An Old Friend

We were able to buy our first house at age twenty-one (long story) many years ago when we lived in California.  This Campanula was growing under a tree in the front yard of that house.  It makes a beautiful ground cover even when it is not in bloom.  Of course, when it is in bloom, it is so enchanting!

When we moved to North Carolina, almost twenty years ago, I brought a number of my plants with me, including this one.   It is one of only two (outdoor) plants that I still have from when I lived in California.

When I moved out of the house and to the apartment, I brought it with me again.   It grows in containers now, one in front of the apartment and one in back of the apartment, but it is still as lovely.

Have a beautiful day!

Ruth

Frog friend

Do you see the tree frog?

One surprise that came with our apartment was ... frogs!   I never imagined that we would still get to enjoy frogs when when my daughter and I moved to our apartment!   But we do have frogs, including this cute little tree frog!   

Have a lovely day!
Ruth
 

Chicken wire

The apartment complex where I live has lots of trees which I think contributes to there also being lots of squirrels.  And the squirrels LOVE to dig in my flower pots!  One of my neighbors puts out peanuts in the shells for the squirrels to eat and I often find these peanuts in my flower pots!

The only way I can keep the squirrels from digging in my pots is to protect the dirt with chicken wire!

Today I bought the Coleus at my local garden center.  (Support your local garden center!)  I didn't get home with the plant tag on this one, but I sure do like the colors in it!

This one is called Black Dragon.

And this one is Chocolate Drop, for the chocoholic in me!

So, yeah, chicken wire, so I can live in peace with squirrels!

Have a beautiful day!

Hope

It's been a long time since I've posted on this blog.  A lot has happened in my life since I last shared here. 

For one, I now live in an apartment.   Thankfully, I still have places to garden.  

I would not have survived without my plants. 

Today I went out to clean up one of the spots that I have.  It is the only spot that I have that is in the sun.

It's in a raised bed (that someone else built) that is 3' by 8'.  I fenced it last year to keep the deer from eating my plants. 

One of the plants that I have there is a red miniature rose that was given to me after my first hip replacement surgery (in 2021.)   Last year it didn't get pruned in the winter like it should have, but today I pruned it. 

Years ago when I lived in California I had a few full size hybrid tea rose bushes in front of my house and I diligently pruned them every January so they could give their best each year. 

Each year, pruning the rose bushes reminded me that there is hope.   These beautiful bushes seemed empty of life in the middle of winter.  But as I got in each one with my clippers, I would always find the small red leaf buds that held the promise of a full leafy bush and wonderful roses in the spring.

Today again I felt hope as I saw those tiny red leaf buds on the small branches of my miniature rose. 

Have a beautiful day!

A garden denizen...

Yesterday I discovered a garden denizen who was hanging out near my back steps.  Can you spot her?

It's been a few years since I've seen a Golden Garden Spider in my garden, but obviously they still live here!

I don't know where she's been up until this point, but she looks pretty healthy to me!  There are plenty of insects in my garden for her to eat.

Here's her belly.  I mentioned to my daughter that it was interesting that they hang they hang upside down.  She said, like Spider Man.  Hmmmm....

She was eating when I took the above picture.  I think she's pretty cool.  But she does make my skin crawl just a little!

If you get too close to a Golden Garden Spider and it feels threatened, it will start swinging its web to try to scare you away.  This one didn't seem to mind me taking pictures of her.  Maybe she knew that I like having her in my garden.

Have a beautiful day!

New Dawn...

One of my favorite places in my garden is my rose arbor.

New Dawn grows over the arbor, and in spring, it is absolutely breathtaking.

I'll just let you enjoy the roses.

(You can click on the pictures for a larger view.)

Have a beautiful day!

A day in spring...

Hi, there!  It's been awhile!

These pictures where from back in May.  I think.

I don't remember the name of the iris, but I think it is one of the most stunning ones I've ever seen.  The rose is Ballerina.

Look who's hanging out in a rose blossom!

Oh, so lovely!!!

Have a beautiful day!