Approaching the End of 2013

Its hard to believe that there are only 3 months left in the year. I was in Walmart on Saturday and 4 isles had been cleared for you guess what, Christmas merchandise. In fact one isle was already adorned. I am posting more pictures of the Philadelphia flower Show from 2013 that I didn't posted and then go back to 2012 where the theme was Paris. I may have pictures from 2011 show where the theme was Hawaii. I hope I don't have the themes for the years mixed up. I think 2012 was Hawaii and 2011 was Paris. Enjoy!

I wonder how many years it took to get the staghorn fern to that size?

This shoe was done with cantaloupe, banana peals and some other items. This was done by my sister's neighbor Linda Mingo.  She exhibits at the show each years and usually gets a ribbon.

I like to see what is done with window boxed each year.

Clematis

The picture did not do it justice.

Beautiful clivia. I regret not purchasing one at the show, maybe next year.

I have not yet mastered terrariums. I will continue to try.

So many interesting plants.

I love oranges blooms. I already have my orange tulips for Spring.

Look at the dress in the background.

Thoughts For Today

No gardening going on today. After work I took a nap to rejuvenate and now I have a stack of garden magazines on my bed and of course my laptop. I know I won't get to most of the magazines because I go to bed at a set time but this does not stop me from piling them up. I may not glance through any tonight.There never seems to be enough hours in the day. I look forward to one day being able to retire and having time to just "be."  To be able to sleep late in the morning if I want, make and sit at the table and enjoy breakfast, and just listen to the birds sing or sit on my porch for as long as I want and drink coffee. It is a luxury to be able to just "do nothing" for a period of time if you don't want to.

 The change of seasons usually means different things in my house. I like to change the curtains at all the windows. For Winter I usually put up heavier drapes in darker Fall colors. Insulation is applied around doors and windows. The man who has been delivering my wood for the fire will be delivering it soon. If I don't contact him he usually calls me to arrange delivery. I also focus on getting the house ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. My mother or sister will have Thanksgiving dinner at their home and I usually do Christmas. For me this means the house being as tidy as possible with decreased clutter. I like to clean wood work, move furniture to give the floor underneath a good cleaning and wax. I also prepare for not being able to drive to the market due to being snowed in by snow. I like to stock up on bottled water, shelf milk, toilet paper, and basic staples like rice, oatmeal, paper towels, cat food, and what ever can help me avoid the supermarket in a snow storm. Ever had to grocery shop when a snow storm is expected? I also like to go to the laundry to wash all my heavy blankets and comforters for cozy sleeping to come.

I believe the Philadelphia African Violet Society has a show this weekend. I would like to go but if I do this would be the second weekend where I spend my Saturday at a gardening event and this usually ends up being all day. I want to go but I also want to plant my second window box. The plants are sitting on my porch. The drapes are waiting to be hung. I have to add soil to by sidewalk planter. It looks tampered with and the pansy I planted last week is missing. How can a large planter be knocked over? It looks to have been tipped over. The joy and hazards of living in the city. I won't miss this if I move to a different area where neighbors enjoy gardening and you can plant and not worry that it will be harmed or stolen. This is what I enjoyed about Georgia. No worry about people on your property and a mutual respect for the neighborhood and neighbors.
I never understood why people move to the suburbs or rural area. Living in the city has taught me many reasons why. I am not naive in thinking that only urban areas have problems but I sure want a chance to see. 

It's past time for bed so I will turn in. Do you live in the city/urban area? What are your experiences? What do you do to prepare for Fall and Winter?

Fall Planting out Front & The Window Boxes

Its official, Fall has arrived. In Philly it's cool and breezy today.
This is a look at the window boxes and planter on the stoop before I pull the plants and put in some fall plantings. Who kills lirope? Both have died in 1 window box, but it did give me a baby which I kept. The vinca did not do well. The sweet potato vine, not abundant as in the other planters did grown some. I might try again next year with it in the window boxes along with the cascading geraniums I hope to grow this Winter. I planted one box today. Maybe there will be time for the second box next weekend. I could use a few more pansies and some pumpkins. Lets start with the planter on the steps.

