Sunflowers

This year I planted what I called a "cutting garden".  By naming it such I knew I'd feel more free to cut the flowers from it.  

I have about 8 short rows of flowers in with the vegetables.  So when they get weedy it's not so bad.

When I hesitated to cut these sunflowers, I told myself that I planted these to cut.  Cut them!

So, I did.

The green flowers...are a variety of Amaranth called Green Thumb. Truly, I thought as they began to bloom, that they were ugly and looked like the common pig weed amaranth.  But, then I gave them a go at cutting them and decided they are pretty wonderful in a bouquet as a filler. I've had to prop them up because after watering heavily, they just laid over on the ground.  The other varieties of Amaranth I planted haven't displayed that same behavior. 

::~::

Yesterday, the girls entered a few of their projects in the fair and today the baking and their theater arts projects were entered.  We did a lot less projects this summer and had a lot less stress....So, I give us a purple ribbon in the self proclaimed "Life Choices" category.  It may be the only purple ribbon awarded this year for our house.  This morning when we cut Audrey's Chiffon Cake to get ready to enter it, she tasted it and said, "Hmmm, it tastes like bread".  And it does.  A delicious bread.  Should a cake taste like a bread?  Maybe not. But, hey it all came out of the pan!  Mostly. The tiny bit that didn't was able to be the 25% of the cake that didn't have to be entered. Whew.

Stay cool. We are praying for all the animals and kids taking care of them at the fair. 

It Was Golden

Two weeks ago, my husband showed me a picture of their first wheat field on his phone and he said, "Maybe you'd like to come up and take pictures of it."  Oh yes I would!!

You can see the steeple of the rural Catholic Church that my husband grew up going to in the distance.  They still have one Mass a weekend there and my Father in Law's funeral was there.  He is buried in the cemetery right next to it.

Corn and beans are mostly planted around here so we don't see all that many wheat fields. 

Generally they plant a field of oats, but for various reasons, decided on wheat this year.

The old "outstanding in your field" phrase came to mind.

By now, the field is gone and just the stubble will be left.  I'm grateful that it worked out for me to get there yesterday to take a few pictures.

We have a little tub of wheat here now too. I think I'll put it in a jar for fall decor.  It's funny because I did not even think much about the fact that I had never held wheat in my hand until he brought a sample home.  (He was taking it in to the coop to have the moisture tested.)  

As they say, it's the little things.

Look at that texture. :)

You know I do have more pictures of it....but, I'll stop with this one. Ha!

Okay, one more.  

I took pictures while he conducted business in chore boots from the middle of a wheat field.

But, this photo is my favorite.  

Because he knew how much I'd like to see this field. ♥

Photo Heavy Garden Post

It's so hard to take pictures of my little space of flowers and keep out the tractor, trailer, and cars in the background!  And then there is the somewhat weedy edge and vegetable/flower garden to try and crop out too!

So I'll go with some close up pictures. :)

I've thought about painting this tire to add some color, but I just can't.  For some reason, I like it as the black tire that it is/was.  I thought I shouldn't plant the German Ivy vine because it too will be void of color, but again...I really like greenery and I was pretty sure it would grow well here and it is!

I don't think my bathtub will fill in as well as it did last year, but everything is always an experiment.  Those are "sun" impatiens, but I think they would do better in more shade. 

The white rusty bucket planter, I believe, needs better drainage.  I've already pulled two plants from it and the silver falls seems to be doing fine. I didn't have anything to fill back in so it sits a bit empty.  Next year I'll fix the drainage problem in it. The red flowers are a "sun" begonia and I bought them at my son's urging as he liked the leaves.  I've never had good outcomes with begonias before.  But, wow, do I love these!  For sure they will be regular features in future gardens!

Some of the Snapdragons are still going nicely even though it's gotten quite hot here.

I had so many Black Eyed Susans reseed this year and I'm just tickled!  I love them!

These chairs are on their legs so to speak...I've wired them together and maybe I'll get another year out of them but old wood can only handle so much Nebraska weather.

I've had these two bread boxes for years and I used to use them for storage in my sewing room.  Well, when I decided to stop using them for storage, I tried selling them. I sold one, but not the other two.  

It took a couple of years for it to don on me that I could tip them, drill holes, and use them as planters!

I have four large mums that I have to just appreciate for their greenery now, until I enjoy them this fall.

Another of the wonderful red begonias! (Note the lamp shade base for the planter.)

I have never had a Verbena do as well as this one is.  I hope it continues!

This tank is now in more shade than sun so I may need to swap out some things.  The purple cone flowers seem to pretty much grow everywhere.

Hmmm..Not thrilled with the combination here, but it was basically what was left over from planting other pots.  And maybe too much shade here too?  Not sure yet as those petunias are lacking in well, petunias.

I love this vinca on the old gas heater turned plant stand.

Zinnias that are just getting going and some Snapdragons that are slowing down.

This is a Bridal Veil Vine that I hope blooms this year.  I've had it before and it was sooooo pretty, then I lost it one winter. You can see it here in this post in 2012.  I really hope it survives this winter!

Vines finding their way are intriguing to me.

I forgot a cup here....

My son is painting our barn, residing one side, and replacing three windows in it this summer.  I asked him to do this side first so I could get back to gardening.  I knew it needed to be painted, but I was surprised at how much better it looked when he finished this side.  The rest is held up waiting for siding to come (not damaged as it has been the last two deliveries) and now waiting for the new windows to come in.  We must get it all done before he goes back to college! (and by "we" I actually mean "He"...haha!)

I like white flowers. :)

This planter may be in too much shade now too.

All of the marigold I have reseed themselves so I just move them all over the place to fill in spaces and planters.

A friend sent me some garden markers so I've hung them here and there. :)

I made a small vine garland after this post about the wreaths.

I guess you know you like rust when you buy rust colored plants.

I have two more pots of rust and white combinations in our back yard too!

I had to wire this lovely rocking chair together too, but I think I'll be able to enjoy it for quite a few more years.

I just moved some mint from the tank to the ground.  I may regret that, but it's sand so I don't think it will go too crazy.  The tansy on the left there is now just starting to bloom.

 I started those zinnia from seed in the house, but I don' think it really bought me too much time.  I'm anxious for the tall one (Dames Rocket) behind the begonia to bloom too.  I started it from seed in the house too.  I had a really poor outcome from the seeds I started indoors so I'm hoping to see something for the effort!

I picked that little turtle up at a garage sale this spring and I think it's great.

 I need to find a place for that rusty crib piece in the foreground.  It's just resting there "for now".

I think that's enough photo overload for now,  time to go cut some flowers!

19 Years for a Harvest

My husband Jim planted blueberry bushes about 19 years ago shortly after built our house.  He also planted raspberries and blackberries.  I think those died about two years after we lost him.

 But, the blueberries, although severely neglected,

are still alive.  Albeit a couple of them are only about 12" high.

And, this year my son discovered berries on one of the big bushes!  I've seen about ten berries for a few years but the birds or bugs get them.  This year, a bowl full!

Maybe this will be the impetus to get me to fertilize and weed around the bushes!