Author: Timelesslady

Married with children and grandchildren. Reader, writer, painter - maybe a bit of an artist. Gardener... Led by the Spirit.

Plant – Displaying a Staghorn Fern

On By TimelessladyIn Plants22 Comments

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I always admire the staghorn ferns in the fern passage at Longwood Gardens. I’ve grown one of these beautiful plants for about six months in an ordinary garden pot. After a recent visit to the gardens, I was inspired to mount and display it properly.

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Staghorn ferns do not need a lot of compost. I used soil amended with vermiculite and perlite to lighten the weight.

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I planned on displaying my fern on my living room wall, but didn’t want to use a natural basket or piece of wood due to possible water stains. I found a good alternative in a wire basket that I had on hand. My first step was to line the bottom with coffee filters to keep the soil in bounds.

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The root system is not large in comparison to the rest of the plant. It fit perfectly in the small narrow basket.

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I planted the fern at an angle, allowing the fronds to cascade over the sides.

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Chair leg pads were a good choice to keep the basket off of the wall. These are self-stick and only took a moment to apply.

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I was pleased with the display after it was hung on the wall. I will update the progress as the fern grows.

Phascination – Ladybugs

On By TimelessladyIn Phascination27 Comments

Never hurt a ladybug
We need them in the garden
Ladybugs help flowers grow
So we must give them pardon!
~Author Unknown

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I love ladybugs. I’ve loved bugs, and been fascinated by them, since I was a baby—this is according to my mother. How could anyone not love a tiny ladybug? On top of being one of the most attractive and whimsical beetles in all the insect world, they are amazing garden predators. I photographed the ladybugs in the collage during a very warm, Autumn afternoon.

The spotted red ‘ladybug’ we all know so well (more correctly called the ‘lady beetle’ or ‘ladybird beetle’, as these insects are true beetles and not bugs) does dine on the occasional aphid and other soft-bodied pest, but like many insects, it doesn’t really eat all that much in its adult form. It’s the ladybug’s larvae that are voracious predators of soft-bodied problem insects, especially aphids. Gardeners plagued by those sap-sucking perfidious pests (i.e. rose growers) should become acquainted with the appearance of this beneficial ladybug baby; otherwise, they might try to kill the spiny, scary-looking, alligator/dragon-like things!

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I came upon a bit of garden chaos last week; swarms of ladybugs flying around one corner of my house. Aha! A wintry mystery solved. Every year we have a few ladybugs take up residence inside our house. These rooms get the most afternoon sunshine and the outer walls of the house become toasty. I realize now the ladybugs I find inside are only a few stragglers from the multitude using our outer siding for their winter hibernation. The downspout is their road to a refuge from the cold.

Will I plug up the crack/hole in the siding where they enter? Not right now. I like to think of a swarm of ladybugs re-emerging in the Spring ready to lay the eggs of their voracious larva.

I’ve already found a couple of stragglers in the house.

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Does this upset me?

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No indeed! I am happy to see them. I give them a ride on the edge of a piece of paper and place them on a hospitable houseplant.

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Take a look at this great article about indoor ladybugs: Ladybuglady.com

People – Operation Christmas Child

On By TimelessladyIn People4 Comments

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Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, is a wonderful program providing Christmas Shoeboxes to children in need all around the world.

“From children to seniors, people pack shoebox gifts each year to bless children in need around the world. Parents often use the project to teach their kids about giving. Year-round volunteers support these efforts across the country.”

It’s easy to fill a shoebox with gifts and necessities for a child. The hard part is getting all you want to send into the box! When I imagine the box being opened up, and the toys, school supplies, and toiletries discovered, I feel real joy. There is still time to take part in this wonderful endeavor. Visit Operation Christmas Child for more information.

Place – Longwood Chrysanthemum Festival

On By TimelessladyIn Place19 Comments

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Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is having its yearly Chrysanthemum Festival. As always, the conservatory is filled with beautiful flowers and amazing feats of training the chrysanthemums to grow into unique shapes.

Here’s a close-up of one of the techniques they use.

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There are shapes of all kinds to marvel over and enjoy. Most of these are created with only one chrysanthemum plant. Amazing!

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Whatever the season, Longwood Gardens has something outstanding to enjoy.

Perspective – Look Up – Revelation Song

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective1 Comment

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone.”
~ Isaiah 44:24

It’s not so much about what divides us, the important thing is what UNIFIES us. Look up!

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
~ Psalm 121:1

Take a moment to witness some unity in a shattered world. ‘Revelation Song’ by Jennie Lee Riddle, sung in languages from all over the world.

This song tells the story of one who will stay with you through all your time on this earth, and throughout eternity in the next.