Is it a coleus or a shrub? Big coleus!

Alabama Sunset. If it survives until Spring it will be for the third year.

Beautiful colors!

Not ready to part with the last of the sweet potato vine. The frost will help me part with it.

The pots on the step will go next, maybe for bulbs next week.

Absolutely dead.

I had 2. They both dies. The roots were huge. I didn't save it to see if it would come back in the Spring.

I don't want to throw them out but I can't bring everything indoors.

The lirope did give me 1 baby.

I could use a few more pansies.

The plants did trail some. Here's hoping for even better results in 2014.

Cuttings on porch in water.

Saturday's cut flowers.

Pennsylvania Horticultural's Society Fall Harvest Festival Part II

My love for all things country/southern, nature, are what drew me to the festival; Just the thought of a harvest festival in the Fall makes me feel comforted. To be surrounded by the fruits of the harvest pumpkins, gourds, fresh picked produce from fruit trees, crafts, and I could go on and on. Some people enjoy other outlets, this is the type of event that I enjoy. I often think of what it might have been like to grow up on a farm. My father did. He was born in Catherine Alabama. The family grew sugar cane and made syrup in the mill and raised animals and other things that sustained the family. 

My grandparents had 9 children. My father was the youngest and last child to leave the farm and come North. It didn't seem like a glorified life to have him tell the story. I remember visiting as a child. I don't remember a lot but I do remember that it was rural with dirt roads and acres of pine trees. This was family land and still is. When we walked through the forest as children you could see and hear wild turkeys. I haven't been to visit in years but my brother and sister sometimes go for a family event such as a birthday, homecoming, or a family reunion. My brother and cousins often go in the Fall to hunt deer and at Christmas or Thanksgiving. I remember my aunts house that still stands and where family gather on holidays. It is a wood house that sits back of the road on acres of land surround by fencing. When she was living she had raised goats. I remember she had a beautiful Jersey cow and how long his eye lashes were. The thinks remembered.

Nice idea, was expensive!

Love chickens, roosters.

Meadowbrook Farm is in Abington Pennsylvania. It's the store of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. I haven't been there yet but plan to go. In my opinion their goods are priced for more than I would like to pay.

My sister.

Orchids

Leeks, cucumbers, and squash.

If I purchased one it would be one of the pigs. Look at the one with it's face on the ground.

My sister liked this yellow perennial. I'm not sure what it is. It looks like goldenrod. I will hear her talk about it all year because she didn't buy it because I talked about it. I think if it's goldenrod that it's a native plant, but I think of it as a weed and I think of pollen and allergies. I did read that goldenrod does produce pollen but it's sticky and does not blow off and cause allergy symptoms like ragweed. I will stand corrected if more information is provided about the plant. It's pretty though.

So will I attend the festival in 2014, probably. I said I wouldn't but I think I will if I'm living. My biggest critique is the prices. I know everyone has to make a living but I like nice things at bargain prices. I know that this event helps fund the society and many of it's events. The event is free so you don't have to spend a cent if you don't want to. Try bringing a beverage. The bottled water, small tea, and lemonade was $3.00, and you will need it if the sun is beaming. One of the food vendors was from Roxborough. This is a section of Philly. Also remember to bring a hat. Till next year. Thanks for visiting and hope to see you there.

Getting Ready for Fall Planting

I didn't buy any plants at the Fall Garden Festival. I found them over priced although beautiful specimens. Next stop after the festival, the Reading Terminal Market for lunch. My sister treated me to a belated birthday lunch. It was great because as I stated, "I plan to celebrate my birthday all year." No Saturday is complete without going to the garden center. I was ready to buy some mums, ornamental kale, and gourds. Now to pick a day to plant them. I still haven't seen  the varieties of pansies I would like.

Ornamental kale. One for each window box to go with the mums and pansies.

They're orange. I love orange.

And of course my favorites, pansies.

Pie pumpkins and gourds. They were cheap. The pumpkins were 2 for $1.25 and the gourds were $2.00 for five.

Let the planting begin!