Plant – Coleus Seed Saving and Volunteers

On By TimelessladyIn Plants1 Comment

Since they have been planted in the spring, I have regularly been pinching off the tops of my coleus plants to keep them from blooming and to force them to branch out. I have some really pretty plants this year. I have stopped my pinching now. It’s time to let the spiky blooms emerge, mature and form new seed for next year’s coleus.

A week or two ago I noticed this amazing patch of small sprouts growing alongside the brick in the front garden. A patch of volunteer coleus had emerged, some with really interesting colors and patterns. I thought at first they might have sprung from old flower spikes I threw in the back of the garden last year, but on taking a second look decided I must have thrown a few leftover seeds in the back as an experiment. This week I’m going to dig them up with the shovel and pick several to pot up and grow in the house through winter.

Problem-Solving – Unwanted Pest

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I am never sorry to lose a few parsley or dill leaves to the black swallowtail caterpillar (see photograph above.) There are never too many of them; the most I have ever seen on any plant has been about six. I would never consider them a pest. On the other hand, although I think the fluttery cabbage white butterflies are pretty, I don’t like their egg-laying abilities. A few cabbage white butterflies hovering over any plant in the cabbage family means big trouble, as in the recently shredded leaves of my prized Tuscan Kale.

In the past few days I have hand-picked dozens of caterpillars off of this plant. I think I have caught up at the moment and the plant is free of pests. Where are all my praying mantis predator bugs? I was going to plant a few broccoli plants this week, but now I am rethinking it since they are members of the cabbage family too.

Here is good link to a post about this pest: Cabbage White Butterfly Caterpillar

Problem – Don’t Let a Watermelon Sit Too Long

On By TimelessladyIn Problem-Solving5 Comments

This picture is blurry…that I took a picture at all is only because I am committed to blogging daily.

This is a watermelon…a watermelon left out of the fridge too long. I meant to put it in, but I was short on space, and since I only bought it on a Monday, and it was Friday, thought everything was hunky-dory. Not….

Do you see how flattened out on the bottom it is, and the stream of viscous fluid on the floor? Actually, I didn’t notice anything amiss in the look of it, I noticed a smell of something decaying.

I stood looking down on it for a moment trying to decide what to do, but then noticed the fluid was near the heating vent right behind the collapsed melon.

I grabbed a bucket for disposal and picked the melon up…BIG MISTAKE…

Yes, I really hate to admit I was that unwise. The entire contents of the inner melon were liquified. I should have tried to scoop it up onto a snow shovel. And yes…the awful smelling mess did go down the vent.

Unfortunately, in my agitation (panic) I didn’t think and grabbed a few of the biggest towels I could find…yes, our bath towels. It took several launderings to get the smell out.

I put the rotten melon in the compost bin where it belonged.

Of course, cleaning up the floor, and even worse the vent, was a terrible job. And…I almost got my arm stuck at the elbow joint in the vent. We’ll see what remains of the smell when the heat comes on. Hopefully, by then it will be dried up and nothing but a distant blog post.

Power and Proverbs – Isaiah 40:26 – 31

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Tuesday was an off again/on again stormy day here in the Northeast. Near dusk I went outside. The sky glowed with newly washed light, a promise of another day. Most nights, in my busyness, I miss the sunset sky. Luckily, on this day I found the right moment to go outdoors and worship God beneath His glorious sky of grey, blue and gold.

Today, searching for something beautiful to read aloud from the Bible, I came to this passage. The beauty of the passage is a perfect complement to the glorious sky.

Isaiah 40:26-31

New Living Translation (NLT)

Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Project and Pleasure – Sunflowers or Defeating the Critters

On By TimelessladyIn Pleasures, Projects2 Comments

Finally, I seem to have hit upon a way to grow sunflowers. My big problem…relentless foraging by chipmunks and squirrels. They dig the seed out of the ground, or if they somehow miss a seed or two, they nip off the top of the newly sprouted plant. Another trick that worked for me has been planting later in the season when other food is more abundant.

