Here is another reason to love Meeks Park.  There is shade, there is water.  It is such a peaceful place.  That's why we go there so much.  It is always a pleasant outing.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

We absolutely love this bank of hydrangeas in the Methodist Church parking lot.  They curve around the corner, and block the view into the next parking lot.  Great use of landscaping:  hiding something unsightly from view.

 

These hydrangeas start out bright white, and fade to dusty pink in the fall.  We see them every week, so I will show you again when they change color.  They are fabulous!!!

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

It is Vitex, botanically it is Vitex agnus-castus.  That's the only name I know for it.  Oh wait, it is commonly known as chaste tree.  I love this tree/shrub.  I love seeing it in the summer with its beautiful purple, spiky flowers.  

 

I read that it can grow from 3-16 feet.  I've never seen one that big, but the ones we usually see are around 8-10 feet tall.  

 

There is only one that I know of in our neighborhood, but they grow easily here in the mountains.  Look around;  you may see some in your travels.  I hope so.  They are so pretty right now.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

As I started out on my walk, I looked up and noticed the Persimmons are getting big.  They are almost full size, about the size of a ping pong ball.  When they reach their full size they will start to turn orange.  But that's not until October.  We still have a couple months to grow.

 

I am certainly not rushing through summer to get to fall;  but I do love a good persimmon.  No big hurry, though.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

Check this out!!!  This is Violet's Hibiscus in bloom.  It is in a massive ceramic pot, and blooming its head off.  I think she told me that is called "Holy Grail."  And each blossom is as big as a dinner plate.  

 

It is awesome!!!

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

The Devil's Walking Sticks in our neighborhood are blooming.  I've also seen a couple on 19/129 on our way to Blairsville.

 

They are about 10-12 feet high, and blooming with bright white flowers.  Beautiful!!!

 

I hope you get to see some in your travels.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

One HOT day while walking in the park, we came across this bed of ferns, and instantly, I felt cooler.  Not sure why...was it the color?  the texture?  or just the feel of the thing?  Whatever, it felt good on a hot day.

 

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

And here is our first BIG hornworm of the season.    Fortunately it was not in the garden.  I found it on the extra pepper plants that never got planted in the garden.  They are still in six-packs on the bottom deck.  

 

When I went to water the plants one day I noticed a bunch of chewage on the ends of the pepper plants.  So I began searching for the culprit.  It took a few minutes, but I found him, and look how huge it is...was.  As big as my index finger! 

 

My Seek app called it a tobacco hornworm because of the stripes on its back.  Tomato hornworms have V-shaped lines and red horns.  I love to give you the correct names of the things I find in the garden.  But, whether its "tomato" or "tobacco" I DON'T want ANY hornworms anywhere near my garden.  

 

 

STILL A HAPPY GARDENER!!!

 

 

That is one BIG tomato.  Isn't it beautiful?  

 

Really, I'm just bragging.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Last week, I showed you the Sumacs getting ready to bloom.  Well, they are blooming now and you can HEAR them before you even see them.  The pollinators are all over them, and the buzz is quite loud.  We saw about 30 bumblers and honeybees on this single bloom spike.  And there are hundreds of bloom spikes on just this one hedge.

 

LOVE IT!!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!