The Azaleas are blooming!

This very large Cuban Tree Frog is hiding safely in this birdhouse NOW.....As I removed the flagstone around the old pond I stumbled across quite a scene...this big guy was halfway down the throat of a rather large Black snake, either a Racer or a possible Indigo...when I startled him he regurgitated the Frog.....Grossss...watched the whole thing......The Frog literally screamed aloud and jumped into the hole that was once a pond.....The DH scooped him into the birdhouse..I know he's an invasive species...but really it was a bad day, he gets a repreive.....Mr Snake climbed into the rose bush so I got a peeksy at his belly...it was indeed black...here's to hoping an Indigo has moved in...

Wow...what a mess...and another large project I have before me...Any suggestions for this area?

Once the Flagstone was removed from the old pond, I placed it around the front two sides of the new Above ground pond...surprised me how many were actually there. We are getting there...we will be pouring concrete caps on top of the RR ties, as a bench around the top...

the Fish are very happy in there new home...

Here in Florida we have quite a shortage of rocks...so I collect them everywhere I go and place them here and there in the garden...Some of these rocks are from The Hudson River in Upstate NY, some  from Lake George in NY, and also Maryland....And quite a few of my small flat black rocks are found right here on our own Florida beaches...No One ever sees them.....past the shells...ssshhhhhhhh...our secret! People collect beach glass, and seashells, I look for black shells and black rocks....

Can you believe the Azaleas are already blooming! I would love to have an entire garden dedicated to this bush! They have my heart!

This little guy, Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomeratus)

 has not stopped blooming since June....It has impressed me so much...

Rosa "New Dawn".....Don't forget...It's almost time to cut the roses back! An easy way to remember when to prune Roses in Florida...... Valentine's Day...a little tip I got when Giles Rose nursery was still around...

This is the most beautiful stand of grass ever! It's over 8 feet tall.....and I still have yet to figure out what kind it is......It's been suggested it's a large Fakahatchee...but I haven't been able to confirm that yet! Anyone?

It's been a great weekend...to be outside....so let the housework go,,,and get out there and spread some seed! Enjoy your week!  janine

Hard work on the Koi Pond

I spent most of our gorgeous weekend working on and around the pond.....We are so close to finishing it! Well that means it will have water and fish....but it will take a while to really "finish" it...as I need to build decks on two sides, place some sort of capping over the railroad/liner tops and of course I will need plants :) Here are some before and now pics to keep ya up to date....I threw in a few Garden pictures...because...well you know....we always have to remember why we go to such efforts! And what makes it worth it!

things like  ...........The Titmouse that has taken over the flycatchers home.......

On to the work:  


 beginning....I had a vision of a great Pond that would sit here...Deep enough to give my Koi more room, but high enough above ground to work as a bench to both sit with the fish, or watch the Chickens....We are far from there...but I can see it in my mind :) and it's beautiful!

Barrel set up and plumbing

Settling Chamber and static basket

I started with the filters....I went with 55 gallon drums, two in parallel will act as settling chambers coming from a Bottom drain gravity fed, the theory is the large debris will settle in the lower section and with the help of a static media basket remove it before the water goes out to the next set of barrels, which house my Bio media. I made two Strapping barrels, they will house 9000 feet of strapping material each, with a blower manifold for agitation and clean out periodically! I got the plans from a great group of people on a Koi forum...www.koiphen.com...I can not say enough about all the generous support they have given me in my adventure! 

Strapping Barrel- Bio Filter

see: Birdman's strapping barrels...can I's?

To check out my Koi Toilet Bottom Drain modification ck out that page! Look for the link....in my pages!

We went with a Hexagon design, for the ease of water circulation. I am so glad we did! Just with the little bit of water we flowed in, it swirls like a perfect vortex!

A great moment as the liner is placed and water finally flows! A year in the waiting !!

What to do with that extra dirt pile? Slope it up and create steps to what will be a small multipurpose deck, covering and hiding the barrel filters and also for relaxing and lounging!

