December 2010 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

It's been a while since I have spent much time in my garden…
My business, my little ones & family have swept me up since October.

So here is my post for May Dreams Gardens December 15 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - The current physical state of my garden. And I apologize for the lack of focus on these pictures from my iPhone… It was quite frigid and windy and hard to get the photo app to focus properly...

I am loving the colors on the St. John's Wort...

And the new growth of the Hellebores under the leafs...

The decay of Cone Flowers and the Russian Sage...

Seed heads of the Cone Flowers...

A delightful image - the remains of the flower after the bloom and seeds have gone (NY Iron Weed)

The Holly - half dead from this summer...

The Hydrangea Heads wilted and decaying...

My head has so been in my garden…

My mind keeps wandering to Ecological Gardening…

I have always been interested in garden and all the aspects that it can be thought of…

I am strongly considering applying to the New Castle Co, DE Master Gardener's program for 2011…

We'll see if I can focus enough to decide if it is something I want to pursue at this point in my life…

Thanks for stopping by!

October Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Happy October 2010 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

Visit all the blogs in bloom through the blog host of this event:

May Dreams Gardens Blog

Oh how I love that my garden seems to thrive upon my hands of neglect in the last month…

Because with how my life has been going, neglect is what is most plentiful in the garden (along with the rain and cooler weather)

The colors that are appearing are just amazing…

This plant above (hydrangea variety) is not in my garden, but something I happened by the other day. Lovely! I may get one of those!

The IronWeed that survived the deer grazing have gone to seed and I have been gathering seeds and spreading them in areas where I think they might do well… I love that their seed heads remind me of being little and playing with dandelion seed heads - all clustered in one spot like little twigs sticking straight up with poofs on top to carry them away…

The side hill project has been neglected. That was until we received a tremendous amount of rainfall in a short period of time and the water from our backyard swale delivered soil from the neighbors hill onto their driveway…

Here I have begun to move plants over to the area where the water tends to collect and needs to be dispersed and utilized and slowed down...

I have been pulling plants from this fern and hosta bed (which was the plan anyway)…

And Hostas removed from this bed just in time for some Hardy Mum to take their place...

Hoping that layering these in amongst and next to the river rocks will help with the water runoff. I know really, next spring is the time for planting along this area...

I am enjoying this front walkway this fall. Nothing spectacular really… Just growing in finally. Although looking at this picture makes me realize which part of the walkway is covered by tree shade… 

That is not so pretty. Oh well…

And this stonecrop (I believe) is starting to really bloom. You know - the parts that actually still have blooms because the deer didn't decide to eat them yet…

I made a quick trip to Florida last week to visit my dad and family - nothing like a slight health scare to get me and Riley on an airplane… Really dad - you just had to ask… Glad you are feeling better! I may have to come visit more often if it helps ;)

My grandma, Riley and I took some walks and saw some cool plants and flowers and stopped to snap some pictures. 

This is a bromeliad I believe...

A Plumeria...

And a huge seed pod from a tree next door.

I really wanted to bring this home with me because it was such a cool find.

It was at least 2 foot long and about 4 inches wide…

But I'm sure there will be more around the next time I visit and I'll make sure to bring stuff to pack it up and ship it to myself. Heck, it would even make an odd but cool christmas present if they wanted to grab a few for me (ahem - anyone in my family down there reading this blog? Just mentioning it…)

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh, and don't forget about the Beads-of-Clay Bloggers Open Studio Event happening on October 24th (next Sunday: 2-5pm EST). Lots of cool artist studios to visit, traditions to share, bead giveaways, and sales to be found through the artist shops.

September 2010 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

Welcome to September in my garden!

It's the 15th, so that means it's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day…

If you have pictures of your garden as it is right now and want to share, hop on over to May Dreams Gardens Blog to participate...

Above is a mix of Russian Blue Sage, Cone Flower and Nasturtiums that for some reason within the total chaos of their garden presence (way too close and cluttered together for growing potential in the coming years)… 

Really makes me feel happy…

Maybe it is the way that the plants are seeming to want to take over the lawn…

We know which side I'm on for that… 

C'mon plants (except the crab grass: you can take your seeds and nastiness somewhere else!)

Although a little lawn is nice under bare foot…

And for kid running around areas...

The "other side hill" garden is a blank canvas at this point.

I have started to divide up some grasses and planted them for some background washes of color and texture.

If time and weather participate in the next two months I will be dividing hostas and ferns as well, and transplanting some other perennials that should do well over there. 

