Aralia spinosa, commonly known as devil's walking stick, is a woody species of plant native to eastern North America. The various names refer to the viciously sharp, spiny stems, petioles, and even leaf midribs. It has also been known as Angelica-tree.

 

These are blooming now, and are very conspicuous all along the highways, and in our neighborhood.  They grow 8 to 20 feet tall, along the edges of the woods.  They are easy to spot even at 45 mph, because of the huge pale yellow flower heads.  When you see them, remember where they are located, and go back in the fall to see the fabulous purple berries.  They are so dramatic.  I don't want them in my yard to mow around, but I love seeing them in our travels.  
 

I read that Native people would plant young saplings around their gardens, to grow up to be a thorny hedge.  That would keep out the deer.  ;]~  Maybe...

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

 

 

 

Just taking a trip down memory lane, and look what I found.  This is the garden last February.  What a difference!!!!  I love living here where we get to experience all four seasons.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

One of our favorite garden plants:  borage.  I love seeing these flowers, but, then again, I love everything with blue flowers.  
 

Since the days of Pliny, borage has been extolled for its power to make men merry and joyful.  And into medieval times borage leaves and flowers steeped in wine were a popular remedy for melancholy.  I think it's the pleasure of the bright blue flowers that lifts our spirits.  
 

The flowers and leaves are edible, and smell a bit like cucumbers.  We put the flowers in salads, and I've seen bakers who candy the flowers and use them to decorate cakes and cookies.  

 

We  plant borage near the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.  It deters the tomato hornworms, which can destroy your tomato plants.  (Sounds like a good subject for a blog.)  I'll get back to you on tomato hornworms.  They are very interesting.
 

Today, I just want to share these beautiful blue star flowers.  I've got lots of seeds if you want to plant some in your garden.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Bee balm, Monarda spp. is a perennial plant in the mint family.  That means:  it will come back every year and spread far and wide.  So think carefully before you plant it.  Choose a place where it can spread out, or put it in a pot, if you don't have room for it to spread out.  
 

Bee balm, is also called Oswego tea, and is especially attractive to butterflies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds, as a nectar source.  We add the flower petals to our salads.  It's a little spicy, and beautiful.  I collected seeds from this stand, so I can grow some in my garden.  I love it!!!
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Do you know this shrub?  Vitex angus-castus, (chaste tree.)  It is a fast growing deciduous shrub, with gorgeous spikes of fragrant lavender flowers that bloom in late summer.  They grow well in this area, to about 10 feet tall.
 

These particular bushes are in Blue Ridge, planted as screening borders between the Home Depot and the Walmart.  You can probably find them at your local nursery or wherever you buy your landscape plants.  So pretty.  So striking!!!
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Our Night blooming Cereus bloomed this week!!!  It started about 10 pm, and opened slowly.  Beautiful and fragrant.  When it started getting light the next morning, it closed up.  That was it!!!

 

My friend gave it to me about 5 years ago, and last year was the first time it bloomed for us.   We were so excited this year for it to do it again.  I wish we could have a party to share its glory.  Maybe next year....

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Same pumpkin, just a few days later!!!!!!  I wonder if it's normal for this time of year, or is it connected to no rain lately?  Don't know.  
 

I love the mystery of the garden.  I hope you enjoy my pix.  I love sharing them with you.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Last week in Meeks Park, we saw this Hickory tree sporting these mushrooms.  Interesting enough to take a picture.  But I didn't use my Seek app to identify it.  When we went back to the park less than a week later, we saw the same mushrooms looking like this:

 

This time I used Seek to identify them.  They are Veiled Oyster, Pleurotus dryinus.  Wow!!  What a transformation as they "bloomed."

 

It makes me think about growing my own mushrooms.  I ordered mushroom plugs from Sow True Seed, my favorite local seed catalog.  We'll start our mushrooms this winter.  If you are interested in cultivating your own mushrooms, go to https://sowtrueseed.com/ and search for shiitake, or reishi, and you'll see how to grow them.  The process looks complex but doable.  I'm excited.  
 

I love seeing stuff like this, and love sharing with you.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Last week we went swimming with our friends, the Lachances, in Lake Hiwassee.  
 

And who showed up?   Tom Cruise.  Right here in Murphy, NC!!!  How lucky are we, to get to hang out with a movie star?  What a fun time.  
 

Psst....it's Riley Lachance, almost 20, looking like a movie star.  
 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!
 

 

 

 

 

Thought you'd like to see the big picture: This year's garden.  
 

This is what I see every morning when I go out to the garden.  Everything looks SO good!  I'm not sure what is doing the best, it's ALL looking great!!!  I guess this is an example of a First World problem:  over-abundance!!!  I wish Momma could see these pix, she'd be impressed.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!