Birdfeeders, Butterfly Weeds and Cannas

Here are a few of the birdfeeders we have around the garden.

Hanging in the magnolia bush -- had to raise it since the cats were sitting in the swing waiting for the birds to come -- not that they are fast enough by any means to catch a bird feasting.

our yellow cannas are starting to bloom

newest oriole feeder -- bugs seem to like it better than the birds

butterfly weed is now in full bloom all over the garden

lantern feeder at front of garden

Sandy

Tiger Lillies and Hibiscus

Both have been growing extremely well the past couple of years.

This is our 3rd year for the tiger lillies and they are looking bigger and better than ever.

Our white hibiscus is also doing great and the large blooms are so beautiful.

Group shot - it appears to enjoy living next to the grape vines.

Sandy

Our Glorious Magnolias

I feel we are very fortunate to have 4 magnolia trees in our yard and garden. There is nothing more wonderful than a magnolia in bloom.

we now have more seed pods than blooms

however, there are still a few blooms left to enjoy

tiny in the backyard

small at the edge of the flower garden

medium in the back yard and provides shade for the shade garden

large on the side of our house

Sandy

Fruits of Mom's Labor

We are going to eat good this winter.

Mom has been picking, breaking and canning green beans along with making raspberry preserves. Our tomatoes are finally starting to ripen also.

Plenty of cherry tomatoes hanging full just waiting to ripen and us to start eating.

Big tomatoes hanging full also. Can't wait for them to ripen and Mom will start canning them for this winter.

Sandy

Cactus Monday

Once again I am joining Teri for Cactus Monday

I was so excited this weekend to see my spider web blooming since I never thought it would bloom this year. The garden center where I bought it said probably next year for blooms.

Sandy

Garden Fixtures

We are always on the lookout for something new to hang or put up in the garden.

old bell at the end of our patio -- wasps really like to build inside

beautiful pot we found at the concrete junkyard in Kentucky a few years ago

old birdcage I picked up at the Nashville flea market and painted red

The white flower pots we found at a local antique mall, the 2 birdbaths in the back we found at the concrete junkyard. They have flowers all around and are gorgeous. We have yet to find something to put them on to use as birdbaths. Meanwhile Velvet suns himself on top and considers it his throne.

Sandy

Our Beautiful Hydrangeas

Our hydrangeas are now blooming -- not as well as last year but they are still beautiful.

PG Hydrangea -- just starting to bloom

Annebelle -- such huge blooms

Our multi-color hydrangeas Mom brought from Grandma Belcher's. They have every shade: green, white, pink, lavender and blue on them. Always gorgeous.

Oak Leaf Hydrangea - changing colors now

Sandy

Ferns & Glads

here are a few of our ferns and blooming glads

holly fern - trying to survive the ground cover

beautiful hardy pink glads that keep coming back

japanese painted fern - it has finally decided to live and spread -- it has done much better since I put a rock next to it

our only purple glad in Mom's rose garden next to the house

wood fern I dug up several years ago -- it was looking so good this year until my brother got weed wacking happy with his weed eater while we were out of town

Sandy

Tea Time Tuesdays

I am joining Kate for Tea Time Tuesdays

My first tea/coffee set. When Dillard's bought out our local Cain Sloan stores years ago they closed the downtown Nashville store and I picked this brass set up on clearance. My lucky day.

Poppy - Peppertree Tabletops. My birthday present to me last year from TJ Maxx. The poppies are such a beautiful bright cheery red. The silver tray was found at an antique store going out of business.

My clearance specials from TJ Maxx and Marshall's. The teapot, platter and cups/saucers are not marked other than fine porcelain. The sugar bowl, creamer and small bowl are Giselle from Waterford from Home Goods. I caught them on clearance and also picked up a couple of salad plates and bowl.

Sandy

Cactus Monday

I am joining Teri for Cactus Monday

This is a close up of my birdbath planter. My hens and chicks actually survived winter I was happy to see and I added more along with the cactus. It is supposed to have a bright yellow bloom on it.

My prickly pear cactus are starting to grow. I just planted these this spring and they are finally showing signs of life. I can't wait for them to grow and fill up my pot. They are planted in an aluminum light fixture bowl I turned upside down in my big pot. After seeing Cindees' broken glass in her bbq and how good it made her cactus look I'm going to have to find some for mine.

Sandy

Last of the Daylilies

Here are the last of our beautiful daylilies

2 tone yellow/peach

pale yellow

light peach

light pink and little yellow

2 tone ruffle peach and purple -- one of our newest

bright yellow ruffle -- another of our newest

I hope you have enjoyed them as much as we have.

Sandy

This One is for Uncle Bill

blackberries getting ready -- just imagine the blackberry cobblers and jam

blueberries -- just hanging full

grapes will be a bumper crop -- nothing better than Mom's grape jelly

raspberries -- Mom is making jam this morning

strawberries -- trying to keep the runners from getting mowed

tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers

orange fluorescent tape Alan put around the garden -- trying to keep the deer out

the flag is supposed to help keep them away -- hahahahaha

scarecrow in the 2nd green bean garden that has been planted twice and is now fenced in thanks to the rain and wild turkeys

Sandy

Road Trip

Mom and I took a quick 3 day road trip to Arkansas to check on Uncle Richard who just had surgery. He is progressing quite well and expected to be chasing his cows and horses in a couple of weeks. We enjoyed our visit with him, Aunt Mary and Betty so much and are thinking of you every day. Even got a 5 minute visit with Bruce.

We like to shop at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross stores and managed to find 6 of them on the way down. Nothing like bargains to make a trip more fun.

We stayed with Aunt Zelda and thoroughly enjoyed our visit with her and Uncle Bill, Mark and Skyler. She had coffee ready for Mom and RC for me when we arrived. They had lazagna ready to eat and blueberry cobbler for dessert. Couldn't ask for any better arrival than that. Time flew by too quickly and it was time to come home. Miss you all.

One the way home we stopped at an antique store in Jackson and found an iron fence section for the flower garden. We also had 1 Marshalls store to stop at and Aunt Linda just happened to call and caught us shopping. Needless to say she and Wayne Bob were not surprised.

Sandy