A Spring Walk

BY SKEETER

  Wildflowers seen while out in the woods geocaching south of Atlanta, GA.

 These calm waters can be found in Panola State Park. Click HERE for more about that park.

 We really do enjoy walking in the woods of state parks.

 There is always something to spot around each bend along the trail.

 Such as these sunning turtles. Conga Line forming here... 

I love to see little wooden churches found on country back roads.

Now getting back into my GEORGIA GARDENS, I see spring everywhere I look, to include weeds! Ugh...

The Saints Crabapple tree has never been so full of blooms!

 For once, the squirrels left the buds alone and we are reaping the rewards with bright  pink beauty! This crabapple is finally becoming a nice large tree after 9 years with us.

During our weekend of Geocaching, we enjoyed a 7 mile SPRING WALK, In the Garden...

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

Geocaching in High Falls State Park, GA

BY SKEETER

 The Saint and I left our GEORGIA GARDENS to partake in some Geocaching in High Falls State Park. Click HERE to learn more about the park...

The upper basin has a man made waterfall. 

 One can stand out on an old bridge to see the rolling waters below and the newer bridge. 

 Following the rolling waters, one will go under the new bridge to find a wonderful surprise.

 A large natural waterfall.

 I am captivated by natures waterfalls.

 The sound of water falling over rocks is so soothing to my soul.

 There are times during the hot steamy summer months, that I would enjoy to sit on the rocks as the water rushes over me. But not to be in these waters as they are ever so dangerous!

 Ruins of an old grist mill.

 With mill wheels eroding away. Sigh, I so wish State Parks had more funds then they receive.

 I spotted several of these little wildflowers in the area.

 In the Violet family maybe?

 Our walk took us through the woods.

 On this warm sunny spring day, many turtles were taking advantage of the heated rocks.

 It amazes us to see turtles high upon boulders. Just how do they get up there? Claws a digging...

 Along the trail, the Saint almost got himself into a mess. I spotted this hanging down just in front of his path, then I stopped him in his tracks!

 A bright orange goo was forming and dripping down from the tree and its dangling roots. Strange stuff and it just about dripped on the Saint. Ick! Mother Natures April Fools Joke no doubt...

We spotted many Native Silver Berry's while out GEOCACHING IN HIGH FALLS STATE PARK, 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

The Turtle's Plant

Tina told us about her Turtlehead plant a while back. Today I want to tell you about my turtle plant here in my Georgia Garden. My plant started out with the Saint and I becoming Foster Parents to a turtle. Yes, we were Foster Parents to a darn Turtle. Fostering a Pet can be very rewarding to an animal lover. Tina had an experience with Fostering puppy's and if not for Tina and her love and devotion to those pups, the survivors would not have loving Forever Homes today! Again, Thanks for the time, dedication, money and love you gave those beautiful pups while in your care Tina!

The history of this turtle goes: Son wants turtle, Mommy gets son a turtle. Son bores of turtle, Turtle has sad life of neglect. Turtle finds new home which is much better. Then turtle's provider gets a promotion; which now means more travel time from home with turtle. This is where the Saint and I came into play. We found a new home for turtle (poor thing did not have a name) in Nashville, TN through blogging with some "Pet People" through my hometown newspaper. How do we get turtle from Virginia to Tennessee? We went to VA for Easter and brought turtle home with us until our planned TN trip to celebrate a niece graduating from High School in May.

We set up a long folding table by the window in the guest room. We researched high and low about desert turtles on the computer. We created her a nice home of moist straw, water, a tunnel, mulch and warm sand under spot light.

We gave her weekly baths and name her Miss Tuttle! She would eat a diet of greens to include Romane Lettuce, Spinach, Turnip greens and her favorite treat was Hibiscus blooms! So one day I took off the garden center to find her a hibiscus plant. I was lucky to find one on the cheap for $7.00. She loved to munch the blooms and I was happy for her as the blooms only last one day anyway. I would enjoy the pretty bright red blooms in the day and Miss Tuttle would eat them later that evening. The time came to take Miss Tuttle to her new home in TN. We packed up all her belongings except for the hibiscus plant. I was also hauling 10 bales of GA Pine Straw to my mom for Mothers Day so I could mulch her bushes. So the truck was full to the brim with so much stuff that there really was no room for a plant this size.

The hibiscus stayed on the front porch and produced beautiful blooms all summer long. Then it was starting to chill with winter setting in. We did not have the heart to allow Miss Tuttle's plant to die so we brought it inside for the winter.

We do not like to bring plants inside for several reason. One being pesky bugs that seem to constantly pop out of the soil. The other two reasons would be my two beautiful Black Beauties, being the cats! Click the video to see Sheba in action on Miss Tuttle's plant!

We kept the Hibiscus safe away from paws reach in the guest bedroom with the doors closed all winter long. Anyone with cats in the house know that a closed door does not make for a happy cat! My two would jump at any chance they had to get into the room especially knowing that a yummy treat awaits them!

The hibiscus had the most beautiful blooms this past year while continuing to grow and thrive on the front porch. The tag reads: Place in full sun and water every day. Cold Hardiness 40-degrees. I kept it on the shade of the porch receiving only the morning sun shine and water it about once a week. Total opposite from the tags directions. I have always been a bit of a rebel. tee hee...

Sure we live in the Deep South but we do have freezing temps in the winter months although very little if any snow in our area occurs. I have seen lots of hibiscus in landscapes of business and also yards but doubt they are the same type hibiscus. One thing for sure that I have learned since starting to chat with you Garden Bloggers is, not all plants are the same! I use to think that a Peony was just a peony then found out there are many different varieties just as Roses and other beauties in our gardens.

I have wanted to put this hibiscus in the ground to see what happens. But knowing it does like the water and also knowing we have been in a drought the past few years, I have delayed in my experiment. I was debating just letting it go to nature on the front porch but it grew so beautiful and lush this past year that I did not have the heart to let it stay on the porch and die without giving it a chance in the ground.

Lola sent me some bulbs late last fall and I put them into pots and in the guest room which has become the No No Room to the cats. Since I had to keep the door closed this winter, I brought Miss Tuttle's plant inside for one more winter. It will go into the ground this summer if we are out of the drought or back on the front porch then I will find a new home for it next fall. Stayed tuned for this one....

The Guest room has become a nursery of sorts this winter with gourds hanging in the closet and lots of potted bulbs and a huge hibiscus staying warm. I did close off the vents to the room to keep the plants cool so they don't take over the room. Look at how tall the Ginger is getting Lola! Thank you again for such a wonderful Gift from your Florida Garden! I will continue to keep my guard when opening the door to the No No room as my girls will jump at the change to get a nibble of THE TURTLE'S PLANT, but hopefully before long, it will be, In the Garden...
Miss Tuttle is happy with her new home and has a pet of her own. Look at Gracie the cat keeping a close eye on her little friend Miss Tuttle. I just love Happy Endings...