Some Problems, Animals, Gardens, and White Flowers

Lately it seems one thing after another keeps coming up to draw me away from this blog. First it is work, then it is anger at people stealing photos, then it is the economy, then the garden, then just life. As in I enjoy reading books and hanging out and not being on the computer. Ever feel like that? It has been happening to me a lot lately but I do try to focus on the positives-of which there are many. 

The above picture of one of my cherished glass mosaics is quite a popular mosaic and picture, though not this particular picture. I have found many many times one of my original pictures of this mosaic pinned on Pinterest. Usually I find my pictures because there is a url to my blog. This was not the case recently. I searched Pinterest for a certain key word and was shocked to find my mosaic pinned on a person's board. It was repinned 171 times. There was NO url to my blog anywhere on the picture. All those people who repinned my photo had no idea it did not belong to Mosh Art and another blog I will not name. Do people really care who owns what anymore? What do you think when you take other pictures and 'pin' it? I for one do not think this is okay if you do not ask the person. Never have we been asked if we would allow our pictures to be used elsewhere. What happened to common courtesy?

The picture was pinned more than 48 weeks ago but it was not actually pinned. It was actually downloaded then uploaded to Pinterest under another person's name. In other words, this 'person' took credit for the idea of the mosaic, and the mosaic itself, and the picture. Needless to say I was not happy. As always, I report the theft and I must say the positive is that Pinterest always removes photographs of mine when I complain and fill out the copyright form. I am very happy about this. I will always report the theft and leave a comment for the offender. To this date only one person has ever responded to me about my comments. What could they say? "I'm sorry I stole your picture but I really thought it was mine? No, actually I really thought you wouldn't find out."  I just wish I could understand what motivates people to actually steal others work in this manner. But then we move on.

To crepemyrtles flowering. They are so pretty this year. But in case you are one of the very few southerners that does not grow crepemyrtles beware, these trees are messy. I'll forgive mine because they are just so beautiful. I do try to plant them where their mess will not fall into gutters and storm drains but I have failed on this task a bit.

Cutleaf coneflowers are beautiful and cheer me.

The friendly neighboring cows are back for the summer. They are so funny I can almost forget about the world while watching these bovines play in their large field.

And what self respecting cow pasture would be without a feisty goat? Mr. C's goat is a hoot to watch while he guards the cows and their babies. He and his buddies the cows practically live in our yard thanks to the beautiful meadow abutting our property. It is such a wonderful view is it any wonder I spend a lot of time outside and away from the computer?

'Limelight' paniculata hydrangeas have not been as floriferous as they were last year but still they bloom and I am reminded life goes on.

Our two stray cats have finally made peace with one another. This was after many wounds and at least two trips to the veternarian due to abscesses. These two castrated Toms don't really bother Orkin; our resident female orange tabby for more than seven years; but she simply will not come to the porch and I rarely see her anymore. She is always in the garden close by so I am able to check on her but it makes me sad she will not come to us anymore due to these two Toms I now think Orkin stays away from the porch because the dogs scare her when they peek out and bark at her and the two Toms.

'Immortality' iris is on its second summer bloom. What an outstanding pure, beautiful, fragrant, and uplifting iris this one is. Everyone should grow it.

Night blooming Jimsonweed is a nice reminder of a dear friend who has moved away. She dug seedlings from her garden many years ago and passed them on to me. My plants are the progeny of the original seedlings because night blooming jimsonweed usually doesn't overwinter here in my Zone 7A garden. Seedlings reliably appear each spring with no help from me. Surprisingly enough I have not been able to start seedlings from seeds on my own.

Night blooming Jimsonweed blooms all season, but only at night. By mid morning the blooms will vanish. This flower is also fragrant at night. Jimsonweed is an excellent choice for a moon garden. Be aware it will get quite large.


This time last year this garden was completely bare. All of the beautiful flowers had disappeared from the scene due to the drought. I promised myself I would change that so I replanted the area with drought tolerant plants such as catmint, sedum, and grasses. Agastache was added later. I have been very pleased with the fact that this year I actually have green and like to think it is because of my planning, but I suspect it might be due to the wonderful wonderful rains we received in July and now. 

