Phlowers/Plant – Milkweed

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers, Plants3 Comments

Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed, is now firmly established in my butterfly garden. Started from a seed, the plant piddled around for a year or two before growing tall last summer. It has naturalized during the time in between then and now, and there are several large clumps of it throughout the bed.

Don’t hesitate to try some common milkweed in your garden if you want to help Monarch butterflies thrive. Milkweed is also a great flower/plant to grow for pollinators too. The bumblebees were enraptured by the bloom, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fragrance of the flowers.

The pollinators did a good job and a few of the flowers have become small pods.

You can see how conditions have been almost perfect this year for growing milkweed. That’s me, standing beside the milkweed about a week ago. Since the photo was taken, the milkweed has grown at least another six inches. My husband estimates it is near seven feet tall.

Grow milkweed in full sun if possible. My garden bed gets a bit of morning shade, but in the afternoon the area is sunny. If you grow from a seed as I did, be patient, it takes a year or two for the plant to become established.

My milkweed blossoms are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Photo Challenge – Lily Love

On By TimelessladyIn photo challenges8 Comments

I was inspired by Cee’s lovely lily for Flower of the Day. I took a photo of one of mine to add to the challenge. This lily is a shorter variety, but the bloom is nearly eight inches across. The heaviness of the flower causes the blossom to face the ground. The posture doesn’t inhibit the release of fragrance. The air all around this area is heavy with the scent of lily – a bit of heaven on earth if you ask me. Thanks to Cee for all the years she has offered inspiring challenges.

Patriotic – Star Spangled Banner

On By TimelessladyIn Patriotic6 Comments

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

BY

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY

O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
⁠What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
⁠O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the Rockets’ red glare, the Bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there;
⁠O! say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave,
⁠O’er the Land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
⁠Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
⁠As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream,
‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
⁠That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
⁠Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,
⁠Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation,
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land,
⁠Praise the Power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto—“In God is our Trust;”
⁠And the star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O’er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Phlowers – Patriotic Mix – IAVOM

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers16 Comments

My choices for IAVOM (In A Vase on Monday) are definitely along the patriotic lines and use red, white and blue flower choices.

Along with Blue Salvia, White Balsam and Alyssum, I used one of my favorites, Red Monarda/Bee Balm. This beauty seems to bloom every year just in time for the Fourth of July. In my eyes, it is quite the appropriate flower for July; it resembles bursting fireworks. The Bee Balm is a quick bloomer, and only thrives briefly in my garden beds. Already, it is showing signs of the fungus that plagues it every year. Somehow, it survives the blight and returns for me every year.

Monarda/Bee Balm is my choice for Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge.

Photo Challenge – Outdoors with Pinks

On By TimelessladyIn photo challenges3 Comments

I’m taking part today, before time runs out, in June’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge. This month the challenge is: #Pink in the Great Outdoors. I have quite a few pinks growing in my gardens, from the silvery hue of soft blush to deep magenta/fuschia. I stumbled upon the challenge today, grabbed camera and went out to galumph around the garden to capture some pink in my day.

Silver pinks include: Silver Petunias, Zinnia, Vinca and Milkweed.

Medium Pinks include: Spirea, Nicotiana, Rosebuds, and Hydrangea.

Magentas include: Petunia, Zinnia, Torenia and Balsam.

Phloral Arrangement – IAVOM – Freesias

On By TimelessladyIn Phloral Arrangements11 Comments

Today’s vased arrangement consists of Freesias and is part of In A Vase On Monday.

The freesia blossoms are part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.

I planted some freesia bulbs this Spring. I am like the person who should never go grocery shopping when they are hungry. In the Spring, my gardening appetite is voracious, and any display of bulbs or seeds, draws me in like a magnet. I bought a bag of 30 Freesias in Lidl. The bulbs looked really good through the mesh of the bag, and when I emptied them out, not many needed to be discarded.

They’ve been planted in terracotta pots for months, growing in the basement’s sunniest window. They looked good for a while, and then became gangly and overgrown. I almost threw them out, but convinced myself they might bloom outdoors. I put them in an out of sight area behind the bird bath. I’m glad I kept them. They have begun to bloom. Although I only detect a slight fragrance, the beauty of the bloom is pleasing. There are more buds to open, I wonder what colors I will gather for vases next.

The Spruce has a good article with interesting information on Freesias.

Portrait – Wheaton Village, Millville, New Jersey/Throwback Thursday

On By TimelessladyIn Portrait6 Comments

Today’s Daily Picture Theme on Twitter was ‘mirror, so I decided this photo might be mirror-worthy, and also a good self-portrait. In the time span of 2011 until now, this pose is exactly how you often find me; searching out photos and interesting themes for Minding My P’s with Q blog. This photo was taken in the Wheaton Arts Glass Museum as I gazed into a case of Silvered/Mercury Glass. I enjoy the many reflections in the photo, including the almond pink of my shirt stripes. Do they go on into infinity?

