Sunday, May 04, 2008

There is a post in my head...

100_5591



and it’s still there, I think. It'll come later. You know - my typical post containing a story or a crazy and simple message. But, time raced ahead of me and I ran out of energy. So, instead of my regular flackery (is flackery a word?), here are some images of the day. Birds later, hopefully including a hummingbird. No luck yet.



100_5593


The water hibiscus in the pond has grown 12 inches in a week. I’m not exaggerating! Its scarlet blooms will be breathtaking.

100_5602

See the bee on the far left? It escaped from the bloom on the wild raspberries that surround the bird feeders. I don’t know what type of bee it is.


100_5634

Spiderwort about ready to explode in fabulous color.


100_5630

I don't remember the name of these hardy succulents.


100_5633

The wildflower beds for hummingbirds and butterflies I raked and planted seed two weeks ago are showing success!



100_5614

These are FAKE greenery baskets I bought for my front porch this weekend. Go ahead, all you gardeners out there and GASP! Nothing grows on my hill facing west during North Carolina summers. The sun sizzles and bakes the hardiest plants to a crisp within a few hours. So, go ahead and laugh, but I like them.
And they’re easy.
I need easy.
Simplify my life. Yeah.

29 comments:

Carol Michel said...

FAKE plants! GASP! What is this world coming to?? At least act like you are watering them on occasion, maybe to fool the neighbors.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What a hoot Mary. Fake plants. I wouldn't tell anyone if I were you. Just let them think you have this fabulous green thumb that you flink at the heat of summer.

Alyssa said...

Even though I'm a gardener I have some silk plants and flowers. At work nothing will grow in my crappy office so I have "fakes" there. The way they are made nowdays, it's quite hard to tell the difference. I have an orchid at work and at home (identical) that look real. Lots of people think they are. I don't blame you in the least - they look quite real from the photo.

Congradulations on the seedlings. I knew you'd have good luck. Can't wait to see them in a month. The water hibiscus has pretty foliage - it looks like red "pot" (does anyone use that word anymore?). How tall will it get?

Susie said...

Hi Mary,
Wow, how amazing that plant grew 12"!
Those pink succulents look almost like ice plant which grows along the freeways here. Can't tell for sure though.
Love your beautiful big porch. I've always wanted one of those!
xo

Unknown said...

Mary well I like your fake plants. Unfortunately even they will wilt. ;(

Sorry I had to crack up over your rant in your last post. I've had quite a few migrants come through. Wish they would stay. Not all of them do. Still waiting for the hummingbirds. Take care.

JeanMac said...

I didn't ever think of fake plants. It gets very hot here and I've lost many plants in urns - no matter how much I water. In mid summer our temps are easily 100 plus.

dmmgmfm said...

Your photos are gorgeous and I especially love your bee photo, it's (you guessed it) bee-utiful!

Hugs,
Laurie

beckie said...

Mary, easy is okay! Some of my wildflowers are coming up too. And I have noticed things are really growing-but not 12" in a week. The view from your porch looks wonderful. And while I don't see huge trees, at least there are trees. In some new subdivisions around here, trees are 3-4 ft. tall. Have a good week!

Chrissie said...

Not laughing1 How could you! Fake plants in hanging baskets! Whatever next! That's my rant over :-) Enjoy your birds and your wild flowers :-)

Jayne said...

Can't wait to see your pond plants all bloomed out. :c) Hey, fake is fine by me if nothing else will grow. No one will know.... we'll not tell a soul! Hugs ya!

Anonymous said...

Mary, Think of it as conserving water also...now you don't have to water the plants on the porch every day! Maybe mist them once in awhile to give them a little sparkle. Love your post..Sandy

NCmountainwoman said...

I love your "confession." The greenest thumb in Huntersville has fake plants on the porch. What a hoot! I love the shots of the growing plants. That's the marvel of spring...seeing them grow day by day. I like the photos, even the fake plants.

