sunday, august 12

it was a beautiful morning-no sweating by the gardeners-not sure it is still august because it felt like late september, early october.  it was a semi productive morning, providing that chatting among friends was our list of tasks for the day...

a look at what we saw today

 just in case you didn't get your fill of cicadas last summer, here is one for you to admire.

 i love the markings on this cicada-they almost look as if they were painted on.

 just look at the beard on this one!

 this isn't encouraging news for the tomato trial

 tennessee sweet potato squash

 passion flowers getting ready to put on a show on the arbor.

 black and blue salvia-the hummingbirds were all over this plant.

 bronze fennel in bloom

cannas-bees and hummingbirds were taking turns 

our next big project for the year

 believe it or not, this is our leaf pile.  really, it is and no i am not kidding.  hidden here under a thick carpet of bermuda grass and weeds is a pile of beautiful, fully composted leaves; our own stockpile of black gold!  we need to uncover it and move the contents to an area that will make using it possible.  before we know it, it will be fall and the new pile of leaves (that we hope to acquire) will need a place to rot.  so if anyone is looking for something to do, put on your gloves and start pulling weeds or bring a shovel and start digging out the finished compost.

some of the plants growing around the leaf pile:

 poke weed, it is poisonous-all parts of it.  i know that there are plenty of folks around that will say otherwise but unless you know when to pick it and how to cook it, steer clear of it.

 the next crop of poke-just look at all of those berries...

 deadly nightshade-nothing about this plant is edible

 pretty-anybody know the name for this plant?

 wild tradescantia

oh, and speaking of digging out the compost, it doesn't look much better over in the compost corral either.  looks like we will be digging this out too...

shirley and i dined in style; we had scones with rose hip jam on real plates with fancy napkins...girls will be girls!  join us some time, there is always something good to eat!!!