I planted the sunflower seeds in my Square Foot Garden. This area is enclosed by chicken wire. For some reason the squirrels stay out of this…perhaps it is the CD’s I have hanging from hooks that swing in the breeze and maybe scare them away.

My best deterrent has been to plant the seeds and then enclose the area in a gallon size ziplock bag. To do this, I cut the bottom of the bag away, then tape bamboo skewers inside the bag with duct tape. I make sure the sharp end of the skewers extends beyond the bottom of the bag about an inch or two. One problem with this method…the skewers are very sharp, even on the blunt top end. To remedy this I stick a clove of garlic on each top. I am pretty sure this also helped repel those bad chipmunks and squirrels.

I’m not sure if I planted early enough to enjoy blooms this year, but the plant is beginning to bud so I have high hopes.

Plants – Mushroom Monday

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We camped in Belleplain State Forest over a portion of the Labor Day weekend. It’s been humid and moist in the past few weeks and the mushrooms are peaking. Here’s a sample of New Jersey Pineland’s mushrooms and linchen.

 

Pleasure – Big Miracle

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I loved this sweet and true story about whales trapped under ice in Alaska. The story is true. Watch the ending credits to see pictures and clips of the “real” stars of the show.

Plant – Crape Myrtle

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When I was a child the first place I noticed Crape Myrtle trees growing was in the front yard of my grandparent’s home in Hampton, Virginia. At that time, several decades ago, there weren’t too many of these plants in the north. Times have sure changed, and now Crape Myrtle trees are everywhere…at least in New Jersey.

I love the beautiful pink blossoms, but even more than the flowers, I think it is the bark of a Crape Myrtle that is the tree’s most fascinating feature.

There is something almost magical in the way the bark peels away, leaving some areas a mottled green-grey and others a smooth and silken tan. I hope to always have a Crape Myrtle tree in my garden.

Preparedness – Labeling and Unique Storage

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A pantry full of extra food and sundries is always a good idea. Stocking up on items when they are on sale makes sense in these harder economic times.

A good way to store dried beans is remove them from their plastic bag and store in plastic bottles.

Another good tip I’ve recently run across is to make sure you label the bottoms of all your cans with permanent marker. Many people store their pantry items in the basement, and if water levels become high the paper labels might wash away. If you have the cans labeled with permanent marker you will still know what’s inside.

Pleasure and Product – Pap-Pap’s Sugar

On By TimelessladyIn Pleasures, Product2 Comments

My sister Susan’s honeybees often visit my yard. Bees can fly up to four miles from their hives to collect pollen, and I live only a mile away from my sister’s home and hives.

The honeybees love my spearmint, which happily is grown organically, as are all of my sister’s vegetables and flowers.

Here’s a jar of Susan’s honey. She calls it “Pap-pap’s Sugar” in honor of our grandfather who also loved bees and had many hives during his lifetime. The honey is so beautiful. I love the way the sunshine illuminates it’s golden and pure goodness. My favorite way to use it is in tea…a bit of heaven in a cup.

Place and Person – Pitman Grove and Camp Meeting and C. Austin Miles

On By TimelessladyIn People, Place4 Comments

The first meeting in the tabernacle in Pitman, New Jersey, was held in 1871. A history of the town and the camp meeting can be found here: History of Pitman, New Jersey. The tabernacle is at the center of twelve paths, or spokes, reminiscent of the twelve apostles.

C. Austin Miles, a prolific songwriter, wrote the hymn, “In the Garden,” while staying in the grove area. He said of himself, “It is as a writ­er of gos­pel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my Mas­ter, whom I serve will­ing­ly al­though not as ef­fi­cient­ly as is my de­sire.”

Here are a few pictures I took Sunday at about 10:00 in the morning.


These small cottages are just a sampling of the dozens and dozens that surround the tabernacle.

