Author Archives: Patsy Bell

Becky’s Flowers*

Posted on November 25, 2013 | Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers*

delivered Sunday November 24, 2013

Flowers by the yard

Quilt

You can almost smell these quilted roses.

Quilt by Ludmila Uspenskaya

Because your flowers aren’t just the every day florist’s bouquet, I’m sending you flowers that are quilted. These flowered quilts are on exhibit at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah KY.

quilt bouquet

A giant mixed flower bouquet looks like a painting on the wall, not a quilt.

Not all bouquets come in a vase. These are fiber art. Sometimes it takes just as long to quilt a bouquet as it does to grow one.

Becky, wrap yourself in a blanket of flowers and friendship. My you find some warmth and comfort in your fablic bouquet.

Quilted flowers

The detailed floral creations are a bloom with details.

Paducah transforms to Quilt City USA® each spring when 30,000 international and domestic quilters attend AQS QuiltWeek™ 

The National Quilt Museum is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Paducah; 215 Jefferson Street, Paducah, Kentucky 42001.

For more travel information about Paducah, visit the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

*Becky Funke is in a hospital that does not allow flowers in the rooms. So, not to be deterred, I’ll send them on Pinterest. You can stop by her CaringBridge site to leave well wishes and get updates. The girls, her 3 beautiful daughters, keep the site up to date.

Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers*

Posted in Becky's Flowers, Go Away

Tagged , ,

Becky’s Flowers

Posted on November 13, 2013 | Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers

Delivered November 13, 2013

Profusion Zinnias

These little flowers are non stop bloomers. They can either be started from seed or plants. By mid summer, you can’t tell the difference. The seeded  zinnias have caught up in size and vigor with the zinnias that were planted as starter plants.

IMG_3021

Profusion series of zinnia are an AAS winner (All American Selections) that tells you they will grow almost anywhere and everywhere, are very disease resistant and pest free.They are all in warm season colors some semi double and the newest ones are double.

They are heat-loving plants, require little attention are good to grow in borders and in containers. The flowers are brightly colored, never fade and are a butterfly magnet. The plants get 18-24” tall and produce masses of 2″ semi-double flowers.

Zinnias are a favorite cutting flower because they just keep on coming even if you cut a bouquet. Also, it’s easy to save seed and then, grow even more next year – because to can collect about a gazillion more seed than what comes in a seed packet.IMG_3019

Becky I’m sending these flowers in three half-pint jelly jars tied with raffia bows. Keep the water fresh and refilled. (Zinnias are heavy drinkers.) Strip the foliage high enough to keep the leaves out of the water.

They aren’t fragrant. But if you set the jars of zinnias out on the patio table, butterflies will appear. Magic!

*Becky Funke is in a hospital that does not allow flowers in the rooms. So, not to be deterred, I’ll send them on Pinterest. You can stop by her CaringBridge site to leave well wishes and get updates. The girls, her 3 beautiful daughters, keep the site up to date.

Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers

Posted in Becky's Flowers, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , , ,

The golden lawn

Posted on November 7, 2013 | Comments Off on The golden lawn
A lawn of gold.

A lawn of gold.

 

 

When I woke up to this view this morning, I was delighted. My front yard is golden and bright on this  grey drizzly day. The yellow leaves seemed even brighter this rainy day.

All the leaves were on the tree last week when we left home. The lush green lawn was  loving the cooler weather. We came home last night in the darkness of the time change. So, my first view of the front yard was this rainy morning.

I love leaves and when the weather gets drier, they will be moved to a huge pile of chopped leaves by the vegetable garden.   The raised beds in front of the house will eventually get a layer of  the chopped leaf mulch in a few weeks.

But first, there are a couple hundred Darwin tulips to be planted in front of the porch. These raised beds get the benefit of the morning sun and the blessing of afternoon shade. There are hundreds of daffodils already in these beds.

The daffodils thrive here and, because there are so many varieties, we will have weeks of early blooms. Some are fragrant and some have multiple flowers.

stone furniture

Stone furniture, center left, is already for a spring tea party.

So, in the next few weeks, there is still plenty to do. Planting tulips and raking leaves are the perfect way to close down the gardening season.

