO0T1wicTghIWzRDdkSLy9fLzOA61sgvrDVe7HCFj1eY1bc8Dd_YL8O-hTnhV8qggOM/s1600/holly.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544728772721795474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMhR0VtiqzlxHlxUrLgRUGg2qCCrTGOywGX3UsA0xB-uhS1DbaHMIb-uoWz5Z_rqZeEdH8-uGcO0T1wicTghIWzRDdkSLy9fLzOA61sgvrDVe7HCFj1eY1bc8Dd_YL8O-hTnhV8qggOM/s400/holly.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXREM7l1LV9Yk1QrAkDSFsBB2GWsmiEEabG17_mowTjRvUTiJjc7C-HSKLRQUfdhhyKHFBZ3twwg1IP2rcNxPnkp2YjsAukx0L6p-QkRnHEW8MPbSahGNKmArD2wLKAj568esajWQ7vI/s1600/camellia.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544728772149901858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXREM7l1LV9Yk1QrAkDSFsBB2GWsmiEEabG17_mowTjRvUTiJjc7C-HSKLRQUfdhhyKHFBZ3twwg1IP2rcNxPnkp2YjsAukx0L6p-QkRnHEW8MPbSahGNKmArD2wLKAj568esajWQ7vI/s400/camellia.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzX5OjG-RmDJs2jEpjjRIGMo4x9e9jUdcJ_FCNlBEZVGh12im5nuU-AggO0_Q7OMwz1_CetcVou1yCmcsGM7wUYJhEGJr0CeNx4r7fN3A_UYdG-R7SfZfwLKBl7MDQRc8nIryzYXuyvU/s1600/pineapple+sage.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544728767032924210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzX5OjG-RmDJs2jEpjjRIGMo4x9e9jUdcJ_FCNlBEZVGh12im5nuU-AggO0_Q7OMwz1_CetcVou1yCmcsGM7wUYJhEGJr0CeNx4r7fN3A_UYdG-R7SfZfwLKBl7MDQRc8nIryzYXuyvU/s400/pineapple+sage.JPG" /></a><br />The vegetable garden is a mix of old and new. Lettuce and carrots, recently planted from seed, will grow all winter here:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2nk0N3OiujgJwmtjFUGgEm2E9a38c84rktHVd1l1yk_KdAlCj_bPgsVR1DerMffzp5KzOq-N2yEU3Ovjn9NB4dqigbxY-hH1a2_QlPobBP14ssBDTjVsnDn-38HJV7sZIAoTeaBOZt4/s1600/lettuce.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544728576117906562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2nk0N3OiujgJwmtjFUGgEm2E9a38c84rktHVd1l1yk_KdAlCj_bPgsVR1DerMffzp5KzOq-N2yEU3Ovjn9NB4dqigbxY-hH1a2_QlPobBP14ssBDTjVsnDn-38HJV7sZIAoTeaBOZt4/s400/lettuce.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP2oE2u11N485S14G7ykexnCDrwnKaV0_s3Qrqayvv3kMFQgGS_6S3iynCOgalUC08Z0e3J76b-3YPuR9_m2KrMdVbjnkF3iGJyikMzwzRRy3qAgEAtByNmTmCkrbkUsRfA76U4dL2zE/s1600/carrot.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544728573153658226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP2oE2u11N485S14G7ykexnCDrwnKaV0_s3Qrqayvv3kMFQgGS_6S3iynCOgalUC08Z0e3J76b-3YPuR9_m2KrMdVbjnkF3iGJyikMzwzRRy3qAgEAtByNmTmCkrbkUsRfA76U4dL2zE/s400/carrot.JPG" /></a><br />Remnants of the summer garden are still hanging on. All of the eggplant and hot pepper plants have TONS of blooms right now. I don't know if anything will make it to fruition this late, though.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNciQmBsPbx5fwq628akUSYTC6pQHtxX6clkRWHU1OujBV8FsqSW2BHnFhxF4Bz6oaNXv7mx6e45pMKYaDeOWDE_WErwPuqIMBTb0GV79Y3TED8LtmFp4_n61vHeP8PWAHEnSfMgwxwDo/s1600/eggplant.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544727981131145586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNciQmBsPbx5fwq628akUSYTC6pQHtxX6clkRWHU1OujBV8FsqSW2BHnFhxF4Bz6oaNXv7mx6e45pMKYaDeOWDE_WErwPuqIMBTb0GV79Y3TED8LtmFp4_n61vHeP8PWAHEnSfMgwxwDo/s400/eggplant.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeadgnDx5RTzmTi2eZUQTbk7GaZXKq7vDatcn7jFnShv8PXTedROm9dwzYyCHjQS9n12HOy2RR1neCO4lsJN4OMHdYXdxKexHWNnUvSURwhjZqRvJp9zoYq9B0-benS6qCVQoPFORUWrI/s1600/pepper+blooms.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544727970041137330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeadgnDx5RTzmTi2eZUQTbk7GaZXKq7vDatcn7jFnShv8PXTedROm9dwzYyCHjQS9n12HOy2RR1neCO4lsJN4OMHdYXdxKexHWNnUvSURwhjZqRvJp9zoYq9B0-benS6qCVQoPFORUWrI/s400/pepper+blooms.JPG" /></a> I'm still getting a few bell peppers and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">sungold</span> tomatoes - just enough for a couple of omelets a week.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLGXWwwvo_m3hFTNAItiRoTJuve7VI-mVpLsXKSKKdaqrBI2chxfOpAY9AauGczj0f2YyQVZVAjOjZ04sIl-LwSVWFZTe-2tJmY5mXw3ZSTtrLyV1Hqr8Z_U9PKLGfOFgSG4MwPB8Pgo/s1600/green+bp.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544726946333899970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLGXWwwvo_m3hFTNAItiRoTJuve7VI-mVpLsXKSKKdaqrBI2chxfOpAY9AauGczj0f2YyQVZVAjOjZ04sIl-LwSVWFZTe-2tJmY5mXw3ZSTtrLyV1Hqr8Z_U9PKLGfOFgSG4MwPB8Pgo/s400/green+bp.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeuYEEXKs5AIP-pWhaSQFnBzFTcUEJ-zGVagCaZX2UO-EcgQ2lX2P1cSnNcA9ZfON8yReVviPDoua3oBopT8jA3McCkaZEEb8cKv7jLlqolWvD8ecqcjnWVqPu39rft9W_EyqKpxwdHI/s1600/purple+bp.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544726940464538018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeuYEEXKs5AIP-pWhaSQFnBzFTcUEJ-zGVagCaZX2UO-EcgQ2lX2P1cSnNcA9ZfON8yReVviPDoua3oBopT8jA3McCkaZEEb8cKv7jLlqolWvD8ecqcjnWVqPu39rft9W_EyqKpxwdHI/s400/purple+bp.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDQ0GF2moCgq_ZTphSMaf_1LS9_iPHRYJxFBV9mfiBWmWvVh0uxGpjd69YKreaGujJ7PPlNQtMO9myK0QWXmGTyeAMq0MwyBtICsm3c3N75YNr42Su7OvSZJsHQdXglEGWARiSAPNPmo/s1600/tomatoes.