Summertime gardening

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2KuVAxWipUAPOglEqV_bW1YbC4w1QzFqYV40k5-_Jpy6FSM9NLwusCKLS71NifU-kKrppcUTNwy8IxxX_pX29DeIm3bCxBU4PbgMbunMsQYlOqnBAKFr8HwJTK436f7qqDizfKuum2-0/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2KuVAxWipUAPOglEqV_bW1YbC4w1QzFqYV40k5-_Jpy6FSM9NLwusCKLS71NifU-kKrppcUTNwy8IxxX_pX29DeIm3bCxBU4PbgMbunMsQYlOqnBAKFr8HwJTK436f7qqDizfKuum2-0/s640/4.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Flowers in the garden ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeNat_LqeOuSfi9Lf2XyXuqiUDDH1JbpkdKFfn0o_2ZLpa0iQLAL7qjuCfrnKonmhXpNeRyzHRNtgVvaJYinyuX_6JuWb5WT_7YwffkNfbvReTmBHePpPNUxYj6ndF8v_GA3bV4n64mFH/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeNat_LqeOuSfi9Lf2XyXuqiUDDH1JbpkdKFfn0o_2ZLpa0iQLAL7qjuCfrnKonmhXpNeRyzHRNtgVvaJYinyuX_6JuWb5WT_7YwffkNfbvReTmBHePpPNUxYj6ndF8v_GA3bV4n64mFH/s640/2.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... cucumbers in a pot ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdcQMshwU90bWoiEud1wl8z7V8jVh9f8sy48KJLMgHmpuzyVbngf99G_fWRdlvYpeIWppQxsZbX6U9uO38_cab5u07jjZAkIcuf8IukGpHLT6EaFeFAmcMuIWagAgGVrptUPgxL9Svy8b/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdcQMshwU90bWoiEud1wl8z7V8jVh9f8sy48KJLMgHmpuzyVbngf99G_fWRdlvYpeIWppQxsZbX6U9uO38_cab5u07jjZAkIcuf8IukGpHLT6EaFeFAmcMuIWagAgGVrptUPgxL9Svy8b/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWVa_T0qiZq9AqbxRTEMnI7oyulrR3Aras9o3sSXiHHfGvqe2KmjDSyuAnZOqjGzyqcId3Dzssaw2RtWsdKiPBvOEW8PrHEo6bVedG6nFO2XWVQ1encEiq_k_mLMruEuO5lkWfQTlucUX/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWVa_T0qiZq9AqbxRTEMnI7oyulrR3Aras9o3sSXiHHfGvqe2KmjDSyuAnZOqjGzyqcId3Dzssaw2RtWsdKiPBvOEW8PrHEo6bVedG6nFO2XWVQ1encEiq_k_mLMruEuO5lkWfQTlucUX/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfx5YYjIH9QKD7-Rgib1BGP8UxP3mZw4JwOdBDpNL0NS8fZt_QuYo16yJHT7_HiZS8CwA15xsnlBI76mg7VRw604T0cAZAcXotJZ96RhuKDwSIkCvsfW59Np54tV6y-fG9Ur1FcAY_eam/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfx5YYjIH9QKD7-Rgib1BGP8UxP3mZw4JwOdBDpNL0NS8fZt_QuYo16yJHT7_HiZS8CwA15xsnlBI76mg7VRw604T0cAZAcXotJZ96RhuKDwSIkCvsfW59Np54tV6y-fG9Ur1FcAY_eam/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... Yukon Gold