yardgranny6's Blog

Here is a photo of my daughter in laws Thanksgiving Cactus (Zygocactus Truncata). It has been outside for the second winter on her small front porch.

I am intrigued by the red tint on its leaves. She has done a couple of cuttings and they have this same tint. Could it be because it has been outdoors? I will take some cuttings to see if it stays true in a different setting.

She also has what we consider an annual geranium that is actually putting out pink blooms. That porch is acting as a micro system. It appears there is not a lot of wind that crosses this area.

A past GG member Harley shared several leaf cuttings of her African Violets a few years ago. Most did well except for one which has a variegated leaf. When those first cuttings did not take she sent me 2 or 3 more. One of those finally grew for me and is now a nice baby plant. The original leaf is still strong and I will try to start a new plant from it.

The bottom photo is a trailing AV from a friend here at home. She says it has pink flowers and I am looking forward to seeing it bloom. I have had it only a few months and it has really grown.

Yardgranny says Enjoy the Day

 Trailing African Violet

Hot and humid in South Carolina. We have had continual afternoon thunderstorms, some have left a lot of damage but the rain has staved off  drought conditions.

In leaving a doctors office I noticed all these beautiful Yellow Tropical Hibiscus plants. They were in full bloom.

This red rose grows just over my fence in the neighbors yard. It was so pretty on this day.

My son has grown some delicious tomatoes in his yard this year. The best tasting tomato I have had in years. Also I tried the 'corn on the cob in the microwave' this week. I only put in one full ear with shuck and all for 2 minutes. Take it out, cut off the stalk end and squeeze the ear of corn out of the shuck. I did make a cut into the shuck but the ear came right out with no silks - fantastic. You must give this method a try. Happy gardening.

Hard to believe it has been nearly 6 months since I posted on Garden Guides. I do look it some but not like I used to.

In looking out in the back of my yard I saw that the Rose of Sharon is blooming but was covered by a renegade Mimosa sapling. Took my loppers and cut it back so I could see the beautiful rosy pink flowers.

Completed a pretty big task in cutting the landscape Azaleas back a week ago. They were so overgrown. As we have had many spring/summer like showers they are recovering and look wonderful. The plants had whitelflies and Azalea lace bug damage. I did spray an environmentally safe product on them and will need to do that a couple more times over the season. My goal is to have healthy looking plants come next spring.

Thought I had lost my gorgeous double white Clematis, but in the last few weeks it has sprouted from the root. It may be nicer and more beautiful than ever. I look forward to seeing how it blooms next spring. The pink one bloomed fair this year.

This pink daylily is blooming now and it is called Joylene Nichole and the next one is Alberts Blueberry purchased from Browns Ferry Daylily Gardens a few years ago.

There are many daylilies blooming now and I so enjoy them. Especially since they don't require that I keep the beds clean. I love forgiving plants. No matter if I can get out there and keep everything nice and tidy, they just give me great joy. Have fun digging and resting in your gardens.

This is the first year in a long time that Christmas decorations have been put out in my home. It is so nice to see my two Dancing Santas and watch them dance once in a while. My mantle scarf that was purchased some years ago looks to pretty. Took down all the boxes of Christmas stuff and weeded out some things to donate. I am looking forward to having pared down so there is not quite so much to store.I only have a 4 1/2 foot artificial tree but am thinking about looking for a 6ft tree after Christmas, unless I find a fantastic deal before hand. 

My African Violets have multiplied thanks to leaf cuttings from a former GG member. Out of 14 plants 12 are in full bloom. They are so comforting and beautiful. They ask so little but give so much.

Dancing Santas and the Skate Doll plays music and moves around a little. She is so old I can't believe she still works.

.

The little frame holds a photo of a cardinal my oldest son drew from a Christmas card when he was about 10.

This Nativity is very old as well having come from a promotion from his work. It does come out each year if nothing else makes it.

This Snowman was purchased on a visit to Cass, WV when we were visiting a good friend. It is a treasure for me and reminds me of the snow, fun and the scenery of Pocahontus county.

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year. It was fun to connect with my GG friends while listening to Christmas carols on the radio.

This is a photo of a reblooming Iris from a couple of years ago. Just haven't taken more photos since. I have a yellow also that is pretty.

Did find a beautiful yellow day lily blooming this week. So nice to see something that is not dried up or over run with weeds.

I love sunflowers. They can become beautiful bright and happy flowers or bring you a great big smile as you walk through your gardens.

This sunflower was so neat it became the subject for a article all on its own. You can read it here.

It just seemed to be having so much fun with the two bees that were pollinating at the time.

The Blackbirds were also enjoying the sunflwers in the last weeks. They managed to eat most of the seeds from the heads as they hung down from the weight of the flower and the heat that has everything drooping. Including me.

This Squirrel took his sunflower seed head and sat on the old swing support. He managed to eat every bit of his treat.

It has been a yard busy with activity from the birds, including the hummer. Bluebirds, Cardinals, Blackbirds, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Nuthatch, Chickadee and others. I opened my blinds one morning to spy a pair of Rufous Sided Towhees getting their breakfast - only see them a few times a year.

More To Come Later

These two AV's were cuttings from a GG member 'Harley'. She hasn't been on in a long time, I am hoping she will pop in and see how her leaf cuttings are doing.

