Flowers For You

And now

I proudly present for your viewing pleasure, my favorite flower, Livingstone Daisies!!!

August Morning

This was the sunrise Tuesday morning around 5am. Then turning around towards Mt. Redoubt it looked like below.

The fireweed is getting closer to full bloom.

Becky's Garden

I am so lucky to have my friend Becky down here on the Kenai. She used to live in Valdez when I met her and we have been friends since. She is an awesome artist and her house and yard are amazing.



The perfect place for me to go unwind from the lodge.

Her pool shows how much rain we had in the last few days. It has been one wet August so far.

These are her white delphiniums she planted years ago for her daughters wedding.

And here is Becky with her humongus cauliflower.

Hello August

Where did July go? Sure went by fast. As it always does. Looking at August's schedule it looks like July here at the lodge. Which is good! We like busy. Not quite a full house tonight but we will by the end of the week.

The flowers are looking good and this poppy popped out today.

One of the guides "Catdaddy" is sporting a new Willie Boat this year. Even has his name on it. Jimmie Jack Fishing runs nothing but Willie Boats.

Goodbye July and King fishing. Dipnetting is also closed. Next up is Silvers!

Feigning Flowers

They look real from a distance, don't they? I needed dirt to plant the tomatoes in and since I live in farm country I didn't think I would have to buy dirt from Walmart. I looked under farming/gardening on Craigslist and found Organic Dirt for a dollar a 5 gallon bucket. And right up the road! I got the directions over the phone from a funny old man and couldn't wait to meet him.

He and his wife lived on five acres with a "For Sale/Owner Financed" sign at the end of their long drive way. The wife came out and showed us where the pile of dirt was. My friend walked down to the gate with her while I drove my van. My friend told me while we were filling the buckets that the place had sold. The buyers had told them to quit remodeling the place as they had their own plans for it. She had also told her that if we wanted some rhubarb to help ourself. When we went to cut some rhubarb the old man came out. I asked him about the fake flowers and he told me this story:

For years they spent a thousand dollars every year to flower up the place. His wifes father had lived with them until his late 90s. One year he was complaining to him about the money, the work, the weather to her dad and he said "Why don't you just buy fake flowers". So he did. Now it only costs him $200 a year for instant gratification and a lot less work and worry.

The dirt pile was 7-year old horse manure. The tomatoe plants are thriving in it! Now that I found a good close dirt supplier I'm thinking of expanding and also growing cucumbers & peppers in the hot house with the tomatoes.

Lawn Art

Garden chair made of willow.

Old trike displayed in a perennial garden at Bushes Greenhouse. I took lots of pictures there yesterday. Every where I looked was a photo op.

Flower Power

Went to Bushes Greenhouse today out the Butte in Palmer. It was absolutely stunning. Picked up cherry tomato plants, slicer tomatos, 2 kinds of basil and other herbs. Could have spent hundreds of dollars if I would have had it. Oh, I couldn't believe it. They had Livingstone Daisies so I got some of those. (My favorite flower) They call them Icy Plants here. I don't know the name of the flower pictured but it sure was pretty.

Kamchatka Globeflower

The hardy must-have perennial Trollius Riederianus also known as the common globeflower is blooming right now. I've seen this flower in Valdez and all over Alaska. I was pleasantly surprised to see it in my yard here in Palmer.

A Little Bit of Sunshine

Yakutat was a "no go" so I got my old room back in Palmer. I'm looking for work locally and looking forward to summer in the valley. These tulips popped open today after a little bit of sunshine.

Plant an Amaryllis

Sure brightens things up!

Upside Down Christmas Tree

FAKE!!

Alaska Cactus

An early Christmas cactus that is.

Pansies in November

Pansies in November in Anchorage!

Grown from seed this is a hardy plant!

Took this pic on my friends deck today.

Minnie Cold Frame

Anything to extend the growing season.

Survivor:Valdez

Artesian lillys in the kitchen window; smorgasbord below.

Christmas Cactus

Bloomed in Big Lake, Alaska on January 4th, 2010. Better late than never!

Snow Poppies

Dusty Millers

Still growing pretty good. Took this pic today.

As an added bonus try this on for a laugh: Download

Dusty Millers

You can never plant enough Dusty Millers in Alaska.