potatoes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxFNE-44omFT4djX8W6mM69l1FR0PJSSO8lSfFd59eiAAchknhguUuKbVEmWtSKD6asqodgvY4WWo_oeWxeivVSXDUAeRQlLI0QXKK4Gd31fblacAWNCbhGtskZBHUImM4NDr_2Jd862V/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxFNE-44omFT4djX8W6mM69l1FR0PJSSO8lSfFd59eiAAchknhguUuKbVEmWtSKD6asqodgvY4WWo_oeWxeivVSXDUAeRQlLI0QXKK4Gd31fblacAWNCbhGtskZBHUImM4NDr_2Jd862V/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Herbs ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2soDlae3PffWI4NFKpMZ10kt3EEmMacAO38LtI4J-W_3aUEWDZ6oDStjTH05EcLZgD0duuCEOvA-yZd9JpPZKI0u9m04TdN8c2IDUBO_I-gJ_L78FGUNrzgJCo2CNPHX_mnDnmt_2PrM/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2soDlae3PffWI4NFKpMZ10kt3EEmMacAO38LtI4J-W_3aUEWDZ6oDStjTH05EcLZgD0duuCEOvA-yZd9JpPZKI0u9m04TdN8c2IDUBO_I-gJ_L78FGUNrzgJCo2CNPHX_mnDnmt_2PrM/s640/10.jpg" width="566" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Kbjb0OUqrGGuuV-NqxxRpV6s5W6_ZKSGKKPmV1ZRvBBwjn9cDKGQ283_yIlqUCqz6okDzski_ZLhiPmzSa1JYWdJOZHLTNioJUdOHZMh91OOIsFKO3Nk2lLwXgln-_k1lC7-Dawuuy5R/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Kbjb0OUqrGGuuV-NqxxRpV6s5W6_ZKSGKKPmV1ZRvBBwjn9cDKGQ283_yIlqUCqz6okDzski_ZLhiPmzSa1JYWdJOZHLTNioJUdOHZMh91OOIsFKO3Nk2lLwXgln-_k1lC7-Dawuuy5R/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Digging potatoes while SWAC Niece films for a French documentary.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBUEf5Ysfkflg0fq5VdlywP8ndaY-Zxxl0soD-sowKxZn5t1YAIT3kmBVUSSdAEcRJkwz0xvq3XzvuuB5T0MuQOpxrgVDZtD9k-R3Z1AaokRywwFSJ3uUu05YpG2JA3K7oOYcvdVAgRJr/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBUEf5Ysfkflg0fq5VdlywP8ndaY-Zxxl0soD-sowKxZn5t1YAIT3kmBVUSSdAEcRJkwz0xvq3XzvuuB5T0MuQOpxrgVDZtD9k-R3Z1AaokRywwFSJ3uUu05YpG2JA3K7oOYcvdVAgRJr/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxItYo9lCWHdxHZ14jxmSMkZBNANDaoA3oE0WiWvlyz7dqZd4LYz_0F5ED5_gy-b105PJkEti-0IiU9hC79xz7JdgaxzrjMPFLpgvL7cBUv4Gc0dkpSnxLZW3p5k0KU_Y-qCZ4a9bYbgK/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxItYo9lCWHdxHZ14jxmSMkZBNANDaoA3oE0WiWvlyz7dqZd4LYz_0F5ED5_gy-b105PJkEti-0IiU9hC79xz7JdgaxzrjMPFLpgvL7cBUv4Gc0dkpSnxLZW3p5k0KU_Y-qCZ4a9bYbgK/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFcW64v3Fv8m-TIGhNe0L_hB10PCKzKFtC0k-TD31euGXgHFT-X0tI2uIVb8X3N6i1ZC4U69pEOaBG35ih4NRF18k7SwTvM0jkKKNIYJ2GBjdEqcDkZA_hRuv3zJsGXnvz8TH3DGFMtQE/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFcW64v3Fv8m-TIGhNe0L_hB10PCKzKFtC0k-TD31euGXgHFT-X0tI2uIVb8X3N6i1ZC4U69pEOaBG35ih4NRF18k7SwTvM0jkKKNIYJ2GBjdEqcDkZA_hRuv3zJsGXnvz8TH3DGFMtQE/s400/18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 5, 2013