Many years ago when I first moved to the area with my parents, I called this cottage on the fringes of the tabernacle wheel my home. What I remember most about it was the amazing attic it had. When I lived there it had a long front porch which has since been enclosed.

Pots and Pans & Product

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My Nero d’ Toscana kale is still doing great in my Square Foot Garden . When I read the description of this plant in a review this past winter, I was very intrigued by the fact that the reviewer thought it resembled a tree from a Dr. Suess book, and after growing it I agree. Even better is the fact that this plant has grown and produced since Spring. It is still growing strong, and now with cooler weather on the way, the kale should be even more delicious. I am wondering how long it will continue to grow after reading the reviews I found here: Nero di Toscano Kale.

The kale is not only an attractive and productive plant, it also cooks up into a delicious meal or side dish. Here is a lunch I had the pleasure of eating this past week. It was simple and delicious. I didn’t use a recipe. I boiled some water, and had angel hair pasta at the ready to pop in for about four minutes. During the time I waited on the water I sautéed the kale in a bit of Smart Balance spread (watching the cholesterol now) or butter if you prefer, added a touch of salt and a lot of one of my favorite new finds…

McCormick Italian Herb Seasoning

I tossed a few of my home-grown cherry tomatoes in the pan in the last few minutes, then sprinkled with my favorite shredded cheese mix – Four Cheese Pizza Cheese. It was so delicious, if my mouth hadn’t been full, I would have sung a song of joy.

Visit Mel Barthlomew’s Square Foot Gardening Website. Growing a vegetable garden by this method this summer has been a real joy to me and quite a success:  Square Foot Garden

Product – Etsy and the Teeny-Tiny Fairy

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I love handcrafted items. I sell a few of my pressed flower cards on Etsy, and sometimes buy from the other artists and craftspeople who sell their wares on the site. I loved this teeny-tiny baby fairy I came upon. Here she is hanging on a wreath in my home.

Here she is with a penny to show how very small she really is.

She is going to become part of an ongoing game with my grandsons. Each time they come I’m going to hide/hang her in a different room. It will be fun to see who can spot her first.

Another thing I love about Etsy is the personal touch and interaction I have with the other artists who sell on the site. It’s so nice getting a genuine “Thank you,” rather than the usual “Here you go…” response I receive so often as I am handed my bag in a big store or grocery. Thanks Tania. To visit Tania’s Etsy shop click on this link: FAIRY SHADOW SHOP.

To visit all of Etsy click on this link: ETSY

Projects – Stepping Stone Walkway

On By TimelessladyIn Projects3 Comments

I decided this summer that I really must go through all the shells, rocks, mosses and other natural items I had stockpiled in the garage during the twenty-five years we have lived in this house. I have made a dent in the collection. In the spring I created planters with a border of seashells, and in the last few weeks I have been creating stepping-stones with my huge rock collection. I love to step along the stones and relive the feel of walking across them on the beaches, bays and creek beds where they were gathered.

Plants – Flower Garden Update/August 2012

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My late-summer flower garden is thriving. The Rudbeckia is full of blossoms. I don’t deadhead these flowers. They do not produce more blooms if I do so, and then I would deprive the finches of their treat. These flowers produce hundreds of seeds and are a favorite of the goldfinches. I often see the small birds hanging upside down on the seed heads, feasting on the bounty.

The Coral Nymph Salvia is a beautiful plant. It almost becomes shrub-like as the season progresses. I do deadhead the spent flower stalks of this plant, and it keeps producing until cold weather. It is a favorite of hummingbirds.

This Salvia self-seeded last summer, grew in a crack between the sidewalk and front porch steps, and is thriving. I will save seeds from this plant this fall. It has a resilience and determination I admire.

The Popsock Cosmos I grew this year is a bit taller than I had thought it would be, but is still a welcome addition to the front garden.

These cheerful petunias I bought on a whim this spring have been fantastic. I love the bright color and the abundance of blooms they have given me.

