Tuesday, August 12, 2008

One Thing Leads To Another . . .

While I was eating my breakfast this morning I heard a loud and persistent tapping outside the window. I looked out there and saw a bird banging his beak on the empty birdfeeder. I guess he was trying to drop a hint.
After finishing my Cheerios and jumping into some clothes I went out to fill the feeder. I bought this food the other day. It is supposed to be good near porches and patios because there is no waste. This stuff almost looks good enough to eat.



There, that ought to keep him quiet for awhile. Well at least until tomorrow.
I decided as long as I was dressed and outside and the weather was slightly cooler I would take a little stroll around the garden. When I got to the perennial bed I noticed a lot of weeds that were starting to flower. These weeds are loaded with thorns and have a root system that doesn't quit. There is no way you can just give them a good clean yank. This is a job for the biggest shovel in your arsenal. So, I decided as long as it was a little cooler I would tackle this job. I donned my protective gloves and went at it.

This was my biggest VICTORY.
Look at the root on that sucker!
I wasn't as successful getting the whole root on a lot of the other ones, but at least they are gone and their flower heads can't turn to seed and spread even more.
Then I decided I might as well plant a few flowers I picked up the other day.



I planted this purple cone flower. It seems like I plant these every year and they disappear. Lots of my neighbors have huge masses of them. It is a mystery to me why I have so much trouble with them. But I'm not ready to admit defeat yet.




I had planted several zinnias in early summer. Some of them have succumbed to the drought, others were eaten up by some invisible bugs. So, I put in a few to refresh the looks of the bed and hope they will last until frost.



These lantana are taking over the bed and even crowding out some of the other flowers.


I guess I will allow them to do that since they attract beauties like this.



And this.



These were my companions as I worked out there today.



Look what I found on one of my dogwood trees. Now that looks like a hint of fall, wouldn't you say. It's hard to believe when it's been so hot here.
I thought I just went outside to feed the birds and now I'm ready to feed myself.



I'm in the mood for a chopped salad. I've had these at a few different restaurants and love them. I use what I have on hand. Today I will use romaine lettuce, mushrooms, carrots, red pepper, tomatoes, cukes and cilantro. Chop everything up real small.
Put it in a bowl. Add some grated Parmesan cheese and some dressing. I love this Kraft Balsamic Vinaigrette.



The birds are happy & so am I.


























14 comments:

  1. Mmmm...the salad looks good.

    And so do your flowers; I just don't have any luck with them. I think I might go back to putting the wood ones out that are on sticks...wooden flowers..lol!

    Hugz,
    Michele

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  2. Kim,

    I am so glad you stopped by to say hello.

    You are in my prayers.

    Melissa

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  3. You made me tired! You've been a busy girl. I'm glad you took time to take care of yourself. Salad looked great. I like that kind of dressing too. In summer I crave fresh veggies like those. Thanks for visiting my blog today. I always look forward to hearing from you! Twyla

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  4. Sounds like you had a nice day in the yard. All of your flowers are so pretty.
    I have cone flowers all over my front yard. One year I planted a couple of plants and every year they spread. I don't to a thing to them.

    The salad looks delicious.

    I think I might try some of the bird seed you use. It would be nice not to have all the mess.

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  5. Sounds like a perfect day. My coneflowers grow like crazy, but I sure don't have lantana like that. Gorgeous pictures of it with the butterfly!

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  6. It is very kind of you to take care of other creatures, the birds and the butterflies, too!

    Here in Malaysia my wife and are are busy planting whatever flowers in our garden. You know, this is the first time that we live in our very own house after 26 years of marriage and nomadic way of life.

    The weed that I hate most is a tough grass that we call 'lalang' or in scientific term it is Imperata cylindrica. It has a inter-twining subterranean root system that makes it so hardy and extremely difficult to get rid of.

    So, most of the time I pull them one by one, making sure that I pull the roots out. My children say that I am crazy and wasting my time. I continue doing so, bit by bit, and now I have got rid of them in most areas of my compound!

    As as birds are concerned, I have planted papaya and a couple of fruit tress. These trees are busy fruiting non-stop and the fruits are free for the birds. They are maily the glossy starlings, the yellow-vented bulbuls, the house sparrows and even the house bats!

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  7. I have the same problem as you do...I plant a dahlia which I love and they disappear totally. I cannot find the bulbs back. I planted some up in a large pot this year and am reaping the rewards. They are flowering so prettily for me now. Loved seeing the butterflies. I need to get some lantana for my garden up at the cottage.

    We eats lots of salads in the summer. I am growing lettuces and tiny tom tomatoes and spring onions in pots. It is fun to pick my own salad too. :) I am a huge balsamic vinaigrette fan but many don't like it. It was the first thing I noiticed in your photo.

    Hugs ~
    Heidi

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  8. Kim,

    I have laid off writing for a while, so Amir Harith (my grandson) would get some attentions this week.

    Those flowers? Boy! Am I jealous of your plots? Yes, like Dr.Azahar (my childhood classmate in 1966) mentioned, the weeds are toughest to remove. But I wait till it rains, with gloves covered hands It's a lot easier to pull when the ground is soft and soggy.

    My lavender plants have disappeared now. The little grass hoppers helped themselves to them (five pots) altogether.

    Enjoy your salads...love them.
    Kim, thank you for dropping by.

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  9. Beautiful garden photos and I love the butterfly pictures. I have the same problem with purple cone flowers, for some reason they never come back the next year.

    The salad looks yummy!

    Hugs,
    Donna

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  10. All I can say about the salad is yummy, yummy!

    Thanks for the tip about the birdseed. I didn't know there was a special kind for decks, etc. but now I will look for it.

    Thanks, Gretchen
    birdnestcottage.typepad.com

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  11. Hoshi says thank you for stopping by for a visit.

    Melissa

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  12. How beautiful! I love butterflies, don't you?

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  13. What a lovely garden you have!! It has to be a joy to walk through it!! We had to chuckle at your salad - that's our favorite dressing too!!
    Have a nice week,
    Karla & Karrie

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  14. Kim,

    Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog--looks like we both enjoy having feathered friends in our yards. They are wonderful company. The pictures of the butterflies are beautiful. We ceraintly don't have the same varieties here in Calgary. Creation is such a daily gift.

    I'm not a professional photographer at all, I dohave a good digital camera and had noticed the hummingird dropping in on a consistent basis so i had my camera ready and he allowedhe to get quite close, I snapped alot of photos and was very pleased with the outcome.

    I hope you've had a restful time away, drop by again sometime.

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