Even with the heat the garden has come alive!

 I hope everyone is trying to keep cool.  The temps the past few weeks has been in the 100 range.  It is so dry here!  Last night we finally had a great rain and hopefully it has saturated the ground and also filled up the reservoirs.  Some towns around us are putting water restrictions on and 1 town said they only have enough water for about 5-6 days!  

Here are some of the beautiful plants blooming right now:

This is a closeup of the Hydrangeas that are blooming in the side yard!

Joan Senior Daylilies

Lady of Shalott Rose

This is the gigantic hydrangea blooming in the side yard.

The bumble bees have been fascinating this summer.  They have actually climbed up in the sunflowers and have fallen asleep many times.  I guess they feel protected inside the sunflower.  They are so cute sleeping away!

Bumble bee asleep in the sunflower.

This bumble was working away in the petunias for his pollen.

Rex Begonia on the screened in porch in the morning sunshine!

Bumble in the dianthus

Tahitian Sunset Rose arrangement.

I made this arrangement with our hydrangeas and then alstromeria and delphinium from Harris Teeter.

Lastly my sweet grandson, Owen turned 15 on Saturday, 7/11.  I haven't seen him in about 2.5 years.  My daughter who doesn't talk to me actually sent me these 2 photos of Owen at Colonial Williamsburg on Saturday.  I really miss him and wish she would let me see him.  Here are the 2 photos she sent of him:

Well that is about all the news I have for today!  I hope you all are enjoying your summer.  Stay Cool!

Sherri

4th of July Weekend is Here!

 Hi Everyone!  Where did the month of June go!  I can't believe it is the 4th of July weekend already!  The heat is just too hot to do anything here.  Yesterday it was 101 with a heat index of 105.  Even the birds aren't as active as they usually are.  

Even though it has been hot here with alot of watering by me of the gardens and container plants the garden has been pretty good.  I had to laugh last night when I was watering, a bumble bee had fallen asleep in the sunflower in the garden.  I thought he was awake, but then I nudge him and he was asleep.  The sunflowers in the garden were volunteers from the birdseed.  Here he is taking his siesta!

We have an Annabelle Hydrangea on the property.  It was put in by the previous owner to cover up the view of the propane gas tank.  It is doing really well this year!  I made an arrangement out of some of them and added 2 bunches of Delphinium and Alstroemeria from Harris Teeter.  So pretty together!

Closeup of the arrangment I made.

Closeup of the Annabelle Hydrangea flowers.

The arrangement I made.

The huge bush of the Annabelle Hydrangea in the side yard.

You all know flowers mean alot to me and this year even though the garden is the first year we have been having some beautiful plants.  See below:

Joan Senior Daylilies

Lady of Shalott Rose

Tahitian Sunset David Austin Rose

I'm going to close with a little bumble on the petunias in the planters we have.  I also want to wish everyone a very safe and wonderful 4th of July!  God Bless America!!

Sherri

Goldfinches at the Feeder

 I bought a really nice bird feeder for Steve's birthday last month.  When we went to NJ for Easter, he loved my sister and brother-in-law's feeder.  I got one just like it and he spends time now watching all the birds.  He really loves the little goldfinches that come and eat there.  Today he was sitting in his chair and a goldfinch came by so he snapped a great photo of it.  I love birds too, so this is something we can share together.

We have so many birds coming to the feeder now.  Cardinals, House Finches, Carolina Wrens, Titmouses, Goldfinches, Bluebirds (come to the bird bath) Eastern Phoebe, Sparrows and Chickadees.  They are alot of fun to watch!

Have a great day!

Sherri

Father's Day and a New Plant!

Saturday I went to Lowe's to pick up some plumber's tape and this beautiful plant was in the garden section. It is called a Rex Begonia. I have had a few begonias over the years-Angel Wings, Dragon Wings, etc. The colors on this one is just gorgeous! I also picked up a pink phlox, a Rose of Sharon bush and a yellow hibiscus for Steve. He loves yellow plants and he loves hibiscus-win/win!! Here is a photo of the rex begonia:

Sunday we met Steve's 3 kids, their significant others and Kelly, Steve's son-in-laws son, Daniel at Longhorn Steak House in Salisbury. It was a great time and everyone had fun!

Everyone have a wonderful day today! Sherri

Thought I would catch up on things!

 Hi Everyone!  I haven't been on here in quite some time.  I have been busy with the house, gardening, closing on my house in Rockwell and going to the Beach.  I thought I would catch up with you all.

The gardens are going along really well being that it is the first year for my rose/perennial garden.  Here are a few photos:

New Rose/Perennial Garden in the backyard off the deck.

Miniature Pink Coneflower

Daylily

Daylily

Delphinium

Triple Stargazer Lily

Joan Senior Daylily

Lake Norman Sunset Daylily

Lake Norman Sunset Daylily

Million Bells Hanging Planter

Moon Vine bud on deck

Moon vine on deck

Pansies and coleus

White and Purple Petunias in the planter

Volunteer Sunflower

Tahitian Sunset David Austen Rose

Tahitian Sunset rosebud

Yellow Hibiscus

We've added some things to the garden also.  For Steve's birthday I gave him this birdfeeder.  He loves watching the birds.

This is the bottom of the post of the bird feeder.  We made a planter to hold up the post of the bird feeder because the ground is so hard here.

This is the bird feeder from inside the house (in our living room)

We had an Overton family corn hole tournament here on 5/30 and we also celebrated Steve's birthday which was the next day.  What fun we had!!

Crystal (Steve's Daughter on the far left), Madison (Tyler's girlfriend in the middle) and Tyler (Steve's youngest son on the far right)

Crystal with her husband, Kelly

Scott (Steve's oldest son) and Crystal

Crystal and Steve

Steve and his older brother, Edgar playing corn hole I think the other 2 are cousins.

Edgar (left), cousin, then Scott (Steve's son) and Tony (Steve's nephew)

Steve's grandson, Cole (left) and Edgar (Steve's older brother)

I made Peach Cobbler with Cinnamon Swirl Biscuits with fresh peaches we bought on the way back from Myrtle Beach.

Peach Cobbler with Cinnamon Swirl Biscuits

We went to Myrtle Beach in the beginning of June.  It was our belated honeymoon.  We stayed at Kingston Plantation.  We went to the Alabama Theater and saw Iconic, which was fabulous.  Here are some photos:

Ocean view from our room on the 5th floor

Pool view from our room on the 5th floor.

We had such a great time we are going back in November and we are going to the Legends Theater to see a show.  We also met up with my oldest daughter, Megan and her boyfriend, Bryan.  It was so good to see Megan after 3 years.  We had a great reunion and it was so good to meet her boyfriend.  

Megan and Bryan.

We bought a cement bird bath for the backyard garden.  The birds just love it!  I love to watch them splash around!

Here are some miscellaneous photos:

I traded in my car (Ford Edge ST) so Steve buy back his Subaru.  He bought this Bronco Sport and just didn't like it.  I loved how it drove and the gas mileage was better than mine.  So I got the Bronco Sport now!!  I love the color-Azure Gray.

Celebrating Steve and Amy's birthdays with his office at River Wild Grille.

Steve bought me these flowers for the coffee table just because!  So pretty!

We have a mimosa tree in the backyard and it is blooming away!  The hummingbirds love it!

Steve has a patio tomato plant and he has been getting some medium to small size tomatoes from it.  Next year we are going to plant a regular size tomato.  We love them for sandwiches!

Well everyone, that is about all I have for now!  I hope that catches you all up on what I/we have been up to!!  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Sherri