Augusta County flowers gardening Staunton summer in the Shenandoah Valley Summertime gardening

Flowers in the garden ...... cucumbers in a pot ...... Yukon Gold potatoes. Herbs ...Digging potatoes while SWAC Niece films for a French documentary.Photos by Lynn R. MitchellJuly 5, 2013…

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Saturday morning on the porch....

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXgdc6jMdfvJMX1Bsyt-fGHlfcP3LIpFsDc2oKuJXgZ5Q3zUZ99L2ke8GmEUq8LW93GToFNz18_lXNV5q51OiwI9ftawpv0RhKsmJD7ppqd0JS7I1pLk7CdVBQHF5SqrlY6bQFMTqHkFT/s800/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXgdc6jMdfvJMX1Bsyt-fGHlfcP3LIpFsDc2oKuJXgZ5Q3zUZ99L2ke8GmEUq8LW93GToFNz18_lXNV5q51OiwI9ftawpv0RhKsmJD7ppqd0JS7I1pLk7CdVBQHF5SqrlY6bQFMTqHkFT/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Wow, what a gorgeous morning in the Shenandoah Valley ... a sweater morning! The sky is blue, the sun is out, temps are in the 60s, low humidity, and there's a stiff breeze with a cool edge to it that requires a sweater to ward off the shady chill. I can't help but think how nice it must be up on the mountain for those camping this weekend in Shenandoah National Park. <br /><br />We've had lots of rain this spring and into summer so the grass is green and lush, unlike some years when it's dried up and crispy by the July 4th holiday. The shade trees in our little oasis are blowing in the breeze, their leaves rustling and making dancing shadows on the yard. <br /><br />I just heard a sound in the gutter overhead so watched to see who was intruding on my quiet, and then a bright red cardinal flew from the roof to a nearby tree. He must have found a bug for his breakfast. Rabbits are munching on the smorgasbord that is our front yard ... nibble, hop, nibble, hop hop.  The birds are loud as they are every morning with their various chirps and calls to one another. The mournful sound of a dove can be heard in the distance.<br /><br />The bright orange daylilies are blooming as are the cheerful yellow coreopsis moonlight, and bright red roses. My potted annuals got a late start this year since I was about three weeks behind in planting them but they are catching up -- petunias, zinnias, impatiens, geraniums, heather, and other colorful additions on the porches and in the back yard around the outdoor tables. Flowers can be time-intensive but the reward of those overflowing blossoms that add splashes of color as well as fragrance in the air is well worth the effort.<br /><br />The wind, the leaves, the birds ... those are the only sounds this morning. It's going to be a great day....<br /><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

Augusta County flowers Lynn R. Mitchell Shenandoah Valley Virginia Saturday morning on the porch....

Wow, what a gorgeous morning in the Shenandoah Valley ... a sweater morning! The sky is blue, the sun is out, temps are in the 60s, low humidity, and there's a stiff breeze with a cool edge to it that requires a sweater to ward off the shady chill. I…

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Spring gardening in the Valley