Oh, yes, in the vegetable garden, there is still more garlic to plant. Every bed will get leaves dug into the soil and a layer of chopped leaves to cover the whole bed. The spring soil will be ready for planting a few weeks earlier than usual thanks to the investment in time this fall.

In a couple of days, I’ll wake to a brilliant sunny day. There will be a pot os slow simmering stew or chili either on the stove or in the crock pot. We will spend the day(s) raking leaves and getting ready for winter. When we are weary from a good days work outdoors, it will be time to come inside. We will step inside to a warm, fragrant kitchen and a simmering pot of vegetable soup.

 

 

 

Next Spring will include theses daffodils.

Daffodils are already planted. They are great naturalizers and ready multiply.

Daffodils are already planted. They are great naturalizers and ready multiply.

 

 

 

Colorful Darwin tulips are big and sturdy.

Colorful Darwin tulips are big and sturdy. This is the 2013 display.  A few of these tulips may come back for a second year. We still need to plant the 200 bulbs for 2014.

Comments Off on The golden lawn

Posted in My Gardens, My Homeplace

Tagged ,

Tailgating on CBS

Posted on November 6, 2013 | Comments Off on Tailgating on CBS

Great weather, good food, Perfect for Tailgating in Fayetteville Arkansas

A few more photos from Fayetteville Arkansas:

Still BFFs

Still BFFs

Cheering for both teams is easy for these friends.

 

IMG_0010

 

IMG_5038 IMG_5059

Faithful fans never miss a tailgating opportunity.

Faithful fans never miss a tailgating opportunity.

 

See more photos here:

CBS tailgate fans

 

Comments Off on Tailgating on CBS

Posted in Go Away, Traveling

Tagged , , ,

Becky’s Flowers

Posted on November 4, 2013 | Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers

Delivered Monday, November 4, 2013

Daylilies, Hemerocallis

lily in rain

Just after a rain, these blooms weathered summer storms and stand tall. Photo Patsy Bell Hobson

I have hundreds maybe thousands of the bright orange flowers. There was a good stand of them on the property when we moved into this Cape Girardeau house. Too bad these flowers don’t get frequent traveler points. Many of them are well traveled. They have taken many trips in my wheelbarrow.

Daylilies (Hemorcalis) are a low maintenance, easy care flowers, needing little attention.

Daylilies (Hemer0callis) are a low maintenance, easy care flowers, needing little attention. Photo PBH

Because I have so many, they tend to get planted en masse. The daylilies are planted along a bank that is too steep to mow. I’ve never seen the triple blooms like these I’m sending you.

Daylilies planted on a hillside that is too steep to mow.

Daylilies planted on a hillside that is too steep to mow.

You often find daylilies naturalized in ditches of abandoned homes and farmland. Most often, we see the orange single blooms. There are lots of these “ditch” flowers in Kansas.

They may be named daylilies because they only last a day. Each plant has several blooms. I’m sending you bunches that will last for days, maybe weeks.

Becky, I’m sending you lots of bright orange daylilies.  No fragrance, but great big bold orange flowers. I’m sending this bouquet of old fashioned flowers in a large, Fiesta ware peacock (Aqua) disk pitcher. Enjoy!

 

Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers

Posted in Becky's Flowers, My Gardens

Tagged , , , ,

Becky’s Flowers

Posted on October 25, 2013 | Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers

Delivered Fri October 25, 2013

St John’s Wort  (hypericum perforatum)

 

St John’s Wort  (hypericum perforatum) is a herb, sometimes it is considered a wild flower right up until the minute it is considered an invasive weed. The common name, St John’s Wort was given because it is usually in bloom during the summer solstice (dedicated to St. John).

St. John’s wort, a plant that grows in the wild, has been used for centuries for health purposes. I grow this herb because the flowers are beautiful. I do not use it as a medicine.

This plant cast it’s spell the minute I first saw it. Waving it’s petals in the warm, gentle breezes of late spring, I knew we were meant for each other.

St John's Wort

When I brought it home from the nursery, in a two gallon pot, it was covered with blooms. That was the last time it bloomed for the next 5 or six years. Since then, I’ve moved it many times, trying to find it a happy home where it can bloom and thrive.

