Forward Progress in Secret Garden

Good Friday afternoon Friends ~ I hope you are all doing well, finding things to do in this mandatory 'down time'. I've been working outside, 2-3 hours in the mornings. It feels good getting things done outside before the heat and humidity really come down on us. Had a few sprinkles today, could use a good watering and we still may get a shower the way the clouds are looking.

My gift of groceries was just delivered a little while ago. Now I won't have to think about going out until the end of next week or the beginning of the next one. Last night I cooked up some brown rice with herbs, spices and olive oil, then mixed in a drained can of Navy beans. Pretty tasty and filling. I have three kinds of rice, and several different kinds of dried beans, so if worse comes to worse, I've got those to fix and eat. Beans are good for us. I do have some canned goods, and chicken and ground beef and ground lamb in the freezer.  Saving the lamb for Easter.

I didn't know until this morning what I would fix for my bday dinner today, and right now, dough is making in my bread machine for pizza crust. I have a good sauce, some Italian sausage, olives and the moz. cheese. Have the ingredients to make my bday celebratory drink also, a margarita. 

The scents filling the air here are wonderful, jasmine, roses, and two types of gardenias. There were birds, bees, butterflies and even a hummingbird visiting while I was in the 'secret garden' this morning. What a thrill!

Below are pics of the Tahitian Gardenia. This is wonderful!!!!

 

 This is how the 'secret garden' looked in October last year, and how it still was when I decided to take out that shrub in the front a month or so ago.

 

 This is how it looked on the 16th. Getting that shrub out of there took some time, roots I'm sure had gone down into the drain field, from out of the pot that the plant was in, that's why it was doing so well.

Next, from the 18th.

Today's look, still some tweaking to do, but I'm happy.

This tree limb above, came down in either 2004 or 2005 with those three hurricanes that we had. It is beautiful and my dear husband made a stand for it and it's bolted into the bottom, but after this many years, with decay, it's wobbly. I've got it propped up in the back with bricks, etc. and also with that piece of 2x2 on the one side. It feels sturdy today, and yesterday I saw a cat up on it. ;-)

Here are some more pics  of flowers, etc.

This is an epiphyte, they grow all over, with no help from me.

 

Front patio, which is still being tweaked.

 

A knockout rose.

 

Azaleas

 

Can't remember offhand what this is.

 

Reed orchids.

 

Thunbergia

 

 Ok, that's it for now. Be well, be calm, be thankful.

I do have times of 'worry attacks', but when they happen, I pray and thank Jesus for taking care of me. Reading Psalms 91  and other Bible scripture is wonderful for filling our minds and hearts with God's goodness and His promises to us. There are lots of you-tube videos that are spiritually uplifting, as well as plenty of devotionals, and ministers giving encouraging msgs. We don't have to fill our minds with all of the negative stuff that is being put out.

This experience will be a thing of the past. Going through it will teach us things, about life, about ourselves and about God, and make us appreciate so much more, things we might have taken for granted. We can do our part by staying home more, cleanliness, etc. Prayer works wonders too.

Thank you for all of your kind comments. 

FlowerLady