Pileated Woodpecker Sighting, Garden stuff and No Internet for 3 Days!!

Wow, it's been awhile since I've been back online!! No stinking Internet for 3 lovely days-not. I've missed all the Garden Gossip. But I've seen alot of stuff here around the gardens. And sometimes it's nice not to sit inside clicking away at the keys.  You've seen my neighbors dead,dead, dead tree that all the big birds love. Today while outside expecting the last of the pretty flowers. This big bird threw overhead and headed straight for the Big Tree. Not until I got inside and looked at my Photos did I notice that it was a "Pileated Woodpecker". They are few and far between here. But they do come. He was huge and that red head is so funny looking. It's not a great picture. But they don't stay around long and my camera wasn't doing what I wanted it too!! It's me not the camera. But I just thought you'll would love to see him. I love surprises like this in my garden...

So I missed the Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th and some other stuff. The other day while coming out of the garage I noticed this BIG moth sitting in the Azaleas next to a piece of bark. Don't know who he is but he was sure awesome looking. Had to run and fetch my camera for him. I will research later  He kinda reminds me of a Jet Plane.

So like I said I missed posting bloom day but right now there's not much blooming in the garden. Just the old stand-bys--Coneflowers, Tall Phlox, Black eyed Susan and Brown eyed, Red Shift Coreopsis, Butterfly Bush (White and Purple) and the Beautiful  "Royal Standard Hosta" with there big white blooms. I love white and this is a great performer for your Big Everyday Hosta. Shiny leaves and lots of white flowers. Great Performer if you like green and white flowers.

The other thing that;s happening is -I bought some "Foxglove Plants about 2 months ago and the foliage has gotten pretty big, well one is giving me a flower!! It's Cream. Will it die and not come back, this is my first. I know they are Bi-ennials. If someone could let me know!!!!

The sky has been beautiful this week also. Here are the morning pics. from Friday. We have been having some really bad storms here but when I see these clouds it makes me so happy and they kinda remind me of fall.  I love these kinds of clouds. Do you see the Buffalo in the right hand corner :) Well, it's looks kinda like one. I love seeing shapes in the sky. The sky was super blue and the morning was a cool crisp morning. I had other stuff happening but lost track of it. So for now I'm signing off and wishing you'll a beautiful safe garden day. Peace Out. Joyce

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, Happy 4th of July, and May Old Glory wave her colors forever. It's good to be an "American". It means alot to me because this is all I know. And my father and husband are both veterans and flying the flag gives me great pleasure. Today is a day to gather with family and friends and celebrate our Independence. I don't know about you but I got my plans all laid out for today-woo who. Gather, laugh, hug, eat, talk about the good times, eat some more talk garden with my girlfriend and have fireworks tonite :) Life is good!!! And I am passing on great happiness for your day also!!

OK, on another note. My mystery plant turned out to be a beautiful White 'Gladiolus x hortulanus'.

I hate these I don't know how this got into the garden. It hasn't bloomed for two years so I probably forgot I even put it in. I do love the color "White" in the garden maybe that's why it's here. I thought I was going to have my first "CROCOSMIA" plant!!! Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to go to the nursery and purchase a one!!! Don't get me wrong this is a lovely flower and it has a hint of purple on the inside, I love purple. But just not these, they remind me too much of funeral flowers and I can't get passed that. I hope I'm not offending anyone. Gee you think I have strong feelings on this one!

Anyway on to something that makes me smile. That would be my hostas.Here is 'Sum & Substance' with flower in the early morning sun. You can see how she is a real nice pale green and is humongous sitting next to that real dark green hosta which isn't that small either. That one was a baby off of someone, don't know who.

And here is my 'Pink Crape Mrytle' that was destroyed a few years back by Winter Ice. She has come back nicely but I've neglected to trim her this year. So I will get to it!

