Harvesting Hydrangeas....

Well my friends....it is getting just about time to harvest your hydrangea blooms.  The blooms need to be cut before they get to far along and the changing of the colors of the blooms is a good indicator of the right time to cut.

You can see my Little Limelight hydrangeas just outside the kitchen window below.  They have simply been beautiful this summer.  However, the rain has been weighing the huge blooms down lately and it was just time to give them a good trim. 

 

 

 There is nothing complicated about saving hydrangea blooms....just a few quick and easy steps.  

Step 1.  Cut stems several inches long...

 

 

 Step 2.  Remove all leaves from stem.  I simply run my hand down the stem and they just slide right off.

 Step 3.  Group 5 to 6 stems together using twine.  Make a loop in the end of the twine for hanging.

 

 Be sure and not bundle to many stems together.  They need to have good air circulation so they don't mold.

Step 4.  You will need a good place to hang them...preferably somewhere that is relatively cool and dark.  I use our cabin - it is only a couple hundred feet from our house and we have the perfect hangers...deer antlers!

This is Moe.  He even gets his own special pair of earrings.  My husband doesn't like this so much ;-)  But thankfully....he is patient with me.  

 Our cabin just happens to be the perfect place for me to dry my hydrangeas. Consider using your basement, garage or potting shed. 

 These are last years blooms...already dried and ready to be used in fall decorations.  Speaking of fall...

...I believe tomorrow after church....I'm gonna start the fall spruce up.  I'm ready and it is my favorite time of the year so I like to enjoy it as long as possible.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Cathy

Fresh Cut and Country Style...

...Flowers that is!  

Now taking fresh cut flower orders!  I've been growing flowers for years - nearly 20 actually.  Nothing fancy...just the old time favorites that everyone loves.

They are simply lined up in rows near the garden...

My favorite color zinnia - Oriole

 All types of sunflowers...

There is also hydrangea, gomphrena, alternanthera, celosia, asparagus fern, variegated ivy and cosmos to add to the jars.

Grow Flowers - they make you and everyone you share them with...happy!

Hope your summer is going great! 

Cathy

Sunpatiens and Strawberry Bread in September...

 O.k. friends....I have a new favorite flower!  It has only been around a few years but it is just about the easiest flower I've ever grown and I. LOVE. IT!

Meet Electric Orange Sunpatiens....

It is mid-September and my window  boxes still look like this...I have to admit, I'm impressed with myself - just kidding...I'm really impressed with this flower.  These window boxes don't look a bit tired from the summer heat and stress of long hot days.

Things that you need to know in selecting this easy plant for your garden next year...
1) They don't like to be fertilized a lot - I've only fertilized them three times since the end of April!
2) They do like a lot of water - especially when it is really hot!
3) They love the sun and/or shade...
4) Well...that is about it! They are practically maintenance free!

I mean....How Easy is That????

No deadheading needed...they just bloom like crazy people...crazy..blooming... flowers!

 

Of course you learn by doing and I did make a mistake when I fixed my window boxes this year.  I had this flag that was my color inspiration...it was orange and pink.  So I decided to pair pink ivy geraniums with my sunpatiens...big mistake.  Why? you ask.  Well geraniums LOVE fertilizer and not much water...right the opposite of the sunpatiens.  I knew better. Oh well, I won't do that again.

And honestly...the sunpatiens get so large...there really is no need for other flowers because they pretty much outgrow all the competition! 

And the orange is so pretty, I think I'm going to leave them through fall - I don't have the heart to pull them up yet!

Window Boxes for Spring 2016 - I'm not sure the color - but they will definitely be filled with SUNPATIENS!

Now for the Strawberry Bread recipe I promised I'd share with you.  This is my mother-n-law's specialty so we are going to call it:

Sara's Strawberry Bread

2 c. or 2 pkg. frozen strawberries, thawed (Oh do try and use fresh berries, it makes all the difference)

4 eggs, beaten

1 1/4 c. oil

1 1/4 c. chopped pecans (optional)

3 c. Self Rising Flour (sifted)

       (or you may use 3 c. AP flour, 1 tsp. soda, 1 tsp. salt)

3 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. sugar

Sift flour and mix in other dry ingredients, then make a well in center...

 Mix wet ingredients in bowl.