This will be the bench side...once capped, sitting here will allow you to be up and personal with the Koi...the feeding station perhaps, but also a seating area looking towards .....well...I guess where you are sitting right now ;) is the coop... LOL......it will be a nice spot under the mulberry tree to watch the hens scratch around and get out of the summer heat....

I have alot of woodworking ahead of me :)

 I have been studying up on permaculture, I think I will incorporate this practice here around the Mulberry tree on the slope.....That will be a blog of it's own :) 

Something  beautiful to leave you with...Rosa "Love"

So remember to leave me a comment and get out there and  spread some seed...;)       janine

Happy New Year!

It's the last day of 2011.....To be honest, my garden has spent most of this year in a mess! I started the pond  last February, so I have mounds of dirt just about everywhere you look :(  Policy is:   I can not start a new project until the last one is finished.....which leaves me tormented with dreams of my butterfly balcony, the bunny trail, and new raised veggies plots...but alas...I must finish the pond first! The good news..I'm almost there! So I have great expectations for the garden in 2012...As I walked through the garden this last day of 2011....I must admit even amongst the mess and neglect..the flowers just keep giving...

         Even the birdseed is blooming!

     My Mystery Rose (OGR shrub)

       Bermuda Mystery Rose: Kathleen         

New Dawn

It's been a good year...with the larger pond finally getting started, my oldest graduated from High School, the pool we've been waiting for 9 yrs...was put in....and even with the economy being tough....this family has weathered the storm very well.....modification in life is easy for me.....I always said you can plop me down anywhere and I will make it a home...my needs are small and my desires are pretty simple..Just like this Queen:

          A tranquil place to raise my kids.......                                             

        A little food on the table........                                        

          And I emerge one happy bee...uhhh. butterfly :)                                       

So as the year ends...I must Thank my Jesus for every little thing I have, and the Beautiful World he has placed me in to enjoy!

       First year with Flowers on the DH's Camellia,

     Firecracker Bush

      The towering Butterfly weed with butterfly!

    My favorite Lavender Pentas

 And my faithful morning hello from the spiderwort

I find no greater peace than when I step into the garden alone with God and just converse! May your New Year be happy, full of contentment and prosperity! and Don't forget to spread some seed.......... janine

You never know where you may find a friend :)

I got to share my garden with a new friend today! I listed a very nicely priced Child's toy that was gathering dust in my daughter's room on Craigslist in hopes that a little girl may get a really "big" surprise on Christmas morning.  Just after posting it....for a very nice price...ummm..did I mention that? Well I rechecked to see what others may be listing this item for, and needless to say I was underpriced....but that's not the point :) I came across a posting from a Mother looking for this item for her girls for Christmas....I quickly threw her an email and hoped she would contact me before anyone else, since it had already posted...To be honest..I would have just called her, had I reviewed the site to begin with...None the less, she called this morning and her and the family came out this afternoon! I had one text just a few minutes before her, and a bunch after.... but I just knew I needed to call this one back first...As it turned out...I met a lovely family, relocated to our county from Fort Lauderdale... The Mom was from Columbia and the Dad from Chile, they had 4 beautiful children, so polite and sweet....I couldn't have asked for a better home for the item :)

 As we talked, and talked, and the husbands talked and talked...we ended up out back, introducing the Chickens, the Koi and the birds to the kids....I would apologize for the mess, and she would just keep saying how it was perfect just the way it was....like being at home where she was raised....It's funny how we see all our own flaws, but others see things about us so differently!
 She seemed like just a beautiful person inside and out...and from such different parts of the world...we had so much in common.....the love of nature, the animals, the kids....They will be looking for a house out this way....I hope God leads them over here closer...would love to have them in the neighborhood... My daughter took their little girl on a tour of the yard as we talked..she picked flowers the whole way...and then Thanked my daughter, Elly, for letting her pick the pretty flowers in her yard..

All the time spent, is rewarded in moments just like that! There is nothing more beautiful than children feeding the fish for the first time, or a little girl clutching a fist full of flowers......... Enjoy whatever garden space you have.....it's like a universal language that everyone finds some peace and comfort in....  janine