And here is what Jerry and I have been working on this weekend. My Greenhouse. 1/2 day job my Aunt Fanny. The book says 2 people 1/2 day. They must not take into consideration of older adults. Who need to take potty breaks and water breaks and breaks from working with each other that stop the work so you can re-group your  thoughts in the hot sun :) So it wasn't too bad to get up, the only thing is that the foundation part of this is explained on page (30) after you have the dumb thing together. Then you level the stupid foundation and move the greenhouse back on top and secure. Then you have a load of nuts and bolts and braces to put on to stabilize the dumb thing. And pray like HELL that a Storm doesn't blow the darn thing away. Mine isn't GLASS but a poly something. So not operational yet. The Heat is coming back so we have to work after 4 in the shade. But my little house gets Sun all day until then. I still need supplies and you know me I have been thinking about what plants I want to place around my little greenhouse already. The ground over there is like a ROCK, boy I have my work cut out for me. I have alot of amending to do over there if I want anything to grow!!  Hey, it's a new toy.

Early this morning I painted this birdhouse I had laying around. Just need to clear coat and out it goes!! What do you think?   So I will leave you with that note. Thanks for stopping by me and my ramblings. Again Happy 4th of July and see you soon!!! And thanks for stopping by with my silliness.

Cloudy with a chance of "Gazing Ball"!!

Wow, can't believe I haven't been here since April 2nd. So lots of things going on in my gardens. I just finished one of the new beds from the plan I had posted earlier. It's the Hosta area the pictures on the right. The photo on the Left is the already excisting bed and now it has an "Garden Entrance".

 I transplanted (7) hostas from around the yard that needed to be transfered. Here are there names:

"Sum and Substance" (1)-Light green HUGE
"Patriot"-(2)-Green w/white brim
"Guacamole" (1) Gift from a friend -Green w/pale green/yellow brim HUGE

"Wide Brim" (1) Med Green w/yellow brim

"Ernest Markem" (1)- green w/green brim

"And one name I forgot" (1) made ya smile

These are just a few of my collection in my gardens. I adore "Hostas"..... I can't wait to see them grow and fill-in this area. They are surrounding my pretty "White Hydrangea". .I'm taking an oath-" I will try and not plant anything else in there this year I will leave it alone" you read it here so I have to be true to my word!!! Maybe some annuals:)

Over the weekend I painted the "Garden Shed" beige (I know BORING) BUT I'm going to paint the trim a blue/violet and I will dress it up with some gingerbread molding of another color. And on one side I will paint a garden mural on there. I will post pics. when finished with that. The garden trells is painted and up. Just have to figure out what to grow there, still thinking!! This gets morning sun and dappled afternoon shade.

The other great things to look at this time of year of the "Ants on the Peonies".  This one is "Paula Faye" a beautiful single Herbeous Peony with beautiful bright Charteuse Pink with yellow center. I know it doesn't look that color yet but the buds are still pretty tight.

The other day I went out to the little pond  as always to give my fish some food and I didn't see anyone-ugh. On NO, not again this year. I thought "Oh Man" someone ate my darn fish, I knew I shouldn't have taken off the net and cleaned it. Well I stood there for awhile threw in the food and finally a couple came to the top,grabbed the food and took cover again.  I had 6 now I'm down to 5. And you know they took the biggest darn one. His name was "Big Gold" so you know they had a buffet meal with him. He was one of the original pond dwellers and now he's gone-"A moment of silence please".

So ok you say, their just fish, you look in their little fish eyes everyday and tell me you can just walk away and not care!!! Well for me I like taking care of stuff and I really get attached !!!! :)

OK with that said- off to petsmart :)

I could sit and here and upload spring flower photos forever. I love flowers and gardening. And my gardens will never be finished!!!

The other thing I'm working on today which I'm a little late on doing this is I'm making a little "Gnome Cottage" on a big rock for a friends birthday I will post a pic. when finished. House is still under construction!!!

So today we are finally getting a little rain and that's why I'm doing inside work and updating. Have a beautiful garden day and hope you come back to see me and what's happening in my Gardens. Peace Out...