Photo-a-Day Week 18

Welcome to Week 18 of our Photo a Day challenge.  I think the photos have been varied and I look forward to sharing a little more detail about each photo. 

Day 118- 

I am not sure how many of you are habitual about when laundry is done. I am habitual. Is it because of the nursery rhyme from my childhood? "This is the way we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes, this is the way we wash our clothes on a Monday morning..."  Other chores fall to be done whenever. Laundry seems to be cemented in my routine to be done on Monday.

Monday

Day 119-

Monday is also my night to play bridge with the ladies in my neighborhood. We aren't cutthroat about our games, it is mostly for fun. When I moved here there was a woman who liked to play bridge but only a couple others knew how to play. She made up instruction sheets and taught about a dozen of us how to play. After she moved, we "seasoned" players taught other newbies. Our bridge gathering has grown over the years, some nights we have four tables (with four players at each table). There are still times when we get a hand that we aren't sure how to bid. With so many other players, there is always someone at another table you can go to and ask for help. We call that "Phone a Friend". Like I said, it is fun.

Shuffle

Day 120-

We drove to Greenville this past week for a doctor's appointment. The route we take is mostly rural roads. I have looked at this house, or log cabin, always wanting a photo. This week, I was in luck; we were on the lookout for it on our way home, and I was able to take a photo.

A Fine Abode

Day 121-

Another weekly habit is going to the carwash to get the truck washed and vacuumed. The colors and the suds make for interesting images.

Working at the Carwash

Day 122-

While out on the deck, I noticed this tiny Assassin bug on the glass of the sliding door. He was so small it was difficult to get the cell camera to focus on it. 

Assassin baby

Day 123- 

I have various Peonies in my yard, some blooming earlier than others. I love their fragrance and the blossoms full of petals. It was quite fortuitous that I got this picture when I did. The next day, we had a hailstorm that knocked many of these beauties over. 

Peony Time

Day 124-

This is the above-mentioned hailstorm coming to us. There was a lot of thunder and lightening and the wind was quite gusty. I should have gone in sooner, but I was pruning some shrubs and needed to clean up the branches before I went in. Since I was outside I wasn't aware that this storm was carrying the potential of hail. 

As The Storm Comes In

This is my deck! We had hail falling for five minutes! Thankfully damage was minimal.

So this ends our weekly roundup on photos, with a couple extras tossed into the mix.

©Copyright 2025 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet, The Queen of Seaford.

Five Things Every Garden(er) Needs

Pass-along Peony from a neighbor in Virginia

A few weeks ago there was a gardening supplement in the local paper.  One article had a main topic as "Five things every garden needs."  When I heard the topic I thought I would ask some gardeners what THEY had as their five.  

I asked the question on Facebook's page "Soiled Again", a page that is billed as a 'Common ground for gardeners'.  I had a number of responses.  Many gave serious answers, others were rather funny.  One said , "Her and four burly guys".  Had a neighbor come see my garden today and seeing my bales of pinestraw sitting along the garden by the water, said that I needed to borrow her yard guy (her husband!).  I will get to spreading them (maybe tomorrow).  

Pretty Columbine from seeds from Lona 

Some answers were tool oriented; wheelbarrows, tomato cages, pruners, rain barrel, compost bin, fencing to keep critters out, shovels, and a soaker hose.  All great tools to have on hand.   I certainly use many of these tools, it would be hard to garden without them.

Kniphofia from a college roommate of my daughter's

Other answers were more design focused.  Items to be included in a garden to the design-minded gardeners were a focal point, a water feature, a place to sit, good pathways, an open gate, and an ATM! Love the humor.

Bloom on my culinary sage

Beneficials were also on the lists from many of the gardeners.  Worms for healthy soil, bees and other pollinators for all the blooms.  Birds and other critters were to be considered, native plants for food sources and host plants for insects.

Ajuga 'Black Scallop'

Passion, enthusiasm, patience, creativity, joy, flexibility are tools that the gardener should have.

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Kopper King', great foliage color
in addition to the soon to come blooms.

Finally plant material was mentioned.  Conifers for evergreen structure, Cyclamen hederifolium for cute blooms, seeds for sowing, 'Right plant- right place' is the mantra, and water are all included on the list.  

Clematis 'Rebecca' blooming like crazy this year!

One gardener said camera...funny, we ALL are using our cameras in the garden, I feel naked without my camera while in the garden.  The camera can be a tool to track plants from one year to the next or share some of your glorious blooms with others.  

Rosa 'Janet' full of buds already this year.

My five?  Color, fragrance, year round interest, native plants, and colorful foliage.  Those are my five TODAY, ask me tomorrow and I might have other items on the list.  We gardeners are a fickle lot.  Pass-along plants are always welcome.  How many of us have seen a new plant and lusted after it?    This is the case with this plant below.  I saw it in a garden in Virginia, marked the name in my mind and finally added it.

