Georgia Pine Pollen

BY SKEETER

It is Azalea time here in my GEORGIA GARDENS! These two are always the first to bloom for me.

They are a bit early this year but to be expected with all this abnormally warm weather we have been having. The past 8 days have been in the 80's with some record breaking days!

I could not resist picking up a few Geraniums for the bicycle planter. The garden centers are starting to fill up with pretties in our area with this awesome weather.

With this warm weather comes pollen from the tall Georgia Pine Trees. Even though my gardens remain a bit soggy from past rainfall, a nice rainfall would wash out all this yellow mess. Hopefully we will not a repeat as the year I did another posting on Pine Pollen. Click HERE to see that blog. (Note: DO NOT become confused with the contest as this posting was made in 2010.)

A great surprise to me, the Crimson and Clover must have reseeded from last year! Happy day to me as I love this sweet red bloom and the fact that The Saint gave me the seeds  last year.

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!

The double daffodils are now blooming.

I really do need to get them divided for more throughout the gardens. But even with the time change, there is only so many hours in a day. And with my large garden area to clean, daffy dividing is not high on the priority list.

The double daffodils are so pretty and full. 

I put one of the geraniums in with a Candy Tuft that did fine over winter in this pot.

I have a fern for the stump but it is on the front porch for now. We are expecting one more cold snap and I fear loosing it so I shall wait a bit. The stump is becoming hollow and this may be the last year I can put a Fern on top. I had to place a stone to keep it stable last year.

 I have also been doing a bit of painting. Giving some of the outdoor items a fresh coat of paint such as this little bird bath atop a milk can.

While out in the garden weeding today, I had a little friend. Well, if you look closely, you will see two little friends. Although, the snail is not really a friend of the garden. But I left it alone. Mums are starting to pop up from the ground.

Of course, I had to pick up and talk with the little box turtle though. It was so stinking cute. Just look at that little face. All together now, Awwwwwwww... The last I saw of this little friend, it was burrowing under the mulch of the small lilac bush.

As I called it a day and headed back into the house, I spotted this on the decking around the pool. Looks as though Ghost Footprints but not so. Just my footprints from the GEORGIA PINE POLLEN, In the Garden...

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

HELP, Armadillos are on the loose!

BY SKEETER 

There is a new addition to my GEORGIA GARDENS in the form of a cute critter. Yes, I do think this bumpy, leprosy disease carrying Armadillo is cute. I believe all animals are cute and do not wish them any harm. This one seems to be living in our front one acre of woods under an overturned tree, I talked about a long time ago. Click HERE to read of my "Leaning Tower of Georgia"

 Whom would have thought that 5 years later, this tree would still be hanging on? Not me nor would I have thought that Armadillos would be in Georgia but they are and also in Tennessee. I have seen them there as well. These little critters are slowly making their way North. Click HERE to learn more about Armadillos.



And this Armadillo has called this hollow spot home. It was all fine and dandy until this past week. The cute little Armored Rat is now crossing the asphalt driveway and coming onto my lawn! This Opossum on the Half Shell is digging holes all over the lawn looking for food! If it would only attack Fire Ant Hills, I would welcome this critter to my gardens but it enjoys things found throughout a garden to include some plants! I know it is only time before he/she gets into the flower beds and gardens. Sigh... 

 

Now my question, how does one have this creature move elsewhere like say in the 15 acres behind our gardens or the 18 acres across the street from my gardens? How does one kindly trap an Armadillo for transportation elsewhere?

I fear if this is a female, she may add to the problem in time. Yikes!!! The Saint and I would like to relocate this happy critter. HELP, ARMADILLOS ARE ON THE LOOSE, In the Garden... 

 

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

Trick or Treat?

BY SKEETER

Well Folks, it was once again time for the Humane Society of Clarksville, Tennessee's annual Fundraiser. "Wags to Witches Fur Ball Bash" is their largest fundraiser of the year. The goal is to get a facility for Low Cost Spay and Neuter up and running. They are well on the way with building and other supplies needed to complete this goal. Such Benefits get them one step closer to fulfilling their Dream! Click HERE to learn more about my hometown's Humane Society...

