This Poppy didn’t open up as it dried. So I used a toothpick to pop it open and get all the seats without destroying the dried seed head. Wish I had thought that at the start.

via Instagram

Luffa buds

via Instagram

Holly Bush update

So my dad did me a huge favor and chopped back the holly bushes as much as he could. Which ended up being about 2/3rds of the ones on the side and 1/3rd of the ones in the back.

The ones in the back are the main wind block in the winter. The back side ones are apart of that wind block but needed to be heavily chopped back.

My dad thinks that who ever originally planted them had no idea how big they would get. There was part of an old stone border and they were right on top of it.

This is going to take a few years of creative trimming to get them under control. I wouldn't mind them to get a bit taller. I think the back bushes could be nice 1-2 feet taller and the side bushes 2-3 feet taller.

My dad doesn't agree and thinks they should be kept small.

For now I'm just feeding them and waiting to re-evaluate them next year.

And yes, I am saving so many of the branches. They are too dry to easily strip the bark but other then that I will have a nice supply for a while.

Super thin & long holly branches

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My dad has no idea how the branches managed to do this. By all accounts holly isn't supposed to grow this fast and to me the branches look like first year growth.

I haven't cut them yet because I might make them into a wreath or small wreaths.

Clicking the link will show you the photo on my instagram. I'm not sure why it stops showing in the blog.

Purple poppy

via Instagram

A rich purple for this poppy. Very happy with the color.


Clicking the link will show you the photo on my instagram. I'm not sure why it stops showing in the blog.

A bright red nasturtium

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These were dollar store seeds. They are not eating my yard like i had hoped but they are thriving with neglect. Nasturtium flower best when neglected. Which is the opposite of almost everything else in the world.

My dad is a touch envious but that mostly because he is very good at babying his garden and that isn't what these like.

We found out that they smell like roses.

I have found a bunch of seeds on sale so when ever I get my flower beds made these will be going the the back near the dead/dry areas that don't get the rain.


Clicking the link will show you the photo on my instagram. I'm not sure why it stops showing in the blog.

insta- what now

Trying to get things going again. I have a few posts that just need editing.

And then there is the bit about the person that stole seed pods from my front garden. We think it might be the same person that stole flowers from my neighbors garden. He did it right in front of her!

I need to go back at some point to fix all the instagram photos. Add more text for what is happening in them.

It would be nice if google supported the Blogger app. That would have made my life a lot easier.

So many things to do.