Add wet ingredients to flour mixture and stir to dampen (do not over mix)

Lastly add delicious strawberries which have been cut up.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour.  Makes two loaves (one large, one small)

Extremely easy - incredibly delicious!  You are going to love this!

 The countdown to the fall season is on.  It is only going to be 70 degrees here in KY this weekend!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend wherever you are!

Cathy

Stock Tanks - I love these things!

O.k.... gardening in stock tanks is nothing new but I must say - they are one of my favorite things to plant flowers in! 

 

Why, well - when you live on a farm - you tend to have a few of these on hand - I seem to just keep digging them out of the barns.  Hubby just loves when I ask him if we can drill holes into another perfectly good tank ;-)

 

 

Secondly - there is lots and lots of room for plants to grow!  So many times people try to over plant containers and after  just a short while - well, honestly they look spent. This particular tank is located by our drive way.  It is filled with 10 tidal wave petunias, two sweet potato vines and I had a couple of canna bulbs in there as well.  It still looks this fresh and it is nearly September!

 

 

This tank is up by the road at the entry to our farm.  Just a few purple waves and some euphorbia make it easy to take care of - since I don't really like to carry water to it that often.

 

 

And one of our latest projects was to make a water feature out of a tank - this one we had to purchase actually.  But I did go digging in the barn for this cool old wagon wheel we had.  We simply attached it to the back of the tank, hung one of my watering cans on it and hooked up the pump.  Just took us about an hour to complete.  That's my kind of project - simple and quick!

 

 

And while we were getting it all hooked up - my son just couldn't stand it - he had to get in!  Who knows - maybe next we will have a stock tank swimming pool!  He'd love that and I love that smile!

 

 

 

Next up - my new desk - or should I say - New to Me!

 

Have a great week!

 

Flowers and Baseball...

Yes Friends, my life is consumed right now with...

 

Flowers...

 

 

Flowers... 

 

 

 ...and more Flowers!

 

 

And when I'm not watering, deadheading, potting, fertilizing or....

 

 

...talking to people about flowers....

 (this is what I do for a living, for those of you that didn't know ;-)
 

 

....I'm watching my favorite young man swing that bat...

 

 

...and pitch that ball! 

 

 

I'm itching to get into projects but I just can't squeeze them in right now - but SOON - very SOON - I'll be back!

 

Happy Planting Friends!

 

A Touch of Winter nestled in Indoor Plants...

O.K. I know it is winter - I mean it IS January BUT my oh my - today was BEEE-U-tiful!

 

Nearly 50 degrees and super sunny in Kentucky - but tonight - guess what - it is suppose to snow.  Wow, what a difference a few hours can make!

 

But I enjoyed replanting some of my indoor house plants today...outside in the sunshine.

 

 

This morning my big ceramic pot (yard sale find for $4.00) was filled with what was left of my amaryllis.  Nestled around them was a bunch of pine cones and some feathers (more on that in a minute).

 

 

I couldn't stand it - I had to do something different - sooooo, I took out the bulbs.

 

 

I gathered some plants that I had inside that needed attention.

 

 

The one in most need of attention was my Peace Lily.  It was terribly root bound and needed to be divided.  I must say I was a lil' hard on it with the knife but it'll rebound fine.  If you'd like all the "how-to" information on care, maintenance and dividing the Peace Lily check Pro Plants for some great info.  This plant is about as low maintenance as it gets.

 

 

Along side my Peace Lily, I replanted an arrowhead vine and ivy,  both of which were part of a gorgeous Christmas planter I received this year.  I then topped the soil with moss.

 

 

Next I nestled in the pine cones to remind me that it is still winter no matter what the temp. says.

 

 

These beautiful feathers were also tucked in that delightful Christmas basket I received from my friend, Pam.  Of course, they are from her flock of fine feathered friends.  It was truly a beautiful gift.

 

 

And there you have it - a fresh new planter - filled with the hope of spring as well as the natural beauty of winter time. 

 

 

I took some of the remaining Peace Lily and placed it in my pretty blue crock...

 

 

...And another few pieces found their new home in an old milk bottle.  Actually the Peace Lily roots thrive just fine tucked in water.

 

 

 

I'm dreaming of spring today!

 

Happy Sunshiney Day!