HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

BY SKEETER

 HAVE A SAFE

 AND

 HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

IN THE GARDEN....

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

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

BY SKEETER

From my Georgia Woods......

to Yours, 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, In the Garden...

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

HAPPY EASTER

BY SKEETER
My house and Georgia Gardens are good enough for the Queen of England to visit right now!
She is not coming for a visit but rather some Golf Playing folks from England will enjoy a Southern Easter with us. We met these nice folks while staying at a Bed & Breakfast in Charleston, SC a few years ago. We really do not know them but want to show them some good ole Southern Hospitality. I have always wanted to open my own B&B but that dream never materialized. So this is my chance to play host and pretend my home is indeed a B&B for the week.
The azaleas are about gone this year for The Masters Golf Tournament as the heat has brought everything out way too early. But there is still lots of colors in and around my house.... HAPPY EASTER, In the Garden...
Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Don't let the spooks and ghouls get you tonight so be sure you have plenty of Halloween candy on hand.

Otherwise you might suffer the same fate as this witch and fly into a tree....


in the garden....



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

Happy Spooky Weekend

By SKEETER
My Georgia Woods are full of goblins again this year. The friendly type of course.
The Saint spotted a scary sight on our front porch though. This Insect was sucking the life out of a Bee. Yikes, that was scary but most interesting as well. Thanks to Randy, I was able to identify this vampire type insect as a Robberfly. Ironically, he posted about one within days of us seeing this one.





I hope this video works. They seem to load in a strange manner for me these days. I was walking into the gardens and heard a strange sound. I went towards the sound and this is what I spotted.
YIKES! Another scary event happening right before my eyes! A Praying Mantis was sucking the life out of a Gypsy Moth! It was real eerie to say the least but again, I found this most interesting and watched until night fall. They were on a Cleome bloom.
This photograph did not turn out as I had envisioned. I was trying to capture the full moon outside the window and Cheetah high up on the Monkey Tree at the same time. This is the scary shot I ended up getting just before kitty jumped to the floor.

These few things should get you ready for a HAPPY SPOOKY WEEKEND, In the Garden...

Note: Cheetah kitty is bringing in a good hunk of money for the Humane Society with her photo entry. Thanks to those of you that contributed to the cause...

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

Mexican Agave

By SKEETER
After our Disney World visit, we returned to our Georgia Gardens for one day. Yep, I had one day to unpack, do laundry and repack for our Winter Vacation! At times, I do think I am a gluten for punishment.

We checked into our Mobile, Alabama hotel where we were greeted by this unusual Christmas tree. Unusual not due to the Ocean theme, after all, we were at the ocean. Unusual due to being upside down. I found this a most whimsical tree and it made me smile.

I awoke the next morning in time to see this beautiful sunrise from our window! The Saint had the coffee going as I called the remainder of our party (10 people total) to have them share in this glorious sight. You can see the USS Alabama battleship's silhouette.
We sat on the lounger enjoying the sunrise with coffee in hand and also watched as our ride cruised into port!

My gardens suffered with no new pine straw mulching and no major plant purchases last year in order for us to partake in this Winter Vacation with friends. But sometimes, you gotta save a bit here to enjoy life a bit there. Our journey took us to Mexico where the sunrises and sunsets were awesome each day!
The yellow of this Cozumel church popped using the blue sky as a background. I love the colors blue and yellow together. I have toured many churches while living in Europe and I must say this church in Mexico is more of a simple church then the fancy European versions. The Catholics in our group, knelt and said a prayer for our safe journey home.
Our tour then took us to the Tequila Museum. Next to our destination we spotted this building. The sign had us all thinking and giggling. One thing we learned: It is mandatory for everyone calling Cozumel, Mexico home to learn the English language.

