Flowers & a funky, fun project

 

Happy Wednesday Folks ~ Here we are to the middle of another week. January is almost gone and February will be here shortly.

Some of you are really having really nasty winter weather.  I almost feel guilty for writing a post about flowers and fun in mild weather down here in FL. Almost, but not quite. You all have lovely springs and not so bad and short summers.  We have short springs, long, hot and humid summers, with threats of hurricanes, but our winters are rather nice, especially if we get some ‘chilly/cold’ weather, which we’ve had some of lately.  We are having gray skies today, had a little rain already and more is expected throughout the day and tomorrow too. We need it so I’m not complaining.

Monday I got the hair-brained idea to make an arbor using some plastic covered wire shelving we found.  We used some and still have some left over.  I thought to myself, why not? I am recycling and making something I want but don’t want to spend $ on.

I didn’t have to cut anything, just wired, propped and there it is.  I still need to do some tweaking, looking for some pipe in our stash to pound into the ground for extra support. For now, this works.  Once things start growing up and over it I will be really pleased. I then moved potted plants back to this area to surround it and divide it from the parking area, and I love the look.  It helps to soothe my heart.  The caravan is an unfinished project that we were working on, and one of these days I’ll do my best to finish the inside. Paint and paneling and hook up the lights.  I’m planning to use this to store material, yarn, etc. I can sit out there with my lap top and can have tea, do some needlework projects if I feel like it.  There’s a tiny a.c. that we bought and installed and I have an electric one burner for making tea. There’s even a little fridge that will work on propane or electric. Oh yeah, see the little section of picket fencing by the caravan?  I found 5 pickets left over from our fencing project and found some other wood we had, and nailed pickets to that and wa-la! I need to wash it down with TSP or vinegar, then paint it to match the other fencing on the other side.  I think I’ve still got some of that paint left.

I’ve got to clear junk supplies/materials from in front of the work shop to make it all look nicer.  All in good time. One thing Mark told me before he left this planet for his heavenly home, was that the workshop was now mine.  Now that I’m over the truly bad part of grieving, I am thinking about how to make it so I can use it in there for some of my projects.  I still will leave a lot in there as it is tools and supplies that I’m using or can use.  The workshop was a dream come true for him and I love it too.  It is always a treat to go in there.

This cast aluminum hanger is one of a pair, from my friends Nanci and John.  The are salt water blasted from being at a place on the beach.  They are neat!  I think I am going to paint them the orange trim color, to make them stand out.  I just hung two old hanging pots from them, this is an unknown plant that I got last year, and in the other one is a periwinkle of some sort I think, that hangs and spreads.  I may get something else, but I don’t know what.  Cheap!

Below is the clerodendrum ~ Shooting Star, it is on either side of the bird bath by the heart patio. No scent that I can detect.

Tibouchina blooms

Blanket flower

African Bush Daisy

Callisia fragans ~ This is wonderful and fills the air with it’s sweet perfume. There are some in front of the big fish too.

Cape honeysuckle and bee.  The bees love this.

Kalanchoe

Queen Crepe Myrtle looking like fall as it loses it’s leaves.

Mom-of-millions.  This plant can be very invasive, but I love it because of the blooms.

Miss Tork has it made this is one of her favorite places to sleep.  The basket was delivered to us filled with edible goodies for our 25th anniversary from Mark’s family, hence the silvery ribbon. Let’s see, how many years ago is that? This Sept. would make it 20 years. Wow!

A mocking bird, our state bird, taking sips from the bird bath.  I saw a sweet little finch at the bath yesterday, while washing dishes and when I went to get the camera this time, and came back it was gone.

Red knockout rose.

This is one of my unknown roses.

These photos below were take a little while after the other one and it had rained, plus the flower had opened up more.  These are ‘huge’ blooms that smell so wonderful!!

It is dreary out. I’m glad I had some outdoor time the past two days.  Since Mark left this planet, I’ve stayed indoors way too much.  When he was here, he always knew where to find me, out in the gardens.  He wouldn’t want me shutting myself up inside. I’ve made it through the first year without my Love, and with God’s continued peace, love and strength, I’ll make it through the rest of my life, until it’s my time to depart.  Then what a reunion we will have.

There is much beauty to see and enjoy in each new day. 

There are lessons to be learned and to grow from too.

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady