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see you
ML

http://www.marylouisehagler.com/

Summer House Rules

I am not sure how it happens, but we become a bit lazy at my house during summer months.

For example, yogurt cups are left unopened on the countertop, clothes are strewn on bedroom floors, and dirty dishes pile up in the kitchen sink.

After reading a chapter or two in Simple Abundance last week,

I found this which will be discussed at dinner then posted on the family bulletin board!

If you take it out, put it back.

If you open it, close it.

If you throw it down, pick it up.

If you take it off, hang it up.

Blessings.

ML

Lightening Bugs

Rob Pavey refers to them as fireflies, but I call them lightening bugs.

A couple of years ago, we were worried that these illuminating insects

were dwindling, but it seems they are here to stay!

Summer fireflies make comeback in Georgia The Augusta Chronicle

Don't you remember catching them at night & keeping them in a jar near

the bed to watch them glow?

Blessings.

ML

Simple Abundance

Do you have the book Simple Abundance?
 It was published in 1995, and I've stored it under my bed only to pull it out and read it over and over. It has a thought for each day of the year- all related to child rearing, housekeeping, daily living, etc. giving you "comfort"  in what may be a crazy world.

June is filled with home & garden ideas in the book.
 I'll take a few days this month to expound & refresh some of the main concepts in the book. Follow along if you have the book, if not, no worries.

Today is June 14th: Decorating with the Seasons: Summer Houses


Here is my take on "summer houses"...

Porch sitting

Hammock napping.

Garden dreaming

Summer is much more relaxed than any season. Cut an handful of whatever is growing in your yard/garden today & put the vase on your kitchen table. Buy some ivy and shady coleus to put on your porch. We have a round "foot fan" on our porch that is perfect for hot summer evenings. 

Enjoy your summer house & let me know what you do to make it summer-y!

Blessings. 

ML

Sunday Farm Update

Late Night?

Today began with a drive to the Farm by our 15yo new driver. Safe and sound.


Some of us were a bit fatigued upon arrival mainly due to staying up til 3am with friends. So, we finally mustered up the energy to hill the pumpkin patch in preparation for seed planting today...


Guess what? 


Someone forgot the seeds! Well, we didn't drive my Yukon Storage Container to the farm, so it didn't happen.

Blisters.Even Gizmo!

Meanwhile, Sam, Marianna & myself completed the hills despite the fact we had no seeds. Here are our blisters to prove it- even Baby Gizmo(Sam calling him Giz-mutt) was in on the goodness. 

Sam working in the rain

We were tricked again with about 3 minutes of hard rain thus sprinklers running most of the evening. 


Robert must be having a contest with someone else growing corn. He has fertilized, watered-  really babied this crop. Says he wants to have a corn party...


Any thoughts?


The flowers have  progressed tremendously this week. There is so much pink, salmon, white, burgundy this year! Planned those colors for upcoming weddings. The broomcorn is about 3 feet high, last year it bolted up to about 10 feet. Lovely in fall arrangements. 


The return home was a white knuckler for me...Our 15 yo drove the truck back and onto Bobby Jones Expressway in the dark. Safely home, I am so proud. 


Blessings 
ML

PS. If you've read this, will you hit the 1+ button at the bottom of this post? Not sure, but I think it's supposed to up my optimization a bit. Thanks.

Summer Reads...

Admittedly, I am not much of a book reader.  Maybe when I am at the beach with no garden or family distractions, I'll read a book...

BUT.

I read lots of magazines, must be my attention span! Whatever. I left Borders last night with an armload of garden mags and a bit less flower money! 

This month's Urban Farm : Sustainable City Living is EXCELLENT! 

If you are a backyard hobby gardener/beekeeper/chick with chicks 

or wanna be

 this mag is for you.

 So far, every page is filled with info I know you'll love...

