I guess we haven't used these tools in a while.  The morning glories have covered them.  

 

Pretty, huh?  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I may have shown you this before, but I'm always on the lookout for something interesting to write about, so I'm going to tell you (again) about beech blight aphids, Grylloprociphilus imbricator.  We saw this in the park last week.

 

See how the small branches look like they are covered with snow?  It is a species of aphid that feeds on the sap of American beech trees.  As a secondary host, they also feed on the roots of Baldcypress trees.  I have read that they are not that detrimental to the overall health of the trees, causing only small dieback on the affected branches.  

 

The interesting thing is this:  as a defense mechanism, when threatened the aphids wiggle.  Because of this, they are referred to as "Boogie-Woogie aphids."  We touched a few, and they did it!!!  Hahaha!  Thought you'd like that.  I did.

 

Maybe you will see some in your travels.

 

 

HAPPY ALMOST FALL!!!

 

 

 

Wow!!!  The Devil's Walking Stick trees are really beautiful right now.  They are loaded with dark purple berries on bright red stems.  And the flower clusters are huge sitting on top of the leaves.  For perspective, each flower cluster is about 2 feet in diameter, and each tree sports three or four together.  WOW!!!

 

They grow 5' - 15' tall, and the birds eat the berries until there is nothing left but the red framework.

 

They are really pretty.

 

HAPPY ALMOST FALL!!!

 

We are getting lots of beans, every day.  I'm not sure if it's an agricultural or a horticultural term, or maybe just a country term, but the collective noun for beans is "a mess."

 

Now you know, we have ourselves a mess of beans.  

 

 

WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!

 

Here are a couple Black Gum trees starting to show their fall color.  They are generally the first to show fall color.  I love it when they turn red.  The trees can grow as tall as 60 feet, but in our area most of them are much shorter.  

 

Be on the lookout:  if you see some shiny red leaves among the greens, it might be Black Gum, Nyssa sylvatica.  

 

 

HAPPY ALMOST FALL!!!

 

Today is Jon's 77th birthday.  And just last week he was on the roof painting the top section.  Here are his thoughts:  I don't mind going up there, but I put on two coats, because this is the last time I will be doing it.  

 

I'm not sure I would even be able to walk on the roof, but he does it like there's nothing to it.  Gotta admire that.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON!!!

 

I love "Before and After" pictures.  Problem is, I never think about it until the "after" part.  Then I wish I had taken a picture "before."  So yesterday when we were having lunch on the porch and Jon mentioned that those hills would soon be showing fall color, I took this "before" picture.  Because in a couple weeks it will start changing to glorious fall.  I will show you again when it does.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING !!!

 

We love our Alstroemerias.  I think these green ones are my favorite.  They are so fresh and cheery.  

 

So, I'm sending you flowers and cheer for your birthday, and hoping your day is perfect.

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE!!!

 

 

 

I love this time of year!!  The native Clematis is blooming all over the place.  It drapes itself over anything that holds still for long:  small trees, shrubs, weeds, rocks, fences.  It is gorgeous up close, but this is probably how you are going to see it:  from the car at 45 mph.  If you can get up close, be sure to lean in and enjoy its fragrance.  It's lovely!!!  Definitely worth stopping and checking it out.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

While we were waiting for our paint to be mixed, we wandered around the garden center.  Look what we saw!!!  I just love this color Echinacea.  The flowers are dark red and they were in big terracotta colored pots.  Fabulous!!!  Actually the plants were planted in black plastic pots (with holes in the bottom), and placed in these orange plastic pots (with NO holes.)  Perfect for placing on your patio or deck for the fall, then planting them in the flower bed later.  I forgot to check to see if they are perennial or annual, all I know is they pleased my eyes!!!  And I thought you'd like to see them too.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!