So, so hot!

Yesterday, I planted my fall veggies - just peas and carrots and green beans.  I should include a photo, but it's just dirt in my raised beds for now.  :-)

 Since my kiddos have started back at school, I am weeding every morning for about 15 minutes after I get home.  Progress is slow, but I need to take control back of the weed-fest that my garden has become in the summer heat!

Hydrangeas

I want to share my pretty hydrangeas.  This is one of my favorite flowers.  I live in zone 10, so they aren't really ideal to grow here.  They do not like the heat.  

 However, I found a shady corner sheltered by the house and fence that they seem to like.  They only get morning sun, and they are very close to a spigot, so they get watered often.

 They  make me happy.  :-)  I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

Birdhouse from "Rustic Birdhouses and Feeders"

Hello there!  Last week, I got lost in the gardening section of the library and came away with three books on making birdhouses.  Over the weekend, I made this cutie pie.

The best part is I had all of the materials laying around my garage and crafty closet.  I have enough scrap wood for at least a dozen more, I think.  Now that I know the basics of constructing them, and what the birds supposedly like, I feel confident to make some more in different styles.  I really like the thatched roof look.  Very cute, even with my sad first attempt.  

The main book I used is Rustic Birdhouses and Feeders by Colin McGhee.  There were a few problems I found with the instructions for this particular house.  Constructing it exactly as the directions state means the roof and base pieces don't fit.  I was able to adjust, but it might be confusing to someone with no woodworking experience.  I looked for some type of errata web page for the book but couldn't find one.

I didn't take a photo of the end with the hole, of course, but trust me, it's there.  :-)

I also found this U of F webpage with information on nesting birds in Florida and what they like in a birdhouse.  Very helpful.

 I didn't make this all by myself, of course.  I did have help measuring, marking, gluing, nailing, and painting.  I saved the sawing for myself, though.

It looks like the pole is leaning, but whatcha gonna do?  You can also see the remains of my spent pea vines.  Loved those peas!

Strolling through the garden

Yesterday, a little friend followed me around the garden as I weeded a bit.  Is this a sparrow?  I am so not a bird watcher, but I do enjoy their songs and company. :-)

Chilling in the coral honeysuckle

 Hanging out on the lanai.

Playing in the playhouse

I planted this jasmine a few years ago, and it has been a slow grower.  This is the first year I can enjoy the aroma from more than a few inches away.  Beautiful!

Here is my first gladiola of the season.  This may be my favorite flower.  Such a range of beautiful spring colors, long lasting, and just a great wow-factor.

Yummy peas

Hello!  Here is a look at some of the delicious veggies we've been enjoying this spring.
I planted peas for the first time this year and I don't know why I waited.  It doesn't take long to get the peas out, and they are so delicious with lots of "waste" for the compost pile.  Plus, the peas I planted grow so high that they produce much more than the green beans I've grown in the past.

 The peas will soon be at the end of their season, sadly.  I planted a few more seeds, but I'm not sure how well they will produce since it's now reliably in the mid-high 80s here.  Next year, I will plant more.  For height comparison, on the left at the fence are the peas.  Just in front of them are the green beans.  In front of the green beans are some melons that panted themselves.  :-)

The middle bed is my herbs, lettuce, and tomatoes, but the tomatoes are still little.  On the right, I grew some cutting flowers that have been doing great and keeping me happy indoors.  I also just planted carrots, green onions, and some more cutting flowers, so we'll see what sprouts.