Friday, July 23, 2021

Friday Smiles 431: back to the garden

 

It's Friday and I'm joining Friday Smiles which is hosted by Annie (at A Stitch in Time).   Let's visit her and the other wonderful ladies who also share their smiles each Friday.      

Last week I was horribly late visiting.  I had to take care of some insurance papers, then had to head to my bank to get the papers notarized.  Then it was off to the post office, where I had to have a package weighed, since I was afraid my scales weren't all that accurate.  I also checked to make sure some very old postage was still valid.  Finally, I had to send the insurance papers by express mail (per their instructions).  It all sounds so simple when I write it, but there were long lines every place I went.  As you British gals would say, it was a long wait in the queue.  Each line took its toll on my poor overworked back.  I hate just standing.  By the time I got home, I was exhausted.  

Then I had even more problems with Blogger.  I hoped by the time I got home, the problem would be corrected, but it wasn't.  I had loads of trouble leaving comments. In fact, for nearly two days, even though I kept refreshing, there was no comment box at all. This was especially true for embedded comment boxes. 

Some of you may have read I spent much of Tuesday when I wasn't fighting blogger, cutting my grass.  The haze you see in each of these photos is from the fires out west.

I also cut back the "plants" in my flower bed.  Have I mentioned lately how much I hate this fence my neighbor put up?  It cuts off my view of the neighborhood and makes me feel so isolated.

On the bright side, 

the largest Rose of Sharon is in bloom!  Looks like the three I transplanted last year are doing very well this year.
 
This is what I meant by feeling isolated.
 
There are days I don't make it out front, instead choosing to spend all my time in the back yard with my herbs.  It also means I forget to check my mailbox every day.

Further, I fail to remember to deadhead my geraniums as I should.  Now that is done, let's head out back.

I'm not sure you can tell, but this airplane plant in the lower front is still attached to the mother plant.  Once I'm certain it is well rooted, I will cut it from the mother plant.  Note how much better my hosta looks now it's no longer in sun all day.

This is all that is left of the very expensive poinsettia plant I got at Christmas.

Another look at the baby I have transplanted.

Let's have a look at the plants on my table.  Front left is my chocolate mint that started out as a tiny sprig a few weeks ago.  Next is my pineapple plant.  It seems to be doing well.  On the right is a pot of parsley that seemingly refuses to sprout.  The seeds are new this year, so I can't really understand why there are no little shoots coming up.

In the back row about all you see is dill.  One pot was supposed to be coriander/cilantro, but it has been overtaken by more dill.

Fennel is in the pot with the bird.  It is growing, but very slowly.  I keep forgetting to look for the plant in the pot next to it, but bee balm is in the gray bucket turned planter.

The plants in the second row are pineapple mint, catnip, and orange mint that may not have made it into the photo.

It's easier to see the orange mint now.

For some reason, it doesn't look like I've taken any pineapple mint, but I've harvested three batches to date.

The catnip seems to be overshadowed by the squash.  BTW, Bleubeard loves the catnip.  Squiggles, not so much.

See what I mean by the squash?  Soon it will infringe on the orange mint, too.  Note the bell pepper plants are looking good, but haven't produced any little white flowers yet.

The cantaloupe is still adding little yellow flowers, but not anything else at the moment.

Here's a different view of the cantaloupe and my sad "patio."  My garage window is behind the chiminea.

I planted cilantro/coriander in the pot where the tomato had been, but nothing is shooting out, so I am not sure the seeds are going to make it in that mix of straw and potting soil.

I almost killed my squash during one of the extremely hot, dry days.  It is starting to look decent again, except for the various yellow and dying leaves.

Pretty, shiny, pepper leaves, but nothing more.

Believe me, I look carefully every time I water.

Basil, basil, basil.

Thai basil!

More basil and a bit of cumin.

Sad rosemary, chiminea, and smoker in the background.

When I dug these up and planted them in this planter, I thought they were hollyhocks.  Now I have no idea what they are.

I'm hoping CJ can tell me from her plant finder app.  These little yellow flowers never get any larger before they shrivel and die.

I swear this back yard grows larger every time I mow it.

Now I just need to clear and clean this area before I invite friends over.  That's my next project.  Maybe I'll have it completed the next time we meet.  
 
Now for a few funnies from the Indian Hills Community Center.  Unfortunately, I will not be here next Friday.  I have Art Journal Journey responsibilities to which I must attend.
 



Now let's join Annie (at A Stitch in Time) and the lovely ladies who join her for Friday Smiles.  Thanks again for visiting and spending a bit of time with Bleubeard and me this Friday.  We would love to have you join us, too.  In case you scrolled past it the first time, I will not be here next Friday, but will be back in August.

 

19 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Your garden is looking good, but it seems to be a lot of work. I don't like the fence either, pity he put it there. Glad most of our herbs are doing well, I must start harvesting mine, they are huge. Happy Friday, hugs, Valerie

Elephant's Child said...

