There's Good News and Bad News

I've not done a great job this summer photo journaling my garden. Sometimes life happens and blogging is on the lower end of the totem pole. So when I had a few minutes this past weekend, I thought I'd snap these quick photos to share with you.

I have had an abundance of bell peppers and hot banana peppers this summer. And my bushes are still yielding in spite of the lingering heat and my lack of attention.

Earlier in the year, I had the bright idea to plant a pumpkin vine to have a pumpkin-lined front porch for the cost of a pack of seeds. This is what I had in mind:

My pumpkin vine was lush and green and spread like wildfire. There was blossoms galore. I just knew my pumpkin-lined was going to happen this year. But in spite of the blossoms and tiny, little pumpkins on the vine, there was one sole-survivor:

I don't even know what I'm going to do with it yet. So for now its my lone fall decoration on the kitchen counter.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to. What's happening in your garden?

Pumpkins Finally!!!

Last fall I planted a pumpkin vine in the hope that I would have a beautiful fall display on my front porch. The vine did well and did in fact produce pumpkins, however I planted it too late in the season and the frost killed the vine and the pumpkins before they had a chance to mature.

Fast forward to this summer. I planted my vine in late June. I have had a gorgeous, healthy, blossom-laden vine for months, but no pumpkins. I'd all but given up on it when I spotted this beauty:

It's the only one I've noticed but I'm hoping under all that foliage are a few more. Hopefully they will have another eight weeks to mature and I can start decorating away!

Is It Fall Yet?

The weather's just been ick lately. For a few days in October, we had crisp, sunny days in the southeast. However, we've transitioned into a purgatory state of mugginess and rain with temperatures all across the spectrum. What has this meant for gardening? Not a whole lot. For me anyway. Who wants to be outside?

In spite of this, my bell pepper bushes are still producing at a rate faster than I can consume or give away, and there's that stray pumpkin vine in my compost. Keeping my fingers crossed I'll be able to harvest a few.

Orange You Glad You're Not a Pumpkin?!?

 

Here's a funny story for ya...sometime in August, with visions of pumpkin-lined steps leading up to my front porch, the kids and I planted two flats of pumpkin seeds. None germinated. However, a stray seed ended up in my compost, and voila, a few months later I have a thriving pumpkin vine.

 

 I doubt the pumpkins will be large enough to decorate with before the season is over so I still won't have the pumpkin-lined steps. Still, this made for a great laugh. Ain't life grand?

My Fall Porch

I'm a little late this year but I finally got it done. Welcome Fall!

Spider Lilly Surprise

The last few weeks have been really hectic, hence my absence. I finally had a minute to slow down over the last few days and take a walk around the backyard. I was really excited to find that the spider lily bulbs I planted last fall were now blooming.

 

They are clustered in several areas of the yard in various stages of their life, but these two clusters along house were the prettiest. So happy I didn't miss them.

Scrap Wood Scarecrow

With two little ones, August has been a really busy month for us, hence my lack of posts. But I'm back with a super cool project!

I've seen these scrap wood scarecrows all over the Internet and balked at the $40+ price tags. I had some free time yesterday, put the pieces together and coerced sweet-talked the DH into fastening them together for me.

Inspiration:

My stash:

 

Framework:

 Back Support:

 Front:

The screws are counter-sinked and the screw holes will be filled before painting. I may leave the top as is. I like the jagged line.

 

Now I just need to find some more free time to paint it and display it in the yard in time for Fall.