Gladiolus byzantinus, love that color!

Speaking of color, who can resist this glorious thistle?  It is pretty thorny, but it is in the front area by the street where we thought about a yucca or an agave....so in the meanwhile, the thistle can be here!  Native plants are welcome.

Look at this pretty bloom!

What would you include for your five?

©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

Update on The Family and A Few Others

Many of you know I have a family garden.  I searched for plants to have in my garden that have the same name as members of the family.  We are a family of four, Charlie, me (Janet), Rachel and Rebecca.  Soon to join the family is Alex, Rachel's fiance.  

I thought it was time for an update of
the family garden.  A few plants were bare root shipped last fall, so it is exciting to see them popping up.  Both  Paeonia 'Charlie's White' and Paeonia 'Rachel' came last fall and I crossed my fingers that they would be happy in the family garden hill.   My quest for finding 'Charlie's White' was a long one, finally found it in stock at a nursery just outside of Charlottesville, VA.  The closer you live to the place from which you order, the more likely your plant material will do well in your location.







Paeonia 'Rachel' was also purchased online, but the place was in Olympia WA.   'Rachel' is smaller than 'Charlie' right now.  Could be the variety or could be the different area of the country.  'Charlie' is a white bloom, 'Rachel' is red.

From last year, now in fullly leafed out -- Rosa 'Janet'    This afternoon Janet had some aphids on her, but since I took this picture we have had about 3/4 of an inch of rain.  Hoping that knocked off a good number of them.

 Also from last year, Clematis 'Rebecca' ...you know how they say vines sleep the first year, creep the second year, and leap the third year?  This is Rebecca's second year and she is really creeping well!  Last year she bloomed right after Rebecca left to go home after spring break.  Hope it opens for her this year.

Being the plant person that I am,  I couldn't pass up another 'Charlie'.  Found this at Park Seed last fall, really pretty lavender bloom.  Clematis 'Prince Charles' -- how perfect is that?

Additionally, I stumbled on another 'Janet' earlier this month.  OF COURSE I bought it!  It was through our locally grown farmer's market.  My buddy Julie from Garden Delights was the seller.  She is such a sweetie, she shared couple more!  Lathyrus odora 'Janet Scott', Sweet Pea.  I have 'Janet' growing next to Rebecca, so she can use the trellis as well.

So, what about Alex you ask?  Well, after searching long and hard I have found the perfect plant.  Hemerocallis 'Alexander the Great', a daylily!  There is a place up the road that sells it and they will be open soon.  I have the perfect place saved for Alexander the Great...right next to Rachel of course.

I found a Croc in the woods in the lot next to us last fall and ventured in once the colder weather came.  I also have an old pair of Crocs that I broke.  All three of these have been in the garage over the winter, waiting for me to do something with them.

Today I decided to harvest a few of the various sedum and other succulents I have in the garden.  We have an old tree stump along the edge of the garden in the backyard...perfect spot for the lone Croc.

I will have to get some other succulents for the pair of Crocs and figure out where to place them.  One step at a time!
Another 'person' in the garden I wanted to share is Admiral Semmes, one of my native azaleas.  Rhododendron 'Admiral Semmes' is blooming now and seems to be very happy with his planting location.  Bold color and fragrance as well, can't beat it!

Fragrance in the front yard with Admiral Semmes.  Fragrance in the backyard with Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy'.  If you don't have Fothergilla in your garden, you are missing out.  This honey scented bloom is outstanding in the spring and the fall color is out of this world.

As I was working in the backyard before the rain, I couldn't figure out what fragrance I was smelling, the Edgeworthia are about done, so it wasn't them.  This bloom is really a sweet one to have.  Buy it, buy it now!!
So, once Alexander the Great is added to the garden I will do another update.  Are YOU planning a family garden?



©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

When You Look Really Closely......

You will know why you don't have any parsley---

The gentle fragrance of the Peony can be enjoyed



You will see the hydrangea become blue



One can hope the birds will leave a few Elderberries for me to enjoy



The Dwarf Iris is starting to bloom as the Amsonia fades



The Red Cordyline that you thought was toast, isn't--



Weigela florida 'French Lace' is putting on a show



The fragrance on the breeze is coming from the evil honeysuckle



You wonder how the little white rose bush can be doing so well with that big hole right next to it.............who lives there???

Jane continues to bloom --she is a trooper.

Japanese Asters, Kalimeris pinnatifida are starting to bloom and will continue until first frost.

Pink Grootendorst Rosa rugosa has the sweetest little blooms

But most importantly, if you sit very still, maybe no one will see you.



words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.