Thank You Mr. Shady!

I went on a Tea Party/Garden Lover bus tour with friends today!

While I was gone, just LOOK at what Mr. Shady did for me!!

(SW corner of the house)

 Look closely at the front left support above.  Do you see a hose that heads up to the side of the house?

Now, look at the photo below....

see where that hose ends up?

So- when the barrel is empty, I have easy access to the pay-for water.

 The water barrel below (SE corner of the house) was created last year... in the background,

you can see the water barrel highlighted above!

One more new water barrel below...  this is the NE side of the house - 

right by the lily bed.

Let it rain, Let it rain, Please let it rain! 

:-)

Not On MY Turf!

Crab Spider on Purple Coneflower

or

Misumena vatia on Echinacea purpurea

Would you like to know some facts? 

1.  The Crab Spider can change its color to camouflage with its surroundings.  It may take a few days, but it can be white, yellow or green.  They eat insects and are poisonous - but not harmful to humans.  :-)  

The Crab Spider sits on flowers, waiting for its prey.  When it lands close enough, the spider grabs its prey with its claw like front legs.  The male is smaller than the female.  This information, and more, is available at this site:  Crab Spider.

2.  Purple Coneflower is a native wildflower found in the midwest and southeastern United States.  It self seeds and is easily propagated.  It thrives in full sun to partially shaded conditions.  More information is available at this site.  Purple Coneflower.

Peek-a-boo through a dirty kitchen window!

Green Thumb Sunday (almost) - July 31, 2011

Another part of Mr. Shady's prairie.

This is a future food plot for Winter Wildlife.

 Already facing east for the morning!

(taken at 7:00 P.M.)

Prairie Photos - Green Thumb Sunday

 

 

Green Thumb Sunday -

Our Prairie Photos!

What's blooming 

"Your Way?" 

Sauntering Forth on Saturday - Back of the House "Lily Bed"

 When we moved here, nearly 10 years ago, this bed held three or four regular yew bushes and two uprights.

I dug them, with help, and moved them to a neighbor's house - along with a spirea from the front of the house!

In Early Spring 2011, the bed looked like this:

On June 3, 2011, it looked like this:

       

 

On June 8, 2011, it looked like this:

On June 28, 2011 - this:

And today, July 21, everything is weary and worn and looking stressed from the recent week or so of extremely hot temperatures and no rain.  (I'm watering, but just enough to get by.)

And, by the way, the lens got foggy due to going from air conditioning outdoors to the humid hot air outdoors.

'Summer Wine' (7/15/11) - Perky

'Summer Wine 7/21/11 - Pallid

'Purple d'Oro' - Perky - 7/15

'Purple d'Oro' - Pallid - 7/21

Unnamed - Perky - 7/15

Unnamed - Pallid - 7/21

'Miracle Maid' - Perky and no longer in bloom  7/15

'Tropicana' - Perky and no longer in bloom 7/15

'Fragrant Treasure' - Perky and no longer blooming.  7/10

Well - I know it's going to rain.  And yes, when the weather cooperates a bit, I'll be sifting my compost and adding leaf mold again to top dress ALL the beds!!!  :-)

Quick - Wordless Wednesday - Before it's Too Late!

Photos taken on prairie - September 5, 2010

Photos property of http://yardisgreen.blogspot.com