On our recent pond tour there were about 75-80 people who came by the garden. They almost all said this has been a bad year for gardens due to no rains and the extreme heat. I have to totally disagree because the past two years have seen NO water in my gardens for about two months straight and it was pretty hot then too. My gardens languished and many plants died during the past two years. I have yet to lose anything this year though a large black gum looks as though it might need to come down. We have had plenty of rain in my garden this summer and the plants are showing their delight. I suspect next spring will be wonderful as all of the spring bloomers like viburnums and hydrangeas have been able to set buds and put on new growth and will bloom like crazy next year. Just watch and see. While June was a bit rough this summer as a whole has been wonderful. I need to try to remember that as 2012 starts to wind down and I look to next year.

I need a slight pause from blogging but will be back.... 

in the garden....

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Bathing Beauties in a Bathtub, Puddle and Farm Pond

From In the Garden

Bathing beauties in a bathtub, puddle and pond? Let me explain. Two times a year Mr. Fix-it and I must tend to our swimming pool. Once in the spring to open it up, and once in the fall to close it down. Part of closing the pool requires draining some of the pool water. The excess water drains onto the lawn where it can pool and form puddles like it did on this day. I was struck by how many robins were taking advantage of the puddles formed from the pool water to bathe. They looked like they were having fun as you can see below.

Then I looked just outside of our fenced backyard and saw Mr. C's cows bathing in the farm pond. These cows are raised as beef cattle. After talking with Mr. C. he says he raises them until they weigh about 1200 pounds then he sells them to a distributor who then ships these gals out west where they are kept in stockyards and fed well. Once they reach a weight of about 2400 pounds they are then processed and sold as Angus. Sorry if I offend anyone but this is life and I found this information interesting. I knew the cows were beef cattle but had no idea how the process worked in this area. Now I know.

Well there is but one picture left of a bathing beauty isn't there? And it is the one bathing in the bathtub-believe it or not. The first picture shows one of the residents of my bathtub pond. The frog is a Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris) and is usually camera shy. On this day it just must have known it was a 'bathing beauty' day because it stayed put and let me snap quite a few photos. You would think that pot of stones, horsetails and lilies was placed in the bathtub pond just for this frog! Note: Pickerel frogs emit a secretion from their skin that can be irritating to humans so I was most happy we did not handle this frog....

in the garden....bathtub pond.

Pleasant Neighbors: The Cows

Do you have good neighbors? I have some great neighbors! They are rather unique though and not your typical neighbors because they are of the four legged variety. They are cows! I just love living close to a bunch of cows. In fact, I often prefer them as neighbors more so than some of my 'real' neighbors. For the most part the cows are pleasant, they play with the dogs (as in the dogs chase them then the cows chase the dogs once they realize the dogs can't get through the fence), mow the field, are quiet, and are only mildly interested in what I do in the garden.Occasionally they come by to say hello and check out what I am doing in the garden. On this particular occasion I tried to be a great neighbor by offering the cows a treat from my garden. One cow took me up on my offer. The cows are really most sweet. Great neighbors!
What kind of unique neighbors do you live near? Dogs? Coyotes? Horses? Rabbits? Chipmunks? Are they friendly? Good neighbors?

in the garden....

A Caravan for You

It is not quite the whole farmyard full of animals as that long ago Christmas eve, but the cows will have to do for us here in Tennessee this Christmas evening.

Have a good one all. We'll be watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and thinking good thoughts wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

in the garden....

Cow Days of Summer

Who says it is the dog days of summer? These wading cows would beg to differ. What a great way to spend an afternoon-wading in the cow pond.

Can you all hear the wind? It was a lovely day with a nice breeze!

Thank you Cindy for the delicious recipe for "Mock Crab Cakes". I made them for my family recently and even Mr. Fix-it had this to say, "They aren't half bad" in a very surprised manner. They were actually quite good and that was a compliment coming from Mr. Meat and Potato man!

in the garden....