Lantana is tough, man.
Right now I’m hopeful for rain. Most everything in the garden is wilting and struggling until the next watering except this gem, lantana. There are several different types of lantana. This tri-colored one is called “Miss Huff” and is considered a reliable perennial in many zones. I love the bright, almost flourescent, colors.
This yellow lantana was just added to our garden this spring.
It’s so happy and growing like crazy already, even with the extreme heat we’ve been having lately, and very, very little rain.
These are my favorite kinds of plants, hardy enough for the harshness of summer around here, with little or no attention from us peeps. Thank goodness. Lantana is alright by me.
Do you have any tough plants you’ve had success with in your garden? Please share. I’m making a list and hunting them down.
Read MoreClam Chairs
Recently we returned from a great time on family vacation in Belize. This was one of my favorite views during the week, a relaxing poolside with a few of these cool chairs here and there.
They’re called “clam chairs,” I guess because they fold up like a clam. They may look a little awkward, but are really surprisingly comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that we bought a pair as a Father’s Day gift for Randy while there. They should prove to be good guitar playing chairs.
Again, they’re called “clam chairs,” the man we purchased them from kept calling them something else that sounded like “cayo” chairs. I never could figure out what he was saying, but if you ask anyone from Belize about “clam chairs” they’ll know what you’re talking about.
The chairs are made from beautiful Belizean hardwoods. A variety of woods were used for these chairs, but many we saw while in Belize, including the ones at our resort, were all mahogany.
What wonderful craftsmanship.
They’re interesting and beautiful – like a piece of artwork on the patio.
The clam chairs are made for outdoor use and should weather quite nicely.
Like I said, the chairs fold down flat for easy storage or travel. Good thing too, because we were able to have them wrapped and checked on board our flight back home. Shipping them would have cost almost as much as the chairs. So, if you ever plan a trip to Belize, make sure to pack lightly so you can check a chair as baggage on the way back.
Have you added anything, or are looking to add anything, to your outdoor living space this year? If so, what? Some new patio furniture? A fountain? A hammock? Maybe some pink flamingos?
Read MoreDaylilies
Daylilies are a happy bunch in the garden. When they start blooming around here mid-May, we know that summer is a comin’ round the bend. Our daylilies have recently faded for this year, but I know they’ll return, with more friends to spread their sunny cheer.
Soon after moving in to our new abode a couple of years ago, we were blessed with these vivacious, common Tawny Daylily transplants from family and friends. Daylilies are easy to grow. They’re hardy and adapt well to most soil types, are drought and heat tolerant and also thrive in full sun to light shade. There are over 60,000 varieties of daylilies. Some varieties even have edible parts.
One of my favorite things about daylilies is that they multiply like crazy, enabling division of plants. So you too can share the daylily love.
But since they multiply, make sure you’re ready for the commitment, because, once established, your daylilies will be around for a long, long time. Which is just fine with me.
Do you have any favorite flowers to share? Or do you grow any other varieties of daylilies? Please share – I enjoy reading and learning from you!
Read MoreCamera Strap Couture
For Mother’s Day my family surprised me with a new camera strap from Capturing Couture. I don’t usually buy fancy things like this. My original camera strap was functioning perfectly well. But boy, does this one make me feel happy about picking up my camera.
I feel a little indulgent and spoiled. That was the point of the gift givers I suppose. It’s pretty cool.
I have to mention that my 14 year old daughter frequents Pretty Shiny Sparkly for fashion tips, and Kristina tipped her off to Capturing Couture as a great source for these fashionable camera straps. Thanks Kristina! (Can I send you a list of some other items I’ve been drooling over?)
This one is in the Orchid Bliss pattern. Love the blue. And it certainly feels much better on my shoulder than the other strap because it’s lined with a velvet padding of some sort.
Not only is the velvety lining soft and cushy, but it helps keep it from slipping off my shoulder much more than the strap that came with my camera.
I’m already looking at some of the other patterns for a fashion alternative. They really have a nice selection.
For more information, and to pick one out for your favorite photog, (they have them for the guys too!), check them out at Capturing Couture.
Do you have any new fashion finds to share?
(Capturing Couture didn’t pay me or compensate me in any way for mentioning them in this post. I just feel so cool with their camera strap on my shoulder and thought you would too.)
Read MoreDo you have the thyme?
Having fresh herbs on hand for cooking is a treat. It’s so cool to walk out the door and return in a few minutes with a handful of an herb that lifts a dish to the next level. Thyme is a favorite in cooking for sure but we’ve also found it a great addition to our landscaping as well. We have a few different varieties growing right now – growing like a weed!
We have a common thyme growing in the formal herb garden space, but we started some Elfin thyme as a ground cover for in between our walkways and patio stones.
It’s probably my favorite, so cute, petite and elf like. The Elfin thyme has grown fairly well, surviving the cold of winter to brighten back up and stretch a little farther each year. It also stands up to foot traffic which makes it perfect for the patio and walkways.
We’ve also planted a standard creeping thyme from seed alongside the elfin thyme.
It’s going crazy. It’s like a Chia pet or something – so perky and happy. And the fragrance we enjoy from it while sitting on the patio is so nice and relaxing.
This patch popped up from some seed that apparently went awry when they were originally scattered. Look at em!
When they first came up, I almost pulled them because they weren’t where they were supposed to be. But I kinda like the natural disorder (if that’s even a state of being) of the patio area now.
Thyme is easy to grow and with a hundred varieties or so, there’s probably one that’ll tickle your fancy. Check it out.
Do you have a favorite herb to cook with? Or maybe there’s one you use in your landscaping? Can’t wait to hear about it – I’m always looking for new ways to use herbs.
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