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544726934937932626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDQ0GF2moCgq_ZTphSMaf_1LS9_iPHRYJxFBV9mfiBWmWvVh0uxGpjd69YKreaGujJ7PPlNQtMO9myK0QWXmGTyeAMq0MwyBtICsm3c3N75YNr42Su7OvSZJsHQdXglEGWARiSAPNPmo/s400/tomatoes.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Our first hard freeze last year was right around December 1. The weather here has been crazy lately. It was 70+ on Thanksgiving day and about 45 on the next! </div><div> </div><div>54 more days until the baby gets here (if she comes on her due date!), so I probably won't be getting much more gardening done in the next few months. I planted some pansies and I'm going to keep sowing lettuce seeds every few weeks. There may not be much to show (or see), but I'll check in again soon. Have a great week!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-38008815597350722882010-10-30T08:21:00.000-07:002010-10-30T08:34:15.945-07:00Fall flowers and pumpkin carving 2010<div align="center">Butterfly weed is one of the few plants that bloomed straight through the summer heat (with occasional wilting) and is still going. Gotta love that! I've read that monarchs will chew this plant to the ground, but it hasn't been an issue for me. We don't see too many monarchs here.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m0n1CidkqUnn4kFjo0LQ4ahl4Htwn4OPqut0RnFVq5-UGmrazAyOO4iyHFV05V8X6dvTpyG0TDP99l0xhiXLWBrCynIJ3tKx6SOns1KCHH9IrGIIqn_NiPszHMS3Je1gIE4Mq15YXuo/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533860157340986274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m0n1CidkqUnn4kFjo0LQ4ahl4Htwn4OPqut0RnFVq5-UGmrazAyOO4iyHFV05V8X6dvTpyG0TDP99l0xhiXLWBrCynIJ3tKx6SOns1KCHH9IrGIIqn_NiPszHMS3Je1gIE4Mq15YXuo/s400/IMG_1611.JPG" /></a> Every summer, I wonder why I put up with this gigantic, floppy, green aster.... then it blooms! I remember when I started this from a 3" pot three years ago (and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">mexican</span> bush sage behind it and the purple <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">coneflower</span> to the right at the same time) - I sure wish everything I planted would flourish like this! Not sure if it's the plant, the proximity to a downspout, or just luck.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvog_HKeK4Nh73D6UuZR8zVD0b_w6TO3hiDdDtjysUdkj-kJWRPUlIdsla_oFYCuJy7KpaoGj-kSkTZG8V9k-e9U-wgPWtdKw5QU2CUL0E69O_CBvF2Ik6wBp-AH2VPHi3NwMin8pgcQ/s1600/IMG_1615.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533860153951915986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvog_HKeK4Nh73D6UuZR8zVD0b_w6TO3hiDdDtjysUdkj-kJWRPUlIdsla_oFYCuJy7KpaoGj-kSkTZG8V9k-e9U-wgPWtdKw5QU2CUL0E69O_CBvF2Ik6wBp-AH2VPHi3NwMin8pgcQ/s400/IMG_1615.JPG" /></a> You may remember <a href="http://lawofthelandblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkin-carving-time.html">this post </a>from last year about me and Scott's yearly pumpkin-carving festivities (usually involving my brother and/or my friend Katherine). Katherine is still in Iraq, but we got together with my brother a couple of days ago for the 2010 carving fest.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDGm6iJ6SkFhEbG_vUpH4zpGk52LxO5KOYkf7nyk31zECSDpXn6N6cLu8uKmZOLS7Kkdgf_eQSW5Qbg3N0nah40HWTruX6w6Vtgthu7S84VFfNBERujzeMDpXs6IFnxlxs-IoEqlqzX4/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533860148216061810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDGm6iJ6SkFhEbG_vUpH4zpGk52LxO5KOYkf7nyk31zECSDpXn6N6cLu8uKmZOLS7Kkdgf_eQSW5Qbg3N0nah40HWTruX6w6Vtgthu7S84VFfNBERujzeMDpXs6IFnxlxs-IoEqlqzX4/s400/IMG_1622.JPG" /></a> Here is my happy little monster, and Jeremy's creepy skull.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya6RSsgIWrGr2r8ez5T0MdnjQ-9kqwTbDC3eIDQxO4WoEfZgavNRJOtgVzIdSSbozgSWNn2N_0Eo7mjvlJ_CsM3ihjDxbzkHNh8W7BLK5C6-CIzkHPbcH7yXe57A8C4L4kuh5k1VX_zU/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533860150377037874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya6RSsgIWrGr2r8ez5T0MdnjQ-9kqwTbDC3eIDQxO4WoEfZgavNRJOtgVzIdSSbozgSWNn2N_0Eo7mjvlJ_CsM3ihjDxbzkHNh8W7BLK5C6-CIzkHPbcH7yXe57A8C4L4kuh5k1VX_zU/s400/IMG_1621.JPG" /></a>As usual/always, Scott's pumpkin is the most impressive!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlY4j5nxqtLdSmBInqt07X5nDHIR8fDDf1qp5EgDx95e2NRr4OOIUYRz081M7-CY5VaI-nHSH8W_aObzsu35b4MzWPIFDL_1cbNFTdqZvfnVMGtuJDNVdSzZjXy6eQHz0roaBio27B7k/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533860136041160690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlY4j5nxqtLdSmBInqt07X5nDHIR8fDDf1qp5EgDx95e2NRr4OOIUYRz081M7-CY5VaI-nHSH8W_aObzsu35b4MzWPIFDL_1cbNFTdqZvfnVMGtuJDNVdSzZjXy6eQHz0roaBio27B7k/s400/IMG_1624.JPG" /></a> I read that you could brush petroleum jelly or vegetable oil on the cut parts to make it last longer. Not wanting for petroleum products to end up in the compost pile, we used the oil. It appears to have worked pretty well to prevent the cut parts from drying out.</div><div>Happy Halloween!</div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-39881315524326891982010-10-03T18:46:00.000-07:002010-10-03T19:04:34.431-07:00Summer vegetable garden winding down<div align="center">Happy fall, y'all! It's finally cool here (70s), but it still hasn't really rained in about two months. Everything - even established trees - looks awful. I ripped up the brown tomato and cucumber vines today, plus woody bean remnants. Sad day for me, but happy day for the compost pile.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N7QiYziTL1BAk0ymDvHx7rCUWTicJu8_iXRqsBFExzk9mj0P3ltiVUojFbQtzxjEjFbZrn4DcvGjDdxyYg_SYNkKOcU2i5KkJbNwc6-593HKld7b8pHn_oxLLfGG0nwcLrjDs_yupl4/s1600/compost.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524002224136590098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N7QiYziTL1BAk0ymDvHx7rCUWTicJu8_iXRqsBFExzk9mj0P3ltiVUojFbQtzxjEjFbZrn4DcvGjDdxyYg_SYNkKOcU2i5KkJbNwc6-593HKld7b8pHn_oxLLfGG0nwcLrjDs_yupl4/s320/compost.JPG" /></a> Last year it was almost two months from this time when the garden looked this empty. Most of the veggies just couldn't hang on with the extreme drought and the neglect they experienced this year.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjvZTX3T501sAaiJ8DYtH_FIN6DrTO-HIiJjL2941FlUn0X_xOXg7xPIbxonyPbrnlcTPfWSrwtrfmQVHBFxVBaOc8gq79eW63IeJqMzqbqQRBAP-ssJ0tqHQxUPRQqAAqjCs2TwfRqc/s1600/garden.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524002221960621314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjvZTX3T501sAaiJ8DYtH_FIN6DrTO-HIiJjL2941FlUn0X_xOXg7xPIbxonyPbrnlcTPfWSrwtrfmQVHBFxVBaOc8gq79eW63IeJqMzqbqQRBAP-ssJ0tqHQxUPRQqAAqjCs2TwfRqc/s320/garden.JPG" /></a> I did manage to recover some (dried) pinkeye purple hull peas for planting next year...<br />These were so good fresh this summer and withstood the weather for a long time.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIH5ytsSybBJhTXxD4NZPJN6OIsgd5RdYlipCPcGdtGHfYhI-lW5VgrNvr1QDC1JcpZkLHt7ToMzmXVygynZyt100CAy8TUEYMBA61bvhWpLkl-XB1hljF-Pa3XKsN5cGFOKSD7k5vLw/s1600/peas.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 419px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524002218656507554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIH5ytsSybBJhTXxD4NZPJN6OIsgd5RdYlipCPcGdtGHfYhI-lW5VgrNvr1QDC1JcpZkLHt7ToMzmXVygynZyt100CAy8TUEYMBA61bvhWpLkl-XB1hljF-Pa3XKsN5cGFOKSD7k5vLw/s320/peas.JPG" /></a> This ginger is from a grocery store knob that we accidentally left on top of the refrigerator in a plastic bag. It sprouted and I planted it in the raised bed a few months ago. Not sure what to do with it this winter (?).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBkCpVRPy3eKXFtVgURcaGsbVfzKu6eyRNR62OoTUo7Zmm5XYDVTrhO2v8yh1tg9eXGymX936D4cB5IbM6HYJkrZQb5vS03lDRcoEPpqtn_-anPqyzusMYWnUQoaOJV91rdPwUalM8ow/s1600/ginger.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 374px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524002214286367106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBkCpVRPy3eKXFtVgURcaGsbVfzKu6eyRNR62OoTUo7Zmm5XYDVTrhO2v8yh1tg9eXGymX936D4cB5IbM6HYJkrZQb5vS03lDRcoEPpqtn_-anPqyzusMYWnUQoaOJV91rdPwUalM8ow/s320/ginger.JPG" /></a> Eggplants and bell peppers are still hanging on:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOUHc1c5D7FamnUotQOD75TYw8leJ1H6b0h1UE9KYmON72J0b2CuFv_bYfcJ9PV9E_8yZ3mHse9b5k71hhC1UKiDY_2T3tqIQGfHIQvJMNZFdH47nh-SnXNkXYLONsKltVVUwJ2KaEKY/s1600/eggplants.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 413px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524001795864791666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOUHc1c5D7FamnUotQOD75TYw8leJ1H6b0h1UE9KYmON72J0b2CuFv_bYfcJ9PV9E_8yZ3mHse9b5k71hhC1UKiDY_2T3tqIQGfHIQvJMNZFdH47nh-SnXNkXYLONsKltVVUwJ2KaEKY/s320/eggplants.jpg" /></a> Omelet peppers. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mmmmm</span>.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w-jFXeCy_FnbnKEyZi2zVkYQDGVjwdbV2M5e0YSObLyfHc3kkv_3Va5xG0ikjfAxYu9hG21LbxOuSUBIkW5Cmghs3fqatFzaxTPeVbBa_WbRF5CFRC0fVK0-r1z8z8dBy7DAHJ-cR64/s1600/peppers.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 424px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524001789766748834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w-jFXeCy_FnbnKEyZi2zVkYQDGVjwdbV2M5e0YSObLyfHc3kkv_3Va5xG0ikjfAxYu9hG21LbxOuSUBIkW5Cmghs3fqatFzaxTPeVbBa_WbRF5CFRC0fVK0-r1z8z8dBy7DAHJ-cR64/s320/peppers.jpg" /></a> Did you know the inside of purple bell peppers is green?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz29LIVLWSqDwcXLX1iJyOhOjXO2nPIpvmv-5Ev5N6-ydhY9QPoNON7s7Q6WVh8XU1DtL3AN2tCt-gh4JaJjosYFXMY3PpVl9tIQQFt6qENQNwxL31UY0ErMxLapCrLQ10TW8b-L594s/s1600/inside+of+pepper.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524001782041767474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz29LIVLWSqDwcXLX1iJyOhOjXO2nPIpvmv-5Ev5N6-ydhY9QPoNON7s7Q6WVh8XU1DtL3AN2tCt-gh4JaJjosYFXMY3PpVl9tIQQFt6qENQNwxL31UY0ErMxLapCrLQ10TW8b-L594s/s320/inside+of+pepper.JPG" /></a> Neglected <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">serranos</span> (from seed) turning rainbow colors:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3SZBF-V-ZR4b-ln1VT5CTIBPt6659YQ0l6ri0JKfLuzUKsQF7AvZeCiECyXzKTmB8B4AwcOb92t3X0KxeafmeJrItV_T0JfqekalI_1xprlgFHVulSIOfWT6mRQKM5cmOUTBRKrhKSU/s1600/serrano.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 428px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524001779009774226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3SZBF-V-ZR4b-ln1VT5CTIBPt6659YQ0l6ri0JKfLuzUKsQF7AvZeCiECyXzKTmB8B4AwcOb92t3X0KxeafmeJrItV_T0JfqekalI_1xprlgFHVulSIOfWT6mRQKM5cmOUTBRKrhKSU/s320/serrano.JPG" /></a><br />A couple of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">sungold</span> are the only tomato plants (of about 12) hanging on. These have been so easy and prolific. Definitely a keeper.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLhypvfCxGaG8jDcv9piDaJv_396rhHwp4LWdELqF_s93_leBw0dVZyRTmwtEvqZqmIIASU5i5dubTB3G-u84dTfJeUv3HFgJM0hWtv17-rEQPXq432OIScO66jnGYI8nbajmE2PRidU/s1600/sung.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 448px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 326px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524001775342562994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLhypvfCxGaG8jDcv9piDaJv_396rhHwp4LWdELqF_s93_leBw0dVZyRTmwtEvqZqmIIASU5i5dubTB3G-u84dTfJeUv3HFgJM0hWtv17-rEQPXq432OIScO66jnGYI8nbajmE2PRidU/s320/sung.JPG" /></a><br />Thank you to all of you who've made comments or asked about the pregnancy. Everything is still going great, and little Clara is due in January! Her room is a very garden-fresh shade of green!</div><div> </div><div>Have a great week :)<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-21496667064114999852010-09-06T15:52:00.000-07:002010-09-06T16:32:02.123-07:00September Survivors<div align="center">It's been a month since I posted.... not sure if I should blame that on the extreme heat of August, the pregnancy, or just being lazy. Anyway... my garden has been neglected just as much as the blog, so what you see here are plants that can truly grow in the deep south, and clay soil, with zero care.<br />First up, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">turks</span> cap hibiscus:</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVdabwP9JV9Lw38FIF0ipxwJePBvbFcy5Uk88Upk6ME3sggEUEMcQr1cr-Fcawa1A4H2VXqUpw5-aH1GtPclQ8vOn3o7speH9DTB-7uh5B_CB3MTda1YSBR2yDEKHFjjK9YMJaFrZL78/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513937551896667698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVdabwP9JV9Lw38FIF0ipxwJePBvbFcy5Uk88Upk6ME3sggEUEMcQr1cr-Fcawa1A4H2VXqUpw5-aH1GtPclQ8vOn3o7speH9DTB-7uh5B_CB3MTda1YSBR2yDEKHFjjK9YMJaFrZL78/s800/IMG_1521.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">I got this at a plant sale in March, and it was just a few inches tall. Plopped it in the ground with a little compost, watered it maybe twice - and now it's 2 feet tall, bushy and thriving.<br /><br />I planted two <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">beautyberries</span> last fall and have never watered either of them. This one is in the partial shade of the backyard, and is absolutely huge. The other one is in the front sun and is smaller, with smaller leaves and smaller berries (it's alive, though!).</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fL6aXPbvs6PrkBjXTjYE7OaRubmfEiwwON1HazSVwAgOSzAtI7xeEnpR46p17FA8Q_cUW1HWqHQoLMgpXIMHQ3y1IZt5e7M2-Vzmnz_ycUM4mjxi57jgR63Yhd7QywXiODjVtBQN6P4/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513937547308296562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fL6aXPbvs6PrkBjXTjYE7OaRubmfEiwwON1HazSVwAgOSzAtI7xeEnpR46p17FA8Q_cUW1HWqHQoLMgpXIMHQ3y1IZt5e7M2-Vzmnz_ycUM4mjxi57jgR63Yhd7QywXiODjVtBQN6P4/s800/IMG_1525.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">The only things still producing from the spring veggie garden are eggplants and peppers. Both take a long time to get moving (especially started from seed!), but will produce deep into the fall. I have a couple of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">varieties</span> of eggplant growing:</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6Zxea6Ogx2W-Lsg3IlgPvG9sk07Ac1PVNlkRNhi_yrd8mGfGhMoob7uRb8zOMolqt4O2JPLFxXEFV1Ldd-03uosNqVnovLWKIFhsZWhIT8JBWMTW9bjODx3Zs5uDSJxCKOpMMToq_yc/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513937543806604066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6Zxea6Ogx2W-Lsg3IlgPvG9sk07Ac1PVNlkRNhi_yrd8mGfGhMoob7uRb8zOMolqt4O2JPLFxXEFV1Ldd-03uosNqVnovLWKIFhsZWhIT8JBWMTW9bjODx3Zs5uDSJxCKOpMMToq_yc/s800/IMG_1528.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9xYpcpdeGfVseOkT461iucVM-ckemVFzqMQwxJo7AzXZWksc9OPcx5rwrfzbRWRQMFRku2YXB8TN7GfQopQUDJoZFQvFNFIww_i-JKdH8OK39X1vMFZB9rUtO_PJ1i2aqbQ2NFKu3Yc/s1600/IMG_1530.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513937541745670322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9xYpcpdeGfVseOkT461iucVM-ckemVFzqMQwxJo7AzXZWksc9OPcx5rwrfzbRWRQMFRku2YXB8TN7GfQopQUDJoZFQvFNFIww_i-JKdH8OK39X1vMFZB9rUtO_PJ1i2aqbQ2NFKu3Yc/s800/IMG_1530.JPG" /></a><br />They have not been watered since the day they were planted. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">A good use for summer veggies like tomatoes and banana peppers is nachos! <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/Your-Regular-Nachos-Nachos-Frescos-1593348">This is one of my favorite recipes </a>and a recent dinner:<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchz4nKgbrrPvlUz8jlmtihERZQ1JlCbVCDi5rLNXiT6Wkfd0KYiri9w6nhfj8jT6TUGaZH2rEEy-ktpgkzknRLZFzMj6Tun1DfJwz2TrmAkACrpUY1ILs6Wrh-G6oMMwnX4LTrtK1-3k/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513937556707620018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchz4nKgbrrPvlUz8jlmtihERZQ1JlCbVCDi5rLNXiT6Wkfd0KYiri9w6nhfj8jT6TUGaZH2rEEy-ktpgkzknRLZFzMj6Tun1DfJwz2TrmAkACrpUY1ILs6Wrh-G6oMMwnX4LTrtK1-3k/s800/IMG_1500.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">I accidentally let some banana peppers turn red on the plant, and Scott has been using those in omelets. They taste surprisingly like bell peppers at that stage.<br /><br />Hope you all had a great holiday weekend!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-30213734652919556402010-07-31T09:56:00.000-07:002010-07-31T14:38:44.003-07:00End of July Garden Updates<div align="center">The forecast calls for it to be in the 100's here the next three days - just in time for the weekend, my only free time to work in the garden (very funny, Mother Nature). My garden has been suffering this year. I'm not sure if it's from the heat or what. Things that always bloom haven't (bearded iris, tiger lily), and my veggie garden has been ridiculously hit or miss (lots of green beans early, lots of cherry tomatoes and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">cowpeas</span> later, a very few eggplant and larger tomatoes now, bell peppers just getting started, no cucumbers in sight, and some utter failures: corn, pole beans, butter beans, winter squash).</div><div align="center">One weird thing about pregnancy is that your tastes change, so some things I planted in the garden the spring don't appeal to me now, namely eggplant. </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GngBX2P5IL5uF0Mki2BGTA51cJGLGIB5g5C9KiwhOVfljLhZ7BLd3L_2pfUH5sfYS5eKs6kpuErGMiPe6_cHgXI9T8L178Z2Kcq4oHFTGNCnsi1u6X7ZabHPasj3WzHjjBM38rntjmU/s1600/veggies.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500116294156914162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GngBX2P5IL5uF0Mki2BGTA51cJGLGIB5g5C9KiwhOVfljLhZ7BLd3L_2pfUH5sfYS5eKs6kpuErGMiPe6_cHgXI9T8L178Z2Kcq4oHFTGNCnsi1u6X7ZabHPasj3WzHjjBM38rntjmU/s800/veggies.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">This is the second year I've grown these <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">asian</span> eggplants from seed. The basil and black <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">krim</span> tomatoes were grown from seed, too (the red tomatoes are from a friend). Trying to figure out what to do with these eggplants that sounded remotely appetizing right now was a challenge, but then I found <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/Spaghetti-Eggplant-Tomato-Sauce-Recipe-9208263">this recipe</a>. I basically followed it except that before frying the eggplant pieces, I breaded them in flour with salt and pepper mixed in (and skipped the step about drying the eggplant pieces after rinsing them). It was so good!<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y5czscm_ALwlYu6z_-SRKenNVDB3JTIb5dt3k74qVnio9UrNusGU59L6Flu2ueSbcZqQV0aJ1Y7yXWQiPxEV2PiLHS24YfX7OnMFGnidzRgOWVysK1j0JZUfnoCvczWMbLc9uD1412I/s1600/pasta.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500116128579167922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y5czscm_ALwlYu6z_-SRKenNVDB3JTIb5dt3k74qVnio9UrNusGU59L6Flu2ueSbcZqQV0aJ1Y7yXWQiPxEV2PiLHS24YfX7OnMFGnidzRgOWVysK1j0JZUfnoCvczWMbLc9uD1412I/s800/pasta.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">The tiny fish pond is the only area of the yard that looks lush. I was thrilled to find this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">helvola</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dwarf</span> water lily blooming! Word to the wise, even a dwarf lily will send out an incredible number of lily pads. I'm glad I didn't just get a small lily, because this is all our ~100 gallon pond can handle.