This is the "resting rock" up near the summit of Five Forks Drive.  We stop here to rest every day when we're walking the loop.  

 

Apparently there is a Daddy Longlegs Convention in town.  They are all congregated right below the spot where we sit!!!  

 

Thought you might like a look at our big, pretty, popular rock.

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!

 

LOOK!!!  The leeks are all-out blooming, and the Fritillaries love them.  So do the other pollinators.  So do I!!!

 

I love how the little stems that hold up the flowers are white and pink and purple.  Each little flower will open up, and then they look like fireworks, just in time for the Fourth of July.  They also taste like leeks.  We put the individual flowers in our salads.  

 

I wish you could be here to walk with me in the garden, especially now when the leeks are blooming.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Look at Jim and Nancy's St. John's Wort blooming.  

 

Its botanical genus is Hypericum, and consists of several species.  This one is so pretty:  mounding, about 3 feet tall and as wide, with these beautiful yellow flowers.  It is just starting to bloom, so go up there and catch it as it blooms into its glory.  

 

You may have heard of St. John's Wort as an herbal supplement to treat depression.  It is still used in herbal medicine, but since it contains hypericin, a photosensitizing substance that reacts with light to cause skin burns and blisters, it is best to leave the processing of St John's Wort to the pharmacological community. 

 

My plan is to just enjoy it for its beauty.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Here we are:  at it again!!  We changed the display to Flags and Fireworks.  We got it done in time for Juneteenth and it will stay up through the Fourth of July.   (That's Patty and me trying to hide our grubby works clothes behind Uncle Sam's hat.)

 

We hoped to just give the flamingos a rest, and bring them back after the Fourth, but the haybale is too tired.  (It has been on this hill since last fall.)  So we asked Mike to get George to take it away.  He loves any excuse to play on his tractor.  

 

Funny story:  After we got it all done and came home, we were out in the garden and heard George and his tractor driving up Stonebriar.  I ran across our yard and through Dan and Lisa's yard to try to catch George to tell him we didn't need him to pick up the haybale yet, cause we had it covered with the bunting.  But he was on his way to meet Jim and Mike down there.   So I guess the haybale is gone now, and our display is a bit different.  

 

I hope it still makes you smile when you go past it.  

 

HAPPY SUMMER!!!

 

Even though this picture is from last December, it looks like the perfect Fathers Day entry.  

 

This is what Fathers Day looks like at our house. I hope your house is as loving and peaceful.  

 

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

 

As we were walking by Joel and Patty's the other day, the Butterfly bushes were definitely doing their job.  I caught two Tiger Swallowtails on a single bush.

 

Butterfly Bush, Buddleia davidii, is a fast-growing, spreading shrub that attracts butterflies with its  fragrance.  They come in several different colors, from yellow through pink to deep purple.  Most garden centers carry the varieties that do well in their areas.

 

Patty said they are so easy:  all you have to do is plant them, and they do the rest.  Hers are really pretty right now, especially with butterflies dancing all over them. It's a pretty tough walk up to the top of the hill, but it's worth it to go see them.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Can you guess where we were?  Recognize anything?  Fast flowing water, rocks, little blue bridge?

 

We were at the Ocoee, TVA dam #3.  Sunday was a gorgeous day for a Jeep ride, so we rode down to the Ocoee, just 30 miles.  We parked at the first Information Center on the left and walked the one mile trail around the rafting rapids.  It was so fun to see the rafters up close.  Way better than trying to look and drive at the same time, or parking on the side of the road.  This way we got to see them up close, and get in a little walk too.  It is a fee area, so take along $3 to put in one of those little envelopes.  Then you can stay all day, go inside the interpretive center, and enjoy the shade and walking areas.  
 

I couldn't help taking this picture of Mullein growing out of the rocks.  How do plants do that?  They are truly amazing.

 

I'll tell you about Mullein some other day.  I just wanted you to learn about the Ocoee, cause it's a fun thing to do on a hot summer day.  

 

HAPPY ALMOST SUMMER!!!

 

 

 

 

 

My beautiful leeks are getting ready to bloom. 

 

I planted seeds a few summers ago, and we've eaten quite a few leeks.  But this is why I grow them:  when they bloom, they are totally spectacular!!!

 

They are interesting at this stage too.  Each of those flower buds stands about 6 feet tall, and is packed with tiny flowers.  I'll take another picture when they open up.  You will see why I love them.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Check out this Eastern Eyed Click Beetle.  Those aren't really eyes, that's its middle section.  It is also not really this big, but the close up picture is so cool, I thought you'd like to see it.  In fact, it is about 2 inches long.  Pretty big for a beetle.  

 

Seek told us that this beetle is native to our area, and Wikipedia says that the false eyespots are a defense mechanism to fool predators.  If the eyespots aren't enough protection, they also have a click feature that catapults them out of danger.  

 

Of course we had to pick it up and feel the click.  That was fun...for us.  Not sure how much the beetle loved it.  After that, it tucked in all 6 legs, and antennas and stood very still until we went away.   Cheap entertainment.   ;D

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

We saw some Indian Pipes blooming in our woods, so of course when we were at the Park we looked for them there.  And we saw several large patches.  

 

Monotropa uniflora is its botanical name, and it starts blooming in June, sometimes blooming into September.  

 

They are white throughout because they have NO chlorophyll, in their leaves, stems, or flowers.  Since they can't manufacture food from sunlight, they get all their nourishment from decayed vegetation in the soil.  Indian Pipes are not mushrooms, although their waxy appearance makes them look a little mushroomy.   And the environment in which they grow also seems a little mushroomy to me.  Nope, they are in the Wintergreen family of flowering plants.  Interesting!!!

 

They are also called "ghost flower" and "corpse plant."  

 

They are easy to spot even though they aren't very tall.  They are very white and ghostly.  Be on the lookout.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!