Winter Beauty in the Garden

This romantic and delicate beauty is a recent addition to my flower garden. And it is in full bloom right now! If you do not reside in the Southeast, it may come as a surprise to you that flowers are blooming in January and February. But this little beauty is a bright spot in the middle of winter. It is so well loved that it is our state flower.

I am posting more about the beautiful Camellia over on the Andrea Howard Blog today. Hop on over for more photos and info!

A Summer's Growth

Several months ago, I mentioned that I had planted an herb garden. It has been fun to add flowers and more herbs to it and to watch it all grow and flourish.

Here is what it looked like in March:



Here is what is looks like now:



What herb garden is complete without a wayward soccer ball or two in it?

It has been a fun experience to have an herb garden. There is nothing like the convenience of having herbs at my disposal! I don't have to run to the store when I need them and I don't have to PAY for them!

Plants in my garden this year include Rosemary, Oregano, Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Cilantro, Thyme, Chives, Mint, Ginger, Jalapeno, Cherry Tomato, Bell Pepper, Vinca, Lambs Ear, and Canna.

This Year's Herb Garden

This is my second year to plant an herb garden. It proved to be a rewarding experience last year, and I have added even more plants this year. I plan to expand the bed soon and add lots of flowering plants for color. We like to attract the hummingbirds to our back windows, so we will add a feeder soon as well.

Some of the herbs in my garden include mint, stevia, rosemary, cilantro, basil, oregano, thyme and more.

P.S. Here is what my herb garden looks like after it has rained for four of the last six days!



Do you have an herb garden? If so, please share with me the your favorite ones to grow.
Do you harvest and dry your herbs? I am very interested in pursuing this with my garden. Please leave me any tips you may have.

Southern Springtime

Spring in the South is so pretty! I have lived in the deep south for five springs, and I am still amazed by the beauty of the flowers that bloom here. One of my favorite things about spring is the wisteria. I love to see it in trees and along fence lines as I drive around town!


But what I really love about wisteria is it's fragrance! I love the sweet smell so much that every spring I try to gather some of it and bring it into my house. And today, I did just that...I picked some from an empty lot nearby and made some arrangements for the house.

When I first put the vines in a vase, they looked too sparse.


So, I cut some branches off some smaller trees in the backyard to add some color, texture and fullness.


I love how it looks in my entry and I love the fragrance that wafts through my house!

Lovin' Where I Live

Top Ten Reasons I Love Where I Live (in no particular order):

1. The people - everyone is so friendly and nice. We speak to each other in the aisles of Walmart even if we don't know each other. You don't have to know someone to get a wave from them as they pass by on the road.

2. Our small town - We had only lived here a few months when my hubby and I remarked to each other how "at home" we already felt. The aura of a small town is so great. I love the activities like Patriotic Celebration on the square, High School Homecoming Parade, Harvest Day and so much more!

3.We have a town square. It's the place where many of our town events are held. I go there to meet some friends every morning to walk for exercise. Our children can play in the square while we walk around the outside.

4. The food - yum! I love the good ol' home cooking: lots of veggies and smoked meats. There's the bread, too. And scrumptious homemade desserts! Gotta watch out for those. Too much of a good thing adds pounds to the waistline!

5. Our church - what a loving group of people.

6. Our house - we are so blessed.

7. The beautiful plants and flowers that flourish in our warm, humid climate!

8. Our proximity to the beautiful gulf beaches.

9. Our friends - we have been blessed with many relationships that mean so much to us. We didn't grow up here, but have been welcomed and loved as if we did.

10. The pretty vistas that characterize a rural area.

11. (I know, I cheated. But, I couldn't leave off) SWEET TEA!

My thanks to my Colorado friend, Mer, for the idea. You can check out her list here.

So what about you? Why do you love (or for that matter, don't love) where you live?

Fruits Of The Harvest

I just couldn't resist posting a picture of this:


Thanks to the generosity of friends and a little tomato picking trip in July, I've been able to can some goodies this summer! After seeing jelly jars used as decor in someone's kitchen recently, I decided to give it a try with my canned goods.


I like it. The tomatoes, okra, pears and pear relish make a colorful ensemble. Plus, it's fun to look up and admire the fruits of my canning labor!


Did you get to do any canning this year? What are your favorite items to preserve for use during the winter?

My Herb Garden

I've had an email request to share more about my herb garden. This is a new venture for me, but one that I've wanted to undertake for quite a while now. Thanks to my friend, Connie, I have been able to get one going this summer. Connie gave me several plants from her garden to get me started. I have rosemary, chives, oregano, thyme. I love making trips out my back door to get the herbs I need for my cooking. What a feeling of satisfaction. I asked Connie to write about herb gardening for anyone wishing to start their own garden. You can find her article here. She also provides a link for even more info.