Vintage Miniature Rose

This pretty little rose was given to us by a friend.  I think it had been in his family before he obtained it. 

Another interesting part of the picture is the thorny evil-looking stem on the right.  It is part of a rose that dates back before the Civil War when it arrived from Scotland.  It was given to us along with the pretty little rose.

 You can see why this Scottish rose survived in America.  Not even the hungriest goat or other grazer would chew on it.

 More about this immigrant rose later.

Bluebirds Again

Usually we don't see bluebirds at this time

of the year. 

Today these two dropped by

on their travels. 

 Perhaps they are checking

out a house for their return in February.

Chickens

Perhaps the title should be too many chickens.  The bazaar-purchased chicken joins a previously established hen and chickens growing in a hen flower pot.  Perhaps a bit bizaare?  Or tacky?  Not really.  They are tucked away in an inconspicuous corner.

Wild Aster

This aster is basically wild, identified as one of the the most common flowers in the area of the Great Smokies.  It is sometimes not welcome in gardens because it is quite vigorous and tall.  But on the other hand, a clump of these flowers is beautiful in the fall.  It grows 5-6 feet tall.  My neighbor has a large clump of these in the corner of her yard.  They are beautiful and eye-catching.  Often this flower is allowed to languish off to the side to ensure that it doesn't take over the flower bed.  It can, however, be brought under control without too big a struggle.  It is a passalong plant--an under-appreciated one.

Christmas Gifts

My children have to look for something interesting for Christmas.  They found these interesting bird feeders and glass balls for my flower bed. 

Surprisingly the glass balls have survived two summers of use. 

I got the feeders last Christmas but put off using them until a bear destroyed our big feeder recently.  It turned out that the squirrels didn't climb the new feeders and the bear hasn't found them yet and the birds love them.

Well, I hate to add this news.  Last night the bear or bears carried off the two feeders in the lower left picture.

A little good news.  My husband just found one feeder--only a little worse for wear.  One is still missing.  I'll search before any more leaves fall.  I'll have to let the birds go hungry for a while.

No Greenhouse

These pictures show why it is hard to raise certain plants without a greenhouse.  They have already retired to the basement because of the threat of an early frost. Our partially finished basement no longer can hold my plants, even if I get rid of a few each year.

 I have been talking about buying a greenhouse with the proceeds of previous plant sales.  A nice 8x12 one at Lowe's costs about $2400, rather a tidy sum.
Another problem with a greenhouse is that it takes a lot of work.  If we had one, we would try to raise vegetable plants early in the spring.  Actually, my husband would end up with most of the work.

 But the  real thing that makes me hesitate is having to cut down the large dogwood tree next to my back door and patio.  It occupies the only really good place for a greenhouse.  It is sheltered and has a supply of electricity and water nearby.

Birthday Boy

October 14 was our grandson Alex's first birthday.  I  couldn't resist showing this picture of Alex and his mother Ginny.  I added the close-up of Birthday Boy since he had a haircut the next week and lost his curls.



Fall Planting

My husband planted eight cabbage and brocoli plants a couple of weeks ago in front of a lily row.  We sprayed and tried to outdo the critters large and small who would attack the plants.  The plants are all gone now.  Rabbits, probably.  I don't think the deer would waste their time with such little plants

The one little plant on the left was the last to survive.  It was gone the next day.

Plant Sale

People ask me if I plan to have the plant sale the weekend after Mother's Day that I have had for around ten years.   I re-use old flower pots and use woods dirt and garden soil.  By not having to buy these things, I manage to sell perennials super cheap.  I just put the potted plants in the edge of our woods and forget about them for the winter.  Some die, but most survive.  

 I have a large number of repeat customers who start calling in March to see what my plans are for the year. 

I just dig plants out of my flower beds during the year, especially things that  have overstayed their welcome.  I'll probably have maybe 400 potted flowers.  I will dig others and sell them without pots when the time comes.  Many of the plants I have are passalong plants I got from my mother and other acquaintances. 

Last year I made a thousand dollars, which as usual I will spend on my flowers and for garden ornaments like trellises and fountains.  These pictures show that I do plan to have a plant sale next year.

Carrion Cactus

The carrion cactus I mentioned earlier is blooming now.  The blossoms do look like starfish, but the most unusual thing about the plant gives it its name.  It smells like rotten meat.  This fact explains all the blowflies which seem to appear from nowhere when the foul-smelling plant opens up.  It is definitely not a house plant.

Beauty Berry

To begin with, I need to give this shrub its proper name.  I have called it beauty bush, but Wild Flowers of North Carolina correctly calls it beauy berry, or Callicarpa americana Linnaeus. 

 It has small insignificant blossoms early in the year, followed by the beautiful berries for which it is named. 

 It is a passalong plant, not often seen in plant stores.  The good thing about it is that the colorful berries remain around for most of the winter.

Lemon Lily

This flower is confused this year.  It is a lemon lily, called that because it strongly and distinctly smells of lemon.  It usually blooms in early summer, but this year it is blooming in October.

 I got this plant from my mother who got it from some one else.  It is not as commonly shared as other lilies because it does not spread rapidly.

Passalong Chrysanthemums

The garden departments are full of colorful chrysanthemums at this time of year.  It seems that these flowers are meant only for a couple of months of beauty with little hope of long life in the garden.

This passalong mum lives on and on in flower beds and is passed from generation to generation and friend to friend.  It starts with white blossoms with yellow centers in late summer.   It is really beautiful in big clumps, and it grows with virtually no help.

When cold weather comes, it turns this pretty shade of pink.

Afternoon Visitors to Trimont Trail

These visitors came by about five o'clock in the afternoon two days ago, looking for food. They are standing in the driveway across the street, trying to eat some of the little decorative crabapples on the ground.  There are usually some apples on the trees across the street, but this spring's late frost killed them.  There are acorns, but not as many as usual. The next day these bears stopped traffic up the street by settling in the top of an oak tree.

(pictures as usual by my husband Tom)