Hello Folks ~ It is hard to believe it is the middle of May. For some of you spring is happening, for us summer is starting. Yesterday morning I felt ill from the heat and humidity. This is ‘why’ we are trying to get things done outside that are ‘bigger’ projects, so that I can just basically putter during the summer this year. The older I get the more summers bother me.
We have been getting much needed rain and that has been nice. We had to do some tweaking of our rain barrel to keep out mosquitoes, and hopefully have that fixed now. This morning we worked on the rain barrel water gauge so that we can see how much water is in it. DH drilled a hole in one of the outlet/faucet pipes, inserted a brass fitting and slipped on clear tubing, then we clipped it top and bottom to the barrel. Right now there is about 35 gallons in the barrel just from what little rain we had last night. This is rain though from most of the house and the workshop, so it doesn’t take long to fill up. We did more calculating and this barrel holds approximately 160 gallons.
10 gallon increment marks on barrel.
This morning we also started on the lattice around the barrel. I look forward to having flowering vines covering it.
We are going to take make the green screening over top of barrel better, this is the temporary prototype.
I’ve been working on weeding in the main garden, adding plants and changing things around. Thirty-two years ago this was just green grass. I need to buy more roll-roofing for the paths, but DH doesn’t want to get the cheap stuff this time, modified bitumen is thicker and longer wearing. I’ve had the cheaper stuff for years now, but it’s cracking up and becoming more brittle and stuff (weeds/grass) is growing up out of the cracks. We’re going to check out a roofing supply place that hopefully will be cheaper than HD.
Now, here are some blooms from our Plum Cottage Gardens.
This is my first gardenia bloom from a rooted cutting sent to me from Tom of Seventh Street Cottage. Gardenias are one of my first memories of Florida. I first lived here before the first grade. My grandmother had gardenias and the scent has stayed with and touched my heart since then. I’ve tried growing them before and haven’t had much success. This bloom opened on Mother’s day. I was thrilled. I picked it and have enjoyed the scent for days.
This shot is from the front courtyard looking out into the driveway area. On the fence side is a tower of plumbago blooms. Along the fence is Virginia Creeper vine and Cape Honeysuckle. Near the gate is a hibiscus that I got from my mother years ago.
Now, here we are in the secret garden and you can see passion vine blooms growing on the hedge that surrounds this space.
Bauhinia acuminata or dwarf orchid tree, is growing in a large terra cotta pot in the secret garden also. This has a delicate sweet scent. I grew this from seed.
Here is spiderwort and salvia coccinea growing in a pot in the caravan garden.
Here is a bee happily collecting pollen.
I think this is some kind of thungergia vine. Some of these buds should be open tomorrow.
Here is the ‘Love’ rose. 
‘Bon Silene’
May you all feel love, peace and joy surrounding you.
FlowerLady
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"The gloom of the world is but a shadow;
behind it,
yet within our reach,
is joy.
Take joy."
Fra Giovanni Giocondo