 

The theme of this years Fur Ball was "Carnival Creeps" I spent several days running from one Goodwill store to the next looking for items that would assist me in creating a Lion Tamers outfit. I came home with a suit jacket, blouse, slacks and an Elvis type gold costume all for a few dollars. I tore out the sleeves of the jacket, cut out a low neck on the blouse (The girls come out at Halloween hee hee), rip the gold sparkles off the Elvis costume and got to sewing. A few feathers on a small headband hat and a crop complete with fun feathers. I came up with the perfect, for me and most importantly, a comfortable Lion Tamer's Costume... 

 The Saint, my Scrooge, wore a cute Tee-Shirt. I must admit, he did try for a costume but it backfired on him. I think he learned his lesson to not order a costume from the internet... The event did not bring out as many fun Costumed Folks as in the past events. But with the Gov't Shutdown, Furloughs, other events going on at the same time, etc. to be expected I reckon. They did have success at raising almost $14,000.00 towards the opening of the Clinic! So not to bad. We had a great time eating, drinking, dancing and visiting with old friends and making new ones until the wee hours of the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the big draws (money makers) to the Fur Ball is the Pet Photo Contest. Our Cheetah won 2011 and Sheba won 2012 so their Reign as Queen's are over.  Although, we voted on the two beautiful fur babies you see above which won the titles of King and Queen! Mr.Wags; King Richie the recently rescued Dachshund and Miss Wags; Queen Shadow, also a rescue, both belong to some dear friends of ours. We are so happy these two babies will be donning the cover of the next benefit. Being the yearly Calendar. These two are the lucky ones that have their Fur-ever home. Unfortunately, not all cats and dogs are as lucky, Sigh...

The party is over and back to our GEROGIA GARDENS where work continues. We live in the country so we can burn from October-May each year. We had a large pile of debris collected from fallen limbs, pruned trees, etc to make the first of many fires to come until May. Our woods are full of "stuff" that needs to be picked up. That will come once the temps fall a bit more so we know there are no snakes to accidently grab. Yikes! 

While clearing debris off the ground, which has sat for some time, I found two small turtles. Not sure if they are related but the same size. We have never found any this size before have seen plenty smaller and larger ones each year. I failed to snap a photo of the one as I was so upset when I found it that I quickly put it in a safe place to continue resting. 

The second one I came across was awake and wanted to pose for the camera so I rushed into the house and grabbed it. The Saint had formed a bond with the little guy by the time I returned with the camera. 

Aren't they just the cutest things? After snapping a few pix, I put this one near the other turtle and we left them alone. A nice Treat to find!

I also spotted another Treat near where I found the turtles. An egg of some type. As soon as I picked it up I knew it was a dead egg as it was too light with no yolk inside. Strange thing though, I did not see a hole in the egg. I sat it aside and kept raking debris to toss into the fire. My brain never shuts off so the wheels were turning in my head. Too round for a Snake Egg, not round enough for a Turtle Egg plus large for any turtle that would be in our yard. I was thinking, I knew that egg but no way it could be one of those eggs. 

Once the fire was roaring and I had no need to add more debris, I picked up the egg for a closer examination. Yep, I know that egg! It is a Fake Egg that I put into my Fake Bird Nest's in hanging plants on the front porch to deter Finches from nesting in them! Click HERE to see that if you like. I had noticed last year that a few eggs were missing. I was thinking that a Crow was going to have a belly ache. So the question, how did a fake egg get from the front porch all the way to the back of the yard and so far away from the porch? Not a Treat but a Trick, ha...

Back to a wonderful Treat of my beloved Banana Tree!

A day later, Jack Frost dropped by and played a bad Trick on me! We normally do not see frost until after Thanksgiving but this year is different. Oh well, she will only return stronger next year!

My Cheetah kitty

Happy Halloween

Be Safe and have fun playing TRICK OR TREAT, In the Garden...

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

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

BY SKEETER

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, In the Garden...