• Daylilly Ice Cream recipe
• "Sex is good, but not as good as fresh, sweet corn" a quote from Garrison  Keillor
• Rain gardening
• Beekeeping/Chicken Keeping
• Fruit Spreads

Go to Borders, get the mag...better yet, subscribe for $15/year...

www.urbanfarmonline.com/lowprice

Blessings 

ML

June is a busy month for gardeners in the CSRA.

The heat is on, humidity up and growth boundless.

Here are a few things to do in June, oh, & keep July

in the back of your mind...fall planning/planting!

* Plant more peas, beans, corn, and okra from seed.

* Garden stores still have transplants ready to put

in the ground. Find more squash, peppers, eggplant

and tomatoes!

* Tie up tomatoes, peppers, cukes, and beans to keep an upward

growth habit! Use tall wood posts, stakes, bamboo.

* Fertilize your veggies. Have you tried Llama beans?

* Plant pumpkin seeds! Remember they need lots of

room & be sure to look at maturity days for length of time you'll

need before they are ready!

* Last chance to plant sweet potatoes.

* Start rooting your hydrangeas.

* Plant zinnias, celosia, sunflowers, and cosmos all from seed...

* Buy some dahlia bulbs and get them in the ground!

* Not too late to plant some annual transplants...marigolds(lots of

pretty varieties now!), impatiens, caladiums, coleus, ornamental

sweet potato vine, and periwinkle(vinca)..

Blessings from the Summer Garden.

ML

Mimosa Anyone?

You were probably thinking this-

What I meant was this-

The Mimosa trees are in full bloom in Augusta GA right now. 

The tropical look of the deciduous Mimosa and the peachy/pink puffy blooms may make you think about snatching a seed pod and growing one for your back yard. Mimosa is drought tolerant and grows best in zones 6 through 10. 

Drop that seed pod if you have allergies. Mimosa flowers produce lots of pollen which can cause a sinus allergy or an eye allergy. So, if you are sneezy or have itchy, runny eyes when around the Mimosa, you might just want to break out the OJ  & Veuve...forget the tree!

Blessings 

ML

National Garden Week

National Garden Week Proclamation

Today marks the beginning 
of
 National Garden Week

June 5-11

Byrd Garden-Sacred Heart Garden Tour 2011

Here are some ideas to help you celebrate:

• evening walk through a friend's garden, glass of wine
• plant something you'll consume...okra, southern peas, tomato plant, pepper plants
• read a great garden resource---Southern Living books, Mrs. Whaley Entertains, The $64 Tomato

Stay Cool. 

ML

Farm

I am off to the Farm today to check on the flowers and corn! 
We were told there was a heavy rain yesterday, so I am hoping everything is ok. 

Here is the detail for today:

• cut all zinnias, sunflowers, celosia & cosmos that have bloomed
• fertilize everything 
• weed, weed, weed
• practice shooting 38
• weed, weed, weed
• wine

Sound good? 

Need help next week planting pumps...will fix you some lunch

and promise you a pumpkin. No wimps.

Blessings. 

ML

Smart summer brides

Southern summers are hot! 

I knew that when I said "I do" on August 22 almost 20 years ago!

Yet brides continue to choose summer months to get married.

Here are a few tips 

Decorate with the bouquets after the wedding. Take to the reception and place in vases.
Ice, ice baby! Drop a couple of cubes in  vase water to keep bouquets cool, 
works for arrangements too.
Vases. Always have vases for bouquets to rest while not being carried.
Appoint someone to transport the vases from wedding spot to reception venue for added decoration!


Blessings.
ML

You've enjoyed the first flush of spring blooms, and noticed the blossoms beginning to fade. 
It's time for a haircut! 
Yes, pansies are famous for requiring dead heading, but they are not alone! 
My experience with most plants has been- the more you cut, the more you get!

So, grab your clippers, a trash bucket, and get to work.

Here are just a few plants that need a trim:

Knockout roses

Hydrangeas

Gardenias

Any herbs beginning to flower

Zinnias

Marigolds

Snapdragons

Ornamental sage/Salvia

Nasturtiums- cut the flowers & enjoy at your bedside

Parsley

Sweet William



See you.

ML