Diggin' in the Dirt Newsletter - Summer

Even though the official first day of summer is not until next week, summer is already in full swing in North Central Texas!

I write a quarterly newsletter for my clients 

with seasonal tips and gardening information for our challenging climate.   

If you garden in Zone 7/8, you might find it helpful. 

You can check it out by clicking here.

Happy Summer!

I'm back ...

Toni :-)

When a Garden Blogger Gets Busy

When a garden blogger gets busy

She has no time for posting

For landscapes need completing

before temperatures start to roasting

There's plans that need a drawing

and plants to go in ground

But time for garden blogging

just never can be found

Seems scores of other projects

keep getting in her way
May 15th even passed her by,
the Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

There's dirt beneath her nails

as the sun shines long and bright

Yet she longs to blog again

when time is not so tight

So pictures are in waiting

and info is on hold

Just hoping that her following

does not grow dry and cold

Remember...
a day without dirt under your nails is like a day without sunshine :-)

Until I blog again...

Toni :-)

An Alphabet for April (E-H)

"E"

is for Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'  

Although this plant blooms in late summer, early autumn, the foliage is beautiful this month.  And besides, any plant with the name Chocolate is a winner in my book :-)

 

"F"

is for the fabulous foliage of Farfugium

I have five different varieties of this great shade plant.

Farfugium used to be called Ligularia, and the common name is Leopard Plant, which is fitting for this spotted variety, 'Aureomaculatum'

This Green Leopard Plant has no spots

This beautifully variegated variety is

'Kaimon Dake'

Farfugium 'Giganteum' has giant leaves

'Shishi Botan' has curly leaves

 "G"

is for the green, green grass of home

A few weeks ago we top-dressed the lawn with compost.  

Click here to see the "before" pictures.

"H"

is for happiness

My arm is finally 100% healed, so I am back to diggin' in the dirt :-)

I am no longer a gimpy gardener -- just a happy one with dirt under my nails!

Remember...

a day without dirt under your nails is like a day without sunshine.

To see the Alphabet for April (A-D) post, click here

Who knows what the rest of the alphabet will bring...

Toni :-)

Amazing Love

Greater love has no one than this, 

that He lay down His life for His friends.  

John 15:13

Amazing love, how can it be
that you my King would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
It's my joy to honor You
In all I do, I honor You
(song by Chris Tomlin)

*   *   *

May you know the amazing love of Jesus.

Happy Resurrection Sunday.  He has risen!

Toni :-)

A Shot in the Light

I originally had no intention of entering the Picture This Contest hosted by Gardening Gone Wild this month.  

Being the ultra-novice photographer that I am, 

taking a photo featuring an artist's eye for lighting  

seemed more like a shot in the dark.  

Inspired by some recent entries by other bloggers, though, I thought I'd look through my picture files to see if I could find something remotely worthy of an entry.

Here are some pictures I took on one of our trips to Oregon.

 A spectacular sunset over the hills surrounding the Willamette Valley

This is my aunt's bed & breakfast in the hills overlooking 

the Willamette Valley.  

The rolling hills of vineyards are aglow in the autumn light.

The Japanese Gardens of Portland are a must-see 

for any visit to the Pacific Northwest. 

I love how the light is filtering through the Japanese Maples 

causing their reflection in the pond below.

Visit the contest gallery page to see which photo I entered.

Enjoy...

Toni :-)

"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all."

1 John 1:5

An Alphabet for April (A-D)

"A"

is for the acrobatic Anole that hangs out on the head of my "peacock crane."   I love watching his antics as he sits on his perch above the pond.

"B"

is for the beautiful blooms of  Larkspur and 'Henry Duelberg' Salvia that have created a sea of blue in my front perennial bed.

 "C"

is for the cheerful Calylophus that brightens each side of 

my driveway.

"D"

is for the mourning Dove that has nested in the hanging basket on my side porch. She has a couple downy-feathered babies kept close under wing.

Happy April ....

Toni :-)

What's Bloomin' - April 2011

Time for a look at what's bloomin' in my garden this April.

Welcome to my spring garden 

The Somnifera Poppies and Larkspur 

are taking center stage this month.

 Happy poppies make for happy bees :-)

Byzantine Glads 

make me...

glad :-)

'May Night' Salvia

and

California Poppies

'Bath's Pink' Dianthus

and

'Snow Hill' Salvia

Salvia Greggii

and 

Bluebonnets

Bearded Iris are a pass-along plant from a friend

'Henry Duelberg' Salvia,

Ox-Eye Daisy,

and 

Calylophus

Somnifera Poppies

'Augusta Duelberg' Salvia (white)

'Henry Duelberg' Salvia (blue)

Ox-Eye Daisies

Water iris blooming in the pond

 

Waterlilies in the pond

 

'Texas Gold' Columbine brighten my shady backyard

The Knock-Out Rose 

lives up to its name this month!

Annual dianthus braved the cold winter and 

returned for an encore performance this spring.


Visit Garden Bloggers Bloom Day 
to see what's bloomin' in other areas of the world.

Happy Bloom Day!

Toni :-)