Garden visitors

Almost every day I see new visitors to my garden. This shows that an ecosystem is being developed within the framework of the garden, predators and prey and sometimes, just a passerby.

Another visitor that I missed getting a photo of was the larra wasp. Now I think I know why some of my plants don't make it. Where there are larra wasps, there are mole crickets. Predator/prey.

Some of my regulars are frogs, lizards and racer snakes . Ran into a very big frog the other day and missed getting his photo too. Beautiful creature with his green patterned markings. A week ago I almost stepped on a very large rat snake. Beautiful fella or gal also got away, so I missed another kodak moment. I need to have a camera strapped around my neck.

The butterflies are back in abundance, several different varieties, including the zebra swallowtail and the zebra longwing. Oh, if only I could attract the hummingbirds.......but I will plant their garden and hopefully they will come!

Raining Buckets

Well, I prayed for rain.......yeah and rain it did. It has been raining every day and not just a drizzle. When it comes it pours off the roof in torrents sheeting towards the walls of the house. The ponds very quickly fill to overflowing and then I am running around in the rain like a wild thing bailing water so my fishes don't jump ship on me.

The plants are ecstatic but not more so than the devil grass that has grown almost a foot in the past four days. Yeeech.....I hate that grass.

I am digging out the strip of grass that runs alongside the driveway and putting in edgers and plants. It is two and a half by twenty eight feet. When it is complete I know it will look really nice. Right now, there are a few dahlias and a couple of salvias in place. I intend to add some alyssum to provide some ground cover.

Since I am mixing the beds, I will also put in some sweet potato plants in that bed for added ground cover, at the same time growing food for the future.

Once upon a Lawn

I have always wanted my own home. Not a rented or shared apartment, not a rented or shared house, my own home, my castle. I had visions of what it would be....a family home, where my children and my grandchildren could create memories that they would long remember, where family could visit and be comfortable, without someone dictating who could visit and how long they could stay. It was a vision.

My family grew, went to schools: elementary, secondary, college, grad school.....still being a tenant, always at the dictation of a landlord. Then 2002 rolled around and I was able to purchase .49 of an acre in Florida to build my own home. It was during the building boom so it cost a lot more than it should have. Also, the builders way of preparing for building was totally destructive to wildlife. My request for a stand of oaks that I wanted to remain was ignored and every blade of grass, every tree was torn out.

The house was built and then came the lawn....huge lawn. Mixed in that sod was a type of grass known as devil grass. Broke every mower and weedwhacker of my neighbors who tried to help me keep it under control. Huge fine by the code enforcement for tall weeds and grass. The grass is straight from the devil.

My solution is: dig the darned lawn out completely and plant a bio-intensive landscape that will provide food for the mouth and mind for both myself and the wildlife that I love.

This is a recording of my journey to freedom from the slavery of the lawnmower, and my journey towards sustainability.

My Journey Begins

My journey as I turn a sea of sand into an oasis (fingers crossed). It is taking some getting used to. A plant that could be perky and green in the morning...could be fried and dried in the evening. It takes a lot of courage and patience to tackle this sandy soil which is adequately infested with weeds.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! : D
On this blog I will share pictures of my garden as it progresses. Gardening is hard work but the rewards can be extraordinarily beautiful. Most people think gardens have to be picture perfect, but your garden can be anything you want it to be. Your garden should be an extension of your personality. It could be orderly and pristine, ecclectic, cottage or edible landscaping. My garden is an evolving process. My garden is about me and my needs. It is a therapeutic venture that helps to keep my hypertension in check.My garden includes flowers, vegetables, fruits, wildlife and butterfly gardening and water features. As I said before, it is a work in progress constantly evolving. In a few years, I should be close to my vision. I will share my journey with you. I will offer advice to anyone who thinks I can be helpful to them if they are having problems with their gardens or growing plants. I do not claim to be an expert in anyway. If you are a fellow gardener, novice or seasoned, I hope you will accompany me on my journey and follow this blog. I'll keep it updated with photos and information on my progress on a weekly basis