Loving your garden - and still lust after pineapple mint. No success here at this season though.
And thank you for the funnies. They are great.
Your exhausting day sounds dreadful. I hope you are fully recovered now.

craftytrog said...

Lovely to get a tour of your garden again Elizabeth, so much to see. Ours is going mad at the moment, with all the sun and rain we've had.
Thanks for the funnies,
Happy Friday!
Alison xx

Lisca said...

Yes, it can be a drag to do all these boring admin things and having to queue up everywhere. I bet you're glad that is all done and dusted.
Having just spent some time in your garden and getting the extended tour, I must say it is all looking good. OK, some seeds have not come up but that's how it goes. I love the plant you have potted while it is still attached to 'mother'. In Holland that has always been an indoor plant. I assume you will take it indoors for the summer.
Of course the Indian Hills signs are funny as always.
Have a good weekend,
Lisca

Annie said...

All your herbs are looking great...what do you do with them all? I have what you call an airplane plant...we call them spider plants. Mine is only young but is growing really well and has just produced its first ‘baby’. Have a great week.
Hugs,
Annie x

CJ Kennedy said...

Looks like you can use Pl@ntNet
online, too! I plugged the picture in and it was identified as some sort of Mullein. Sadly, a weed

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

The plants are all looking amazing, well done you. More funnies,they are brilliant but I just don't know how they keep it up. Take care, keep cool and have a lovely weekend. Hugs, Angela xXx

Annie said...

I always love seeing the funny word play signs. I’m exhausted with all the care the plants require. Probably that is why I’m not a fan of gardening. I like to enjoy the gardening skills of neighbors. I’m sure there are plenty of people like me enjoying passing by your yard.

Nancy said...

Oh my, I know what you mean about your morning of errands- nothing is simple. It all takes more time than you thought and often involves lines. But it is done. And your garden is really taking off. I noted another commenter said she knows the airplane plant as a spider plant- me, too.

DVArtist said...

You have a lovely place. I so enjoy seeing your garden.

Divers and Sundry said...

I'm surprised that fence meets code requirements because of how tall it is and how close it comes to the road.

Your yard is so pretty! I've never had luck with airplane plants. Yours look good. I think your patio looks quite the haven with all the greenery. I also like your gathering spot around the table.

da tabbies o trout towne said...

for what it's worth, your flowers and herbs are looking awesome; great job on tending them especially with the weather changes this year :)

and thanx for sharing the signs; they are as always hilarious ☺☺☺

heerz two a grate weekend two everee one and bleu and squigglez heerz hopin ya get inta trubullz just bee cauz :) ;) ♥♥☺☺

Sandra Cox said...

I love the sayings on the signs. Too funny.
I just bought some orange mint then read up on mint before I planted it and read it wasn't so great for cats. I question this because Chuck (my Shardai cat:) loved all things mint. But erring on the side of caution I didn't plant it.
Your garden looks wondrous.
I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum on fences. I feel like they give me privacy and I'm not on display, but then I am a huge introvert:)
Take special care.

LA Paylor said...

oooo I like the thriving garden, and your house looks so interesting... I love touring old homes, is it old? I want to grow fennel, I'll go look up when to plant it. If you're getting smoke from the west, you'll know why we in Colorado have fire season/summer.ick. LeeAnna

kathyinozarks said...

Hi Elizabeth, I enjoyed the tour of your gardens. I would not like that fence either-Wonder if you could paint a mural or something on it? It's their fence but they wouldn't see it.
I don't like standing in long lines either-ugh. sorry for all the blogger issues-and thanks for not getting discouraged and still posting another comment I appreciated that.
It's been very hazy here too and I just never thought about this area being effected by the fire out west. this morning was the first time in awhile we viewed the sunrise-thought it was cloud cover-haha--I don't watch any news or weather on the tv any more so missed that-oh well.
Happy weekend

My name is Erika. said...

The plants are all looking good. It's great to see things growing, isn't it? Your basil looks good since you cut it down. I need to cut mine back I think, but it's flowering and the bees and other bugs are loving it. And another week of those great funnies. Nice to have a smile. Have a great weekend. hugs-Erika

Jeanie said...

Your garden is looking healthy -- and I love seeing the blossoms on the cantaloupe. I've never tried growing that.

We were just talking about the haze in the sky at sunset while eating dinner tonight, and quite sure it was the fires. It has been the same sky for days, very flat. I don't notice it as much in the day but at twilight, very much so.

LOVE those signs. I know. I'm a broken record. But I do.

Sharon Madson said...

Love seeing all you plants. You really have a green thumb, Elizabeth. It is too bad that your neighbors ruined your view of the neighborhood.with that fence. Your Rose of Sharon looks good however against the fence. I can see where the yard seems bigger every time you mow. That is a lot of work! Thanks for sharing.

J said...

Loved seeing your garden Elizabeth, shame about that fence, it’s unusual to see fences on front gardens in the USA, I always thought it wasn’t allowed.
The air plant you have we call a spider plant.
Have a great day
Jan