I know aloe has healing powers and even have used it myself, but I was somewhat surprised to see huge leaves of it for sale recently at a local grocery store. There it was in the produce section, between some citrus fruits, I think. Continue reading
Daughter and I spent Friday evening shopping for school supplies and clothes. She has been working so much I’ve barely gotten a chance to see her, but she finally got a few days off and jumped at the chance to go shopping with me when I told her Friday was the start of a three-day, tax-free weekend — and I was buying. Continue reading
A month ago, I had given up on this begonia. I’m not sure if I had neglected it too much or the mama bird that laid her eggs and then nurtured her babies in it had taken too big a toll, but I was sure it was a goner. All the leaves had turned brown and dried up, as did the pretty pink flowers. But then something happened. Continue reading
While the hope of fall tomatoes seems to be edging closer to a nightmare, I’m really happy that the zinnias and pumpkins are faring well. Continue reading
Yay for hump day because that means it’s one day closer to the weekend. But I’m not really in the mood for blogging today, so a few photos will have to do it. A second branch has started flowering on my crape myrtle and a new zinnia has sprung up near my marigolds and also is starting to flower. Continue reading
While I didn’t expect to see zinnia seeds sprouting after just 2 1/2 days, I am pleased to see a number of them popping up in my flower beds. I’m giving some credit to the layer of leaves and dried-up flower stems I covered the dirt with after planting. That homemade mulch, along with regular watering and this Texas heat could just be key to a bumper late-summer/early fall flower crop.
I’ve harvested a lot of basil leaves from the basil I planted in March and now it’s starting to flower. I first noticed it last week and I snipped off the tops where it was flowering, because I heard that’s what should be done. Why, I’m not sure. As fast as I cut it, the leaves — and flowers — grow back. Doesn’t seem like it’s hurting anything and it still tastes good.
The photo above shows flowers growing back on the basil less than a week after I pinched them off. Should I cut the basil back even further to avoid more flowers? Or just let them grow, all nice and pretty?
All cleaned out and ready for more.
A week after I noticed what looked like flower buds on my crape myrtle (I’ve never grown one before or seen its flowers up close), I was thrilled to actually see a few flowers this morning. I’m also pleased that the color lives up to its name — pink velour. Indeed, the color is a rich, almost velvety deep pink. Continue reading
Another weekend, another hot forecast. Doesn’t matter though, need to find time to get the zinnias (above) transplanted into a flower bed. They’re definitely outgrowing the peat pellets; they really need their own, larger space. Continue reading
Chocolate Chips and Chaos 