Old Tool Boxes

Sometimes it's hard to find a way to save old things and make them useful.  These two old tool boxes are an example of trying to put old things to use. These are on my screened back porch.

 The Prince Albert one, which  belonged to my father, is probably about seventy years old.  I'm not sure of the age of the larger one.  It is likely an older one that belonged to a great-uncle.

It'll take a little longer for the plants to get settled in, but I'll show you the start. These philodendron should cover the boxes by the end of the summer. The pan flower pot is also from my parents' house.

Sourwood Tree

The sourwood trees have bloomed well this summer. 

I hope the honeybees are doing as well since nothing is better than sourwood honey. 

The past couple of summers have not been good for the honey producers.

It is difficult to get a good picture of the sourwood blossoms which are peeking above the pine tree in the foreground.  Small sourwood trees also bloom well.

Butterfly Bushes

Butterfly bushes come in a variety of colors, but they have one thing in common. 

The butterflies and hummingbirds and moths love them.  Most have a sweet smell that attracts visitors who feed on the loud-smelling nectar. 

 The purple old-fashioned butterfly bush is less showy and has a tendency to spread.

Bazaar Purchase

When our church holds its big bazaar the last weekend in July,  I always try to find something interesting for my yard.  Sometimes my purchase may be a little tacky.  This bear fountain fits in great against my front steps.

The Rose Of Sharon

 I don't think I know of anyone who has only one Rose of Sharon, or althea.  The seed pods are numerous, and the little offspring grow quickly.  Hundreds of little bushes can appear over a relatively short time.  The little ones don't necessarily have the same color of blossoms as the neighboring tree. 

The Rose of Sharon is a small tree, reaching about half the height of the neighboring full-grown dogwood.  It blooms in late summer and adds a

variety of color to the yard.  

Incidentally, if you don't want too many of these small trees, you had better remove the children before they get too big and refuse to be pulled up.

Smokehouse and Garage Gone

Time moves on and the inevitable happens.  Our parents' smokehouse and garage were torn down Monday.  The smokehouse was about 75 years old and the garage around 60 years old, I think. 

The one who tore them down plans to use the tin and wood in a pioneer village-railway station in Dillard, Georgia.  That is better than consigning them to the landfill.  The tearing down was sad, but at least some of the buildings will live on.  

The final work on the smokehouse was completed on Tuesday.

Tiger Lilies

The tiger lily is an attention-drawing passalong plant.  I can't remember ever seeing one in a garden department, but many people seem to have these tall striking flowers.  They bloom in fields and along the road. 

The large black seeds along the stem fall to the ground and germinate easily.

 Many full-grown plants are as much as eight feet tall.

Hot Weather Fun

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Our eight-month-old grandson Alex knows how to

have fun on a hot summer day.



Tomato Update

It is time to report on the hanging baskets of tomatoes I showed you earlier.   We have gathered a couple of small ripe tomatoes.  The plants seem to be doing well. 

We had to put them on a trellis using an old pipe because the hot sun all day was too much for them.  They need to be watered almost every day.  

Calla Lilies

This is the time of year for some of the most elegant flowers in the garden to bloom. A calla lily can't be matched for beauty.

 In my planting zone it is generally good to take up the bulbs and replant them each year.  A couple of years ago my callas rotted in the ground at the end of the summer and I am having to accumulate them again.  The Japanese beetles especially like the blossoms.

These are blooming in my flower bed now.

Day Lilies

I was getting annoyed with my big, tall day lilies that tend to overwhelm my flower beds.  Then I discovered the smaller, shorter double day lilies.  They seem to multiply well, but are less pushy.  Here are three of my favorites, especially the double apricot, which spreads so much I can share it with everyone.