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QK_vFIxKgX7sp3UgK0Iho7vsSMoLse0N2mqnXz1hXKiNbyfApb4k3tAK7NBJ8F3HJ3mHCm6b6oH3KHTnFI3OXsaQvy_fIGSW1YUnqfoKkxkn8kk-gQFQ7pzAPHenU82yHzh3NAAPlcD2/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QK_vFIxKgX7sp3UgK0Iho7vsSMoLse0N2mqnXz1hXKiNbyfApb4k3tAK7NBJ8F3HJ3mHCm6b6oH3KHTnFI3OXsaQvy_fIGSW1YUnqfoKkxkn8kk-gQFQ7pzAPHenU82yHzh3NAAPlcD2/s640/1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Spring means hands in the dirt, blooming perennials and trees, and planting bountiful pots of annuals that will grow and bloom into the fall. This purple salvia perennial has been especially pretty this year.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqqWGOVFhsZ0TwG7u4o-9mRnKasOLULKA-OPs5C2CJQDr2FrBSax7R-3xEYuOSkAm69gZKhIpQt_REtOxkQ8qA4rwvBZv4wFj-6U36ub0Oak2tgsO1jcq-J0XLuv9UULYZMNqlxBUFzrw/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqqWGOVFhsZ0TwG7u4o-9mRnKasOLULKA-OPs5C2CJQDr2FrBSax7R-3xEYuOSkAm69gZKhIpQt_REtOxkQ8qA4rwvBZv4wFj-6U36ub0Oak2tgsO1jcq-J0XLuv9UULYZMNqlxBUFzrw/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The plants in this flower box will grow and fill in the empty spaces until it is overflowing and draping over the sides.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhEY6FmrxpUhqXkg_oAjCxDiyDbRQywHQbUF6DdStnhpW6iImZJZ3xvFoi6dfmC3a31xdjL_Y33LgUlIKW3KRSAgI_9AetJ22igWKAPUIWqcSNRjR_xKpE-7yLQeZKOE3yXyOl75AUKsa/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhEY6FmrxpUhqXkg_oAjCxDiyDbRQywHQbUF6DdStnhpW6iImZJZ3xvFoi6dfmC3a31xdjL_Y33LgUlIKW3KRSAgI_9AetJ22igWKAPUIWqcSNRjR_xKpE-7yLQeZKOE3yXyOl75AUKsa/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The rhododendron bloomed while we were on vacation so we're catching the last of the fading blossoms.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7p4hAC3O_MHNYFrbxcdIeFeK23vmyCoDQn5GYAlzSskBOyOGVmj9HQIvr-wWIolI18wOQPjQwendUcUTwVJkaq9j5ykpndCaUiXL0yONMv9TwhO4pPl_tRxNPOmXfhJfuecwljdgYVdg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7p4hAC3O_MHNYFrbxcdIeFeK23vmyCoDQn5GYAlzSskBOyOGVmj9HQIvr-wWIolI18wOQPjQwendUcUTwVJkaq9j5ykpndCaUiXL0yONMv9TwhO4pPl_tRxNPOmXfhJfuecwljdgYVdg/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Throughout the yard the sweet-smelling peonies are showing off in a way only peonies can.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mQA2dSbPZgUBiOPHD7ZTa_cwAHuiUkgxwe3VT7BTP_p1aXQLvYYMk8p2kRLHGtWzoeiOx4QRCuYk18MzqAQL_ZLvYW5Qs5UGF7Gch2EVxhFDRp2WF0cHK7gGw4myZj3-9AAC0x7HEe43/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mQA2dSbPZgUBiOPHD7ZTa_cwAHuiUkgxwe3VT7BTP_p1aXQLvYYMk8p2kRLHGtWzoeiOx4QRCuYk18MzqAQL_ZLvYW5Qs5UGF7Gch2EVxhFDRp2WF0cHK7gGw4myZj3-9AAC0x7HEe43/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A tender, colorful Columbine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2WOw8v2p17sLC9w3UEpPKXHiRG0PnTTIkI2YdTS85bTjwIujCiBX3_0CfQ8uXbfw1yB1wjieicjlfcW5H_FTCK2pRrifI0HucrrETV-OVk8vYjoPSQW4OpHJM_uHHY2pUEgEu3yo8Odx/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2WOw8v2p17sLC9w3UEpPKXHiRG0PnTTIkI2YdTS85bTjwIujCiBX3_0CfQ8uXbfw1yB1wjieicjlfcW5H_FTCK2pRrifI0HucrrETV-OVk8vYjoPSQW4OpHJM_uHHY2pUEgEu3yo8Odx/s640/5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tools of the trade ... new potting soil each year helps grow gorgeous flowers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKLE2HdRp7pSpZ9k0F48buHmfzdChXBi_MGpE7_Z15WkUflakpoAJFehzJPztpaH6Yc3theijhd3oxVHT_RioOR98bdhyGeMty_1-vHNWJNdV7322g14iRs1gZJAtqgRLyK5TpS0bbMQP/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKLE2HdRp7pSpZ9k0F48buHmfzdChXBi_MGpE7_Z15WkUflakpoAJFehzJPztpaH6Yc3theijhd3oxVHT_RioOR98bdhyGeMty_1-vHNWJNdV7322g14iRs1gZJAtqgRLyK5TpS0bbMQP/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> All these plants were transferred into terra cotta pots and window boxes, and will now spread their roots and flourish with watering and fertilizing through the growing season. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5tuwbrKTwJh1yI39-5VwpO0yF3VPqAuM7m6SRzGmNXlN0TgBzJ72CKdsEhQ50is1sPR0TTNSSI1xhUzvQJ-Y-2pAIFzN2vGsCF3WGf4fsvSW9jtU040POJJaZvGjhz2ZbufB4vduEVy4/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5tuwbrKTwJh1yI39-5VwpO0yF3VPqAuM7m6SRzGmNXlN0TgBzJ72CKdsEhQ50is1sPR0TTNSSI1xhUzvQJ-Y-2pAIFzN2vGsCF3WGf4fsvSW9jtU040POJJaZvGjhz2ZbufB4vduEVy4/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Besides perennials that are already growing in the yard, the new crop of annuals includes white impatiens and red geraniums for the back yard/porch and for the front yard/porch/deck there's pink and purple<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:0"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:0.:2"> dianthus, purp</span></span><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:3"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:3.:0"><span id=".reactRoot[55].:1:0:1:comment10200134788438063_46421413.:0.:1.:0.:1.:0.:0.:0:2.:0.:3.:0.:0">le alyssum, white alyssum, violet petunias, and yellow zinnias. As scraggly plants are marked down in garden centers, I'll add some new varieties and nourish them from ugly ducklings into beautiful swans.</span></span></span></span></span> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89pM82kdoA7gxA-h-XLy28IvLZMsIe94ItP24WkT8khUbEEAqDKgeice11H9HLZhNFZG7gh4qp3V2o66F6ng-z1AhzCONmF6Nk9MHSMJweS1dMMnv2f9Zs91SGF2oCCbF9SswK3v6D0cG/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89pM82kdoA7gxA-h-XLy28IvLZMsIe94ItP24WkT8khUbEEAqDKgeice11H9HLZhNFZG7gh4qp3V2o66F6ng-z1AhzCONmF6Nk9MHSMJweS1dMMnv2f9Zs91SGF2oCCbF9SswK3v6D0cG/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More tools of the trade: planting pots. I love the texture and Old World look of terra cotta.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-jpEErBOv7_9mhzhYybR8CiEZLaQCd0e1C3ltIz23_uKw3Yk3QIjPzPxSxxFbzZd6_NCZC5gj7TRyQL_4TFKPWJ6zQ0kTi9CFM4-pA1b_vhIqSglKrDXwIx6ssQ0p7gy5NBvgOVBfxVv/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-jpEErBOv7_9mhzhYybR8CiEZLaQCd0e1C3ltIz23_uKw3Yk3QIjPzPxSxxFbzZd6_NCZC5gj7TRyQL_4TFKPWJ6zQ0kTi9CFM4-pA1b_vhIqSglKrDXwIx6ssQ0p7gy5NBvgOVBfxVv/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">These two were ready to be placed on the porch. As the alyssum grows and spreads, it will fill in under the dianthus.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadly, we lost our bluebird babies Tuesday when a five-foot black snake crawled up the post and got into the house. The parents had been busy all morning flying back and forth feeding their little ones but the snake had wiped them out by the time SWAC Husband found him. He won't be back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're back into the mowing-gardening routine, and ready to begin outdoor entertaining. It's spring in the Shenandoah Valley....</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />May 28, 2013

