Corn plants and others.

Some shots of my little cute plants outside today.

First the big Mexican Sunflower bush between my neighbor and I...it is just covered in blooms right now. They seem to form on the bush at the top and on the side that gets the most sun (mainly the side facing south) on most bushes I have seen. This bush is actually my neighbors, and it is on the left side of my house, so we see all the blooms! The bushes on the right side of my house along the fence line on the other neighbors side...he gets to see all the blooms. That really irritates me too!!! :)

My corn plants are doing really well in their buckets.

The Gretel eggplant is growing well...soon to make some eggplants for us!!!

A cute little top to one of my gorgeous kalanchoe.

The Drift Rose is putting on a great show right now...there are two of these big flushes of flowers on the one plant, and a few other singles around too!!! Isn't it just so pretty??? WOW! Kinda makes me think of azaleas. They look so old fashioned to me!!!

Thanks for stopping by to see some of my little cuties!!! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
xoxo- Julie

A Mexican Sunflower day!

I took these pics of some of the sunflower blooms on one of the Tithonia fruticosa overhanging from my neighbors yard the other day. When these things get into a full bloom, they are sooo pretty! In between they are pretty trashy looking. They get very leggy and are covered with scraggly seed pods...but the blooms...just have to love them!!!

They bloom year-round here, and to encourage a full bush, you must cut them back to around 6 ft. several times a year (quarterly). They like to propogate themselves freely, so I am currently starting a Mexican Sunflower forest in my sideyard!!! They work exceedingly well as a screen to hide anything you do not want to see on the other side!!! Hooray!

Happy mid-week everyone! I will leave you with this quote I just read over at Bobbie Lynn's blog, WHY I LOVE TO GARDEN where she has the most beautiful handmade cards, gardens and cutest Corgi puppy ever!!! It goes like this: "The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us", by Ralph Emerson!
xoxo- Julie

An artist's date, this morning...for Cactus Monday!

With me, myself and I. It was wonderful. I made my coffee (note to self: bigger mug next time)...took my sketch pad, pens, pencil, and my copy of The Artist's Way, and sat in my little seating area I arranged on the side of the house, overlooking my flower/vegie garden. I'm not sure if I've ever had such a luxurious space all to myself before. There's not much to it...but there is just something about it. It is a place I can go all alone, and not be seen by anyone inside, or out. I can stare at the plants, bees, lizards, and birds and butterflies...all by myself. WOW. Oh, and not to mention, in silence as well. Are you feeling it??? Oh, yes, it is sweet.

Here are the views I saw from my adirondack chair, focusing on floral views.
ONE OF MY NEW GERANIUMS

THE BLOOMING TOP OF THE MEXICAN SUNFLOWER

BUDDHA WATCHING OVER EVERYTHING IN THE TIRES







AND 2 OF THE SUCCULENT TIRES FOR CACTUS MONDAY!



I read up to chapter 5 in the book. Tomorrow morning will be my first Morning Pages. I am looking forward to it. THere are fun activities to do along the way...some are hard, for sure, and others just really get you thinking. The author is amazing. I need to look for her other books.

I did do a little sketch but it was fairly lame...I want to have a series of three and maybe I will show them later, we shall see. My timid self says no, but in my trying to be gutsy and self confidant artsy way, I want to say yes. Hmmmmm. Thankyou, Messyfish for your comments regarding the Artist's Way...it is encouraging. I think it would be fun to do with an artist friend, but I guess I need to make a few (locally)! Nobody I know will own up to it!!! Hehehehe.

Happy Cactus Monday to all, and a marvelous start to the week ahead!!!
xoxo- Julie

Popping "Mexican Sunflowers", and Emmie!

These sunflower bushes (they grow huge) are all bursting with blooms this past week! In the top photo you can see the top of my Moms house on the right side of the pic just to show how they are towering over it! This one must be 14 ft. tall at least. Hers is chock full of flowers...just gorgeous!

I am showing a closer look...

And a real close look! So pretty!!!

Speaking of pretty...here is a real cute girl we all recognize as my sweet granddaughter, Emily June, visiting my cousins cat, Taco...and she enjoys getting her Great Grandmas jug of cat food and feeding him.




Well, long after the cat had eaten and gone, she played with the food, taking it out, and putting it in the cats dish, then back in the jug, and so on and so on. I enjoyed having the minutes of quiet time just sitting there watching in the cool, dry breezy air we are having right now. I thought I might be in heaven!

Morning Happiness!

Here are two nice things I woke up to this morning! Lord, am I ever blessed!