Oh, look!!!  What a lovely way to start the day.

 

Go back to the article about the bluebirds, and click on the link:  One of the eggs has hatched!!

 

I hope your Friday is wonderful.  I know you'll find something wonderful in it.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I guess most people don't see lettuce as flowers, but lettuce does bloom.  When it's ready to make seeds, lettuce blooms.  The flowers look a lot like tiny dandelion flowers.  And, just like dandelions, they mature into those little fluffy fairies that fly around.  So I picked these lettuce heads before the flowers opened completely.  I love the fairy seeds outside, but not in my living room.  
 

We planted about 12 lettuce seedlings.  6 green Buttercrunch, and 6 red Romaine type.  We've been eating our own lettuce in salads since April.  Now that the lettuce  has bolted, the leaves are a little bitter, so I just let them go to seed.  We'll harvest the seeds when they are ripe, and save them to plant next spring.  If August isn't too hot, I may plant a fall crop.  I love not having to buy lettuce.  Besides, it is so pretty growing in the garden.  
 

And, don't they look great in Momma's cornucopia vase?  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We have finally found something the deer won't eat.  Well, they do nibble off a few flower heads, but not when they get this far along.  The flower centers are called cones, and are quite prickly.  These coneflowers are a favorite seed source in the fall for the finches.  So we leave them for the birds, until winter when they are picked clean.  
 

We planted these along the front of our house, going down the hill.  They have multiplied profusely, and fill up the whole space between the deck rails and the steps.  They even wrap around the corner.  When they are in full bloom, I'll take another picture to show you.  
 

If you have a good sunny spot, throw down a few seeds, and before you know it, you can be overrun with Echinacea too.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Even the catmint is pretty this year.  Sometimes it's hideous, but this is beautiful.  Nepeta cataria, botanically.  Catnip or catmint, commonly.
 

My wildflower book says it is well-known and distinctively aromatic.  It contains a chemical that tends to repel insects, making it a good companion plant to protect other plants from bugs.  It may be this same chemical that affects the behavior of cats.  Our cat, Ranger loves to lie in wait near it, waiting for what, we don't know...moles and lizards, I'm guessing.  Good!!!  He also likes a good roll in the catmint.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

You are looking at our two sinks full of kale, ready for canning.  There is so much kale in the garden, we've got to do something with it.  
 

So we found out how to can it.  Doesn't seem that difficult.  Just takes time:  time to clean it, and lots of time in the pressure canner.  We started the process at 9am, and didn't finish completely until 6pm.  We ended up with 7 quarts.  
 

Seems like a big investment for a small reward, but we'll have our very own kale this winter.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

Check out this crew!!!  Christensens, three generations.  Tere, Claudia and Collin, Catherine, Christen, and Connor.
 

They've been coming to our garden for years.  The first time Connor came to the garden, he was about 4 years old, and was thrilled by the idea that he could eat leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds.  Today they came to pick blueberries, and see the garden.  He still wanted to taste everything.  He's 12 now, and he loved showing his little sisters all the joys of the garden.  
 

Sharing the garden with younger generations makes me so happy.   Maybe I'm planting seeds for the future.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

I love seeing these fireworks and Uncle Sam's hat.  Lots of American flags on the hillside too.  
 

Just so you know, Patty Tegtman and I created these things last year.  She's not afraid of a table saw, and I'm not scared of glitter!!!  We had fun making them, and  they live in her garage the rest of the year.  Bill's a good sport to share his garage with glitter.  
 

 

 

 

Here's a good one!  Today I read that the collective noun for ladybugs is 'a loveliness.'  A loveliness of ladybugs.  I like it.  I even dress up in a ladybug costume for Halloween, and feel quite lovely.  
 

Don't tell Henry.  He hates them.  They invade his house like there's no tomorrow.  We still visit on Halloween just for a tease.
 

Harlequin Ladybugs were intentionally released in 1979 in the US as biological warfare to control the population of aphids, corn borers, and other herbivores (insects who feed on garden plants.)  They have since become an invasive species, causing a whole new set of problems.  Just ask Henry.  
 

Anyway, I thought it was interesting and hoped you would too.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!
 

 

 

 

 

Oh my goodness!!!  When I looked at the Angelcam on Wednesday, I saw this!!!  Then a few minutes later I saw this!!!

 

 

Here's the link:  https://wildbirds-1.click2stream.com/

 

There is a real-time camera inside a bluebird box.  Go there and check it out;  it is fascinating to watch the process.  Looks like we're going to see some baby birds soon.  Thanks, Linda, for sharing.

 

HAPPY CRITTER SITING!!!
 

 

 

It's marigold season.  The garden is loaded, and all our little vases are full.  Some other containers as well....
 

 

They make me smile.  :)   I hope they made you smile too.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!