Riley was enjoying the ride on my chest in the baby Bjorn as we toured the garden in our leisure time together Sunday & Monday…

He loves to reach out and grab the plants…

And you can tell when he gets really excited because the feet start flailing...

The crab apples are starting to turn red...

The Russian Blue Sage is really growing now…

The whispy blooms are some of my favorite at this time of year...

This little yellow flower is seen randomly from spring to fall depending on if the deer eat the bloom…

I think this may be the 2nd bloom I've seen this year.

The cooler weather setting in means we will be outside a lot more after school.

Sidewalk chalk drawings is a favorite past time of Chloe's…

Riley doesn't mind just looking on (for a bit anyway)...

Which means I have some extra time to snap pictures with my camera phone like these...

I love this Hipstamatic app for my iPhone.

You have to buy a bunch of "film" and "lenses" for the camera app…

But I tell you what - it's SO worth it.

I mean, c'mon - having this at your fingertips then in your back pocket for a few bucks - awesome!

I love the vintage feel...

The possibilities seem endless...

The above set was taken with the Helga Viking Lens, Pistil Film.

And these above were taken with the John S Lens, Float Film.

Helga Viking Lens in 7 different film types.

And  you know that the slightly OCD person in me (that would be the scientist background part) has to be able to document and recapture and master the look of the photographs…

So I went out during Riley's nap and took a repeat image with all 5 lenses and all 7 film types.

Which meant a lot of back and forth clicking…

Much easier than having all those cameras, lenses and films by all means…

And those results will be a topic for another post…

Probably for next week's mosaic monday post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh, one last thing…

Don't forget about the chance to win some gift certificates for Marsha Neal Studio (my porcelain bead business) by making a purchase through:

My Mom Pattie Etsy Shop

Marsha Neal Studio Etsy Shop

Marsha Neal Studio Main Website

With holiday season around the corner, you might be able to use some extra monies and handmade gifts for people on your list…

I know I love getting handmade things (and making them)!

August Garden Bloggers Bloom Day 2010

Welcome to my August Garden…
Part of the August Garden Bloggers Bloom Day event...

Chloe and I would love to show you around… 

If I can get her to slow down for a moment!

This year our garden is being called:
the butterfly garden!
Chloe will be telling you why in a bit…

Here is a shot of the main hill garden… 

Up at the top, past the Karl Forester Grass there are a few trees (an oak in particular) that need to come out so a vegetable garden can be built up there... (not to worry, only a little into the wooded area - plans to help the woodland habitat are always in mind as well).

That way we can grow more than just these:

The Ironweed has done quite well with avoiding deer grazing this year.

Must have had a few survivors in the last couple of years because I have baby Ironweed plants popping up all around the garden.

Red and yellow flower grown from seed from last years plant... A humming bird favorite!

Oh wait, here is Chloe…

Look mommy, purple flowers!

Oh, I see Chloe... Is that what you have been doing over there?

And look: a bumble bee is napping…
Chloe: "Shhh, don't wake him up!
Look! He has an Umbrella Too!!!"
(well that was loud enough to wake him…)

Look at that mommy butterfly Chloe, she is tasting the plant with her special butterfly feet.
If she lands on the right one for her babies, she will lay an egg there.

Look, look, look (in my Annie voice - Little Einsteins): a butterfly egg!

Chloe: "Oh wow! Hey mommy butterfly... come over here and lay more eggs!"

Chloe, look over here on this other milkweed plant.
Caterpillars!
These came out of that tiny egg (just like in the book) and they have gotten big from eating all the leafs.

Chloe: "Do their tummies hurt from eating too much?"
Me: No, these caterpillars don't eat cake and ice cream. Only plants.

I believe that this is (above) the tussock moth caterpillar…

And a humming bird moth hanging out in the grass.
Too cold today for a lot of our insect friends…

Let's put him somewhere safe so we don't step on him and so he can have a plant umbrella too. "Just like the bee, right mom?"

Right Chloe...

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out.
We also played with seed pods, squished some almost blooming day lilly flower heads (that was quite entertaining), planted some of the plants from a few weeks ago, looked at things with a magnifying glass, pruned the hydrangeas and played with the cuttings, and enjoyed a nice lunch together outback & threw the football around a bit (more laughing & running than catching) Oh, then filled the bird feeders.

Love these days with cooler weather!

- Pictures Taken With & Posted From My iPhone