People – Happy Father’s Day

On By TimelessladyIn People, Praise2 Comments

Happy Father’s Day! I photoshopped an image of my father as a child, probably taken somewhere in the mid-1940’s, within a field of dandelions. The reason behind my whimsical tweaking of an old photo: dandelions spread their seeds far and wide, and Dad spread the Good News and served God throughout his lifetime. His smile never changed, and he was the type of person strangers would approach if they needed help in a crisis. I want to be like Dad and spread the GOOD NEWS in every way I can, until my earthly smile dims and my heavenly smile is born. God bless you all on this special day.

Projects & Phun – Jersey Shore Shells – Part II

On By TimelessladyIn Phun, ProjectsLeave a comment

We’ve had fun hiding the decorated shells over the past few days. On the weekend we went to Red Bank Battlefield in National Park and hid two shells, One in this cannon, another on a stack of cannonballs. I think both were most likely found, but only one was posted on the Jersey Shore Shells site. I was thrilled it was found, most likely by two small children we saw playing on the cannon later that day.

After the battlefield we walked beside the Delaware River and hid a pressed flower shell on the steps leading up the bank.

I also hid two shells in Fortescue while my husband fished. One was found and posted, the other on the sand was probably found too, not everyone who finds the shells posts to the Facebook group. That is okay with me, just the thought of someone feeling happiness when they find the shell is so worthwhile.

I’ve created a few more this week, I must admit, while I should have been doing chores. I am especially enjoying using pressed flowers with them. I found some decorating kits on sale for only $2.00 at Michael’s Craft store this week. Oh happy day! More fun on the way. Grandchildren and creative adults will be here on Sunday to celebrate Father’s Day. I’m going to have shells and decorating supplies on the tables for anyone who wants to paint and glue.

If you want to join this group, or just lurk a bit, the group is public: Jersey Shore Shells

Projects & Phun – Jersey Shore Shells – Part I

On By TimelessladyIn Phun, Projects9 Comments

Tomorrow, I will hide at least two of these shells, decorated with decoupage and pressed flowers. I belong to a Facebook Group called Jersey Shore Shells. I had so much fun painting the outside of them white and decorating them. On the back of each shell is a little laminated piece of paper with this message-

HELLO! I’M SO GLAD YOU FOUND ME…KEEP ME, OR HIDE ME AGAIN, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO WITH ME IS PERFECT. IF YOU CAN, POST A PHOTOGRAPH OF ME AND WHERE YOU FOUND ME ON FACEBOOK GROUP: JERSEY SHORE SHELLS. THANKS.

I will update with part two after I hide them tomorrow. Maybe I will hide all four, maybe just a couple. So much fun. To answer your question, yes, the shells came from the Jersey Shore, a little town called Strathmere, between Ocean City and Sea Isle City. Although, they are from the Jersey Shore, they can be hidden anywhere.

Plant – False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

On By TimelessladyIn Plants4 Comments

False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

I have had a False Indigo plant in my garden for over a decade. I don’t remember when I first purchased it, but it reappears every year without fail, no matter the condition of the winter it weathered.


A year or two ago it became a bit overgrown, and I roughly divided it, thinking the cut away portion would probably not survive. It not only survived, but both plants thrived.

The flowers don’t last long, but they leave behind large pods that rattle fabulously when they dry, adding a castanet accompaniment to the song of the wind as it blows.

This perennial is very tall and should be planted at the edge of the border. The dark blue flowers are spiky and don’t last very long, but they do leave behind the wonderful pods. Beyond enjoying False Indigo in the garden, I must sing its praises as a cut foliage plant. I have a piece in a vase now that has been going strong for ten days and still shows no signs of wilting. I arrange flowers for church now and then and enjoy using the long stems in the arrangement. The soft bluish green color is a great neutral background-for all flowers.


False Indigo does well in my Southern NJ garden in full, hot sun. It seems to accept wet or dry conditions. False Indigo is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.

The Spruce has a great article on the care of False Indigo.

Project – Broken Bits and Shells – Part 2

On By TimelessladyIn Projects10 Comments

Broken Bits Part 1 demonstrated how to create a necklace out of small pieces of shell that are broken or have a small hole in the middle. I still have cups and bins full of very similar pieces. Another way to use these bits, and other small shells, is to make an OCEAN portrait with them. In this case, a heart filled in with bits and bobbles from the sea.

A glue gun was my method for attaching the shells. It was quick, relatively painless, and was ready to hang as soon as the last shell was in place. Goop glue, would have been a good choice too, but it takes a long time to dry, has a strong (perhaps dangerous) odor, and is expensive. The downside of the glue gun is the fact that I will be pulling spider web type strings from the finished heart for years.

I have gone back to the project after I thought it was completed and filled in gaps. I also found I enjoyed placing a double layer of shell or sea glass in some spots. Most of all, it was so much fun, and almost free.

