Coffee Break #100!

I have grown malva, Marilyn. It did great for a few years in my friendship garden, and then just disappeared. It did some self sowing, but eventually it was all gone. I haven't planted it recently because space is at a premium in that garden. It got about 70/30 sun/shade.

The variety I planted is an annual. but I know malva reseeds....I had malva zebrina for many years in my perennial bed before it petered out....I had never cut it though, & I was surprised when this new variety totally wilted in the vase......

Hmmmmm....that's interesting. I didn't know there was an annual malva.

Has anyone ever succeeded in rooting cuttings from osteospermum?

I never tried.....let me know if you succeed!

Many flowers still blooming here....the Montauk daisies are beautiful this fall......still have lots of cosmos & dahlias, roses, too!

My montauk are lovely as well.

We limbed up a HUGE yew. I had let it grow, wondering how big it would get. Well, a movie could have been written about the shrubbery that ate Pennsville. We started out just removing the lower branches to see how that looked...and we liked how it opened up space underneath the crown. Sooooo....we left it like that. The grandies had fun climbing on it this past weekend.

Amazing how fast some shrubs grow! I have to have my son do a lot of trimming here!

Looks like a great climb. Tree house as well.

had to happen - water snakes moved into my pond - this big one and a small one. pond is all closed down now and i think they moved off to hibernate.

some decent full moon shots on a cloudy night

We have so much trouble with the clouds & it is difficult to see great moons. Water snakes can keep undesirables out of the way.

picked up some plants on fall sale - three lo & behold blue butterfly bushes, a yankee doodle licac, and a twist n shout hydrangea all at 50% off

I hope they are good to plant.

Nice bargains! I need another butterfly bush......will get one in the spring.....I like the wine colored ones.....Eek on the snakes! I know they are helpful, but they scare me to death!

Hello, everyone! Had to drop in and check up on you guys! Bill, how does Cindy feel about the arrival of the snakes? Probably like I do! LOL.

Hello, Jan and Marilyn and Lucy! Hope you are all well! 😘

fine. How are the girls?

Have been missing you, Louise! Took some photos of my grandkids in their costumes yesterday.....HayHay is Cleopatra, Anni is a Dead Bride (lovely sentiment!), & Grant is a pirate.....Nicki was being an awful brat & had timeout in the crate!

RD, they are getting so grown up!!! WOW

Louise, dear, I am great! Nice to hear from you.

We had a trunk or treat at church last night. 18 cars lined up. Handed out over 300 hot dogs plus each car handed out stuff.

funny louise - she has not had chance to see them - gone into hibernation now.

Such cute grandkids, Marilyn. You must be so proud. And Nicki must be in full puppy exuberance. What a heartwarming tailgate event Jan has had!

How is your recovery going Louise?

The kids have grown since you last saw them in the pool, Jan! Wasn't that the hottest day ever? Nice event your church sponsors!

They certainly HAVE grown. Cuties!

The Trunk or treat was a lot of fun. Already thinking about my theme for next year.

Looking outside at ALL the leaves that came down in the rain and WIND!!! Perfect for leaf tag trails.

What's that, Jan?

Tulip poplar leaves all over the backyard. High winds brought them down. Still some left on the tree, though. A 2nd job of raking in that area.

Leaf tag? Rake trails through the leaves that intersect everyone so often. Spread them out. Then someone is it and tries to tag you, BUT, here's the catch. Everyone HAS to stay on the trails. Our boys could spend hours playing with neighborhood kids. They had some big trails.

However after all the wind we had, most of the leaves are not in our yard anymore. No worries, there are still many in the trees that need to fall. We did have a large section of a maple tree come down. Very thankful it didn't hit the house. Could have done some real damage. Thankful the wind blew it away from the house.

We are a little old for leaf tag. Have errands to do tomorrow, but Wed is supposed to be a good gardening day.

Leaf tag sounds like fun! You're lucky, Jan, that he maple went away from the house.....that's what happened here when the line storm came through.....it may go toward the house the next time.....I really hate to see it go, the birds love that tree.....

Each wind storm I worry about ur beech tree & tulip tree. the tulip poplars are apt to have breaking branches. We lost the top of ours some years ago, but one has grown back. Love that tree & so do the orioles in the summer.

Never too old for leaf tag, but I don't last very long.

Exercised my right to vote today!! Thankful for the opportunity.

Wait to you get to my age & then you will be ready to watch only.

Hehehe.

Tulip trees are brittle.....pretty, though!

This message was edited Nov 5, 2014 8:02 AM

I love ours.

There are some nice ones down behind the dam.......

lovely. do they flower? If so do you get orioles?

The ones behind the dam do flower.....I've never seen orioles on them.....I get orioles on my wild cherry tree....

the one we planted ( too close to the house) 40 years ago flowers. One which since planted itself near the back fence of the former pasture does not. Probably too shady there.

Hi Lucy, Marilyn, Jan, Bill & Rosemary!

The girls are great, Lucy.....never better...!

Marilyn- those Grands of yours are really growing up! I suspect Anni was being Miss Havesham from Dickens' Great Expectations? I used to teach that book. It was a great way to introduce kids to Dickens, just as Romeo & Juliet was a winner in introducing them to Shakespeare. Really cute costumes and kids!

Jan, what a creative event for your Church!

Bill, I will be sure to avoid mention of the water visitors with Cindy.

Rosemary, I so wish I could say my hand is all well, but the nerve stuff is still a pill. They are waiting for the swelling in the fingers to recede before going further, in hopes that the nerve pain will go away once the inflammation is gone (possibly up to 9-12 months from injury. I am considering a second opinion in CT. Since carpal tunnel is also triggered by the thyroid imbalance I had, they are looking at that too. Trying not to use the hand much to keep from inflaming further, but it is not easy. How are you doing now?

Anyone know what this JM is? Still in full color. Bill????

Stay well all and I will check back in again soon! 😘

bloodgood most likely

Louise, thoughts and prayers for your quickest possible recovery. Although still in chiropractic care from getting rear-ended Oct 3, I am feeling pretty hale and hardy. Should be all better by spring, and maybe some facial PT will restore a full smile (I hope I hope).