Garden Friday

 

 

Welcome back to Garden Friday,

where we share what's going on in our

Zone 7b Piedmont garden.

Peonies are all abloom at this time of year.

They are gorgeous, with all of their fluffy layers.

 

 

Work has continued on the front flower beds.

This week, I was able to install our handmade birdbath

that a friend made for me.

I think it looks great next to the purple salvia. 

As beds are coming together in the new plan,

I'll share some before and after pictures.

 

The greens are growing gangbusters!

With the irrigation running once again,

I've been able to pick fresh salad greens all week!

 

 

This is the best looking tat soi I've ever grown.

It is vibrant green, so you know it has to be good for you!

It is usually eaten raw, but I'll bet it's great in a stir fry.

My cup, er, basket runneth over.

 

 

This circus-tent contraption was necessary

after I spied the first ripe strawberry of the season

being eaten by a naughty chook.

I really can't blame her, she knows a good thing when she sees it.

 

This volunteer squash/pumpkin was found growing 

from the gravel off of our driveway.

Amazing how plants will grow anywhere.

This will be transplanted to a raised bed this weekend.

(For the record, I gave up growing squash a few years ago.)

 

 

My sister was kind enough to pick up this raised bed

at a yard sale.

It will house our sweet potatoes this year.

 

This week, I was bitten by a jumping spider.

Avoid them if you can, for it was mighty painful

for a full 24 hours.

With all the time I spend outside,

imagine the shock of being bitten on our sofa!

 

Another curious critter I learned about this week

was this click beetle.

It was found resting on one of the terra cotta pots outside.

God sure makes some interesting creatures, huh?

 

This pesky varmint did not succeed in pilfering much feed

from this new feeder that was gifted us.

It has a perch that spins,

so that anything larger than a small bird

will not be able to dine.

This guy had that figured out from the start,

but thankfully, he did not achieve his goal.

Update:  (He later cleaned us out!)

This lovely critter was a bit big for the feeder,

but I think it managed to get a few morsels.

 

sleeping micelets

 

These wee things were found in the garage this week.

No momma came back to claim them 

and we didn't really know what to do.

We did our best to nurse them,

but one perished before we could get them

to someone who could help them recover.

What an amazing woman I met who does

animal rescues out of her home.

There are really some good souls in this world.

 The other good thing about our adventure

is that we ended up taking everything out of the garage

to look for the momma or a nest.

Neither was found,

but our garage sure looks a lot better!

What discoveries have you made on your homestead this week?