Phavorite & Phlowers – Bougainvillea with Fledgling Bird

On By TimelessladyIn Phavorites, Phlowers2 Comments

Eyes were upon me, I felt something watching as I browsed through a greenhouse in search of bedding plants this year. It was a small fledgling sparrow, its feet wrapped around a twig of a bougainvillea plant in a hanging basket. I was in love with his sweet expression, but then wondered if it was sweet, or maybe a bit annoyed at me for disturbing his space. I bought another bougainvillea hanging near the one he perched in to remind me of the moment. Sweet. I think this is one of my favorite photographs taken in May.

As I left the greenhouse, I noticed the nest he occupied as he grew above the door. The bougainvillea flower is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.

Phlowers – Rue

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers5 Comments

Rue (Ruta graveolens) is called the Herb of Grace.

It was a common herb believed to keep away witches, and that folk use evolved into the Catholic Church’s practice of dipping branches of rue into Holy water and sprinkling it over the heads of parishioners as a blessing, which earned it a common name for the plant of “herb of grace.”

Mother Earth Gardener

Rue is a fabulous addition to a Butterfly Garden. Last year, planted in a sunny spot in my garden beds, they grew and thrived, hosting many eggs and caterpillars of Black Swallowtail Butterflies.

I didn’t cut them back in the Autumn. In Spring, they began to grow at the tips of rather leggy stems and were soon loaded with buds, and afterwards bloomed a brilliant yellow flower. They have a unique appearance, rather sticky in the center. This area is hard and forms into a rounded seedhead.

The foliage is a beautiful blue-green and presses perfectly. There is a caution for people with sensitive skin – Rue can cause phytophoto dermatitis following sun exposure in those susceptible to that condition.

Grow Rue in full to part sun in well-drained soil. This is a wonderful herb and is a great host plant for Black Swallowtails.

Rue is part of Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.

Ploral Arrangement – Pink…again! IAVOM

On By TimelessladyIn Phloral Arrangements10 Comments

New Dawn is another rose that blossoms in a gorgeous shade of pink. This is its second or third year growing in my flower bed, and it has climbed and blossomed much better than in the past. I guess I can call it established now. I spray the New Dawn rose bush every other day, as I have been all the rose bushes, with a solution of one gallon of water, to 1 tsp each Palmolive dish detergent, vegetable oil, and baking soda. This seems to keep both sawfly larvae and black spot disease at bay and does not harm me or the environment.

I love the inner shape of this rose. Also included is False Indigo leaves and a sprig of blossom. More on this plant later in the week. It is one of my favorites for floral arrangement. The foliage stem is strong and such a lovely shade of blue-green. This arrangement is part of In A Vase On Monday.

Phloral Arrangement – Roses in Pinks

On By TimelessladyIn Phloral Arrangements12 Comments

Pink roses are in abundance in my garden today. They look lovely in my grandmother’s Fenton coin-dot fluted vase. The roses within are Prosperity, a white rose that has one branch that occasionally blooms in a fluky bi-color. Fairy roses, Blue Lagoon a sweet lavender, a pink climber that is so old I don’t remember the name anymore, and the reliable pink Knockout.

My vased arrangement is part of IAVOM – In A Vase on Monday.

Prayer – National Day of Prayer

On By TimelessladyIn Prayer6 Comments

Sometimes I post reruns, especially if they are favorites of mine. I love these quotes by Oswald Chambers on prayer.

“Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work”

The Key of the Greater Work: Oswald Chambers

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” ~Ephesians 6:12

Phlowers – In a Vase on Monday (IAVOM)

On By TimelessladyIn Phlowers5 Comments

Such a busy time of year. I’ve been lax with blogging, but I so love taking part in the IAVOM challenge, I scurried around the yard cutting stems today before I began planting out seedlings. The little goldfinch is a reminder of my first glimpse of brilliant yellow goldfinches this past week. I’m so happy to see them in their summer colors. The bouquet is created with Japanese Photinia, yellow tulips edged in pinks, and a stem of comfrey.

As it matured, the colors of this yellow tulip became even brighter. Lovely! I think this tulip is worthy to be a part of Cee’s Flower of the Day.

The comfrey blooms once a year. I am going to save seeds to send to my sister who has begun a Flower Farm in North Carolina.

Not only is it an evergreen through the winter, it blooms in the spring. The new leaves are a gorgeous shade of blush pink/red. Japanese Photinia is a perfect choice for a garden tree/bush.

Project – What to do with the Broken Bits

On By TimelessladyIn Projects3 Comments

What do you do with the broken bits in life? Sometimes you can make them into something beautiful.

In Jamaica, I found so many broken bits of shells. Not much in the way of intact seashells make it onto the beach in Montego Bay, but, being a bit of a scavenger, I had an idea. Why not fashion these bits of shell, many with a ready-made hole, into a necklace? A year or two ago I did just that!

Of course, when I returned to Jamaica in March of this year, I gathered even more. I will update when I decide what I make next.

Cee has the topic SMALL for her Fun Foto Challenge. I thought these bits and pieces fit right in.