For some reason, it began to bloom again last year. And it has those big carefree gold blooms. It is lovely, butterflies and hummers like it too. Becky, this is the flower I’m sending to you today. St John’s Wort*.

Imagine St. John’s Wort, golden as sunshine, with shrubby medium green leaves. If I could deliver this flower myself, it would come mounded in an old antique china tea pot.

I love this bright bloom. It just makes me happy to be around it. I hope you like it too. It’s easy to dig up and divide, so just say the word and I’ll send you a division.

St. John’s Wort is a shrub-like perennial herb and it can be invasive. So, be careful what you ask for.

St John's Wort flower

Some folks use this herb medicinally. St. John’s wort may help some types of depression and, it can also limit or increase the effectiveness of many prescription medicines. I don’t use this herb as a drug because of the potential for interaction with prescription medication.

It’s just beautiful and cheery in the herb garden. I hope I always have it blooming somewhere. 

Enjoy!

*Becky Funke is in a hospital that does not allow flowers in the rooms. So, not to be deterred, I’ll send them on Pinterest. You can stop by her CaringBridge site to leave well wishes and get updates. The girls, her 3 beautiful daughters, keep the site up to date.

Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers

Posted in Becky's Flowers, Herbs in the garden, My Gardens

Tagged , , ,

Becky’s Flowers

Posted on October 22, 2013 | Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers
delivered October 22, 2013

Borage (Borago officinalus)

An herb, borage is a sun-loving annual that reseeds from one year to the next. Once it is established, borage may be returning to your garden every spring. Even though it is an annual, it freely reseeds.

IMG_4194

Find two or three colors on one plant. Photo by Patsy Bell Hobson

Each plant has dozens of blooms continuously all summer and until frost. In my garden, it tends to sprawl and reaches a foot or two in height. I love the periwinkle-blue blooms, a few of the flowers are pink, lavender and, rarely white.

borage bud

The dill and borage grow tall, perfect in the back of the herb garden border. Photo by Patsy Bell Hobson

Borage flowers are Becky’s flowers today, each plant is a bouquet of  colored blooms.

The blooms are edible. Sometimes flowers are served on tea sandwiches, the taste is a mild hint of cucumber flavor. They can garnish a salad or cold soup. Candied borage flowers will decorate cakes or cookies and maybe cup of  sorbet.

borage

Pale blue to a sky blue in color, the sweet 1″ flowers are beautiful served candied and decorating the tea tray.  Photo by Patsy Bell Hobson

In the garden, borage grows well in containers, bed and borders. It is a blooming delight, a little taller than many herbs, it is a good choice growing in the back of the herb bed.

It is believed to have originated in Syria, but borage has naturalized throughout most of Europe and the USA. Because it reseeds easily, you often find it near abandoned farm homes and junk heaps.

Bees love borage, it may increase the amount of honey produced in the nearby hives. Leaves can be added to green salads. Add sprigs to wine, cider or tea. Borage is a good companion plant for strawberries.

*Becky Funke is in a hospital that does not allow flowers in the rooms. So, not to be deterred, I’ll send them on Pinterest. You can stop by her CaringBridge site to leave well wishes and get updates. The girls, her 3 beautiful daughters, keep the site up to date. 

Enjoy! 

 

Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers

Posted in Becky's Flowers, Herb Everything, Herbs in the garden, Herbs in the kitchen, preserving the harvest

Tagged , , , ,

GBBD October 15, 2013

Posted on October 19, 2013 | Comments Off on GBBD October 15, 2013

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day October 2013

“We can have flowers nearly every month of the year.” ~ Elizabeth Lawrence.

Oct 15  was a rainy day here in Zone 6a, Southeast Missouri.  Not much blooming here. And this post is a bit late. It was raining here on Oct 15.

Lots of things are still growing. Since the rain, we will have to mow again. And then, it’s time leaf drop. I seems like we are a week or two behind.

4oclock pink

4 o’ Clocks read more about the fragrant annual: Becky’s flowers.

These flowers are blooming and producing lots of seed. Since they are heirlooms, the seeds will reproduce looking just like these.  This summer, they out grew their space, taking over the sidewalk. There was only room for folks to walk one at a time. (No walking side by side, hand in hand.) Your job is to stroll along the sidewalk and admire the fragrant flowers. I can never have too many four o’ clocks.

