Which One ?

These flowers all belong to the same family - sort of like far distant cousins.

PICTURE NUMBER 1

PICTURE NUMBER 2

PICTURE NUMBER 3



All of these blossoms look very much alike - but can you guess which one produces a favorite in the garden? Or at least in our garden here in Oklahoma. Not all parts of the country has the proper growing season for it.

If your guess was picture number 2 - then you were correct.

ANSWER - Okra

The okra in our garden is still producing an abundant amount. We normally pick it every other day. I have put lots in the deep freeze and plan on putting more in there. However, like all our garden produce we keep about 10 percent and give away the rest.

If you are close by - holler - and we will give you the next picking.

Oh, in case you are wondering about the other flowers - Rose of Sharon - single and double blossoms.


Amelia♥

Still a weed?

Remember back end of August I had a post about a weed in one of my flower beds. I now believe it is a weed as I have seen several in fields around the country side. Of course, I just spot them from the car - but they look the just like mine. However, all of them appear to be smaller than the one we have.



You can tell how much it has grown in the past month.



Weed or not - still think it adds a lot to the flower bed...perhaps not the favorite place I would have planted it - but still I like it and not cutting it down - until after frost.


Side note - tomorrow I am helping with a funeral dinner at church - loss of a 18 month old child. She had many health issues from the time she was born (two months early at that) until her death...spent most of the time in the hospital. Her parents knew she did not have much of a chance at all from the very beginning - but still it hurts. Keep Paul and Shelly Adams in your prayers...now their precious baby girl Leah is in heaven with our Father feeling no pain at all.


Amelia

A Weed or a Surprise

Several weeks ago I noticed this plant growing in one of the flower beds...could not tell then (or now) if it was a weed...but I just left it. Leon says anything that grows in the flower bed is a flower...some are tame and some are wild.

The plant is now just an inch or so under three feet tall. To keep it semi-straight I put a stake by it a couple or so weeks ago. This is the "questionable" plant. I don't recall ever seeing one growing out in the wild - but maybe I just over looked it. You can tell by these close up shots the flowers are small and dainty. The white at the edge of the leaves started appearing as the flowering began.

You can see the browning of some of my other plants in the back ground. The heat and lack of rain has not caused any damage to this mystery plant...so in that respect I think it could be a weed. I have done some computer research on weeds in Oklahoma but have not come up with anything.

So - is this a weed - or a garden plant whose seed was deposited by the wind or a bird?


Have a great week


Amelia

Dry, Brown and Crunchy

The title of this post describes so much of our yard...and a lot of my flowers. Water from the hose just does not do the same as good old water from the sky....remember that is called "Rain". We did get three drops around noon...certainly did not do any good.

No one wants to see ugly - so I will share some pictures of the flowers that are still pretty. On the pictures of the little frog - look closely to see it...he/she is the size of my thumb...so cute.

I am ready for some cooler weather...have not checked the temperature today - but perhaps we did not reach 100. If that is true will be the first day in about 3 to 4 weeks. Certainly will enjoy the fall weather this year.

Still not working on any quilty things - have been doing some scrapbook layouts - that is about the extinct of my creative projects.

Take care - if in the area - stop by!


Amelia Hugs from me to you!

What is it?

While checking out some local yard-garage-estate sales this morning...and finding quite a few bargains...Leon found this item. Cost was only $1.00 - so could not go wrong on that part. The man conducting this estate sale did not know for sure it's intended use. Leon said he had never seen anything like it.

Both Leon and the gentlemen think it is a gardening hoe - or is it? Have any of your readers scattered through the world seen anything like it? If so, fill us in on the details.

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While out in the yard I snapped some pictures of the flowers...the ones in the pots look fair - but require watering practically every day...the ones in the yard are looking rather pitiful. I water them - but water from the hose is just not the same as a good rain.  

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We found several other bargains while out this morning...no pictures now....but they range from a Fossil brand wallet (practically new) for $1.00 - two glass bowls - a couple of large straw baskets - chain saw for cutting limbs (also had a weed eater attachment - this part never used) chain saw one time---several bracelets, and a few other items. Had a wonderful time too!

Looks like the temperature is going to stay below 100 degrees today...wonderful news! However, according to the weather map it is headed back up for several days.

Ya'll take care - Hugs from my house to yours!



Amelia

Colors in the Flower Garden

Several colors come to mind - but the one color that appeared on one of my plants was not a welcome sight.

A week or so ago I posted about purchasing a new Rose of Sharon shrub...the kind with the double blossom. It was the most expensive plant I have ever purchased...then the use of high quality potting soil we placed around just drove the cost involved up even more. About 3 days after planting I noticed the bottom leaves were turning yellow...at first I thought plant shock - as I know this happens from time to time. A few more days went by - more leaves dropping - I was watering it some - but not very much. Friday evening I stuck a stick down beside the plant and it came out soaking wet plus the soil around it had a soured smell. I fully realized what was happening - my poor plant was drowning - the soil beneath the potting mixture is clay...it was forming a bowl shaped hole and was holding the water.

The next question was where to place it - Leon (bless his heart - he does love his woman) dug several test holes before we found one that did not have clay that far down. Sure I could have done this digging - but he wanted to be the one to do the digging with the post hole diggers and the shovel...so I let him be my "knight in shining armor" with these tools.

Only time will tell as to whether it will live or not - I certainly hope so. Not only because of the expense and labor so far...but the flowers on it are so pretty. You can see the yellow leaves - not a pretty sight, is it? This is one of the few flowers left on the bush. This Rose of Sharon is planted just a few feet from the sickly one...so the soil must be good here. We have three Boston ferns on the front porch - and two on the back. They must be watered everyday...especially with these high temperatures we have been experiencing lately. This mass of greenery is primarily cypress fern...if you not familiar with them I will give a tiny bit of background...very very small leaf with a red flower...and it is a climber deluxe...probably by the month of October this wire will nearly be covered in the vine. This is a close up shot of the cypress vine. The hydrangea flowers are not as pretty as they were several weeks ago...most of them have lost the bright pink. The elephant ears are standing guard at the NE corner of the house. This year the spider plants or airplane plants (I have heard them called both names) are producing so many off spring...sure wish I knew of someone that would like to have a starter plant. Just a pretty picture of flowers in an old wooden wishing well pot.

Enjoy the upcoming week - even if the road has an unexpected curve - this just means we need to lean on God more and less on ourselves.


Amelia

Garden in early July

It has been some time since I have shown some of the flowers growing in the flower beds around our place. I keep saying that is all I am going to put out...but then I find some on sale and my fingers start itching to take these lovely plants home. Yesterday I bought a double flowered Rose of Sharon...I have a couple of the single flowered ones. I had been talking about how pretty the double ones have been this year...Leon said only reason I did not have one was because I had not bought it. Stopped by the feed store yesterday - they had two left - 35% off - so got one...we got it planted late this evening. I will post a picture later on ... by the time we got thru we were sweating profusely and declared it was shower/bath time. Today found some gallon size strawberry plants on sale at Lowes for $1.50 each...they had eleven left...so took all of them. Our strawberry patch has lost a lot of the plants...don't know what the reason...so it was time to replace some of them. While at the feed store yesterday also picked up some more ground cover plants. We have not planted them yet - but will tomorrow maybe.

Here are some pictures of around our place...most of the plants you will recognize - but if you don't let me know and I will respond. <  

This is just a small amount of the plants/flowers in our yard. I will show others at another time.


Amelia