Whats growing

Mostly just photos of what is growing in yard.  Spring flowers sure go out fast.  Azalea didn't seem to have a long blooming season like in seasons past.  Blooms just didn't last long.

My peonies now are mostly full bloom.

for my table 

I will be moving these this season as it's too hard to keep the holly leaves out.  No fun weeding and getting poked by those leaves.

Tried to get out this queen Annes lace but not successful.  I would never plant them in a regular flower garden.  They act like weeds

Volunteer dogwoods coming up in flower beds. Will cut this one out. 

                            I left this red hydrangea in pot.  Supposed to have continuous bloom. 

                                                            Mock orange starting to bloom

The field at the end of our road

I hope it stays a farm.  

Lunch at the Hanover Tavern and afterwards on way to our car, a quick look at the front courtyard.

Simple but lush plantings of plants I should be growing to fill in areas, so I won't have to weed as much. 

Got some seeds planted

I am growing patio tomatoes in pots on my patio

Two books I purchased for my sister to read

I I think I will have to purchase one for me.  Especially the Haunted Richmond

I am looking at some places I have still got to visit myself I found in this book

That's it for now

betsy

Happy Sunday

Starting with my garden, it's not producing as it should.  Don't know what the problem is but very disappointing.   Last year it was so good and this year horrible.  I think I will need to get me a green house, nothing really big but something that I can grow tomatoes in and cukes.  I think they will do better.  The leaves on cucumbers turned yellow and a few cukes are stunted.

The few tomatoes I have gotten are plum and forgot the name of the other.

                                    I may purchase tomatoes from the local market to can a few.  

Some fresh Okra I purchased from local farm stand. 

I dipped in flour and cornstarch mix with salt and pepper and then fried in my grapeseed oil.  Which is the only seed oil I use now and then when I want a fast high heat frying.

I hear that seed oils are not the healthiest, but I do use this type for high heat frying because it doesn't burn like others. 

I sauteed some onion slices and layered on top slice fresh tomatoes and steamed in pan.

I like to put this on top of my okra and enjoy.  Mom always made hers like this and I do to. 

My dinner

I purchase cheese slices from food lion for snacking on crackers and noticed packaging has changed from 30 slices to 24.

Price stayed the same.  Happening to quite a few items I buy lately. Less product but same or higher price.

On to outside to see what is growing well at the moment. 

Japanese beetles are out and chewing on some things.  I try to pick them off as much as possible. 

My front side yard rose of Sharon. Looks almost like a giant rose in bloom.  Probably will be chopped down after this season.  I am not liking having to constantly pull up the sprouted seeds it drops. If planted in the yard it would be no problem because of mowing and that would take care of that but it's in mulch and close to other shrubbery so I will have to see how it goes this year after putting down inhibitor to stop germination of the seeds. 

The hydrangea next to it has taken off and had a few blooms, hopefully next year there will be more.

Zinnias are one of a few flowers that takes this hot summer.

I especially like the peppermint stripe

The mum I planted near lamp post looks like a small shrub.  I trimmed it back early as soon as the green leaves came on and I think it liked the pruning. 

Black eyed Susan always looking good in the hot heat of summer. 

Lavender bunches are dry so I think I will take off the dried buds and make into sachets.  

I like to also sprinkle them on carpets and vacuum leaving behind a wonderful scent. 

I grew strawberry mint this year.  I could make some lavender mint jelly.  That just came to me. 

Happy Sunday everyone

What's in bloom and sharing while it lasts.

Happy Saturday.  Will be out in the little garden area spreading good dirt and fertilizer. Some plants go in tomorrow. 

 

Some shots of our largest Azaleas in bloom

Up close

it's looks like an orchid to me. I can't help but notice how the little spots on flower are lined up. So delicate looking and perfect. 

Grand daddy's beard as mama always calls it, Fringe tree to most shown here behind azalea

My spring flowers and trees bloom in succession.  First the forsythia then the dogwoods with some early azaleas, then later azaleas with the fringe tree. 

Fringe tree is highly fragrant especially in the afternoon. 

Mostly porch sitting these days after working outside.  I need to get to work inside.  I rather be out most days.  Will be needing to throw out this furniture before long.  It has been outdoors and indoors off and on for 18 years.  It's not real, it's plastic and now it's breaking, not sure what I will put out here next.  I would love to replace the jalousie windows but not anytime soon.

This used to be just a cement floor showing.  We decided on having tile put down about 10 years ago.

Blueberry salad I am finishing up.   I love this stuff. 

It is Grape Jello, blueberry pie filling (Comstock) pineapple crushed canned. 

Topping sour cream, confectioner sugar and cream cheese.  Don't know why it's called a salad.  Maybe because it's got different fruit tossed in?

For lunch, I took out some frozen chicken tenders, cooked in air fryer.  Heated up some honey with tad bit of butter, added some pepper flakes.  Drizzled on my chicken, served with mashed redskins and kale.

Needless to say, I am more than full

For dessert was the blueberry salad. I had that before my lunch.  I don't like to take a chance that I may be too full to eat it, but that's just me.

Back to the garden

til next time