Bloomin' Tuesday...

Drop on by http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com and join the Bloomin' Tuesday party. From what I've been reading some of the northern gardeners are already thinking about cold weather, hmmm...I wouldn't mind a cool down, but cold weather, no thanks!

A Gulf Fritillary on my favorite color Zinnia right now..
Another one on the narrow leaf Zinnia.

This is the longest I have ever remembered my Althea blooming, just fine by me!

This Black Eyed Susan popped up under the Althea. This Rudbeckia in paticular self seeds all over, it's the lighter green fuzzy leaf one.

This tipsy planter should be covered in BES Vine blooms. Oops, I see one on the left.

Now back to where my attention goes when I'm in the gardens now..The Loofahs, if you are tired of seeing photos of them you should probably x out now.

I should get a photo of all the blooms when they are open, it's quite a lovely sight. This bloom is closing up for the evening.

I enlisted the help of one of the girls to hold the 12 inch ruler. This is actually the second Loofah I found.

This is the first one and the one I have been posting photos of.

Here's an odd shaped one

and a couple more on the lattice.

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Today I am Thankful for the Joy in my heart!

Finally..

Can you believe this Monarch was sharing the pear juice with the yellow jackets?

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Today I am Thankful for my daughter's 26th birthday!!

Fertilizer Friday

Last day of the first week of school...It's time to join http://tootsietime.blogspot.com and flaunt what's left in your gardens at the end of summer.

I believe this loofah is just about ready to pick, peel, shake and let dry. I have been reading up on how to harvest the sponges, will show you step by step when I get ready to try it.

This was such a drab dark area, we know that Ornamental Potato Vine brightens up an area and quickly.

Narrow Leaf Zinnia, Angelonia and Sun Loving Coleus

Some distorted Celosia

that doesn't like being confined.

The Torenia (wishbone) and Pom pom Zinnias don't care much for confinement either. I can't believe they are growing on our driveway, it gets so hot you can't walk on it barefoot.

I have Creeping Jenny in the container sitting in the chair, it's wrapped around the back of the chair and growing on the ground in front. I added a clearance Clematis to the back a month or so ago and it's growing on the back of the chair as well.

Hubby's old work boots..

Where in the world did the leaves in the middle go? Brugmansia

This is the most blooms I have had at one time on the Lord Baltimore.

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Today I am Thankful that our first week of school has been successful.

Crispy Challenge

Creating Our Eden over at http://jandrgardenblog.blogspot.com/ is presenting a Crispy Challenge today. They want to know if you are brave enough to show plants that have turned brown and crisp due to the heat, despite your efforts to keep them watered.



Dianthus and Blue Fescue Grass...the grass is supposed to come back once the temperatures cool down, we shall see.

Sedum

This area was so lush last year. Most of it will recover but for now, it's pretty depressing. Pineapple Sage, Candytuft and Lamb's Ear in the back right.

Clematis Vine needs to be pruned, the sun burnt this side although there is new growth at the bottom right in the Liriope Grass.

Devasting to my husband is the Apple Tree...sigh See how lush the Grapefruit Tree is to the left? Actually, lightning could have got the Apple Tree...

Wax Begonia, this container was completly filled in a month or so ago.

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Today I am Thankful that these are just plants and can be replaced.

Wordless Wednesday

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Today I am Thankful for your comments and opinions.

Bloomin' Tuesday...

Finally I made it back to Bloomin' Tuesday over at http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com ! Drop by and join the party.

Can you say, 'mess'...that's exactly what I have here. Deadheading the Crapes have paid off with continuous blooms.
Lord Baltimore Hibiscus

Obedient Plant has decided to bloom...

This is becoming my favorite Zinnia right now.

I can't decide what color this is though....

Loofa vines keep on blooming, I hope that means a lot of sponges...they are supposed to be filled with seeds. If so, I'll be happy to share.

This is the same Loofah I posted in my last post, second photo. It has grown quite a bit in 4 days.

School is back in session and everyone is happy about that. Wedding plans are in full swing, I did get all the invitations mailed, WHEW! My hand and wrist is improving, slowly but steady. I do not have RDS, they kept me in the brace too long so now all of my tendons are very tight. There are 9 tendons coming from your fingers and thumb into your wrist, so I have a lot of stretching to do to get back full range of motion. Funny how surgery on the elbow, which is almost completely back to normal, can aggravate your wrist and hand...

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Today I am Thankful that life is getting back to some sort of 'normal' schedule...(whatever normal is)

Fertilizer Friday -- Loofahs!!

I am so behind on my blog posting/reading....wedding stuff, back to school stuff and computer issues...whew! Hopefully things will be calming down next week. Here's a small BUT exciting contribution to FF over at http://tootsietime.blogspot.com

My garden Cherub in some Asparagus Fern.

There really is a wheel barrow under there, see the legs?

NOW, the exciting part....I have baby Loofahs!! I do hope they hold on until the first frost.

See it right behind the fading bloom? Most people believe that Loofahs come from the sea, it's a vegetable. The Spelling of Loofah varies from person to person. They need a long growing season and some water from time to time.

I planted them at the base of some trees, the one on the pine tree in the back is probably upwards of 20 ft or so.

I also planted a couple on the lattice.

Hope you will join me in watching the Loofahs grow! I'll be around to visit later, orientations today.

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Today I am Thankful that school begins on Monday!