After the Rain

Rain gives the garden a fresh, alive appearance.

blackberry bush

climbing Kentucky Wonder Beans

Brussel Sprouts... love the water drops on the leaves

Brilliant green of bean plants

Pure beauty.........

Rain or shine, the Cub Gnome is always on the job

"Raindrops on roses"...

Tex got a haircut

Randy gave Tex a haircut today. Check out his before and after shots. Not ready for the Marines yet, but a definite improvement. Thank you, Randy!

Before:

After:

Bluebonnets

This weekend Randy and I drove to Ennis (about 30 miles southeast of Dallas) to see the Bluebonnet Trail. It was beautiful. Enjoy the slideshow! I'd love to hear your comments.

Picture slideshow made with Smilebox

Meet the Trees

Two trees in our family were already residents when we moved into the house. "Tex" is a Cedar Elm. I lovingly call it the "Ugly Tree."

"Sarge" is a Sweet Gum Tree. SGT... get it... Sarge?!

"Maggie" moved in last year. Over the last year she grew 6 inches. We're anxiously waiting for those ivory sweet scented flowers.

The Peach Tree Family all had lovely pink flowers as soon as the weather got past the last freeze. We don't expect peaches this year, but the flowers are pretty.

"Harvey" is a Harvester Peach Tree. He hangs out on the side of the house in the front yard.

Harvey has the most leaves of the three.

"Lori" is a Loring Peach Tree. She was trimmed back the most when Randy got the trees from the nursery. Lori looks kind of funny with leaves coming straight from the trunk instead of branches.

Lori lives by the side gate in the backyard.

All three peach trees have these fuzzy objects on their branches. We're not sure if they're peaches or not. Research said the trees wouldn't produce fruit for a couple of years after being planted. We'll just have to wait and see.

"Belle" is a Belle of Georgia Peach Tree. She got a unique haircut before being planted. She shares the side of the yard with Lori.

So now you know how Randy and amuse ourselves. We name our trees! What can I say? They're part of our family.

First Roses of Spring

Blooming again this year in the garden we have the hearty miniature yellow rose bush Randy planted for Sarah when we moved into our house four years ago. It's little, but it's strong and diligent... kind of like Sarah herself. It comes back faithfully every year.

Also back from last year is the peach rose that Randy and I don't know what kind it is. I wish we did. Whatever it is, it's beautiful.

I love the intense green of the leaves.

New to the garden this year is a Tropicana rose bush. Randy and I saw them in Connecticut at the Norwich Rose Garden last summer and the summer before.

The plants are growing quickly now that the weather is warmer. Every day there is something new to see and photograph.

An Easter greeting for our friends and family......

(Click here:)

Happy Easter!

Garden Update

Randy is working hard and long to get plants in the ground now that we have nice weather. The garden doesn't look like much yet, but in a few weeks, we'll be hunting for these pictures to see the "before" of the marvelous garden we'll be enjoying.

Randy's Tiller (aka RT)

The back porch is quite busy lately.

Spring is coming to the front yard, too.

A wasp dropped by Belle for a visit,

amazingly here caught in flight.

The back fence extension of the garden.

The side fence where the okra and tomatoes grew last year.

Blackberry bushes are doing well.

Randy can't wait for some blackberry cobbler.

Baby broccoli plant started from seed

Broccoli plant started from a transplant

Zucchini is a pretty green.

At the rate the English peas are growing,

I'd better hurry up and find some recipes.

My favorite part of the garden... the Flower Section. It now has two rose bushes, two cala lily plants, and LOTS of begonias.

This planter contains seeds from Grandma Sluder's petunia plant my brother, Jim, still has. Grandma passed in 1991. Part of her petunia plant is still growing at Jim's in Kansas. He shared some seeds with us to see how they do in Texas.