This is a plant with the common name of "feather". It isn't the flower that interested me as much as the pretty pinkish leaves. I have 5 of them poked in a mound of dirt and after only 2 weeks they are showing quite a bit of new growth.

Yesterday, I spent a really long time watering the neighbors yard using a hose and sprinkler. It is very time consuming and inefficient. So, later this morning, I'm stretching out an extra soaker hose that I have. It is so much better doing it that way. My soaker is going right now, watering my whole front garden area. Ahhhhh! Why didn't I think of it sooner.
Lou and Terrie only live here part time, but, every time Terrie comes she will plant something new. So, I water while she is gone. The neighbor on the other side of them was out mowing the yard for them. We are so neighborly here.

If you are a sweet potato vine or an elephant ear, you grow right before your gardener's eyes.

The elephant ears are getting huge and new leaves unfold almost daily. They are a rewarding plant. They like to eat, so I do have to fertilize quite often. The rest of their care is really easy.

The sweet potato vine, maroon vine, grows with abandon. The front row is only 3 teeney, weeney little plants. It has smothered my nice bed of petunias. I think there are 18 of those in there somewhere. Sometimes, one pokes it head up and shows a little pink color. I also have bright green sweet potato vine. It sure makes a nice carefree ground cover, but, it pretty much takes over. I probably won't use it here next year.

The bright chartreuse sun coleus manages to keep its head up.

The canna lilies are really tall this year. Their first year, they only got about 2 feet tall. The gardenia is doing fine, also. It looks like it needs a shot of acid to green up the leaves a little.
I got several luscious gardenias this year.

I have suffered a real disappointment this year. I haven't seen any lizards at all since spring. I hope they didn't move.

I've been creative lately. My inspiration for this piece came from an article in "Altered Art" magazine by Lori Roberts. She had created an altered book using a cluster of butterflies. It really caught my eye and I wanted to try something similar.

The plaque is made with a piece of foam board covered in tissue paper. The butterflies, quote and floral elements are from my clip art collection. I also used a border stamp and buttons as embellishment. After many tries, I finally got an arrangement that pleased me. My only disappointment is that the protecting spray left a few glossy spots. I didn't even notice them until I took the photo. Darn.

Now, I have to decide whether to use a picture hanger or a picture easel. When I take care of that, I'm sending it to my mother. I think she'll like it.

I've also been working on my collage of Gullah/Geechee art. It needs a few finishing touches and then it will be ready to hang in the sun room.

I guess that says it all. The crepe myrtle tree is very showy this year. I just had to bring in a bouquet to enjoy.

We've had lots of rain lately and the dirt has been to wet to work. Well, this a.m. I was out there bright and early pulling a few weeds and digging in some top soil and compost to plant my new pink feather plants.

Best of all, I harvested another ripe, delicious fig.