Pickles, anyone?

We have had an abundance of cucumbers this year, so we finally decided to make pickles!!  I used a recipe from one of my Facebook friends who does cooking videos on YouTube on everything from pickles to making your own tortilla chips.  It was a really easy recipe!  Can't wait to pop these jars open and give them a try.  Just opened them up.  BEST PICKLES EVER! We ate a whole jar!

Butterfly weed, balloon flower...

I thought I would share two of my favorite perennial plants.  They are some you don't see everyday and in every garden and I like that.  The balloon flower, also known as Chinese Bellflower comes in a dark purple variety as well.  The butterfly weed attracts butterflies and bees.  I think it's a new hybrid of some kind of milkweed because the leaves and pods that form look similar, but it doesn't create a mess like milkweed.  It is available in several colors.

Butterfly weed in white. 

Pink butterfly weed.

Balloon flower

Balloon flower ready to "pop".

Rustic garden fence...

We needed a fence for our vegetable garden to keep the dogs out (they think it's their playground, and love to dig in it).  We couldn't see spending a lot of time and money to do a fancy fence because we plan to possibly expand the garden next year.   We wanted something that was free and that wouldn't be wasted if we took it down later.  So, we looked through the wood we had left over from the big tree we cut down last fall.  K plans to use the big pieces for firewood, but there were lots of small but longish pieces that he hadn't cut or split yet.  They make the prefect rustic, simple, temporary garden fence.  If we decide to take it down next year we will just use it as firewood.  It took us about 2 hours (during the girls nap time) to get this done.  I love it, I just wish it could keep the bunnies out too.

Daylilies, oh how I love thee...

I have many different types of daylilies in my garden.  I got all of them from gardener friends or family. Most of these I only planted 2 summers ago and they have filled in quite abundantly.  I might even have to thin them out next summer.  Anyone want to do a lily/flower trade?

These ones I just transplanted this year, from some that I originally planted at my parents house probably 17 years ago.

Terrariums....

Terrariums have always intrigued me.  There is just something about a tiny garden world enclosed and protected in a glass container.  It is so wonderful to imagine being shrunk down to size and walking around in there with the plants...like being in a jungle.  I have been gathering my ideas for building my own small garden world and here are some I thought I would share.  When I have a chance I will share the one I decide to build.

The New Terrarium by Tovah Martin, this is on my wishlist.

A glass cloche from "Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds," (Timber Press, 2011) by Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant found via Associated Press.

Little Hanging Possum Terrarium by Botany Factory

Mason Jar Terrarium by DoodleBirdie on Etsy.  I love that this has sand and shells added in.

Terrarium made from a glass shade found via Jenna 

How about this adorable Adopt a Tree Necklace from GardenofSypria on Etsy.