bsmitch's Blog

This morning while I was watering I discovered a large box turtle in my flower bed, but I didn't have my camera. So I missed that shot. I took Sandy down to the lake for her daily swim. Tons of weekenders are here with tons of their dogs running around, so I brought the cats in until tomorrow evening when they all go back home. I forgot to bring in the cat food and there it was, in broad daylight, in the middle of the afternoon. The cutest young raccoon up on the porch, next to the storm door having his lunch. I got my camera and I was afraid it would run when it saw me. No way Jose, he just looked up and smiled at me. Here is it's picture.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

This is another photo show for the enjoyment of my gardening friends. I hope I am not being boring with so many blogs. I just love to show off.

A picture of red and lavender beebalm.

Lavender beebalm.

Passi
on flower vines starting to climb.

A beautiful butterfly  resting on a purple coneflower.

Pu
rple and ivory calla lilies.

Single
red blossom on the dwarf hollyhock.

Col
orful red/yellow daisy.

Close up of the daylilies.

Butterfly is drinking nectar from a blossom.

These
are some taller light red lilies.

A lot of love goes into growing a garden, whether it's flowers or vegies. A lot of love goes into photography, but most of all, a lot of love goes into this blog for all of you.

This old Hillbilly want to wish all of you a great day and happy gardening.

This is from a gator hunt I was on a few years back. It is posted for everyone's  entertainment especially my Louisiana friends.

Mike Kliebert  on the hunt on the bayou in the swamp.

Mike and me on the hunt.

A beautiful rustic fishing camp in the swamp.

Bruce Mitchell, Harvey Kliebert's son-in-law on the hunt in the swamp.

Hanging
the alligator bait from a cypress tree on the bayou.

A gator took the bait.

Mike bringing  the gator into the boat.

Check out these teeth.

Here I am cookin up some gator sauce picante.

In the evening the moon  over the fishing camp in the swamp.

Hope you enjoyed the hunt as much as I did.

Y'all have a great day and happy gardening. The Hillbilly, BillMitchell

I forgot to post this picture of my Lady in Red hydrangea on my June 12th post. I promised Yardgranny I would do it.

You have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

I stated in my profile that I lived on a wooded lot. I'll expand on that a bit more. Our property is about 0.7 of an acre. We have over one hundred trees, surrounding us. The white oak trees, which are the majority, are about one hundred feet tall or more. Some hickory, a few pine and cedar and others. It only takes a casual view upward to see that the places of full sun is almost nonexistent. It is a challenge to chose plants to make the kind of garden show I strive for. I don't want to brag, but if you've seen any of my photographs, you will see that I have met the challenge. The following pictures are a different perspective of looking to the heavens kind of beauty.

Looking up from the south side of the house.

View looking up from the south  toward the west or front of the house.

Looking up from the back yard, from the north east conner of the house.

View of the yard and woods in front of the house.

Looki
ng up from the north side of the house.

Looking up from the south east conner of the back yard.

In a blog yesterday, someone was asking about leaves on the flower beds during the winter.
Does any one need leaves? Check with me in December and I'll have plenty for everyone.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. The Hillbilly, Bill Mitchell

My cats were making interesting moves around the yard this morning and Sandy went to investigate the situation. She ran back into the house. Bill come quick, there's a snake outside the door. I discovered a diamond back rat snake laying straight out like a stick. It was about four to five feet long. It ignoring the cats. I took my cane and directed it under the porch. About 4:30 pm, it had ventured out into the yard again, so I picked it up and Sandy photographed us together before I released it into the woods. Here are the pictures.

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Isn't this a beautiful healthy rat killer.

Y'all have a great day and happy gardening. The Hillbilly 

This first picture is a blossom on my caladium. I didn't expect it to bloom. What a great surprise.

The red beebalm started blooming behind the beautiful malva.

Here is a close up of the red beebalm. Hummers and butterflies love these.

I started with these last year and bought more this year. The pink/purple dwarf hollyhock.

The
Daisy with promises is now a daisy with promises blooming.

These are some of my favorites. I rescued these from Lowes. Angelface Blue angelonia.

You all have a great day and happy gardening. Bill Mitchell

All in all, it was a great day. Carolyn

I love this Rascal cause she loves her baby chickens.

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I couldn't resist posting these pictures for you, your friend, Bill Mitchell 

If you can't find an alligator in the swamp, just ask me to show you one. 

You have a great day and have fun on the river. The Hillbilly

I wont bore you with many words, just pictures.

Yellow daylilies.

Colorful leaves on the canna. 

Deep lavender beebalm.

The yucca blooming.

Dwarf lavender beebalm.

Malva blossoms.

Daisy with promises.

Red lilies.

Purple calla lilies. 

Hangi
ng pot of purple petunias.

You all enjoy yourselves and have a great day and happy gardening.

Love you all , The Hillbilly

Here is a picture of a yucca getting ready to bloom for the first time. It is over eight feet now. Blame it on Bill's pee.

This next picture of the day lily and a volunteer red lily whose bulbs I dug last fall. I missed this one,

Here's a close up of the red lily.

The
se next two pictures are malva blooms.

These next two pictures are nasturtiums that I started in the cold frame from seeds.

I hope everyone is doing well and having fun working in your gardens.

You all have a great day from The Hillbilly. Bill Mitchell