I can see clearly now the SMOKE is gone...

Ad-Free Blog

I can see clearly now

 the SMOKE is gone...

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the smoke/heat fogs that had me blind

It's a bright, bright, Sun-shiny Day!

(snitched from Johnny Nash's...Sun Shiny Day)

I really have to get back to blogging. I've been hunkering down in our sealed tomb of a home from the Chicagoland heat/smoke/hideous news has really had a hold of me, my mind, my attitude, I've been just UGH!

But, Today, the air cleared it's a brisk 65 degrees at 9:30 am, and I ran around half naked, and opened ALL the windows, doors, blinds, curtains...and OH MY! 

First thing that came to my mind was that song...

So you can thank me for the ear worm and have a Wonderful Sun Shiny Day! 

So far this week, I did quite a bit of gardening. Last night I made Overnite Refrigerator DILLS...the best homemade pickles. I even had fresh dill from the garden I hve stuck in semi-shade to keep it cooler. (Dill doesn't like hot temps when starting)

The Weeds have been horrid with the heat and rain Chicagoland got earlier just made them crazy. Again this year we have a flock of new weeds, I've never seen before. Our gardening zone is 5b at the moment (-5 to -10), but I'm thinking that is really not representational of what it really has been the last few years. I'm sure that weather cycles are just that, cycles, and suddenly we will have -30 winters right around the corner again.

I picked LOTS of cucumbers, dill, pearl onions, lettuce, tomatoes (small ones), a huge turnip-only one), long sweet yellow peppers and green beans. We have enough for this week's fresh produce needs. 

I always pick a few flowers...I'm having Poor Woman's bouquets all the time now. 

Colors are phenomenal...these are early morning photos without editing except for size and being crooked. The flower colors are real...and vivid. The PHLOX are phenomenal as well as the Dahlias and Day Lilies.

I'm not an Affirmation Person...except maybe snarky ones. But a prompt for my Mather class was for an affirmation. 

Here's my 20 minute scribble.

"Even Ditch Lilies Bloom...no matter What!"

I really think LIFE gives you no excuses...you just have to live it, like the panned, dreaded Ditch Lilies that we snub our noses at. 

When we moved here in 1984, there was very little landscaping on a bit over a quarter of an acre. We ordered fifty cheap assorted twig bushes from Michigan Bulb and 12 Day Lilies. That was what we could afford. I planted one packet of Sweet Peas for 59 cents and some marigold seeds. That was it for that year.

Our Sweet Peas are still going strong, the bushes are ringing the property and provide homes for all the birds and bunnies.  I still plant Marigolds from seed because they are kill and weather proof and the bees love them. 

June and May were so cold, we didn't use the porch. I finally got it ready for July 4th, and then it was so beastly, no one would go out there.

This morning I reveled in the lovely temp, opened the windows on the porch and his sink's finally hooked up to drain and get water again...long story on that one.

Ready for company and ME to play on the table with paints, and enjoy the birds from one of our rocking chairs. The furniture is mostly my great-grandmother's, and my dad made the table I painted for my art/craft shows.

I'm hoping the weather holds, I have a 5-6 hours in the car today, but am looking forward to enjoying the porch and having the car windows open! 

See you Soon!

Thanks always for visiting, 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. 

Join me at these fine blog parties:
Vintage Charm

Wonderful Wednesday

Homestead Blog Hop

Thursday Favorite Things

Farmhouse Friday

Funtastic Friday

Traffic Jam on Friday

Home Matters

Thinking Outloud Thursday

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own unless identified, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown.  

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission.  

Thank you for your cooperation, 
Sandi 

OldNewGreenRedo

Midwest Gardening 2024: What's Blooming Late July Between the Raindrops!

Ad-Free Blog

Yesterday between the raindrops, as I was trying to get to the car, I took a few shots...of our ABADANZA growing things...All the rain has made everything explode.  I had to up the exposure a bit, but the colors are....

Are just as they are....so vivid... color recipe must be water and clouds for great color in Midwest Gardens. Here the statement is the Baby Tears....crazy...they have been wintering over and I've been sticking bits in my pots.

I think we need to build a platform for the birdbath, everything is HUGE this year...the Giant Sedum is blossoming early and the second year Phlox is really a gorgeous hot pink in color.

Here you can see the nest of Baby Tears along the walkway...the Hostas are all blooming big, thick stems of fragrant flowers. 

I had to dash across the grass...Hubby is replacing our composite decking stairway because of wash out and warpage. He is going to pour concrete. We have to use too much salt in the winter and a rougher surface  will be better and safer, the composite is extremely slick.

On the mound the birdbath is equally hidden. The Tiger Lilies are almost done, they were huge blossoms and also tall. This pot has escaped the bunnies, full of Marigolds, Balsam, and Zinnias all grown from seed in the greenhouse.

