Rain and gardens

Good morning Everyone ~ Hope you are off to a good start on the weekend. It's Friday. I'm working at my job today and tomorrow, then Wed-Sat next week, so I won't be gardening much from now until next weekend.

We've had some wonderful heavy rain, really soaking into the ground and watering everything nicely. I am thankful. The other night it started pouring in the middle of the night and DH reached over and patted me and said "There's your rain." He knew I'd been praying and hoping for rain. I think more is expected through the weekend, and is just what we need.

The past few days DH and I have been working outside on our property. It's not as miserable and hellish as it was over the summer, so we feel like working. Our place has become a jungle over the summer, so we're pulling weeds, vines, etc. that have gotten out of control. We haven't started painting our cottage yet, but it's in the back of our minds. We are looking forward to some cooler temps, and hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later. We are ready.

Yesterday morning I went to a different library than the one I've been going to on my way to work. The older library is closed for a year for renovation. This other one is really close to home, I just have to make time to go there now, not on my way to work. Anyway, the library I went to yesterday is really nice, new, and I'm going to have to learn my way around it. I do look forward to jaunts to this closer library.
I found a great book called "Landscaper Plants for South Florida". I've already found one plant that I didn't know what it was in my own gardens. I also got a wonderful book, "Embroidery for all Seasons", which is exquisite. Found the book at Amazon, and two more books by this lady and put them all on my wish list. :-)
My fingers are itchin' to be stitchin' again.

Here are some pictures taken the last few days. We are mostly green, and I hope to add more color in the future. We are also little rooms and hallways, rather than open spaces.

Below is the front path, the road is to the left with traffic rushing by about 15' away.
There were piles all over like this, this was just the only picture I took.
This picture is looking west.


Here I am on the path looking east.


Here we are looking east toward the driveway gate into patio.
You can see the front wall of my little space needs painting.
This is the primer coat.
You can see the front door, which we don't use. My workspace with beads and embroidery materials covering it right now, is on the inside.



This picture is looking southeast to the patio just outside the front window.


This is the front patio, looking west.


East gate, driveway behind.


I'm standing by the kitchen's screened porch,
which is the main entry into our cottage.


I'm standing in the driveway just off the patio by screened porch,
looking north. The gate into secret garden has the wreath hanging on it,
on the left side of the picture.



This is my shed's garden.


Here we are inside the secret garden. I trimmed the hedges at the back,
so that now I can see the two outbuildings rooflines.


View from inside. Colea cuttings rooting in water.


Lemon tea bread.
Delicious and the recipe can be found at
Keeping it Simple




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To find the universal elements enough;

to find the air and the water exhilarating;

to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter. . .

to be thrilled by the stars at night;

to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring -

these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

John Burroughs

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Have a great weekend whatever you do, wherever you are.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL