Seems like it has been awhile since doing a doodads post — and that is because it has been! I’ve got a whole post planned about the dawn redwood update — and it’s going to be a good one — but for now here are pics taken today on a stroll around the yard. What inspired me was seeing the 2 prickly pear blossoms. I counted 13 buds on the plant, so 11 more to go. Also the butterfly milkweed plant I put into the tomato bed last fall is blooming. No pics of the tomatoes as there are plenty of blossoms but no fruit yet. The variety of pepper I tried this year isn’t doing very well. I also found chew marks on one of the precious delicatas! Remember that rabbit I saw out back in May? She’s getting bolder about coming up into the yard and so it may have been her? Look at those cosmos and columbine filling the one bed. The columbine started growing from seed last fall (thanks again, Jules!) and the cosmos re-seeded itself. You can’t see them in there, but the stevia plants are doing well.
Max here are the milkweed in the yard. More out in the field along the fenceline but here are a few:
Tao Talk 
You have the green doodad thumb alright, Li! 🙌🏽
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cindy it’s nature. I just sit back and watch :)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I do love that! 💗
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love watching things grow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
<3 Melissa, what do you have growing in the yard this season?? Hoping your neighbors have laid off of harassing you about whatever they were harassing you about. I think it was grass clippings?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Li! I only grew strawberries this summer. I forget the name of the plant, but it is also called “June bearing strawberries” I think.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“only strawberries” My tub of them got overgrown and will have to be replanted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need more space as well. They bloomed and strawberries grew in June, but none since.🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the everbearing bloom all season. June bearing are … June bearing :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had thought it meant they bloomed beginning in June. I didn’t realize the blooming was confined to June.😅 When I planted strawberries before, they continuously bloomed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gardening is all about the journey. Now you know. Just check the tags or the seed packet when you plant them again. I can’t even deal with that tub right now. Grass grows crazy here and compacts the dirt. Too hard to dig it out and too heavy to knock it over. Maybe I’ll put a tarp over it and it will kill the grass and loosen the soil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And yes. She kept mowing her grass into my flowers. She still does sometimes, but when I get the chance I sit out there while she mows and then she turns the mower the other way.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s totally messed up.
LikeLike
What is that yellowish orange flower beside the prickly pear? It’s beautiful…or is it part of it?
LikeLiked by 2 people
If it’s real yellow it is the prickly pear blossom. If it is more orange it is the butterfly milkweed. Oh that reminds me, the milkweed milkweed are in beautiful bloom right now also. They never bloomed last year at all. Will try to remember to go out and get a pic and add it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ok…the bigger one…that is the prickly pear. Yea the milkweed is really pretty as well. It makes me want to go outside and look around here….but an hour ago the heat index was that it felt like 101…
LikeLiked by 2 people
It rained some last night and brought the temp down to 75 thank goodness. I don’t blame you for staying inside with those temps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got out around 7 and it was cool with the top down on the jeep…it felt great then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds perfect. Glad you got the Jeep tweaked up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Went through some trials…like the wheel falling off lol…but it’s great now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh wow on the wheel falling off. Sounds so dangerous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Forgive me… but here it is…it was scary
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your garden is lovely this year! I love that the cactus is blooming! How pretty.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Colleen thanks so much. I think it is the heat, coupled with enough rain (just enough!) What do you have growing this year?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t have anything growing this year. With my husband surgeries, there just wasn’t the time to get plants. Next year, I’ll have a better plan. That’s why I enjoyed your garden so much! 💐
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sorry to hear about your husband’s surgeries. Hoping he’s on his way towards better health status from them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Lisa. He is on the mend. ❤️🩹
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely plants, Lisa. My Sweety would love these as they are things that won’t grow here (she tells me we’re Zone 3). Such beautiful nature and the benefit to the wide ranging climate here is the reemergence of greenery as spring progresses into the short summer growing season.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Steve.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely plants in your garden, Lisa! I planted squash, bell peppers, and eggplants. The leaves of the squash are big, just wait to see if I have any healthy squash. It’s hard to tell about the bell peppers and egg plant.yet. My raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are in their second year (returning), they are doing great.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy to hear how your garden grows, Miriam. I would like to try eggplants. Yummy on the berries. There are a gazillion wild blackberries. Seems like they multiply exponentially.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like eggplants. It’s good to try, Lisa. Yes, blackberries are invasive and they grow wild in public areas. Gardeners advertise removal of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re a frog and toad fan! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
I certainly am :) I saw so many baby toads when I mowed a couple of days ago. I hear the frogs late at night.
LikeLike
It looks so green, so sumptuous. Really beautiful. You have a gorgeous garden.
LikeLike
Isn’t summer great! Your garden look really good, Lisa,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is. It charges the battery for the rest of the year. Thanks on the garden. I really want the squash to do well. I promised my older son a birdhouse gourd, and my younger son has a drill bit (?) that can put circle opening on them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sound like a plan! :>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life is bursting, moving, refreshing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been missing your doodads, Lisa. Even though I wouldn’t call myself a tree hugger, I find looking at plants puts me at ease. It’s also a nice way to spend a short break I’m currently taking from preparations in my patio for a get-together my dear wife is hosting later this afternoon. As such, most of my reading and commenting today will have to wait after dark. :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy the pics put you at ease, Christian. I have most of the raised planters right outside of one slider where I can look at them (when I’m not out among them.) Having gatherings at your home is a lot of work. I’ve been working at getting my place spruced up for the fam to visit. Usually we meet up elsewhere, but today it is here. Good luck on the cleaning and will look for you later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately, my dear mom’s extremely thorough approach to cleaning didn’t rub off on me – you could eat off the floor!
In fact, I passionately hate cleaning! But hosting folks and not wanting to completely embarrass yourself is a good motivator!🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope it went well. Having my fam over was great. I showed granddaughter where the stevia was growing and she kept picking leaves off and eating them. Daughter in-law said it’s also called candyleaf. I even got to read her, “The Velveteen Rabbit.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
:-)
Thanks, Lisa, our garden party was fun. However, it also meant I only got some of my blog reading and commenting done last evening, so I’m hoping to catch up today! :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
p.s. I’ve never lived with anyone who was an obsessive cleaner before but have been in the homes of those who are. To each their own I guess, as my mom used to say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely not my thing. Everything in moderation! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The milkweed look beautiful! The bee is enjoying them as well! They are just perfect looking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they are. But I haven’t seen any butterflies on them or the orange butterfly milkweed, which worries me a little.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thats odd I would think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
My older daughter squirted milkweed in her eye accidentally once, necessitating a doctor visit. Was OK though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh I imagine the “milk” in her eye would be painful. Glad she was ok.
LikeLike