Normally this Phlox ( 20 years old at least) is washed out looking, but it is also very vibrant this year. It's in the crappiest dirt corner of this flower bed...so I'm happy it exists.

This is the second pot out on the mound with Marigolds, Zinnias and Balsam. These are thick insulated pots I bought ages ago...and are still holding up. I remember I got them for $6.00 each on deep discount at the end of the season.

You can see the Giant Sedum peeking out at the bottom of the bed, the white Phlox are second year, I'm really going to have to get in there and trim 

some of the excess out.

A few years back...quite awhile actually they replaced our telephone pole and tore out all the Joe Pye Weed around it. I nursed a few sprouts and I now that it has taken at least 10 years to re-mature to blooming status. This is an favorite plant of Monarchs and other butterflies. I'm so happy it has regenerated to this point. 

Sadly in 2027 the entire front easement will be torn up for a very much needed turning lane into our complex. Next year I may attempt to  get some of this moved to the back yard. I know it won't survive the next wave of construction, as the pole will probably be redone again.

We have over  600 households in our community and only three entrances and exits, add  rush hour, add schoolbuses and it's a jam out there. I never make Doctor appointments before 10:00 in the morning, because you might not get out in time.

Lilies were magnificent....but lasted only a day or so with the repeated rains we have had. After years of drought to severe drought in our area...this is a welcome relief, bugs and weeds, love it too. 

My focal points in the planter are supposed to be two spider plants on the end and the Spike in the middle. None of the red Salvia had done a thing and the Spider plants are exactly the same size as 8 weeks ago.

The purple Petunias, are eh...eh..eh...! Thank goodness the Marigolds are bonkers. It is hot and windy here, so I keep trying to find the magic combination. 

Upside with the rain, I haven't had to drag the 80 feet of hose too often, that has been really nice!

Right before I jumped in the car...this is the pot along the driveway...Balsam, Tall Marigolds, and short ones...and an ornamental grass. The Tree Rose of Sharon is starting and everything seems really happy here.

I'm Off to do errands, and dodge between the raindrops! 

HOW ARE YOUR FLOWERS FLOATING?

If you enjoyed this post please follow this blog by Blogger or FOLLOW IT which you will find in the upper right hand corner of this page. 

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

BFF Open House

Love Your Creativity

Inspire Me Tuesday

You are the Star

Farmhouse Friday

Metamorphosis Monday

I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. 

Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog 

without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi

 

Poorman's Bouquet and Vintage Haeger Pot

AD-Free Blog

IS IT SATURDAY? ? !

Well, another week almost gone...the only way I know what day of the week is by looking in my pill box. 

I HAVE to take a thyroid pill every morning, or I am back asleep by noon, so after 40 years or so...

it's totally a habit.

YES, pill boxes. I've reached the age and quantity of pills and use three weekly pill boxes. Granted most are doctor recommended supplements, which keep everything moving (inside and out), and hopefully my few prescriptions keep me functioning for a long time in the future. 

Anyway, 

WE HAVE HAD A BREAK IN THE WEATHER!!!

Cooler finally---and open-the-windows

 kind of temperatures! 

After record breaking 90's in June and JULY...

it's a lovely balmy 80 something.

HALLELUJAH!    

ON to my FIND!

oldnewgreenredo

Friday,

Bathed in sanitizer and masked, I made a quick trip to our local thrift store. 

LOOK what I snagged,

this Haeger vase in an Arts & Crafts style, 

in a perfect matte green. I could tell by the weight, it was a contemporary piece, but the shape and glaze screamed Art Pottery. Plus it's 12" tall x 9"wide.

 Deliciously big as vases go.

COLOR ME HAPPY!

A few words about Haeger and Royal Haeger originally located here in Dundee, Illinois. Haeger pottery began on the clay rich banks of the Fox River in 1871, the same year as the Great Chicago Fire. This company produced pottery through four generations and developed ceramic art wares and everyday pieces by expert craftsman through 2014.

As a potter myself, I always enjoyed visiting: the factory, their displays, and envied their glazes in the 70's to late 90's. As a buyer/floral designer for a north shore craft chain store, I was allowed to choose and buy Royal Haeger extensively through the 1990's. The figural and sculptural pieces popular then are quite collectible now. As a USA company competing with imports and the economic aftermath of 9/11, this wonderful company closed in 2014 after 143 years in operation. What a loss! 

Anyway my Haeger find is from the early 2000's in a lotus pattern reminiscent of the art pottery of the 

1920-30's in this delicious matte green.  

Perfect for a large Poorman's Bouquet! 

oldnewgreenredo

The garden was so hot the last two weeks, but flowers flourished while our vegetables struggled to hang on. Our Caladiums are insanely happy in the shade with lots of watering and hot temperatures, I  don't mind clipping a few leaves here and there for arrangements.

oldnewgreenredo

Not wanting to fill the entire vase with water (to avoid sweating), I inserted an upside down plastic container and a tall pickle jar to hold the flowers in the center. 