Morning glory

Grandpa Otts Morning Glories are dusted with pollen. The bees were here earlier spilling pollen on the petals. Photos PBH.

I planted three or four varieties of  Mourning Glories. Twice. But it was a long, cool, very wet spring. The only Glories to come up were the self seeded Grandpa Ott’s four o’clocks. As they bloom, they create a blooming privacy fence. On the North side of the patio, the street side, humming birds and bees will continue to delight up to the first frost.

The hibiscus are in continuous bloom.

The hibiscus are in continuous bloom.

Grape-O-Licious

 

Want to join GBBD?  Just post on your blog about what is blooming in your garden on the 15th of the month and leave a comment to tell us what you have waiting for us to see so we can pay you a virtual visit. Then put your name and the url to your post on the Mr. Linky widget on Carols page.

Comments Off on GBBD October 15, 2013

Posted in GBBD Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, Look for this plant

Tagged , ,

Becky’s Flowers (exclusive)

Posted on October 17, 2013 | Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers (exclusive)

delivered October 17, 2013

Wishbone Flowers, Torenia

Grape-O-Licious

Wishbone Flower (Torenia) has bloomed nonstop since it was planted. Photo: PBH

Becky, these flowers are just for you. I don’t think anyone else has them in the entire State of Kansas. These are flourishing on the patio in a raised bed. I wrote about these sweet flowers on my hub pages. Catalina® Grape-O-Licious Wishbone Flower (Torenia hybrid).

This annual came in a box full of trial plants from Proven Winners in the spring. Everything else went into containers and hanging baskets. But Grape-O-Licous requires part shade.

On the patio, it has full afternoon shade. Our rainy spring saved it from total neglect on my part. It blooms continuosly and has spread into a rich green plant nearly a foot across.  It makes a delightful ground cover, blooming non stop until first frost.catalina-grape-o-licious-torenia-mono

This Torenia hybrid is offered in three color choices: Gilded Grape, Midnight Blue and, Grape-O-Licious. The one pictured here is Catalina® Grape-O-Licious (white with deep purple throat).

 

This flower is special, and that is why it is Becky’s Flower today. Other folks can find it in the independent garden centers and big box stores in the spring of 2014. This one’s for you, dear Becky. 

 

Comments Off on Becky’s Flowers (exclusive)

Posted in Becky's Flowers, My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , , , ,

Becky’s flowers

Posted on October 13, 2013 | Comments Off on Becky’s flowers

 Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea)

delivered October 13, 2014*

pink holly hock2

These pink hollyhocks were beautiful and abundant this summer. They are a good cottage garden choice to add height to the garden. Color and height can vary, some of the newer varieties are just two feet tall.

I enthusiastically collected seed, perhaps too much seed. I have enough seed to plant the entire western bank if the Mississippi river for, say, the entire length of our county. Which means, I have plenty of seed to share, if you just want pink hollyhocks, just ask.

Hollyhocks are biennials, and sometimes they will even grow for three years. They will self seed, perhaps giving you a sense  of a  stand of perennial plants.

These days when I look for new flowers, they are often the old-fashioned flowers that would fit right into any Victorian or cottage garden. There is a reason why these heirloom flowers have survived for hundreds of years. They are hardy, easily adaptable, can survive our temperature extremes and require a minimum of water and care.

Pink holly hock seed

I grew them around the outside of the compost been for the same reason grandma grew them around the outhouse. Tall and sturdy, they helped cover a necessary structure that we don’t need to be looking at all the time.

Hollyhock flowers are a  favorite ball gown of garden fairies during moonlight dances. But not to worry, you’ll always find the blooms hung up back in the correct place the next day. (They love pink hollyhocks and mimosa flowers for more formal events)

*Becky Funke is in the hospital that does not allow flowers in the rooms. So, not to be deterred, I’ll send them on Pinterest. You can stop by her CaringBridge site to leave well wishes and get updates. The girls (her 3 beautiful daughters) keep the site up to date. 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments Off on Becky’s flowers

Posted in Becky's Flowers, My Gardens, Oh Grow Up!

Tagged , ,