Willy Nilly Friday, April 5, 2019

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday,
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

1. Redbuds (Sky Watch Friday)

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, April 2, 2019

We had a bright sunny day for our drive to the Pickwick Inn Restaurant to meet friends for lunch on Tuesday. The Eastern Redbud trees, Cercis canadensis, are really showing off their blooms this year! These beauties are near the Inn's entrance.

2. The Most Unusual Thing I Have Seen This Week

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, April 3, 2019

I guess we will never know how this pine tree got bent over, but it seems to be coping really well. It is as tall as any of the surrounding trees.

3. Spring Garden

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, April 4, 2019

I planted this container of onions on February 28. The tiny round leaves just barely visible are radishes I planted in the gaps between the onions early last week. I have several more containers of onions and radishes planted at 10 day intervals to stretch out the harvest. I can hardly wait until it is warm enough to grow tomatoes and okra!

4. Butterflies (Saturday Critters)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 28, 2019

If you noticed the Henbit growing all around my container of onions in the above photo, this is why they have not been mowed down - the butterflies love them!

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, April 3, 2019

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5. Scaup (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, April 2, 2019

Greater Scaups, Aythya marila, and Lesser Scaups, Aythya affinis, are very difficult to tell apart, so I am not even going to try! They are migratory birds that are here only in the Winter before flying to northern Canada to raise their young in the Summer.

Have a great day!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday,
For more animal photos, visit Saturdays' Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Willy Nilly Friday, March 1, 2019

Wildflower Wednesday, Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

1. Pole Sitter (Sky Watch Friday)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, February 25, 2019

After days of seemingly endless rain we had a clearing sky with wispy clouds on Monday.

And the pole-sitting bird is a Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus.

2. The Spring Garden

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, February 28, 2019

Earlier this week I bought a one-pound bag of onion bulbs for $2.00

My garden helper! (And he is in my lap as I type this).

I did not keep an exact count, but I think I planted 30 onion bulbs in this container. I plant them deep because we like long green onions. For larger onions, plant them more shallow. I will wait a week and then plant some more in another container. And continue planting more each week until all the bulbs are planted - probably 4 or 5 containers.

3. Henbit (Wildflower Wednesday)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, February 27, 2019

The fourth Wednesday in each month is Wildflower Wednesday at Clay and Limestone. I almost let it slip by me in February, but there is still time to join in.

Henbit, Lamium amplexicaule, a member of the mint family, is considered to be an invasive weed in some areas of the country. We have a lot of it in our yard, and after it blooms, we mow it down.

4. Deer! (Saturday's Critters)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, February 25, 2019

White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, are the smallest of the North American Deer family.
UPDATE: Thanks to Tom The Backroads Traveller, I now know there are smaller deer, a sub-species of the White-tailed Deer, called Key Deer because they are found only in the Florida Keys. Thanks, Tom!

5. Northern Mockingbirds (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, February 25, 2019

Two Mockingbirds in a bush...

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

… building a nest!

Have a wonderful weekend!

For more wildflowers, visit Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday: Click Here!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday,
For more animal photos. visit Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit I'D Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Harvest Monday, June 26, 2017

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, June 21, 2017

We are eating the last of the Spring Onions that I planted in March. I grew these large 'Fordhook' lima beans a few years ago. Even though they have been in the freezer for years, they were almost as good as fresh beans when I cooked them for lunch last Wednesday. Cantaloupe from a Farmer's Market and cornbread muffins completed the meal.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, June 23, 2017

This year I planted 'Improved Taylor' beans. I have blooms and tiny pods!

A friend gave me the seeds. I think they are a kind of pinto bean.

Happy Gardening!

To see who is harvesting what, visit Dave at Our Happy Acres: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Our World Tuesday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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My Garden Right Now, June 3, 2017

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, June 2, 2017

Since I am no longer able to dig up a garden spot, but still want to have a garden, I planted my vegetables in containers this year. Here are a few of my bush beans and onions, and of course, my garden helper wanted to be in the picture, too! As an added bonus with container gardening, you don't have to have a large sunny spot. A few containers can be grouped together in several smaller places that receive adequate sunlight. The plants in the foreground are Gladioli (Yes, I planted them in containers, too!).