Posies – Easy Bouquet & Quick Tip

On By TimelessladyIn Posies, Quick Tip6 Comments

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White miniature Roses, Baby’s Breath, light green Mini-Carnations and Hypericum Berries are usually available in the floral department of many grocers.

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This combination, in the neutral colors I’ve chosen, or in any pretty color combination, make a fast and easy bouquet.

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Quick Tip: The outer petals of roses are often browned or damaged. You will do no harm to the rose if you gently peel these petals away. Cut all flower stems on an angle to keep the bottoms from resting flush against the vase, this allows more water to flow through the stem.

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A tall narrow vase works best for this arrangement. Cut the mini-carnations a few inches taller than the vase. Insert them into the water like the spokes on wheel.

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Add the rose stems next, cut most of these double the height of the vase, with one or two an inch or two taller. The bottom stems of the carnation, will help hold the roses in place.

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Fill in with some Hypercium Berries and Baby’s Breath. There you have it, the transformation of a few bunches of flowers into a bouquet that can rival anything you purchase in a floral shop.

Quick Tip – Pinpoint Repairs

On By TimelessladyIn Quick Tip2 Comments

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A good glue can certainly make life easier. We all need to make repairs at some time; having the right glue on hand can eliminate frustrations large and small.

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I found Beadalon G-S Hypo Cement in the jewelry section of the craft store. It was pricey for such a small tube, but I had a 40% off coupon. The glue comes out after a slight squeeze and is easy to apply. The needle-like tip places a small amount of glue in the exact location needed without any difficulty.

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I placed the post of my stud earring in a bristle brush while it was drying.

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The hardest aspect of using this glue was getting the cap wire back into the applicator tip. This glue is toxic if swallowed or inhaled. Keep off of skin.

I will keep a supply of Beadalon Hypo Cement on hand to repair jewelry and for other projects that need small amounts of adhesive.

Plant – Black Pearl Pepper

On By TimelessladyIn PlantsLeave a comment

On Halloween weekend, I found this slightly spooky variety of ornamental pepper. What a perfect name it’s been given: Black Pearl. The leaves of this plant are dark-purple in appearance. As the fruit matures it will change from black to red. The plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil. The peppers are not for comsumption, unless you want to instantly turn into a fire-breathing dragon.

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“This pepper boasts the most dramatically deep purple-black leaves and fruit imaginable. The vigorous, bushy plants grow to 18 inches tall and almost as wide. Flowers are lilac, and dark black peppers emerge in fall.” ~ Fine Gardening“

Photo Challenge – Transmorgify – Magical Carvings – Happy Halloween!

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress7 Comments

I know I must be one of many who decided that carving a pumpkin was a perfect definition for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge:

Transmorgify –
“To change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform.”

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I’m so entranced by this word I know I will be on the lookout all week for more instances of “transmorgification.”

Plant – Gryphon Begonia

On By TimelessladyIn Plants8 Comments

Gryphon Begonias are an outstanding plant to grow indoors and out. A year or two ago I purchased this unique begonia and have never been sorry. By the way, I love the name—Gryphon—a gryphon is a mythical creäture with the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle.

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I have found the Gryphon begonia an easy plant to grow with one hitch. After spending summers outdoors on the screened-in porch, mine eventually loses all its foliage in the winter, leaving spiky stems standing alone in the pot. These stems are interesting by themselves. The first time this occurred, I took heart when I spied small leaflets at the base of the plant. By Spring, the small leaves were growing large, and new stalks were emerging. I have read that other gryphon owners have experienced a period of dormancy with their plants too. Give Gryphon-growing a try—you won’t be disappointed.

* Gryphons, as with all begonias, do not like to be overwatered. Let surface of potting soil feel dry to the touch before watering.

Peculiarities – Graveyard

On By TimelessladyIn Peculiarities6 Comments

I am reblogging this post from 2013, one because it still amuses me when I remember our first sight of this graveyard decor, and second, the graveyard itself is in a beautiful setting in Belleplain. Third, it is the perfect entry in Jennifer Nichole Wells – Halloween Challenge.

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This angelic shelf on a tree gave us quite a laugh…especially since it was mounted on a tree bordering a graveyard!

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085,

Pots & Pans – Apricot Waffles

On By TimelessladyIn Pots and Pans2 Comments

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A week or two ago I found Jerry Baker’s Giant Book of Kitchen Counter Cures at a library book sale. I snapped it up. I turned fifty-nine this month, and although I have always eaten well, I want to consider my future health when I buy and prepare food; I know I can do better.

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I’ve recently been dismayed to find these words on the package ingredients of many of my favorites:

‘Partially produced with Genetic Engineering’

In plainer terms this usually means an ingredient in the product contains a modified food or GMO. How did these modern-day horrors slip into our food with most of the public unaware? They should have been banned.