annuals bluebirds flowers gardening perennials spring in the Shenandoah Valley Spring gardening in the Valley

 Spring means hands in the dirt, blooming perennials and trees, and planting bountiful pots of annuals that will grow and bloom into the fall. This purple salvia perennial has been especially pretty this year.The plants in this flower box will grow a…

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a few clips of spring

Today I had a baby who wouldn't nap and a toddler jumping out of her skin. So we took advantage of the lovely spring weather to play in the yard.<br /><br />This quickly turned into "let's pick flowers".<br /><br />One small hitch in this plan though - flowers haven't bloomed in our yard yet (with the exception of some hyacinth that have already been <strike>man</strike> toddler-handled). After a discussion about why picking flowers out of our neighbors yard isn't really a good plan the crowd was starting to turn on me. I offered kick ball, bike riding, a walk, but no takers. It was all about the flowers damn it.<br /><br />So with the natives getting restless and the screams getting louder, I improvised. I got out the clippers and cut off my ears. Just kidding. (I only considered that for a <strike>few minutes</strike> second)<br /><br />We snipped a few branches off our pear tree.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhyphenhyphenMx9hyphenhyphenHBMq4sdCEX2pCiXt-vXBauIOE9gsuYfOqkz99zqGuNuSOrhQqZmDfYUvkFwx6GghtZnTwIJpm-as1KJa8i8yIRuzBAgKnyPOBzaZ_EcNMaAepoD6LdOyW6LwBEjWNXXc3SYhg/s1600/P3145169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhyphenhyphenMx9hyphenhyphenHBMq4sdCEX2pCiXt-vXBauIOE9gsuYfOqkz99zqGuNuSOrhQqZmDfYUvkFwx6GghtZnTwIJpm-as1KJa8i8yIRuzBAgKnyPOBzaZ_EcNMaAepoD6LdOyW6LwBEjWNXXc3SYhg/s640/P3145169.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />And what does any 4-year-old (or 30-something) want to do with a bunch of cut flowers? Make a "boookay" of course. Amelia wanted to do her own arrangement, as all independent 4-year -olds do, so she got the milk glass and I stuck to the ginger jar. Finally a happy household.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEiFIfJh07ZBxrwDYUflg0vmjI-eBPrpuwShq1yX3T2k30Tuw__7E6XUiTJGRiWMMf8hWrFnIWubGpMgnLj3CZoPi88JQeOPP3iMH-1EryfpIOFpCJcgCJP5CxmMhsnU0pScqaNNrjZiG/s1600/P3145179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEiFIfJh07ZBxrwDYUflg0vmjI-eBPrpuwShq1yX3T2k30Tuw__7E6XUiTJGRiWMMf8hWrFnIWubGpMgnLj3CZoPi88JQeOPP3iMH-1EryfpIOFpCJcgCJP5CxmMhsnU0pScqaNNrjZiG/s640/P3145179.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />And a bit of spring to brighten up the house.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb8FwRZyQkKVBxLeGb1jmTOpxn6P9DjT7ocrW6_C31PoByLctHs7w4kK8eu8UZEPrjlofPgda_6oCbg9bAYZmHWLBiDn-kKLEprTRVsQ1mNfGVHGof0xJaXXx_NaH86VY70tcqBi4lYU-/s1600/P3145191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXb8FwRZyQkKVBxLeGb1jmTOpxn6P9DjT7ocrW6_C31PoByLctHs7w4kK8eu8UZEPrjlofPgda_6oCbg9bAYZmHWLBiDn-kKLEprTRVsQ1mNfGVHGof0xJaXXx_NaH86VY70tcqBi4lYU-/s640/P3145191.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amelia ditched me and took her "boookay" into her room</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXq22A0AXF_QHxGXbwVU9kiXrdkCDGrQxXGuA2R0JVIgFv_LzxhCYAsNBgQIsndvvBgHnfzhWUzmqLIETpN_l3pGO5Bx6BUH6ier13iOYmLcE1XXWdGXmfbUldT5SXHnyi7Rl02Fu39Ac/s1600/P3145199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXq22A0AXF_QHxGXbwVU9kiXrdkCDGrQxXGuA2R0JVIgFv_LzxhCYAsNBgQIsndvvBgHnfzhWUzmqLIETpN_l3pGO5Bx6BUH6ier13iOYmLcE1XXWdGXmfbUldT5SXHnyi7Rl02Fu39Ac/s640/P3145199.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Have you brought any flowers in from the yard yet? Is anyone else as excited for the peonies to come out as I am? I can smell them now!

flowers a few clips of spring

Today I had a baby who wouldn't nap and a toddler jumping out of her skin. So we took advantage of the lovely spring weather to play in the yard.This quickly turned into "let's pick flowers".One small hitch in this plan though - flowers haven't bloom…

Read more »