Now to the Museum where we also found a Free Pee Pee station.Out front, I had a close up look at the Bougainvillea. I spotted these all over the island and in full bloom. Seeing something in full bloom in the month of December was a treat! I kept watching a Hummingbird buzzing around it but could not get him to pose for me.
To the left of the Bougainvillea was this mass of fruit. I cannot remember the name of it but someone in our party recognised this from his days of living in California. It is edible but tart they said. I love the orange color of the fruit.
The tour of the Tequila Museum was most interesting. Here is an example of an Agave field. I talked about Agave in the past when posting on the Century Plant . These Agave pictured here are not native to this area of Mexico. They are brought there to show the real Tequila making Agave plant to tourist. Just as the French claim fame to Real Champagne, A certain region of Mexico claims fame to real Agave producing Tequila. This Agave does not do well with salt air thus the native region is found away from the ocean in the middle of Mexico. Don't ask me the name of the region as my aging (okay, Tequila drinking) brain does not remember.
An Agave plant must be 10 years old before it can be processed into Tequila. Each year, they trim the leaves of the plant until they have a root ball as large as the one here on display. The ball is cooked and goes through a process to become Tequila.
Once inside, we were free to sample the different tequilas. I had never before seen flavored tequila! I am not a fan of Tequila unless in a margarita but I must admit the almond and coffee flavored along with the blue stuff (Name escapes me) were yummy!

This is my favorite way of indulging in Tequila. Good friends, the beach and some tooty fruity! Oh so refreshing.... This was our second cruise and we are hooked! Only drawback to them is the time goes by way too quickly, sigh but there is always next year! This was our fond farewell from the skies before we headed back home to Georgia. This year I hope to slow down a bit and maybe enjoy some MEXICAN AGAVE, In the Garden...

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

Azaleas in May

By Skeeter
We have had a strange Spring in my Georgia Garden this year. Nothing seems to be waking from a long winters nap on time with odd temperatures happening. The one thing that really pops out in my mind were the azalea's. They were really late to show up thus allowing me to enjoy them into May.
The Saint was late in pruning the Snowball Viburnum last summer thus, less snowball blooms. But still beautiful next to the pink azalea's.
The Azalea's were planted on this land when we purchased the house so their names are totally unknown to me. I just call them the pink, the white, the bright pink, the salmon, the small, the large, the red, etc.
The Bright Pink is my favorite.
We only have two in a salmon color but so pretty. The light Pink is nice.
This bee says, " it taste good"

The Large Pink are spectacular in the sun.
They seem to glow with the sun shining on them.
The smaller Pink ones are also a favorite of mine.
We only have one white azalea as the other two were lost to disease. Sigh...
This picture was snapped a few days from May and the pale pink are still in full bloom. Wait, what do I see behind the Azalea's?
What is going on in my Georgia Woods?
Well, it is the cute little bunny's getting ready to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! I now have a sudden urge for a Margarita. Safe partying for all which take part in this fun celebration....

What a strange Spring with AZALEA'S IN MAY, in the Garden...

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

Happy St. Patricks Day!

By Skeeter
Green colors fill the Silk Arrangement on my Georgia Mailbox today!
The Bunny's in my Woods are wearing Green as well. It must be about time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Also known as a Holy Day of Obligation.
Here in Augusta, GA. we have a fairly large St. Patty's Day parade. St. Patrick's Day is in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland . I love a parade don't you?
I did not know the color Blue once represented St Patrick's Day. Click Here to find out more about this interesting holiday.
Hurrah, hurrah, it is "almost" a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY, In the Garden...


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

Happy Valentines Day

By Skeeter What is going on in my Georgia Woods?
The Bunny's have on their jackets, hats and scarf. I see snowflakes falling on their heads. After all, it is still winter ya know.
The Bunny's were starting to look a bit ragged after frolicking in the woods for almost a year so they received new feet. Brooms from the Dollar Tree at $1 each did the trick for nice feet! The bunny's are surrounded by Red Hearts.
The mailbox adorns a new Pink and Red silk flower arrangement.
Ah, it must be about time to say, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, In the Garden... Note; Thanks to my Big Daddy for this cute Dragon Valentine he gave me! Hugs and kisses to Big Daddy from his baby girl....

Everyone have a great weekend with the ones you love!


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden