A dirty little secret!

Yes, I planted some artificial flowers in the front garden (Just for Valentines Day)!
YIKES! But are they just not perfect to spy from the road?

How to get Beautyberry seeds ready to plant

I found the suggestion online to place the berries in a colander and run them around with your fingers. It worked great. They are actually soft, and the skins popped right open and inside a bit of jelly-like material are these very tiny light tan colored seeds. I have them drying on a paper towel now in the windowsill. They are very tiny, as you can see them here. Once dry, I will place them in an labelled envelope ( or maybe a ziplock or sealed container would be best to keep them drier) and put in freezer until spring. I figure that might be the best time to plant them. Does anyone know when the best time might be considering I am in zone 10 (south Florida)???

See my last post for pictures of the cuttings I took yesterday! They are so beautiful, and were definitely named appropriately!

I want some American Beautyberry bushes in my yard!!!

I found a plant while driving yesterday. I stopped to take cuttings. After reading about it online, the berries are wonderful bird attractors, and they love to eat them. The berries are not harmful to humans or pets, and some people claim to make jam with them. You can rub the leaves between your hands, then rub your skin for a natural mosquito repellant!!!!! The plants are drought tolerant, and love nutrient poor soil!!!

In south Florida we basically have sand for soil, so this thing is a God send!!!!!

I am trying to get them rooted in water. I read that the seeds are hard to get going. Wish me luck.....I feel fairly determined at this point. Am also checking local plant nurseries who specialize in native plants.

Beautiful new orange rose!

I love all the layers....it is much prettier than all the rest!

Mom and baby going home from hospital today! All is well.

Xoxo-Julie

A Finnish embroidery, and a new granddaughter!!!

I had taken a picture of this embroidery piece when I visited a Finnish nursing home a few years ago and had meant to post it on my blog then. This photo does not do it justice. The white flowers were so 3D, I just fell in love with it.

Here is my new granddaughter, Audrey. Born this morning. Mom and baby doing well, and little Audrey is such a doll.