Happy Gardening!

To see more gardens, visit Veg Plotting for My Garden Right Now: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Harvest Monday: Onions, May 8, 2017

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, May 4, 2017

On February 27th I began to plant my onion bulbs in round raised beds (otherwise known
as tubs!). I planted them deep and close together. Several more tub plantings followed at
two week intervals.

When they are as big around as my fingers, I begin to pull them to eat as green onions. This thins the plants so the others have room to grow larger.

I pulled up six onions this week, and we ate them with black-eyed peas (from our freezer) and cornbread. Delicious!

Happy Gardening!

To see harvests around the world, visit Dave at Our Happy Acres: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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End of the Month View, March 2017

Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and End of the Month View

Wildflowers

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 30, 2017

Wild Violets are growing near my kitchen door. And if you look closely, you will see a small butterfly on the right side of the photo.

Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica are appearing all over the lawn...

...and so are the Dandelions!

Flowers

I was afraid that mid-month freezing temperatures would damage the Clematis buds, but they are hardier than I thought!

Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora' aka Easter Rose

I recently bought Petunias in hanging baskets to attract Hummingbirds.

Vegetables

My Onions, planted in large tubs, were damaged by the hail on Monday afternoon. But it is just the tops. I am sure the onions, safely below the soil, are fine. (Those wiggly-looking things are buds blown off of Pine trees).

Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters

I am happy to report that my insect control guy, Catch 'Em And Eat 'Em, is on the job!
(That is an old car tire finding a second life as a flower bed).

And birds - let's not forget our fine feathered friends! Our gardens would be much too quiet without birdsongs.

I hope you have a wonderful week-end!

To see what is happening in other gardens at the End of the Month: Click Here!

For more Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more Camera Critters: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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End of the Month View, March 31, 2015

At the end of each month I like to review what has been happening in my garden. Although March has been cold, I have a few flowers blooming.

Flowers and Shrubs

Prentiss county, Mississippi, USA

I've had lots of daffodil blooms in various combinations of yellow, orange, and white, but I think this one, Tahiti, is the prettiest.  

Flowering Almond

This Flowering Almond is full of tiny blooms.  My mother called these small shrubs Rosy Almond, and I think of her especially in the Spring when it is blooming.

Flowering Quince

Flowering Quince is another Spring blooming shrub.

This small tree is known as Tulip Magnolia or Saucer Magnolia. Many hybrids have been developed with bloom colors ranging from a deep, dark pink to a pale, cream color. 

Vegetables 
I did not plant a Fall/Winter vegetable garden, but I have started Spring planting.

With 40 onion bulbs I am planting 10 at a time with 2 weeks between each planting.  That will spread out the harvest so we will not have more onions than we can use at any one time.  Also I have potatoes chitting that will be ready to plant soon.

Happy Gardening!

For more End of the Month Views, visit Helen at The Patient Gardener's Weblog:  Click Here!


NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

New Onions From Old, December 27, 2013

Every Friday is Sky Watch Friday, but it is only on the fourth Friday of each month
that gardeners around the world post their photos for Salad Days at Veg Plotting.

Sky Watch Friday

Sunset, Fulton, Mississippi, USA, Monday, December 23, 2013

We had 2 inches of rain last week-end, but sunny skies returned on Monday.

December 2013 Salad Day

Sprouted and beginning to rot

What do you do when you find the onions in your kitchen are sprouting and beginning to rot?
Don't throw them out!

Trim off the rotting part

Trim the onions, being careful to leave the green tops and the root intact.

Planted in the garden

Plant them in your garden.
I like to use these large tubs for gardening in cold weather.
They are easy to cover to protect plants from frost.

