Choice Morsels

We've had a Box Turtle visitor in the back yard today. This is the 2nd time we've seen him. He only seems to pop out when it's raining and there's puddles everywhere. He has a pretty light bronze colored shell. Very distinctive.  The first time we saw him, we put out some watermelon rinds for him and he devoured them! Today, he popped out during a thundershower to wander about. We'd saved some rinds in the frig, so I quickly pulled out a couple and dashed out into the pouring rain to put them down for him. He ate both. Clever fellow, he puts a foot on the rind so it won't move around while he's eating it! Today's Garden pic is the plant array along the front walk in front of the climbing roses: Hosta Lillies, Vince, 4 O'clocks and Marigolds. The Vinca planted itself and I love how nice it looks mingled among the Hosta leaves! It looks so natural! The 4 O'clocks and Marigolds I added, though both are from saved seed. I planted one H...

It started off this morning with a summer thunderstorm, but by lunch had cleared off, though it remained cloudy. Plus the rain cooled things off, so it has halfway pleasant to work outside. My planned outside project was to finish cleaning up leaf debris along the house foundation on east & south side and refresh the pea gravel. Most is done, except, though I ran out of pea gravel to finish  behind the strawberry bed. I have a frame house and keeping the foundation edge clear and visible helps protect it from termites, which can be a serious problem in Florida.  Also makes things easier for the termite guy, since our annual inspection is coming up. Today's Garden Pics: A nice recent shot of my rain garden on the north corner of the house including Ponytail Asparagus Fern, purple Ajuga and a Hosta. I love the upright habit of this Ponytail Fern. Despite it's name, it isn't a member of the fern family, but is, in fact, a Lily family member. It can also be called...