“Unless you’ve been living “off the grid” for the past 10 years or so, you know that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are in just about every kind of processed food on the supermarket shelves. Extensive animal testing has shown that foods containing GMOs cause health problems, ranging from gastrointestinal upsets and infertility to organ damage, immune system impairment, and accelerated aging.” ~ The Ghastly Dangers of GMO’s – Jerry Baker’s Blog

In hopes of making more food from scratch I took a look at the recipe for apricot waffles in the book, adapted the ingredients to make better use of what I had in my pantry, and made a batch of 12 -18 waffles (Amount depends on how full you fill the waffle iron.) For a quick nutrition bump-up on a day when you are in a hurry, add 1/2 can of chopped apricots to your pancake and waffle mix before cooking.

BUTTERMILK APRICOT WAFFLES

1 can of apricots/in fruit juice
Prepare apricots – Chop 1/2 the can of apricots. Puree 3-4 apricots into a smooth sauce in a food processor, or just mash them with a fork until smooth. (I ate any leftover apricots right out of the can!)

In mixing bowl combine:
2 cups flour (you can substitute 1 cup with wheat flour)
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon soda

In small bowl combine:
1 3/4 Cups buttermilk (*substitution at bottom)
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Pureed apricots

Add to dry ingredients and mix. Gently fold in chopped apricots. Follow directions for your waffle iron. I think this batter would probably make good pancakes too. ENJOY!
* Use the same amount of milk with a tablespoon of vinegar added. Mix these two ingredients together and let them sit for five minutes before using in the recipe.

I know, I know, canned apricots may be contaminated by ingredients leaching out of the can, enriched flour is loaded with no-no’s, and sugar is deadly…but hey, at least I am eating a food high in natural beta-carotene. I’m also trying to make inroads to finding flour, sugar and other products I cook and bake with in a more natural/organic form.

Jerry Baker’s Blog is filled with health advice, seasonal tips, recipes and garden hints. A terrific blog to visit and browse.

Posies – Small Flowers

On By TimelessladyIn Posies10 Comments

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While beginning the task of preparing my yard for winter, I came upon a sweet violet blooming out of season. I picked the small flower, and gathered some miniature zinnias and white alyssum still growing in the garden. Placed in a small juice glass, the flower heads just below the rim, it’s a sweet bouquet to place on a table or windowsill for a splash of color. I enjoy the way the sun glowing through the facets of the glass throws a shine of sunbeams beneath the flowers.

Quote & Psalm – The Timely Glow and Shine of Autumn

On By TimelessladyIn Psalms and Proverbs, Quote9 Comments

I find this C.S. Lewis quote very timely:

“Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won’t last forever. We must take it or leave it.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Here are a few timely photographs of the foliage transformation to Autumn colors in my Mid-Atlantic state of New Jersey. These photos were taken at Alcyon Lake Park in Pitman, New Jersey. The accompanying verses are found in Psalm 144:12-15. (The Living Bible Translation) The words of the Psalm, written by King David, 1000 BC, are another timely reminder of what to hope for in our country and in countries all around the world. Let the glow and shine of Autumn warm your heart.

Psalm 144:12-15(TLB) A Psalm of David:
“Here is my description of a truly happy land where Jehovah is God:
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Sons vigorous and tall as growing plants.
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Daughters of graceful beauty like the pillars of a palace wall.
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Barns full to the brim with crops of every kind.
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Sheep by the thousands out in our fields.
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Oxen loaded down with produce.
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No enemy attacking the walls, but peace everywhere.
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No crime in our streets.
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Yes, happy are those whose God is Jehovah.

And to that I add my own, “Amen.”

Place – Elephant Swamp Bike Trail

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness2 Comments

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Elephant Swamp Trail  “The Elephant Swamp Trail is built on top of the former railroad bed that once ran from Glassboro to Bridgeton, NJ. Elk Township maintains the easement through Elephant Swamp, and the trail passes among streams, wetlands and farm fields from the Elk Township Recreation Complex in Aura to the baseball fields in Elmer.” ~The Trail Link

I was thrilled to discover another bike trail built on an old railroad line. Elephant Swamp Trail is a nine-mile round trip spanning two counties in New Jersey: Gloucester to Salem. The only challenge during the ride was the intermittent rocky areas. This trail is not paved.

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Do you see what I see?

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I’ve lived in New Jersey most of my life and have never seen a green snake in the wild. I probably have walked right by them—they blend in perfectly. I think this little fellow is a smooth or rough green snake, so to keep it simple I’ll identify it by a name common to both, a grass snake.