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My yard: Eye candy!!

Blessings in abundance. (October 6, 2013)

On the road. (October 5, 2013)

More on the road. (October 5, 2013)

Read about my activities in October 2013.

For two days, I have been working in, and around, my tarp shelter. At long last, the weather is pleasant and I can spend hours in my “yarden.” The BIG problem: So much to do and so little energy!! Yesterday, I moved out a lot of  “surface clutter.” Today some went back… but some went in the trash. (I considered an email to CARE and RV Park residents saying “free garden stuff” but know [from previous experience] nobody would be interested.) The pictures show the inside… left to right.

For the Winter, I will hang more bird feeders (and keep them filled). I have more of “everything bird” than I can use but alternate occasionally. Soon a new tarp will cover the framework because last season’s tarp is tattered, and leaks. (I’m so blessed to have all that storage for my garden stuff.) Before putting things away, I scrubbed dirty storage containers. (I’m glad I don’t have to pay for all the water I use [with my garden hose].)

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A Hummingbird isn’t always in motion. This little female spent a lot of time on those limbs. While I was resting (between tarp shelter tasks), I talked to her and wished her safe travels. (Hummers are migrating South now.) ~~ The Hummingbirds have spent a lot of time on my flowers. Exactly why I planted Cape Honeysuckle, Butterfly Bush, Mandevilla, etc.!!

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Can I construct a Bottle Tree? I have a heavy piece of PVC pipe in a cement base. While shifting garden stuff around, it occurred to me that I can drill holes and insert heavy-duty wire. One “limb” prepared. An interesting concept but late afternoon and I was too tired to continue.

A lot accomplished in the “yarden” this morning. Plant food sprinkled at the base of flowering plants; weeds pulled, leaves raked, sidewalk swept, etc., etc. When I relaxed in my rocking lawn chair, I had the camera in my lap. I’m only publishing a few of many pictures. The bloom on the “unknown” plant was a pleasant surprise. The original plant (in that planter) died but the “volunteer” didn’t look like a weed so I allowed it to grow. 

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Last week, at Lowe’s, I bought five mark-down plants–and browsed the entire garden department. NOW, they have Texas Lilac–and less than $20.00 (I paid $50.00 from mail order nursery). Lowe’s… were loaded with purple blooms–and many “spent” blooms. I stripped dry seeds and put them in the baggie (fortunately baggie in my purse). I’m eager to see if the seeds grow!! Next year (perhaps), I may have lots of blooms for the Butterflies and Hummingbirds?!   🙂

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Click the Hummingbird pictures to enlarge. Click a second time and the Hummingbird is visible.

A blog message from a friend included quotes from Terry Tempest Williams.

Nature quiets the mind by engaging with an intelligence larger than our own.

The Scales of Nature will always seek equilibrium.

A feather can tip the balance.

That resonates with me. On this Sunday morning, I worshiped God in my tabernacle, God’s great outdoors. Yes, “Nature quiets the mind by engaging with an intelligence larger than our own.” I watched yellow Butterflies on orange-color Cape Honeysuckle; I watched a female Ruby-throat Hummingbird sip nectar from blooms on my recent purchase Texas Lilac. I’m guessing it was the same Hummingbird on my Impatiens, Cape Honeysuckle, Butterfly Bush and Mexican Petunias. She checked each red, and pink, vase or bottle on my bottle bush. No pictures; my camera was indoors.

Mid-afternoon postscript: I watched the frog scale the metal pole and maneuver his body around to climb the side of the bird house. I watched… and did not run for my camera. I may never again have the opportunity to photograph…but I didn’t want to miss the event.

Another extremely beautiful Fall day.

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My garden has a story to tell–and I’m eager to listen. I was very surprised to see that strange green growth on my Yellow Butterfly Vine. I went to the Internet for an answer and discovered this Yellow Butterfly Vine information: “The clusters of dainty flowers on Butterfly Vine shine as brilliant as the summer sun. But it’s the seed pods that give the plant its name. During summer, chartreuse ‘wings’ unfold on the seed pods that look like butterflies. The papery pods will turn tan to brown as they mature, and they can be harvested and planted….” 

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Yellow Butterflies were visiting my flowers but they seemed constantly on-the-move. I finally got a picture but hope to get a better picture soon. That yellow butterfly added the extra detail to story about the Yellow Butterfly Vine (imho). Click the picture for more detail; click a second time for extreme close-up.

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I harvested the green peppers and will savor every single bite! This summer, I’ve had very few veggies from my garden. ~~ I watered plants and scrubbed the donated planters; five mark-down plants (from Lowe’s) got first-class treatment. ~~ Hours spent in my “yarden.”

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A great deal more activity today: Bending, kneeling, lifting (and shifting), raking, sweeping, watering, etc., etc. While in my yard, I saw the speck of color in my neighbor’s yard– and investigated. That looks like a Crocus but the wrong time of year?! And, a miracle the riding lawn mower didn’t annihilate it. ~~ I turned my back on the yard at two-fifty, uploaded pictures, and prepared this blog. It’s almost four-thirty as I publish this… and will begin to prepare a salad with “store-bought” veggies. ~~ Our weather has been perfect the last few days!! Hallelujah!!

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