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPne4NaSxCnNR3qqlnh-OQ1v9QkbJH2HuBw9HDy-8r-GpDyszM227npqAQ82zPEX8rXmXXYl8W_UrK62GG_X-WvKHDtjPTNAU_EBtSXEyKKfYM0-ZTgZ5LAGyUmfe2AMCTNqpzNn1pQOM/s1600/helvola.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500116123638154642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPne4NaSxCnNR3qqlnh-OQ1v9QkbJH2HuBw9HDy-8r-GpDyszM227npqAQ82zPEX8rXmXXYl8W_UrK62GG_X-WvKHDtjPTNAU_EBtSXEyKKfYM0-ZTgZ5LAGyUmfe2AMCTNqpzNn1pQOM/s800/helvola.JPG" /></a><br />These naked ladies took a couple of years to bloom, but they were worth the wait. They are a shimmery pale pink and so pretty.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pRSNATjk2aB6M_NZtAy9tyO89nhDOiIQQjuMdIArM1QJ5vA2tC3XxavJJ34X3YET_SuxQnCE_uAsnq9UbTU-HeuByzYIzqUz5MknFdbwkfvYIvLqyjzXP-XaFE9zyNelCDXAAlVbUxc/s1600/naked+lady+closeup.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500116124089449138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pRSNATjk2aB6M_NZtAy9tyO89nhDOiIQQjuMdIArM1QJ5vA2tC3XxavJJ34X3YET_SuxQnCE_uAsnq9UbTU-HeuByzYIzqUz5MknFdbwkfvYIvLqyjzXP-XaFE9zyNelCDXAAlVbUxc/s800/naked+lady+closeup.JPG" /></a><br />I love how they come up literally overnight on these long stems.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirY3TQMNrM6wZrzZ9RJigPfk_nuW2WAnoVdgudjGzWTu65JbpKVuUSSWiGmasESVChJseT8pavYNNRcRzW_AJNRZKgBwfN8sMmU-N_1RsTEmVbu3rX9XuvW5zTS_rMh1vHaNoS4zDAPs/s1600/naked+lady+stem.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500116122505499506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirY3TQMNrM6wZrzZ9RJigPfk_nuW2WAnoVdgudjGzWTu65JbpKVuUSSWiGmasESVChJseT8pavYNNRcRzW_AJNRZKgBwfN8sMmU-N_1RsTEmVbu3rX9XuvW5zTS_rMh1vHaNoS4zDAPs/s800/naked+lady+stem.JPG" /></a><br />The heat has not put a damper on the critters. Check out this neat/creepy sphinx moth that was hanging out in our carport last weekend. It was huge! It reminded me of the stealth bomber.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiB76v1rYgnbxjQWI0Pk6hiHNf2vH-aBIwEpXJuE2V-0lLC17GebITvNBGbLtSBrkk8vv1yWdq4vJ9bE6lTRZxMfmxwPdcKx-Euyc8H7PY1VIMZ5ngpUzBnW-k5ux8JJ33pmm5jcyfI4/s1600/sphinx+moth.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500116114237776722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiB76v1rYgnbxjQWI0Pk6hiHNf2vH-aBIwEpXJuE2V-0lLC17GebITvNBGbLtSBrkk8vv1yWdq4vJ9bE6lTRZxMfmxwPdcKx-Euyc8H7PY1VIMZ5ngpUzBnW-k5ux8JJ33pmm5jcyfI4/s800/sphinx+moth.JPG" /></a><br />Have a great weekend and stay cool!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-10140117896075877692010-07-17T05:43:00.000-07:002010-07-17T06:23:17.048-07:00Canoeing the Okatoma<div align="center">I had July 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> off from work (thanks boss), so Scott and I drove about an hour south to canoe the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Okatoma</span> Creek, home of Mississippi's only "whitewater" (level 1) rapids (you'll see why whitewater is in quotes below). The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Okatoma</span> is so serene. Most of what you see is this:</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrMnCGCj7lwYbi2wyveBoiWDXwp0wKMxkS-fzIqUKrHsttA3A2D7cM8ck0GSA9earAlLkW6m31YidNwKXCFmKhcBJJONzd5tDmUDyEa_zU2ZoYZWkvWP1ua1xgIUZpSqzbg4lKKlgOfM/s1600/scenery+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494856562515914114" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrMnCGCj7lwYbi2wyveBoiWDXwp0wKMxkS-fzIqUKrHsttA3A2D7cM8ck0GSA9earAlLkW6m31YidNwKXCFmKhcBJJONzd5tDmUDyEa_zU2ZoYZWkvWP1ua1xgIUZpSqzbg4lKKlgOfM/s800/scenery+1.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Ignore my big mug and check out the "rapids" in the background. There are a few of these along the 8-mile trip, and they really are fun - just not in the North Carolina rapids kind-of-way (though, I don't know if people <em>canoe</em> those rapids)! You will notice that our boat is backwards in this picture - the swirl at the base of the rapids turned us around.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWfwBrEsT6o7K1PP-muGHBkNbKaM8P0vPvgbFYJmsYXjd7ebolILUcZo2LHW7Ue1C40HwUDmjZh6hDwzRZfZQcOL6u7Nw5b3mzLifH5-1eIO6mdb0mR274SRyyX9Yy0L3hiuHMIjLyIk/s1600/me+in+boat.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494856141515667730" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWfwBrEsT6o7K1PP-muGHBkNbKaM8P0vPvgbFYJmsYXjd7ebolILUcZo2LHW7Ue1C40HwUDmjZh6hDwzRZfZQcOL6u7Nw5b3mzLifH5-1eIO6mdb0mR274SRyyX9Yy0L3hiuHMIjLyIk/s800/me+in+boat.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Another general scenery shot:</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaQnjXZ1kDuB-expacbcObrgeAtTVOc2W_Hxuj9jE-wVu4c0Ea8e7Fx08PTtN1MTzSjvRHA8zbvAKkEsdS1aLD8W99dMHoDjcxr9YmzSEpegiqtT1ByB8uB6ZIZwnF_09-AU-V6EdqOI/s1600/scenery+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494856137996485026" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaQnjXZ1kDuB-expacbcObrgeAtTVOc2W_Hxuj9jE-wVu4c0Ea8e7Fx08PTtN1MTzSjvRHA8zbvAKkEsdS1aLD8W99dMHoDjcxr9YmzSEpegiqtT1ByB8uB6ZIZwnF_09-AU-V6EdqOI/s800/scenery+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Scott, providing most of the effort required to move the canoe forward :)</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2sLszKJJVmJlSgn1NcNIJsEq6WUZ283DgfOnWXqGpsOfsDv2TjFudZZiB9nh-mZicSgHBmisbm9psPb0-UKjRts2q0fWRRewjjj8gAmlSYbO6CVakdRBi4S7TMqr4JtkMSi_jfH-tAo/s1600/scott+in+boat.