We (Southerners) LOVE our Hydrangea bushes!!!

 

Fascinating plants, hydrangeas.  When the soil is acid (low pH) the blossoms are blue.  When the soil is alkaline (high pH) the blossoms are pink.  When the soil is neutral (pH 7.0) the blossoms are white!!!!I

 

OK...I remember a story about my grandfather putting rusty nails in the ground around the hydrangea bushes to make them turn blue.  I remember those bushes in Nanny's back yard.  The blossoms were BLUE!!!

 

Another interesting thing about hydrangea bushes....there are several different types.  The most commonly planted are called mopheads:  the big floppy ones, like in the picture above.  Another popular type is Lacecap.  Instead of a big fluffy ball, the flowers are flat with a ring of blossoms around a central core.  I better take a picture to explain THAT.

 

 

OK...There are mountain hydrangeas, oakleaf hydrangeas, paniculata hydrangeas, and some others....

 

They are all beautiful, and blooming everywhere NOW!!!  Be on the lookout.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, really....this is the picture I wanted you to see.  This is what the birds, bees, and butterflies see when they are in my garden.  Beautiful flowers, lots of nectar, easy meal!!!!

 

Black eyed Susans are a major source of nectar, loved by the pollinators.  That's why we put them in the garden, besides just being pretty.  In order to produce fruit, flowers must be pollinated.  Did you know that 1/3 of the food we eat has to be pollinated?  Probably more for me, cause I live on rice, beans, and zucchini.  And soon, peaches, blueberries, and apples.  They all depend on being pollinated.

 

I just read an interesting tip for attracting pollinators:  plant similar flowers in clumps to make their visit more efficient.  They can collect a lot of pollen without travelling so far.  Makes sense to me.....

 

And of course there is this reminder:  Minimize pesticide use.  Keep a few Dandelions; they are a great source of pollen for the birds, bees, and butterflies.  Poison that kills bad bugs also kills good bugs, including birds, bees, and butterflies.  Jon's theory is that those worms on the kale add protein to our diet.  YAK!!!  I'd rather wash them off with a little soapy water.  But either way, we don't want to eat poison.   Nor do we want to feed it to our friends, the pollinators.

 

Come see the garden.  It is BEAUTIFUL right now.  You may even get to pick some blueberries.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I am in the land of Crape Myrtles!!!!!  And they are blooming everywhere!

 

Lagerstroemia is the genus name, but we all know them as Crape Myrtle.  There are lots of colors, ranging from white (Natches) to pink and magenta, to lavender and red!!!!

 

They are great small trees, and adapt well to street dwelling.  So they are planted along residential streets, in median strips, and in commercial parking lots ALL over Norfolk and Virginia Beach.  Everywhere we go, we see them.  

 

I wish I could say which one is my favorite, but to do that I would have to eliminate ALL the others, so I can't.  I just LOVE them ALL!!!  Each one makes me happy.

 

Be on the lookout where you are, and notice the Crape Myrtle trees.  If you can get up close, give them a smell:  it is a glorious thing!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

Today is the Summer Solstice.  And the Farmers Almanac has an interesting article about it.

 

Go to:  Summer Solstice  and learn some facts, lore, and other cool stuff about the longest day of the year.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I didn't forget Father's day, but I did forget to show you a great dad, Jon.

 

He and Jean raised two beautiful daughters:  Sheri and Shannon.  They are both strong, independent human beings, and make their father very proud.

 

I came on the scene after they were grown up, so I can't claim parenhood, but I am happy to say that they introduce me as their friend.  

 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU GREAT DADS!!!!!!

 

Look who's blooming!!!!  Calla Lily.  My friend at the Ingles in Blairsville gave me a slip last fall.  I overwintered it in the basement, and brought it out this spring.

 

It grew beautiful big leaves, and here's the blossom.

 

Isn't she beautiful!?!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

I KNOW I've shown you this before, but it is SO EXCITING!!!! 

 

The leeks are in bloom in my garden.  And they are beautiful!!!  Some are white, some have reddish stems, and some have lavender flowers!  I'm not very scientific about my planting, but I am JOYFUL!!

 

I planted several different types of leeks from seed, and they are all in bloom right now.  So I don't know which ones are which, but...I don't care.  I just LOVE seeing them ALL!!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Yep, here they are!!!!  My Black eyed Susies are blooming!!  Aren't they cheerful?  I love them!!!!!

 

And see all that green growing around them?  They're not weeds!!  They are more Black eyed Susies!!!!!  They might take over the entire garden!!  Nah, I'll dig them out, put them in 4" pots and sell them.  I'll be a millionaire!!!!  Maybe I'll just give them to my favorite neighbors for beauty in their gardens.

 

Botanical name is:  Rudbeckia hirta.  Native to our Carolina countryside, you can see Black eyed Susies all along the roadsides, hillsides, and right here in our neighborhood.  They will bloom now til August.

 

How could anybody call THIS a weed?  Technically, a weed is a plant growing out of place.  So that colony to the left is actually a weed patch, cause I didn't plant them there.  But they are a blessing in my garden, and I'm going to let them grow. 

 

So, if you have a sunny spot that needs cheering up, we have plenty of Black eyed Susies, and I'll be happy to share.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

 

I love seeing flags flying...from flagpoles, from houses, on boats, everywhere! 

 

I hope you are flying your flag today.

 

Click here for some interesting flag facts, customs, and etiquette:  Flag rules and etiquette

 

 

HAPPY FLAG DAY!!!

 

 

 

 

I didn't take this picture, but this morning on my walk I saw a baby deer exactly this size.  As I came around the curve by the hiking trail, she walked right up to me as if she knew me.

 

She seemed to be by herself, so I called for Momma.  Because Baby had a mind to follow me!!  

 

So, if you're walking, keep an eye out.  If you're driving, GO SLOW!!!!  You might get to see her.

 

LOVE THE DEER!!!