The Maple Hill Hop 157 (Finale)

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Grab the button above to link back to Maple Hill 101.*

Another gorgeous fall weekend,
another outdoor festival to attend.
This past weekend found us at Pioneer Days
in Lake Wales, Florida.

This event serves as an entertaining way to
educate visitors about old-fashioned skills 
in a time not so long ago.

The Florida Flywheelers displayed how their engines worked
to run all sorts of machines
to make life just a bit easier for settlers.

A handsome exhibit of tractors is always a favorite.

There were drum ceremonies performed by native peoples,

as well as local artisans like Utah Farris,
who not only hand carves his flutes,

but favors us with beautiful music to demonstrate his wares.

Our friends, Faye & Lynn were on hand,
to showcase their wonderful pesticide-free, locally grown produce.
This year their home-spun booth featured avocado, okra, papaya,
and starfruit.

We took the annual hayride to learn more about
the architecture and history of this sleepy lil' town.

There is always something new to learn.

It was a beautiful day for a ride,
and we are thankful for all of the hard work
that goes into an event like this.
And even more grateful to the pioneers
who started it all.

That's what's happening where we are.
What's going on outside in your town?
Let's HOP!

***Thank you for being a part of The Maple Hill Hop
over the past three years.
We have enjoyed sharing your outdoor posts.   

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The Maple Hill Hop 156

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Grab the button above to link back to Maple Hill 101.*

On Saturday,
the weather was perfect for a field trip.
I ventured to downtown Winter Haven
to take a gander at the Saturday market. 

Although there were a couple of vendors selling produce,
most of the folks were showcasing their homemade crafts,
jewelry, soap and other treasures.

 There was even live music by the fountain,
which featured pink water to promote breast cancer awareness.

This booth caught my eye right away.
This gentleman fashions biplanes made from recycled cans
that sway in the breeze.

An array of unusual homemade soaps were for sale.

At The Button Sisters' booth,
I found a number of wonderful upcycled creations.

 Can't you just imagine giving these jars as gifts
with homemade candy or trinkets in them?

Whimsical artwork was displayed.

This was one of my favorite pieces from their booth.
I might have to start looking for buttons
the next time we go thrifting.

Autumn is being celebrated
by spending as much time outdoors as possible.
This market was a great way to discover what 
the most creative folks in Winter Haven are concocting.

That's what we've been up to.
What's going on outside where you are?
HOP to it!

   

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The Maple Hill Hop 155

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Grab the button above to link back to Maple Hill 101.*


*******

 With cooler temperatures visiting,
craft fairs are on the rise.
This past Saturday we were invited back
to our local Tractor Supply
to show off our wares.  

 

This is the second time we've displayed our daisy totes at this location.

There were a few sprinkles early on,

but for the rest of the event we had clear skies.

There were folks selling herbal tea, cheese curds, homemade baked treats,

hand-crafted hair adornments, and a coffee and beverage food truck. 

Some fine country music serenaded us all morning

thanks to a local musician who set up next to my booth.

 There were some special guests.

A few vendors were selling these cute lil' things.

Don't  you know I wish I could've brought some home?

 And although the guinea pigs could have been adopted,

the sheep would most assuredly have been a problem with the HOA.

 One of our local beekeepers displayed this honeycomb

in his booth.  He's been selling honey for over 30 years.

There was even a Halloween costume contest for critters.

Overall, it was a fun morning.

We always meet the nicest folks on these outings.

That's what we've been up to.

What's going on outside where you are?

HOP on!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

The Maple Hill Hop 154

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Grab the button above to link back to Maple Hill 101.*

On Saturday,
there was a Master Gardener's Sale 
on native and Florida-friendly plants.
This event occurs twice a year
and much of our garden is composed
of plants from this venue. 

It was a beautiful morning
with abundant sunshine and smiling treasure-seekers.

This display of tiger lily caught my eye.
It's a fall bloomer, so it happily soaked up the sunshine
and strutted its stuff.

The range of colors, textures and shapes was astounding.
Whether one was looking for succulents, flowers or butterfly attractors,
the choices were plentiful.

red penta

crossandra

There were quite a few specimens that were new to me.
The flowers of this beauty were enchanting.

And would you look at the color on this gorgeous blossom?
Simply striking!

For only a few dollars per pot,
there were bargains to be had.
It would be easy to spice up your garden
for very little money.

Wagons at the ready to be loaded up 
and delivered to waiting vehicles.

The tiger lilies proved to be too tempting,
so I brought home two.
One will be given to a friend and the other is for my garden.
I also bought a lemon balm (for the bees)
and found a butterfly vine that was given to Faye & Lynn.

The tiger lily has a seed pod that's just loaded!
I see more of these in our future!


That's what we've been up to her in Central Florida.
What's going on outside where you live?
HOP to it!


   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

The Maple Hill Hop 153

Welcome to 

The Maple Hill Hop.

This is a hop for folks who love the outdoors.

Feel free to post about anything that's going on

OUTSIDE

in your neck of the woods,
no matter the season.

(Please share only outdoor posts.)

*Grab the button above to link back to Maple Hill 101.*

Autumn will be a time of change for us 

in the garden.

With three plant giveaways in the past few weeks,

we have a new canvas on which to create a new garden plan.  

 While some things will remain,

like this morning glory that is filling our original butterfly garden,

as well as the salvia that continues to bloom

and seems  quite content with the change in seasons.

 We were able to find new homes for a good number of plants.

With our home going back on the market in a couple of weeks,

we have been working on simplifying the landscape, 

so that it will appeal to more buyers.

 There are some bare patches that we will just allow 
to be covered with grass.

 The lemongrass that used to call this spot home,

was very popular with folks coming for plants.

(We still have part of another on the other side of this bed.)

 So much of the garden has been neglected all summer,

as my recent health issues do not allow me to garden as much as I'd like.

The butterfly area is in dire need of attention.

Fortunately, the butterflies don't seem to mind

the unkempt appearance and we see visitors daily

laying eggs, enjoying nectar and flitting effortlessly.

 

This spot in the northwest corner of our yard is another area

that desperately needs some work.

The ferns did not seem appealing to most folks,

and they will most likely be discarded.

It breaks my heart to throw plants away,

but our options are few. 

 On a brighter note,

our veggie garden is doing well.

Beets, eggplant and snap peas all came up within the week of sowing.

Last week the carrots went in

and this week I will reseed where things didn't germinate.

We'll also be sowing our lettuce, thyme and parsley seeds.

The pigeon peas have started producing pods.

These peas can be added fresh to salads,

or cooked as a side dish.

The taste is a cross between edamame and snap peas.

 This crop continues to produce for months on end,

so we'll be able to enjoy them for a while.

I noticed this on the leaves.

Obviously, something is eating the plant,

but it's not quelling the production of peas. 

This could be the work of lubber grasshoppers.

 This moringa is in flower.

The leaves are edible,

although I enjoy the blooms just as much.

The zinnias are dwindling down for the season.

They give us fresh bouquets all summer,

and they will be missed not only by us,

but by the pollinators as well.

 

 The beautyberry plants will continue to feed the birds

all throughout the fall and into the winter months.

The butterfly vine is beginning to fill out with bright yellow blossoms.

The leaves turn from dark green to chartreuse,

and resemble a butterfly.

 The cosmos are still going strong,

and some are as tall as 5 feet!

Another pollinator magnet,

we employ these all over the garden to support Mother Nature's marvels.

There's still much to do to prepare the garden

for home buyers.

These pots have been put aside for a special project.

That's what we've been doing outside lately.

What's going on where you live?

HOP to it!

 
   

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