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!


   

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We Are Safe

Thankfully, Matthew left us alone.

Our night was a bit restless,

not knowing what to expect,

but all in all, uneventful.

For that, we are very grateful.

We expect the wind to die down today

and feel blessed that we suffered no damage.

Matthew was even kind enough to water the veggie garden for us!

Prayers continue for those in his path.

Here's a video we took yesterday afternoon.

As you can see, 

the conditions are more of a tropical storm,

with which we are quite familiar.

We may go out later and take some video of the neighborhood

if we find anything of interest and post it here.

Have a safe weekend, y'all!

Storm Comin'

Matthew is out there churning away.
We will most likely be spared the brunt of his wrath,
but it always pays to be cautious.
It's unusual to have a storm this strong at this time of year,
but we must be vigilant through the month of November,
when hurricane season is officially over.
I'm reposting a relevant article about storm preparedness
as we get ready to hunker down.
We've got the ice maker filled to capacity,
batteries and phones charged, gas tanks full.
We'll fill the bathtubs with water if necessary,
and be working this morning to remove any outdoor items
that could get picked up in the winds.  
This article applies whether you have hurricanes, 
tornadoes, or ice storms.

Having survived Hurricane Andrew in 1992,

I know first-hand the devastation and upheaval

that these storms can cause.  My world was turned

upside-down when I lost my apartment

and most of my belongings.  I literally had nowhere to live,

as available apartments were snatched up all around me

while I was busy working nonstop for 3 or 4 days.

Thankfully, the hospital where I worked

gave employees a cot and a shower

to get through those first shock-filled days.

Almost everyone in my family lost everything

and were forced to start over. 

It's a very humbling experience.

Since we've moved up to Central Florida,
we have felt that storm damage would be less severe
as we are not living on the coast. 
We've noticed that hurricane preparedness here
is not taken as seriously as down south. 
Nonetheless, we will keep our pantry stocked,
our first aid kit up-to-date and
our flashlights and lanterns in working order. 
For those outside of the hurricane zone,
this list would be come in handy in the winter
or during tornado season.
Here are the basic necessities you should have on hand:

Hurricane Supply List

~Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days

~Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days

— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices

— foods for infants or the elderly

— snack foods

— non-electric can opener

— cooking tools / fuel

— paper plates / plastic utensils

~Blankets / Pillows, etc.

~Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes

~First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

~Special Items - for babies and the elderly

~Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

~Flashlight / Batteries

~Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio

~Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set

~Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods

~Keys

~Toys, Books and Games

~Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag

— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

~Tools - keep a set with you during the storm

~Vehicle fuel tanks filled

~Pet care items

— proper identification / immunization records / medications

— ample supply of food and water

— a carrier or cage

— muzzle and leash

Our prayers are with all those affected.

 Be safe, y'all.

 

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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