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494855939377827010" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2sLszKJJVmJlSgn1NcNIJsEq6WUZ283DgfOnWXqGpsOfsDv2TjFudZZiB9nh-mZicSgHBmisbm9psPb0-UKjRts2q0fWRRewjjj8gAmlSYbO6CVakdRBi4S7TMqr4JtkMSi_jfH-tAo/s800/scott+in+boat.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Scott spotted this great blue heron in the woods. It was the biggest bird I have ever seen. We parked the canoe and I got as close as I could to get a shot. A long <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kelly</span> green snake and I scared each other when I almost stepped on it (haven't been able to ID it) - but my muffled scream didn't scare off this bird. It was busy hunting and not at all worried about me.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchn-FkWUF7EOZkS9hVWJpsfuf3vvFWhkBKi6YIhwYzowv-ZphnX2paIQ4KCWXviQNd8DFk7pSX_iBxYoyfPsATW73UDfoiqKhDiJ3XIo2cbnjtawuM8JydThM7Ja2BJ5zt1H9Oks7fQM/s1600/blue+heron.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494855934783560210" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchn-FkWUF7EOZkS9hVWJpsfuf3vvFWhkBKi6YIhwYzowv-ZphnX2paIQ4KCWXviQNd8DFk7pSX_iBxYoyfPsATW73UDfoiqKhDiJ3XIo2cbnjtawuM8JydThM7Ja2BJ5zt1H9Oks7fQM/s800/blue+heron.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">We brought sandwiches and stopped on one of many sandbars for lunch.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3q7zgHGp2-_yGIK1ej2zQwbvJC9ITVqzGWNLmwjy7mDAPssbwymSVkUPKWOzhD-o3cdTUx8o-fTjoMcp0jLhwkSL1ipBI7xb0SFINTF1Qm5HPYQp44Blc48P5w97Ywbvnb0CLNDT29E/s1600/me+on+sand+bar.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494855930442358242" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3q7zgHGp2-_yGIK1ej2zQwbvJC9ITVqzGWNLmwjy7mDAPssbwymSVkUPKWOzhD-o3cdTUx8o-fTjoMcp0jLhwkSL1ipBI7xb0SFINTF1Qm5HPYQp44Blc48P5w97Ywbvnb0CLNDT29E/s800/me+on+sand+bar.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">The river was low, and in this picture you can easily see the rocky bottom. We had to get out and carry/push the canoe a couple of times.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbY1lPDD0vsoJm8zz86SzVKjfS4W8mbAR2CUbwh1M1kw9jku1xn52CjoVsT-46RqFKqKGgMV-_yw8159DsRG9138IVw480MbO73tR8JZid12_IPOaSDHaWJoHBKnO_7ar5JqW_7bfv7M/s1600/shallow.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494855927245959746" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbY1lPDD0vsoJm8zz86SzVKjfS4W8mbAR2CUbwh1M1kw9jku1xn52CjoVsT-46RqFKqKGgMV-_yw8159DsRG9138IVw480MbO73tR8JZid12_IPOaSDHaWJoHBKnO_7ar5JqW_7bfv7M/s800/shallow.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It ended up raining <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">torrentially</span> (seriously) most of the second half of the trip. Here is the water in our boat between bouts of rain:<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAlEeN5xkNCARtTOoe1WI-kVZWnaEKVeLiX6cwaQtAVLT_xmUpi7v-EetwkUIz7rKy3SHMKuz2HP27bEsNI22Ye9LArp1VyPdAJj2JDFpWPBibuQ60blZs57DtkKORi95rzoB5VQRYnQ/s1600/water+in+boat.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494855918478956146" style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAlEeN5xkNCARtTOoe1WI-kVZWnaEKVeLiX6cwaQtAVLT_xmUpi7v-EetwkUIz7rKy3SHMKuz2HP27bEsNI22Ye9LArp1VyPdAJj2JDFpWPBibuQ60blZs57DtkKORi95rzoB5VQRYnQ/s800/water+in+boat.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Needless to say, our towels were soaked! Next time we'll know to bring extras and leave them in the car.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">---</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I have one final bit of news before I let you go enjoy your weekend. We are expecting a baby in January! That is the reason for my neglect of the blogging world recently. I'm going to try to get back to posting once a week now. Thanks for sticking with me!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1516629023597886764.post-80788261963214082022010-07-04T19:41:00.000-07:002010-07-05T06:42:21.542-07:00Back to the garden!<div align="center">It's been a busy summer (more on that soon), but I didn't realize it had been nearly a month since my last post - yikes! If anyone is still reading, here is a snapshot of what's happening in our garden in hot, hot July:</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmFn-B0fzy_rzPAx635AaB9PofgWI-35fwfQOX8FmRdSgxL0B0_4STAFKey7qHm1mktuwfuA3Lu9it-s9VM6uYSFqSTDTrHtnVYScZt7qyV9IeRpQtcCRE-Y9bpFkaO_ao6H2Dw9qzro/s1600/veronica.