Hands in the Dirt & Water: Dogs Go Swimming Part III

Hands in the Dirt

I admit aside from harvesting cucumbers, lettuce, jalapenos, the first tomato, basil, cilantro, and stalking my strawberries (the chipmunk is still eating these before I can)... I haven't done a lot of gardening of late.  I also noticed that the fawns (or it may have been the woodchuck/s) have eaten most of the flowers that aren't fenced to include my peppermint, daisies, and sweet william, and others.  I didn't keep up with spraying my liquid fence... uggg! 

And remember all those beautiful apples that were growing?  They are all but are missing.  I have seen the squirrels eating them; guess they were really hungry.  Another reminder to self... to spray/defend crops.

Let's take a look at what is blooming!  The bee balm is holding strong (and nothing has eaten it); in fact the purple is peaking and just lovely!  I also have this tall flower with the bunches of purple flowers at the top (top left photo).  It's pretty! 

I have another peculiar red flower... I think I remember planting it as a bulb last year.. it didn't bloom and I just figured something ate the bulb (bottom left photo).  Nice surprise!  After a quick search I think it might be a Crocosmia!

I also have noticed other inhabitants.  Like this big green caterpillar... a little search is calling him a Antheraea polyphemus.  Which is fancy scientist for moth.  But, neat still! 

And do you see the "humming bird bug" hovering near the purple bee balm below?  A little search is calling that one a Spinx Moth.  Yup, I am totally enjoying all this outdoor stuff!

Hands in the Water

When we last talked about dogs swimming in the lake here and here Sammy had gotten this far... paws in and tasting the water.

Well, yesterday our little water pup took a huge leap in growing up. 

She swam. 

All on her own. 

Like she was born to swim.  So excited to see her making leaps and bounds like this!

The both jumped in the water, blew bubbles, drank water, doggy paddled and splashed around and then they would run back out of the water to shake off. 

The mister and I were reward with two very tired dogs at the end of it.  What an awesome way to cap off a long weekend!! 

Linking to:
~Outdoor Wednesday with Southern Daydreamer~ 
~Cottage Flora Thursday's at Fishtail Cottage~

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Hands in the Dirt: Mountain Laurel Blooming

The flowers and gardens are in full swing!  I am taking a better inventory of what is blooming and when this year so I can determine what plants to add to assure something is always in bloom.  It's a fun challenge I've given myself.

The Mountain Laurel, which was only buds last week, is in full bloom now.  These delicate bunches of light pink flowers were a really pleasant surprise when we bought this house.  They remind me of my favorite hikes with the mister.  Lots of good memories there!

I also have a whole patch of these purple flowers... I think they are called Spiderwort (thank you google).  And if they are then I am reading here, that you can even eat them?  The site goes on to say:

"that the stems, leaves and flowers of spiderworts are edible.  The herbage may be eaten raw or added to stews.  The flowers (which may be either pink, blue or rose-purple) make an attractive edible garnish for salads."

Can anyone confirm the are spiderwort?  I might have to try and move some of it... very pretty spring color!

The peonies are still going.  I had one bunch of white blooms and now it's pinks turn.  These are the bunches that seem to be getting lots of sun.  I have a few others that are still a few weeks behind.  Nice to have them staggered like this so they can be enjoyed longer!

Do you see Katie in the background of this one?

I love how the color is such an intense pink!  And they smell. so. good!  I admit I cut a few and put them on my kitchen table.

This little lovely is back now for the second year and I have to say it's doing really well!  I believe it is called Dead Nettle or Lamium. 

It's a hardy plant for sure.  I planted a small bit from my Mother in Love (MIL) in the heat of a drought last summer and it's back and spreading like crazy.  I am encouraging this one to fill in an area of thin soil on a rock outcrop. 

Beats pulling weeds from that tiny patch!  And I'm surprised to say it has bloomed three times already this spring.  I wonder how many more blooms I'm in for?  And aren't those leaves cool!

This lovely red flower is a type of carnation.  Picked it up on a whim.  The color is beautiful, but it's one of those needy plants that needs to be watered.  Not sure if it will make it in my garden.  I planted it close to the water hose and veggie garden to give it a chance... but not sure what will happen with this one.

These stalks are the beginnings of my orange day lily's!  This is also the second year for these in the garden.  Last year they grew really well, multiplied nicely, bloomed even, and then the deer ate them.  So, I now have a few in a fenced area (hopefully won't be eaten) and a few out in the open as a compromise. 

For me, these seem to sound a bell that summer is on when they begin to bloom in June!

This girl isn't so much a flower, but oh how she loves a garden walk as I snap pictures of this and that.  She is currently on the hunt for the chimpmunks living in this center garden.  And you can see some of the Dead Nettle there at her toes.

All creatures great and small seem to take residence in the gardens.  And it's that time of year for caterpillars.  Mohawk anyone?  After a quick look it seems this is a gypsy moth in the making.  I wonder what all those spikes are for?

And there you have it.  Another quick walk through a few of the gardens to check out what's happening. 

How are the pups you ask?  Wonderful!  You'd think these two have been BFF forever... happy tails make for happy mamms!  Doesn't Katie look gigantic lately compared to the wee one?  Now if I could just have a talk with Sammy about not ripping plants out of the gardens... just the weeds ;)

---I'm linking to Outdoor Wednesday's with Susan at A Southern Daydreamer and This Week In My Garden with Candy at The Little Round Table---

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Couple of Projects Brewing

I'm having one of those rare soak in time for myself and cross a ton of things off my list days.  Love!!  Funny how a few hours alone with the pup is helping me realize how much I totally needed a break from the grind.

So, going with the flow... no real post planned for the day, but I'm having fun digging out fabrics and spending some time cutting pieces!

Here are some of the fabrics I've been working with the last few days:

This set begins a new project:

See the second from the left?  I was so dang tickled when I unwrapped that fat quarter.  I pulled a ton from a bin and didn't really give a lot of thought to them.  They just looked cute all folded up.

Here's a closer look at it.  It's sooooo pretty!  I would adore a whole quilt from this fabric and it's making me think I need to seek out some more of it!

Look at this little bitty caterpillar!  Don't you just adore it?  I certainly do.  It's fun to incorporate fabrics I adore into things for others!!

One more look at all these colors and patterns together.  Can't wait to show you all these finished projects!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!!

Catepiller

Checking out creepy crawlies up close and personal = happiness!

I'm not 100% sure what this little guy (or gal?) is, but I am guessing some sort of caterpillar? He was dangling from a tree on the thinnest little white thread... some sort of daredevil or stunt caterpillar. I just thought his silhouette against the forest leaves was really darn cool!