Choice Morsels

Today's Garden Pic for this last day of May is White Day Lilies! Many of my hybrid lilies have names. These are called "Ladies Gloves." They're a creamy white with yellowish centers. Very profuse bloomers. In Other Garden News:  I was pleased to discover two of my birdhouses finally got used this year and I actually recently had to empty nest out of them! They've been hanging out there for at least 3 years as empty real estate till this spring! One was a Tufted Titmouse nest, which is built in a loose style with a lot of leaves mixed in. It wasn't very neat or tightly constructed.  I also know it was Titmouse's in that birdhouse, because I found their feathered fledgling youngin' on the ground right below it, on his first day out of the nest.  The other birdhouse had a Carolina Wren nest that was very delicately constructed first with a thick bed of moss topped with fine dog fur with a wee dent in the top to hold the eggs. It practi...

The Ocala National Park is the second largest nationally protected park in the Florida! Located East of Ocala, Florida, it's  It's 607 acres of protect Florida eco-enviroments ranging from springs to conifer forests to wetland prairies and is spread over 4 counties. Established in 1908, it's the oldest national forest East of the Mississippi and the Southern most national forest on the continental U.S. Camping: There are 14 developed campgrounds, each with it's own name. Amenties vary from campground to campground. Only Salt Lake Campground has full hook-up service for RV's. Several others have dump stations & shower facilities, while others offer a primitive camping experience. Cabins: Two cabins are available for rental for a small group or large family. One for 10 people; the other, 12. Recreation: The Park features natural springs for swimming and a lake for canoeing, boating & fishing. There's also picnic areas, extens...

Today's Mama Kat is, "Share a new recipe you'd like to try." I have whole Pinterest board devoted to recipes I'd like to try called "Food Ideas" and more lolling around in my "Likes." So, here's a selection of interesting recipes on my "try sometime" list! (The recipe links will take you to the recipe location on whatever blog it was originally pinned from.) No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars A new twist on No Bake Cookies!  Iron Skillet Steak & Potato Nachos I saved this one because I thought Hubby would like it! He tries anything I make, but he especially likes meat & potatoes! 5 Minute Carrot Raisin Salad I happen to love Carrot Raisin Salad. I was sad when Chick-Fil-A stopping carrying theirs, it was so good! I saved this recipe because the photo shows carrot matchsticks being used, which is something I always have on hand. ...

Today's Garden Pic of the Day is of a Torch Lily or Hot Poker! The photo was taken in mid-April this year!  You can see 4 O'clocks flower buds in the background. I have several Hot Pokers, but this is the only one that bloomed! H ere's a shot of recent plant purchases: Purple Veronica and Creeping Jenny. The Verconia got put in a sunny back flower bed, where it will have room to spread. I've never had it before, so it's something  new to try. The 5 Creeping Jenny plants I spaced along a barren sandy strip of soil that's opposite my front door that grass simply won't grow well in. (pine roots & shady)  It's a low growing ground cover that I hope will spread and eventually fill it in. It's so low, it can be mowed over. 

Summers on and it's time for picnics and family get-togethers galore, so here's some of my favorite desserts perfect for taking & sharing! All are made in a 10 x 13 pan and slice to serve 24! Vintage Glazed Lemon Cake! A moist lemon cake made with a yellow cake mix and lemon Jello! Banana Cream Poke Cake! A cool summery cake made with a yellow cake mix and instant pudding! Sopapilla Cheese Cake  Pie Mouthwatering cheese cake bars made with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls! Quick Italian Cream Cake! Coconut & pecan deliciousness made with white cake mix & instant pudding topped with a light cream cheese frosting!

This weeks Mama Kat blog prompt: "April Showers bring May Flowers. Show us your May Flowers!" A white ceramic kitty peeks out from behind Hosta that's between Red Saliva and  Pink Million Bells in my front garden container! **** A stone Hippo swims among wood chips beneath  a Curly Parsley in a container  on the back patio! (He's a gift a friend brought back for us from his visit in Africa.) **** In Florida, May brings Easter Lilies! My house was surrounded by dozens of these all blooming at once! **** May also brings Gardenias! This bush is heavy with blooms both new and old!  **** In Florida, May is blueberry season! These are container blueberries. **** My young tomato plants in my veggie garden! The one on the right is bred particularly for Southern heat & humidy; the other is a Roma. Both are determinate, meaning they only grow to a set height.  you look closely you can see Marigold leaves poking out ...

Today's Garden Pic is one I just shot this morning! It's small size day lily, pinkish-maroon in color with yellow-green throat! These blossoms are about 3 inches; a standard day lily blossom is around 5 to 6 inches! Mama Kat Thursday this week will be "Show us your May flowers," so there will be lots more lovely garden photos tomorrow!