Time For Some New Flowers

The summer flowers always start looking a bit peaked this time of year. This pot has a few holes from the ones that have died out and others I have are just not blooming anymore and look really bare.

I bought some smaller mums to fill in, but it's been raining most of the day (yay, we need it) so I'll wait until the dirt dries out a bit before planting them. I also picked up a couple gallon-sized ones and some better looking pots to put them in.

 After sprinkling them with some ground squirrel repellent (have I mentioned how I hate those critters), they were ready for display.

There's a pot of impatiens on the front steps that is still looking great even after all the hot weather we've had.

Peach Pie

I got a new recipe for a fabulous peach pie a few days ago.

4-5 medium sized peaches - slice into graham cracker crust

Cover with glaze:

1 box sugar free lemon jello

1 box sugar free cook vanilla pudding mix

2 c. water

Cook until it boils. Cool and then pour over peaches.

Chill and serve with cool whip.

Tomatoes

This year my tomatoes are finally off to a good start. I've planted them for 4 years now and this is the most that I've gotten in the space of a week (plus the 4 I've eaten). I've had enough to can a few pints in the past but never as many as I wanted.

I usually have a problem with the plants dying off before I get enough. I sure hope they continue at this pace. 

Summer Flowers

A few more pictures of my flowers.

I think the picture above is the best time of the season for my flowers. Below they're just getting big and overgrown. I really like the height the spider plants got this year. I've gotten enough seed off them already to last me a lifetime. 

The brown-eyed susans are still looking nice a couple weeks after this picture was taken. 

Flower Garden

Here are a few photos of my flowers. 

I really need a bigger trellis for next year.

Sculpture Park

Last Saturday I went downtown to the Better Homes and Garden garage sale at Meredith. They had cleaned out their storage of items from photo shoots over the years. I arrived about an hour after it started and there wasn't much left. I would have loved to have gotten some of the pieces of furniture they had, but since my car is much too small to transport things like that, I was really just going to browse. I did get several free scrapbooking, quilting, and home decor magazines. 

I was across the street from the Pappajohn Sculpture Park so I decided to walk thru. I had never been there, and it was a beautiful morning. 

 These gorgeous shrub roses lined the sidewalk on both sides of the park. 

 And my favorite...Back of a Snowman White and Back of a Snowman Black.

After my walk thru the park, I headed to the farmers' market with Lisa. We picked up some fabulous cinnamon rolls and cinnamon raisin bread. 



Peonies and Garden

My peonies opened up over the weekend.  They're beautiful as always, but they get so tall that it's hard to keep them upright. There's a white one that will be open in a couple more days.

 I finally got my garden planted...six tomatoes and some kohlrabis. Every year I have the goal of making it bigger....but there's always next year.