It's hard to take photos with the sunlight streaming in.

 I had to place my Poorman's Bouquet in our living room, where the green pot matches my walls!

 I've added some different flowers in this arrangement.  First, I bundled with tape some tall lemon grass

 for the center.

oldnewgreenredo

From this side, with my butt on the buffet, you can see the colors and the vase clearly.

I used 3 Caladium leaves, 3 large fronds of unopened Giant Sedum which echoed the matte green of the vase,  Added some damaged lilies, bent over zinnias and I cut a branch of my first year Blackeyed-Susans which immediately wilted, and three bright magenta Phlox stems.

oldnewgreenredo

I had added a spray of bleach to the water and a bit of sugar, I'm out of florist preservative. 

oldnewgreenredo

The phlox are already dropping...

but I'm sure this will hold for a week with such a large container of water.  

Nothing is better than picking from your own flowers from the garden on a lovely day.

Hugs and have a great weekend! 

What's SURVIVING in your FLOWER GARDEN?

Join me at these fine blog parties:

Anything Goes Pink Saturday

Snickerdoodle Link party

Inspire Me Monday

Silver Pennies Sunday

Wonderful Wednesdays

Tuesday Turn About

Vintage Charm

All About Home

Friendship Friday

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. I will read and respond to every comment and answer every question, pinky promise! 

Thank you for your cooperation, 
Sandi 

Midwest Gardening:August 2018

Ad-Free Blog

We've had a few milder days this week, but July was very dry and very HOT in Chicagoland. So that means, water, water, water----WATER!

oldnewgreenredo

Our mailbox planter is doing well, long as we keep pumping water in. Hubby built this holder for all the neighbors, or we would have five different poles standing haphazardly in front of our house.

At least the different mailboxes are in order now and a blend. The tubes are for junk mail, which 'thank heavens' we don't get much of anymore. 

oldnewgreenredo

The label on the purple said---Purple Salvia..? but this is what it does.It has been very prolific. The marigolds were supposed to be 1 foot to 2 feet high? hence they were in the middle. Two wave petunias one on each end, have been fabulous!

oldnewgreenredo

Love this fun version---as the designs morph into pinwheels.

oldnewgreenredo

Why is it weeds grow with no water---and regular plants are stunted?

oldnewgreenredo

My pots are getting lush, the dahlias are finally starting to bloom on the right.

oldnewgreenredo

This pot is waiting to explode into dahlias.

oldnewgreenredo

Potato Vine...my go to for lush trails of lime green color.

oldnewgreenredo

Something died on the left or was removed by a squirrel, with no evidence?

oldnewgreenredo

Getting ready to bloom.  Impatiens are having issues with the heat and are sparse and droopy.

Add caption

Pots under the eaves, get only half day sun, so are doing okay.

oldnewgreenredo

This area holds heat, despite being in shade half the day. The phlox, got huge with the spring rains, and now watering can't keep it happy.

oldnewgreenredo

The pond has one lonely resident frog this year. Mom was here and must have laid eggs and only one survived. She disappeared early in the summer. This little guy is used to us now, and doesn't dart away every time we walk by the pond.

oldnewgreenredo

My herbs on the porch are toughing it out.

oldnewgreenredo

Potted tomatoes have fried roots though,  and are yellow and loosing leaves fast.

oldnewgreenredo

Neighbors clematis is treating us to some color over the (long skinny Asian) eggplants, which are happy in the heat and producing like crazy.

oldnewgreenredo

Fledgling Robin nosing in one of my pots.

oldnewgreenredo

This area is in part to total shade all day---so the plants are lush! The sun was so bright though when I took pics.

oldnewgreenredo

Hubby finally getting the lights up we bought last year. having to crawl around his huge tomato plants. 

oldnewgreenredo

Luckily he could do some from our walkway.

oldnewgreenredo

Garden is very green, however we've had a few zucchini and beans aren't blossoming yet. Pickles are drying up---we aren't going to get many. Plants that are drowned for two months don't develop deep roots to survive in hot weather. Tomatoes are small, but sweet. Later varieties are holding---large and green, so we just keep watering!

How is your garden doing?

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

Sharing at these Ad Free blog parties-with ads not in the middle of the blog (I'm going to try and see if this is possible)

Friday Favorites

Finding Silver Pennies Party
Amaze Me Monday
Cooking and Crafting with J&J
Gardens Galore Party
Celebrate Your Story
The Scoop
Wonderful Wednesday
Talk of the Town
Style Showcase
Share Your Cup
Home and Garden Thursday
Home Matters

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

Sandi