We all know what they look like in the can...but here they are growing in the garden!!!

 

See the blossoms at the top?  Lee to!d me that his grandfather had him plant sweet peas just for their sweet smell.  We plant them for the peas!!!  But they really do smell sweet.

 

This year I planted three different varieties, and they're all mixed up.  I don't care!  When the pods are flat, we eat them as snow peas.  When the pods fill up and get fat, we use them as shelled peas.

 

I told Momma that we are growing peas in the garden, and I'll bring her some.  If we have enough, I'll take them when I go to VA.  If we don't have enough, I'll stop at the Ingles store in Black Mountain and buy some, and say they came from our garden.  It will make her happy.  Don't tell.....

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

These are commonly known as Indian pipe.  Botanical name Monotropa uniflora.

 

Also called ghost flower or corpse plant, it is completely lacking in chlorophyll.  Leaves, stems, flowers are all white, and waxy looking.  Since it has no chlorophyll, it doesn't manufacture food from sunlight.  It derives its nourishment from decayed vegetable matter in the soil.  You can see them growing in the dark woods, sprouting up through deep rotting leaves, and from fallen trees trunks.  The flowers are only about 3-8 inches tall with their distinctive nodding heads.  

 

Indian pipe is unconventional, but not uncommon.  We've seen it in Virginia Beach, altitude 0; and Jon found these in our woods, altitude 2300.  They have started blooming, and you should be able to see them through the summer.  As if this close up is not thrilling enough, check out this patch!!!

 

 

I hope you get to see this unusual flower on your walks in the woods.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

I really like posting pretty pictures, but this isn't one.  It is interesting, just not very pretty.

 

It is dinosaur kale after the cabbage whites got to it.  They lay eggs on the underside of the leaves, and when the caterpillars emerge, they feed on the leaves.  

 

I'm keeping this in the garden, hoping they will stay on it, and not go to my other kale and mustard plants.

 

I'll let you know if it works.  :P 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

On Friday, we had visitors from Yorktown, VA, and they were welcomed by our new sign.

 

This is the one that Mark and Karen made for us, and we painted and framed it.  It now graces the front of our beautiful home, however crazy it may be...

 

Thanks for the sign, and thanks for the visit.  It was a GREAT day for us!!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

 

 

While I was out in the garden looking at the butterfly weed, I came across this wildflower that we transplanted from the woods into our perennial bed. 

 

Fire-pinks are in the same family as the familiar carnation.  They grow on banks, cliffs, rocky hillsides up to 5000 feet.  The stems are only 1 - 2 feet tall, but the fiery crimson blossoms make fire-pinks quite noticeable.  We see them along the roadways, when traveling about 25 mph.  

 

I hope you see some, and they make you smile.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I've been waiting (not very patiently) for this to bloom.  We've had this Asclepias for a few years, and this is the best it's ever looked.  Of course, the deer ate it the first year, right as it started blooming.  So we moved it inside the fence.  It's taken a while for it to grow back enough to bloom, but ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL!!!!

 

Asclepias tuberosa is in the milkweed family.  It grows wild nearly everywhere, but especially in the southern US.  You can see it in the meadow near the gate, and all along Moccasin Church Road.  Just look for splashes of pumpkin-orange in the field and along the roadside.  

 

It's aptly called Butterfly weed because monarchs, swallowtails and other butterflies are attracted to it when it's blooming.  Monarchs use milkweed as a host plant for their caterpillars.  They lay eggs on the underside of the leaves, and when the caterpillars hatch they eat the leaves.  That's why we planted it in our garden, to support  the monarchs.

 

After they bloom, the seed pods are quite distinctive.  When they open the silky seeds are carried on the wind, like fairies.  Another cool reason to have them in my garden.  

 

I'm so happy that it's finally in bloom, and I can share it with you.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Everything's ready for the picnic today.  It starts at 1 pm.

 

We'll be there with a dish to share, and we hope you will be too.  

 

if you bring a couple lawn chairs, they'd be greatly appreciated.  We have seating for about 40, but there's plenty of room for extra chairs, and they are easier for group chat.

 

We're looking forward to meeting new friends.  Don't be afraid....We all wear name tags.  ;) 

 

CU SOON!!!!!   Love, Gerry

 

 

 

 

Yep, I want to be a cat in this house!!!!   

 

This is Ranger, he is 14 years old, and moves from sunspot to sunspot.  

 

HAPPY KITTY!!!

 

We brought this Lily with us when we moved here 14 years ago.  And it survives to make us smile every year!!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

Just before that rainstorm came through last weekend we saw a most unusual pollen storm. The pines had one last expression for us to enjoy as the wnd came ripping through the ridges.

 

Check out the pollen storm in this picture.

 

How did we know this yellow cloud was from the pines? The one right next to our deck generated a thick cloud when that wind started. Here is the culprit....

 

Mark