Is It Really Autumn?

It's October, but my flower garden thinks it's Spring. 

The azaleas that Paden got me for Mother's Day have been in full bloom for about a month now and the roses are still going strong.  The orange one in the foreground was also a Mother's Day gift from Tom...just a stick and a root ball when I planted it.  The yellow one in the background was one that I bought at a street fair in the Spring.  I know absolutely nothing about roses, but have noticed these two have a different growth habit.  I'm very excited to see what they are like next year when they've have time to grow more.

I've forgotten what these are called, but I grew them from some of my seed-swap seeds.  They were three tiny plants that survived the chicken scratching.  I had a nice little patch of balloon flowers beside them that the hens completely destroyed (grrr!)

I also grew some Zinnia from seed.  They reseeded themselves and this one sprang up in the midst of the small Butterfly Bush.  It's such a pretty color, don't you think?  If the chickens will stay out of there, I should have quite a patch of Zinna next summer.

Birdhouse Update

Jordan has been working on the birdhouse when Tom doesn't have him knee deep in farm work.

He has chipped and sanded all the bark off of the big stump.

Then, oops, most of this side was rotted, so he took it out.  I don't think any bird would live in such an abode, but Jordan assures me that he has a plan.  It involves rocks from my front flower bed.  I am trusting in the artistic process.

He has been trying his hand at carving and having fun visiting woodworking shops (candy stores for carpenters) and buying toys...um, I mean, tools.

More to come...

Birdhouses in the Making

A few months ago Jordan cut down a dying Maple tree that was in our front yard.  He saved some piece of it make some birdhouses for me.  Not just any ol' birdhouse.  Just wait and see...

The tree was hollow in the middle, which makes it perfect for a birdhouse (or some other critter).

He saved a couple of pieces about this size.

And this huge one.

He's working on chipping all the bark off.  It's a lovely bird's eye maple underneath.

Hollowing out a knothole for a bird entrance.

A natural little opening at the bottom that looks like a little fairy door.

I'll keep you posted.  They're gonna be great!