Angie said...

As long as they are 'green', I say go for it!!! Nothing lived here in NE Tennessee last summer...not even the fake ones!!! Now, on to my emergence from lurkdom....I HAD to tell you that I howled with laughter, tears rolled down my face as I cheered you on in that last post "MigRANT"...OMG, you wrote it so much better than I could have....but THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE!!!! OMG, I LOVED you putting into words for me!!! ROFLMAO I've been shooting at the cowbirds since the first one came along months back and bumped a goldfinch off the feeder....and still they come in droves!!!! Just know that there is someone else out here feeling and thinking the exact same thing---about the birds AND those humans that get the lovely MigRANTS!!!!!! ROFL

entoto said...

no gasping here, Mary. They look lovely. You never show the view from your front porch. It is lovely! You must get some great sunsets.

And all your lovely plants in back, have some fake green in front. It's great.

Cheryl said...

I wish I had thought of fake plants before I sorted my baskets out. They get baked to death every year, and battered by the winds that sweep across the garden. So hey I am not laughing, good on you.
Love the real plants by the way and love the view from your balcony.

sonia a. mascaro said...

Beautiful photos as always, Mary! Love the view from your porch!

Ruth said...

I watched my next door neighbour put a large number of fake flowers in her garden. My husband commented on the colour and did not realize what they really were. The upkeep will be minimal and if they don't fade, they could be good for 2 seasons or more.

NatureWoman said...

Flackery - LOL Mary! I *love* your fake plants and think it's a great idea. Better than watering real plants every second of the day.

Anonymous said...

Wow Wow Wow!! Stunning photos and you have a wonderful garden to share with everyone!

RuthieJ said...

What's wrong with fake?? I have some lovely silk jonquils in my front window boxes. I'm sure anyone who drives by will think they're real (from the road)!
Don't sweat it Mare, it's all about keeping up appearances....besides you have all those other beautiful (real) plants growing and blooming in your yard.

Robin's Nesting Place said...

I can't wait to see the butterfly shots you're going to get with those wildflowers!

I hope your hummingbirds come soon. I'm anxiously waiting!

Rose said...

Sometimes I feel so inadequate after reading a lot of gardening blogs--there's no way I'll ever know as much nor can my garden ever compare to some I see in the photos. But you have made my day, Mary. Fake plants! There's hope for me yet.
If I remember correctly, you are just following Thoreau's advice: "Simplify, simplify, simplify!"

Kerri Farley said...

OH I can so relate with "simplify my life"! I have fake plants inside....because I am TERRIBLE with plants. I did plant a few flowers in containers this year....I hope they survive my care!

Great post Mary!

Stacey Olson said...

I like fake plants.. (grin) No water, no sun, no transplant. they will stay beautiful all year.. thanks mary.. Alot of my posts have been stuck in my head lately too.. just trying to figure out how to get them out! (wink)

Anonymous said...

That first shot of water droplets is just so refreshing, Mary. I spent several hours on a walk around a lake in a suburb of Paris and similar images have been the soothing refreshment of a real vacation.

Larry said...

I had some of those same flowers and really liked them.They died on me though.I'd like to plant some more.-Nice photos mary.

Julie Zickefoose said...

Ice plant, Delospermum cooperi, native to California, a wonderful perennial. I grow it, too.

Eee! Eee! Eee!

I love the pictures of sweet sad Bella in the next post. She needs kisses, lots of them.

Kudos on your rose-breasted grosbeak! He's late! We had one go through today and it seemed very late even this far north. But then they breed very close to us now.

Kathie Brown said...

Love the first photo and I can't wait to see exploding firewort! As for the fake plants on your porch, I love the porch shot. I love porches. Yours looks lovely and makes me want to come and sit a spell!

Kathie Brown said...

OOps! Spiderwort. I'd love to see exploding Spiderwort. It's late and I'm tired. What can I say? Lol!