Harvest

In a couple of months, new onions from old!
Note: I do not have any salad ingredients growing now. These photos are from earlier in the year.

Have a wonderful week-end!

To check out the weather around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

If you enjoy salads, visit Salad Days at Veg Plotting: Click Here!

Salad Day and Sky Watch Friday July 26, 2013

Every Friday is Sky Watch Friday.
And the fourth Friday of each month is Salad Day at Veg Plotting.

Growing your own salads

Basic salad ingredients are very easy to grow, and they don't need a lot of space.

It is not even necessary to dig or till the ground.

Just get some large containers (even a window box will do),

a bag or two of good quality potting mix, and a few packets of seed.

Follow the planting instructions on the seed packets.

Water well, and remember to water twice a week unless it rains.

You can be enjoying your own home-grown salads in just a few weeks!

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Today I have everything I need for a salad except lettuce!

But I'll be able to grow lettuce again when our weather cools off in September.

This is the last of the Spring Onions and Baby Carrots.

The Sweet 100 (red) and Sun Sugar (yellow) Tomatoes are fruiting very well.

The Jalapeño Peppers are called 'Fooled You'

You expect them to be hot, but they are really mild!

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Now for Sky Watch Friday

We've had over 4 inches (10 cm) of rain this week,

but now the skies are clear and the butterflies are swarming around the Butterfly Bush.

Happy Friday!

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For more Salad Days, visit Veg Plotting:  Click Here  for a quick look at Hydroponics.

To check the weather around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

Yellow Tomatoes July 2, 2013

ABC Wednesday
Y is for Yellow Tomatoes

Yellow tomatoes have less acid than the red ones, making digestion easier.

This is Sun Sugar, a small, sweet cherry-type tomato.

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Aren't they pretty in a salad?

The red tomato, Sweet 100, is very popular with gardeners in our area.

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In case you are interested in what else I have in my vegetable garden:

Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans, Improved Taylor Bush Beans (with red on pods),

Sweet Cayenne Peppers, Mild Jalapeño Peppers (dark green),

and White Onions harvested today, July 2, 2013.

And now for Outdoor Wednesday:

Blanket Flower

I got this started from a packet of Mixed Wildflower Seeds several years ago.

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Have a beautiful day!

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For more ABC Wednesday,  Click Here!

For more Outdoor Wednesday:  Click Here!

End of the Month View June 2013

There is a lot happening in my garden today.
Lets start with the trees.

The Chinese Parasol, Firmiana simplex, tree is blooming magnificently this year.

These trees reproduce so fast that they are considered to be an invasive species.

We mow around it to keep it from spreading.

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Our fig trees are loaded, but it will be a race with the raccoons to get any for us to eat.

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Rose of Sharon, Althea, Hibiscus syriacus, always puts on a good show.

I bought a small double red one in the Spring, but it will be several years before it blooms.

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The Vegetables

There are still a few onions from the March 28th planting,

and on Friday we picked these Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans.

We like these as 'string and snap' beans, but they can be left until larger for shell beans.

The bean in the middle (with red on pod) is an Improved Taylor.

I picked it to see if they were ready to shell yet - just a few more days to wait.

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The Ford Hook Lima Beans are just now blooming.

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The Sweet 100 Tomatoes are just beginning to ripen.

These wonderful cherry-type tomatoes will continue to produce for several months.

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I have plenty of green tomatoes on my other tomato plants, too.

I haven't grown this one (Jet Star) before, but soon I'll find out what it tastes like.
In addition to Jet Star and Sweet 100, I have Super Fantastic, Sun Sugar, and Beefsteak.

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The flowers.

Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis

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Milk and Wine Lily
I believe this to be Crinum zeylanicum,
but they have been cross-bred so much it is difficult to be sure.

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  Gladioli

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It is amazing what beauties you can get from a "Mixed Colors" package.

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I hope you have enjoyed this tour of my garden.

Have a beautiful day!

For more End of the Month views, visit The Patient Gardener:  Click Here!