Tag: garden

Miscellaneous Thoughts and Information

I miss my water lilies. We had to totally clean out the pond this spring because the cattails had taken over. It was a mess to clean out, so I am skipping water plants this summer. Next summer I will probably put one in, and closely monitor cattail invasion. Without pond plants there have been very few dragonfly sightings.

Here are 3 pictures taken today of an Ironweed native plant named “Southern Cross”. It is just beginning to bloom. I purchased it out at the historic Abernathy & Spencer Green House & Garden Center in Lincoln, Virginia

My camera card is full of pictures, some I had never downloaded and really looked at. I chose one to highlight today. It is a picture of a North American Green Tree Frog that I took at Huntly Meadows Park in Fairfax County, Virginia. For more information about the frog look here: https://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/amphibians/frogsandtoads/green-frog/index.php

Since I am not an expert, I am just guessing that it is a North American Green Tree Frog. I provided a link so that you could make your own determination.

Since the full Buck Moon is today/tonight, I did a little research on historical events that have happened around the full buck moon in July. I was surprised to see that the Apollo 11 Moon Landing was close to the full moon (not exactly on the full moon). They listed other historical events, though none appeared to have happened exactly on the day/night of the full moon. I did not do extensive research.

This is one of my favorite t-shirts. I wore it yesterday

I saw the buck moon last night and it was so lovely, it looked full even though it was only almost full. I hope to see it again tonight.

Cranberry bean update– I picked my third full bowl of the beans this afternoon. I have made 2 soups so far…soon to be 3. 🙂

Update 7/30/2026 –5:26 PM-– I did see the moon last night! After I had cleaned up everything for the day and turned off all the lights, I had the thought to check to see if I could see the moon, and sure enough it was front and center skimming the tree line directly in line of my kitchen window. I went outside and right on the threshold between inside and outside I got a beautiful full view of the Buck Moon. Light wispy clouds were hugging it and some moved across its surface, though none could dim its brightness and its beauty.

Late Summer Garden Update

This morning the air had a little nip in it. A light jacket was needed for comfort. The cooler days of fall are just around the corner.

The zucchini that was taking over one of the new raised garden beds is gone. I ripped it out last evening. The red swan snap beans and French nickel filet green beans were being crowded out and over shadowed. The zucchini was planted there on a whim. I have learned a lesson.

Several different types of beans was my goal from the start. This goal was the inspiration for having two raised beds built this summer. The second raised bed houses three other types of beans: two waxed yellow and one green Roma. This is my first bean experiment. The long beans forming from the flowers demonstrates the beauty of life on a small and simple scale.

Vegetables have never been a part of my garden until this summer. My garden’s past has been filled with flowers, shrubs, and a pond for growing water lilies and other aquatic plants. Many have survived the years and are still here.

A very old lilac shrub had been allowed to grow beyond my control. It was finally sacrificed for the new raised beds. The spot is sunny which the beans require.

I have not yet photographed the beans. I will do this when they are ready to harvest.

I have not given up on growing zucchini. It will need its own separate larger space away from the beans. This morning I was already thinking about next summer and where I might be able to grow more vegetables.

In the meantime, the blue mist shrub and the goldenrod, are providing some late summer color.