Jon cut down the sunflowers last Thursday, and I plucked out the seeds from the flower heads.  I left these two heads for you to see.  And look at all the seeds:  a couple quarts.  I will save some to replant next spring, and the rest can go in the bird feeders.  Hey, I don't need to plant all of them, and the birds love them.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

As we were walking along the trail, these bright red berries caught my eye.  It is Strawberry bush, or Hearts a-bustin' with love.  Anyway, it is a species of euonymus:  Euonymus americanus.  Same genus as the burning bush, whose leaves are starting to show red.  

 

Even though "strawberry bush" sounds edible:  IT'S NOT.  Physicians once used the seeds as a tonic, laxative, diuretic and expectorant, which all sounds purgative in nature to me.  However modern science considers the fruit, seeds, and bark POISONOUS.  I am running with that, and just appreciate how pretty they are in the wild.  We even have some in our neighborhood.  Look, but don't touch.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was stepping out of the garden when I saw this vine right near the path.  I did a double take.  Yep, it is Virginia Creeper, not poison ivy.  See the five leaflets?  Remember, you can shake hands with five fingers, not three.

 

Little reminders are always good.  Helping you stay safe.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

The goldenrod is blooming all over the sides of the mountains.  I love seeing it in the sunshine.  Later that same day, we saw a whole field of it.  WOW!!!

I hope you see some in your travels.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

And here they are reaching toward the light.  Not ready to harvest yet, but well on their way.

 

I love growing sprouts;  instant gratification.  ;)

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

And this is why Buddleia davidii is called Butterfly Bush.  See the Tiger swallowtail?  

 

Butterflies and moths love this bush because there are lots of tiny flowers all in one place.  There are long trusses of blooms on new growth, and some grow up to a foot long!  That is a lot of nectar in one spot.  

 

Be on the lookout for Butterfly bushes in your neighborhood;  maybe you'll get to see the butterflies enjoying them.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I sowed curly kale seeds two days ago, and this is what I saw this morning.  Can you see the soil erupting?  Those are the seeds sprouting.  I don't know why, but this always tickles me, to see the little sprouts pushing their way up.  I'll show you again in a couple days.  They are amazingly fast growers.

 

Soon it will be time to add sprouts to our omelet, turning it into a "sproutlet," according to our friend Nick.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I guess we haven't used these tools in a while.  The morning glories have covered them.  

 

Pretty, huh?  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I may have shown you this before, but I'm always on the lookout for something interesting to write about, so I'm going to tell you (again) about beech blight aphids, Grylloprociphilus imbricator.  We saw this in the park last week.

 

See how the small branches look like they are covered with snow?  It is a species of aphid that feeds on the sap of American beech trees.  As a secondary host, they also feed on the roots of Baldcypress trees.  I have read that they are not that detrimental to the overall health of the trees, causing only small dieback on the affected branches.  

 

The interesting thing is this:  as a defense mechanism, when threatened the aphids wiggle.  Because of this, they are referred to as "Boogie-Woogie aphids."  We touched a few, and they did it!!!  Hahaha!  Thought you'd like that.  I did.

 

Maybe you will see some in your travels.

 

 

HAPPY ALMOST FALL!!!

 

 

 

Wow!!!  The Devil's Walking Stick trees are really beautiful right now.  They are loaded with dark purple berries on bright red stems.  And the flower clusters are huge sitting on top of the leaves.  For perspective, each flower cluster is about 2 feet in diameter, and each tree sports three or four together.  WOW!!!

 

They grow 5' - 15' tall, and the birds eat the berries until there is nothing left but the red framework.

 

They are really pretty.

 

HAPPY ALMOST FALL!!!