These are the first flowers to bloom. It takes at least two years before the leaf becomes a plant and then blooms. These are really pretty and in colors I do not have. I have several other plants that are still growing from her cuttings. I really like the strong leaf on this purple AV.

This one is just plain sweet looking.

These are the most beautiful flowers I have in my life. My two grands that live just up the street. :-)

They went to Myrtle Beach with their parents, my son and his wife. She is 17 and he is 13.

More To Come Later

There is a pink/yellow Lantana in my back yard that is just so pretty right now. These photos were taken with my cell phone and aren't the best.  There is an orange/yellow in the front. Both these plants love this heat and dry weather.

This is Dicliptera Subetera which also loves the heat. The Hummers will be all over this plant right up until a hard freeze.

Really need to get some good photos of these plants. 

More To Come Later

to breathe outside now and these 90 to 100 degrees will last all the coming week. Thought I would share some color from the gardens with you. The first is a daylily that I do not remember the name. It is so pretty.

This is a sunflower that grew from birdseed. There are many through out the yard this year.

Here is my infamous purple chair with the daylilies in the foreground. The lilies are loving this heat and can survive with very little water.

Seems the yellows and oranges have taken over the flower beds. Just glad to have the color to enjoy from the windows.

More To Come Later

Remember that old song - Summertime, Summertime, Sum Sum Summertime?  Well it is back with a vengence. Heat indexs lingering around 100 degrees.

Managed to go out and take a few pictures and found a couple of surprises.

The Green Jewel coneflower I put out last year was BLOOMING so nicely? I was thrilled to see it this lush looking.

This lily is so pretty but I cannot remember its name.

The Red Beelbalm is doing so well this year. It had gotten crowded out last year but crept through the rosemary and found its own place. I will need to transplant some of it for next year. Seems it does like to ramble.

Then there is Gaillardia, such a faithful plant in my gardens. Do wish to have more variety of this plant. It comes back every year. Most of the time it doesn't even die completely down during the winter.

More To Come Later

That I am hoping it means the full blast of summer won't be so bad. It is about 3:30 here and 90 degrees, can't imagine what the heat index is.

Found two of these rail items at a charity yard sale. I have placed them upright to make a trellis that a Mandavilla can vine on. I painted them black to match the iron railings that are already in my flower bed. Set them in place this morning and planted the Mandy.

The hosta I won at the last Master Gardener meeting was planted back in the shade garden. Hope the heat won't send either of these plants into shock. It took me about an hour and a half to do this and it was already 85 degrees. Had to take shelter on the ramp and enjoy the birds.

More To Come Later

And this has been a hard season for me and my gardens. My get up and go has slowed to a snails pace. The blog by dbjc364 made me realize that I will need help in order to get the hardest part of the work done if I am to enjoy my landscape this year. Circustances out of my control have caused the gardens to grow on their own for at least two years. And a fence line loves to be left alone to support the many different vines, plus the old azaleas love to grow completely out of bounds to where they are not pretty any more. I can do longer see my beautiful Golden Rod though I think it is still there. This has to change.

So tomorrow I put out the call for help from family and friends. I will promise them food - that usually gets them to agree - and in a matter of a few hours the job will be complete. Something that I will not be able to do alone in the next months. Wish us well and good weather - no 100 degree heat and too much humidity.

A little bunny has shown up in the neighborhood again this year. It was two years ago I was able to watch a bunny grow up in my yard. It was a lot of fun and he didn't harm the plants either. I wrote a little story about my friend the bunny and you can read it here if you like.

http://www.examiner.com/ga
rdening-in-columbia/bunnies-th
e-garden-can-be-fun-and-entert
aining

This is the bunny from 2009

More To Come Later

Here is my one and only Lousiana Iris - this one is Gamecock and I bought it years ago for my husband the South Carolina University fan. I was glad to see it this year especially.

This is a pretty butterscotch color Iris. Don't know if my Iris will bloom well this year. The Iris bed is overrun with wild honeysuckle and needs a lot of TLC. I will delight in all that will bloom and cheer my heart.

This is my pink Knockout rose. All four of these did so well. The second photo is the Yellow which goes to a very light creme color as it fades away.

This is a new Hosta that grabbed me by the leg and wouldn't let go as I passed through the Walmart garden center. Didn't have one like this and now it is ready to put up a nice flower shoot. My reward for my 4 dollars spent.

And last two old tables that needed a bright color. Red of course.

Opps one more. My doggy friend Macey from next door and a 4 month old visiting blond lab. Such pretty dogs.

More To Come Later

My neighbor had a large pecan tree cut down and I was able to have this fine young man prune up a small oak tree that was making its way to the roof and take a couple of low hanging branches off another.He also through into the deal cutting back some dead wood in the old Dogwood tree for free.  Now my small Rose of Sharon will not have to bend over to seek the sun. It will need some pruning and staking in order for it to grow properly. At least now I can get to it.

Have cleaned up the area under that old Dogwood tree and am ready for the next small bed cleanup. Health problems the last few weeks have kept me down but I am not out yet. The spring weeds in the big bed are dying down and I am hopeful I will be able to clean it up, move some plants and get rid of some others. The pathway will need to be sprayed with round up and mulched really good soon.

Love reading all about you Garden Guide gardening and seeing photos of your plants as they produce in the south and emerge in the northern tier of the US. We all have such wonderful plants and experiences. Keep blogging and posting.

More To Come Later