Crepe Myrtle and Butterfly Bushes.

My crepe myrtle is starting to fade from the appearance in this picture, although it still has some blooms. It has been beautiful all summer. You can count on a crepe myrtle to be cheerful thru thick and thin, for months on end. The butterfly bushes under it have pretty much given up this summer4, maybe due to the efficient water gathering of the crepe myrtle. I have watered a couple of times lately, but it was too little and too late to get them into bloom. The Lantanas still soldiers on with a few flowers, but everything else in the understory here is faltering badly.

Tall Lilies

I probably have mentioned these exquisitely long legged ladies before, but they are worth a second look.
An 8 foot tall lily is rather stunning, any way you slice it. I planted these near and under a pomegranate bush so they could receive a little support from it in case of rain or wind. Unluckily, we had none of either while these were blooming. These lilies were grown from seed given to me by a Mr. Thompson that I have since lost touch with. I understand that the prevailing knowledge about seed grown lilies is don't do it. But I am not sorry I grew these.

Celosia or Cockscomb

This celosia or cockscomb is grown from seed that was produced on last years flowers. I saved some seed, germinated them and planted out the plants. Some just reseeded in situ. Next year I will try to remember that and when they come up in the bed, I can just weed out the ones I do not want or move them around to where I can find space. Notice that I said find space, not where I want them. I have to want things where I have space. These are bright eye-catching plants, needing full sun to be at their best. It never fails that when people see them they call them "brains", and they do have that look about them. They make great cut flowers and dry wonderfully. Be sure and put them somewhere to dry so that you can catch the seed that will pop out in the process. Then give the seed to friends, or just broadcast them in the flower bed and hope for the best.

Sermon On The Mount

Ran across this video with the sermon on the mount read while pictures of present day people are presented.  I found it strange and thought provoking. Tell me your thoughts.

Lettuce Leaf Begonia

Lettuce leaf begonia is a Rex begonia; this is one that my grandmother gave to me probably 40 years ago. It has survived severe neglect and abuse, as well as flush times. This one, as well as a Beefsteak Rex, has been with me through thick and thin. Newly married and living away from home in North Carolina, I had more than 50 potted plants in a small apartment. DH built me a wooden frame from 2x2's and hung a shop light on it over my plants. We had not much furniture and that spot of plants nestled together under a 4 foot light really brightened things up, I thought. I had an assortment of drip pans under the plants and plastic sheeting under the plants to keep water off the floor. Maybe it was not that beautiful, but I thought it was. I only had eyes for the plants, not the set up. But actually, I thought the setup was pretty grand, too. It enabled me to have houseplants in a dark location for about 5 years and brought me a lot of joy. Somewhere I have a (some ) pictures of that set up. If it was not so hard to locate.... Digital pictures are easier to locate but also easier to loose completely.

Fungi In My Yard

I don't know the names of any of these mushrooms that were in my yard, but there was an abundance of different kinds. These sprang up back in July when I was getting rain every few days at my house. My phone is there for a size comparison.

First Angel Trumpet of the Year

This is the first bloom on my yellow angel trumpet this year. It bloomed about a week ago. Unless things speed up, it does not look like my pink angel trumpet will bloom as it is still not 2 feet tall. This yellow one does not have many buds yet. My white one never blooms till right before frost. I wish I had a white one that bloomed earlier.