The coleus plants in the front garden are outstanding. I will soon let them begin to flower for next year’s seed harvest.

The asters I grew by winter-sowing are beautiful. They come in a variety of purple, lavender and pink shades. I am really pleased with this plant.

The Bonariensis Verbena is often perennial. This patch grew tall and broad this year and is constantly attracting butterflies. Last year it also self-seeded, and I have several new patches of this great plant.

Dahlias grown from seed and sun-loving impatiens (a Mother’s Day gift) are all doing well.

Here is one of my mistakes, although I love the lilypad-like foliage. I planted nasturtium in fertilized soil, and the foliage is abundant, but the flowers non-existent. They prefer to grow in poor soil.

Both varieties of Fuschia are doing well, as are both varieties of the Dragon-wing Begonias.

 

Last but not least is my Lady In Red Salvia, a great hummingbird flower. I love the little hover-fly sipping nectar that I captured in the photograph below.

Problem Solving & The Power of Prayer

On By TimelessladyIn Prayer4 Comments

This is my cat Rusty. This is my cat Rusty…HIDING…in what he considers a very safe spot.  He knows he can make a quick getaway under the bed’s dust ruffle. Why is Rusty hiding? Well, Rusty hides at the first sign of visitors or something going awry, and my, oh my, did things go awry a week or two ago.

The first sign of trouble was a noise that sounded animal-like coming from the chimney. Both Rusty and I noticed the small muffled squeak.  Rusty stared in the direction of the fireplace, and I mentioned the sound to my husband, who gave his usual reply of, “It’s nothing.” Okay, I conceded, I wasn’t sure I really heard anything anyway. I forgot all about it. The next afternoon I had a rude reminder on the return from a beach outing. I opened the front door and instantly was assaulted by the image of a bat flying around my dining room. According to my husband, I backed out of the door saying, “Oh, oh, oh…”

Funny…fleetingly, the old 1960’s symbol of the show Batman was the first thought that crossed my mind. The bat, illuminated against the yellow-green walls of the dining room exactly resembled the “bat signal” as it flew. I expected Adam West and Burt Ward to show up. (I’m giving away my age.) The next thought was, “Get out of here…NOW!” I did. That was mistake number two. By the time I convinced my husband I saw a bat, the creature had disappeared somewhere in the house.

We both walked around the house, with a broomstick, thumping on walls and near pictures. I still don’t think Joe really believed I had seen a bat. The bat was nowhere. (Rusty had retreated to his safe spot and was no help at all) After several minutes of this we still had no idea what to do. I began to pray that God would help us find the bat. Suddenly, the bat made another appearance and began swooping around the house. It really did seem attracted to our heads, especially mine, I wonder if it is because they are guided by sound. A swooping bat is not a sight or sound for the fainthearted.

I really did not want to kill it. I felt a bit sorry for it. Joe didn’t feel the same. He had the broom and swung it as the bat flew near his head. I had a bucket at the ready to scoop up the unfortunate broom-swatted bat. It flew so quickly, and was so efficient at dodging the broom bristles by flying near our heads, that knocking it down before it touched or bit one of us seemed hopeless. I began praying and held the bucket up near my head. Praise God for a miracle and an answer to prayer, the bat suddenly flew smack into the bucket I was holding up, and became tangled in the work gloves at the bottom. “I’ve got it!” I yelped. We both ran outside and pushed the bucket over on the grass and the winged marauder flew away.

It was risky letting it go. I know that now after reading articles about bats getting caught indoors. Bats do carry rabies, but it is rare. You run more of a risk of getting rabies from a racoon or skunk or stray pet. I don’t think it was sick, I just think it was an unlucky bat, flying around at night, minding his own business, who somehow flew into a chimney and spent hours wiggling out through a crack in the fireplace screen.

God answers prayer, yes he does! Sometimes you need to wait for the answer, but sometimes, he is very, very fast. Amen!