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490247049028651618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmFn-B0fzy_rzPAx635AaB9PofgWI-35fwfQOX8FmRdSgxL0B0_4STAFKey7qHm1mktuwfuA3Lu9it-s9VM6uYSFqSTDTrHtnVYScZt7qyV9IeRpQtcCRE-Y9bpFkaO_ao6H2Dw9qzro/s800/veronica.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">Above: I bought this veronica last year because it was covered with bees at the nursery. Looks like that wasn't a fluke.<br />Below: orange "roadside" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">daylilies</span>, pink double delight <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">coneflowers</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">shasta</span> daisies brighten up the front yard.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3yjn7VInXGsE-PhY23h9rgVW83hB9TZbHOLTxTU95qwQgxuYPwTKgOfTO1WF4eCV_QDQCuIFl5jd6sSInRWNInP1fspR8FdyFYGbmjBIDYgramR4V8B7OOatY1VGXKYCdLIGfq54R8c/s1600/flowers.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490246906742113490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3yjn7VInXGsE-PhY23h9rgVW83hB9TZbHOLTxTU95qwQgxuYPwTKgOfTO1WF4eCV_QDQCuIFl5jd6sSInRWNInP1fspR8FdyFYGbmjBIDYgramR4V8B7OOatY1VGXKYCdLIGfq54R8c/s800/flowers.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">The vegetable garden is mostly thriving, with the exception of the epic failure of corn. These <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">sungold</span> cherry tomatoes are delicious and prolific. A keeper for sure.<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQakB2kmRIcmJ0vYhxgWW6KabLejP_Co2UAD4jJdXPHfzoPWqQMJWol4Gn1VP_oly7dT9p08GXM6tqHS04qjfWXbJrnIgZwQTeG3xvit9k74BfqogM2pWcxZ_qxJQy6btYuITXjzVjQC4/s1600/tomatoes.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490246903810580258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQakB2kmRIcmJ0vYhxgWW6KabLejP_Co2UAD4jJdXPHfzoPWqQMJWol4Gn1VP_oly7dT9p08GXM6tqHS04qjfWXbJrnIgZwQTeG3xvit9k74BfqogM2pWcxZ_qxJQy6btYuITXjzVjQC4/s800/tomatoes.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">Dinner tonight included three crops from our garden: snap beans, potatoes and pinkeye purple hull peas. I cooked the beans and potatoes in <a href="http://lawofthelandblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/homemade-vegetable-stock.html">homemade vegetable stock </a>for 30 minutes (with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper). For the peas, I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sauteed</span> yellow onion and jalapeno in butter, then added hot water, shelled peas, and s&p. Cooked for about 30 minutes, then stirred in chopped tomato just before serving.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_y1M8y0qmX3kj0rtS5sMJ6cxUYkMOrsfJrjc4HC5UzHu1uuMomPqIgkiq4ej7RH8Tp3rAcWbOAWpp0esmC8K3ZQ325MajIzB1zr_uP0ocLk8z4gqDeEeHzv-PYzvaSXctUhIZZNJMPo/s1600/dinner.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490246897845508754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_y1M8y0qmX3kj0rtS5sMJ6cxUYkMOrsfJrjc4HC5UzHu1uuMomPqIgkiq4ej7RH8Tp3rAcWbOAWpp0esmC8K3ZQ325MajIzB1zr_uP0ocLk8z4gqDeEeHzv-PYzvaSXctUhIZZNJMPo/s800/dinner.JPG" /></a><br />Our pond is doing surprisingly well in the midst of its first hot summer. We haven't had an algae problem yet, and the three original fish are still kicking. Here is the pond last August, right after we finished installing it:<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScPx_HgbOG3OKCmgsfBFP_bzi0KcdtHCZwYDax8ui2Sea-ONPVtrVUxe2UQRyskH3JzNW2l7jWa3vva6QMXJUoLSTKhx53VB_pqcQykRlS_-QbLdAYyW09y0KQ692W_Bsa6h7OAJPJp0/s1600/before.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490246896604487698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScPx_HgbOG3OKCmgsfBFP_bzi0KcdtHCZwYDax8ui2Sea-ONPVtrVUxe2UQRyskH3JzNW2l7jWa3vva6QMXJUoLSTKhx53VB_pqcQykRlS_-QbLdAYyW09y0KQ692W_Bsa6h7OAJPJp0/s800/before.JPG" /></a><br />And here it is now! A <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">beautyberry, a turks cap hibiscus,</span> and a confederate rose hibiscus frame the pond and help hide the fence. In the pond are a mini water lily (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">helvola</span>), Louisiana irises dug out of my mom's lake, pickerel rush, and a variety of annual floating plants.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzg1-Hb5kEwhw9_EkCKiZJ31xAxBLJooNDnQ6Wqai9n8c1AucfkexfGJ5UxmjeXzN1WELz_OqN7BPRS5LpclrXrBFie8FrBL0eofVS6IoEsTvkac_LyLji8qJfZtOC1iHwVmHJnnO9_M/s1600/after.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490246885366737714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzg1-Hb5kEwhw9_EkCKiZJ31xAxBLJooNDnQ6Wqai9n8c1AucfkexfGJ5UxmjeXzN1WELz_OqN7BPRS5LpclrXrBFie8FrBL0eofVS6IoEsTvkac_LyLji8qJfZtOC1iHwVmHJnnO9_M/s800/after.JPG" /></a><br />Thanks for sticking with me though my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">inadvertently</span> long break! Happy 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3