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Thursday, February 9, 2023

700 pounds of acorns stuffed inside the walls of a home

700 pounds of acorns stuffed inside the walls of a home

Who was the mastermind behind the massive hoard of nuts?

A pair of acorn woodpeckers who likely collected acorns for the past two to five years, Castro told CNN.

He shared his unusual experience on Facebook, saying the acorns filled up eight garbage bags and weighed in at about 700 pounds. Castro's post included photos of the massive acorn pile.

"Bird was a bit of a hoarder," Castro said in his post.



Reference: www.thv11.com




Saturday, August 22, 2020

First lady Melania Trump unveils White House Rose Garden restorations ahead of RNC

From Twitter:



Reference: https://twitter.com/FLOTUS


Saturday, August 16, 2014

Zinnia - an ever changing flower of beauty

Zinnias are flowers that look beautiful for a long time. They are able to do so because they are in a constant state of change. First you have a beautiful bud that can hint at the color of the flower before it blooms. In the next stage the flower blooms slowly into a beautiful, vibrant display. As the flower matures, the petals begin to fade and fall off, but then you have what you see here:





Sunday, September 22, 2013

Our new site

Click here for our new site please







Thursday, September 15, 2011

Meyer Lemon: September 15, 2011

Meyer Lemon. Can you find the lemon on this tree? Tip: Looks like a small lime. the Meyer Lemon was purchased from 'Across the Pond' here in North Alabama. In order to continue to produce lemons, you must fertilize regularly. Use a fertilizer with iron.



Bench Area on Sept 15, 2011




Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011

Planter next to pond




Buttercups




Bullfrog Pictures

Bullfrog floating on a Lily pad


Bullfrog getting a tan


Bullfrog Picture



Monday, January 3, 2011

Meyer Lemon From Seed

Upon eating our homegrown Meyer Lemons from the trees we purchased from Bennett Nurseries, we saved the seeds and intend on planting them. Being raised around a family of gardeners I have been taught that the best way to germinate a dried seed is to cut, file, or sand a spot on the exterior of the seed in an effort to assist permeation of water through the seed. Germination may take up to a few weeks. I will start the seed in small starter pots with potting soil and place it about 12" below an under-cabinet florescent light (indoors). Note: I will note the progress. I know I must be patient, as I understand, as with most fruit trees, it will be up to five or six years before they will bear fruit. I have read that many people plant the seed immediately after being harvested from the fruit to keep the seed moist. Consider this an experiment with dry seed.

Meyer Lemon Seeds


Nick Lemon Seed
Add Lemon Seed to small planter



Update: Sad to report the seed never produced. However, it is now May 19, 2011, and the Meyer Lemon is in full bloom. My fingers are crossed in hopes we will again have some of these wonderful lemons again next winter.


Thursday, December 23, 2010

See our slide show at yardshare.com


Take a look at our slide show at yardshare.com
In a small Huntsville, Alabama subdivision, which is just under .50 acres. The ornamental garden area contains a water feature of approximately 1800 [CLICK HERE PLEASE]

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Meyer Lemon



Here is a picture (click image to enlarge) of the lemons that fell from the Meyer Lemon tree.

At the end of the summer, the Meyer Lemon tree was brought inside and placed in front of a window in the living room. The tree re-bloomed in the house, but did not set fruit. However, the three lemons that hung from the tree dropped to the floor this month (December). I used one lemon (juice) in some homemade guacamole dip and another lemon was used in some shrimp scampi I prepared.

I harvested the seeds from one lemon and plan on starting a Meyer Lemon tree soon. Most citrus trees are self-pollinating, even indoors.

Buy a Meyer Lemon Tree: Meyer Lemon Tree One Gallon by Monrovia Growers

More Reading on the Meyer Lemon:

The Meyer Lemon: More Than A Pretty Face by Julie O'Hara





Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Crinoids - The ancient sea lilies -350 Billion Years Old

While gathering more rock for my waterfall in the watergarden, I decided to collect some Crinoids to eventually make some ancient 'Indian Bead' necklaces. I picked these up on the side of Highway 72 on the side of the road where 72 and 565 connect in Northeast Alabama. What are Crinoids? Wikipedia describes them as
  • "Crinoids, also known as sea lilies or feather-stars, are marine animals that make up the class Crinoidea of the echinoderms (phylum Echinodermata). Crinoidea comes from the Greek word krinon, "a lily", and eidos, "form". They live both in shallow water and in depths as great as 6,000 meters.

    Crinoids are characterized by a mouth on the top surface that is surrounded by feeding arms. They have a U-shaped gut, and their anus is located next to the mouth. Although the basic echinoderm pattern of fivefold symmetry can be recognized, most crinoids have many more than five arms. Crinoids usually have a stem used to attach themselves to a substrate, but many live attached only as juveniles and become free-swimming as adults.

    There are only a few hundred known modern forms, but crinoids were much more numerous both in species and numbers in the past. Some thick limestone beds dating to the mid- to late-Paleozoic are almost entirely made up of disarticulated crinoid fragments."


  • Crinoid stems:



    Tuesday, August 17, 2010

    Dunavant Cotton Plantation

    The Dunavant Cotton Plantation is producing cotton now. The two plants are not enough to do anything with except use in a decorative vase or shadowbox.


    Meyer Lemon update

    The Meyer Lemon Tree is doing well. The lemons are slowly changing fron green to yellow ...can't wait to make some homemade lemonade with these. I can remember my Grandmother Dunavant bringing me fresh lemonade while I bush-hogged the "North Forty". Man that was good. I miss you Grandma Dunavant!

    Wren

    Here is the mother wren sitting amongst the sage on her eggs.


    Monday, August 16, 2010

    Black Swallowtail on Zinia


    The butterflies are in a great abundance this year in my ornamental watergarden area this year. Below is a Black Swallowtail. The Black Swallowtails, in my yard at least, are drawn to the Zinia flowers more so than the roses, butterfly bush, and marigolds.


    Wednesday, August 11, 2010

    Water Lotus and Lotus Seed Pod


    Here is an update on the Water Lotus growing in my ornamental water-garden in Huntsville Alabama. This is an August 2010 picture showing the Lotus seed pods as they begin to dry. The Lotus was purchased at Across the Pond this year. The seed pods make a beautiful dried arrangement when placed in a clear vase.

    Thursday, July 8, 2010

    Topsy Turvy Tomato (tomatoe)



    Pineapple Plant

    Below is a pineapple plant that I planted. I cut the top off a grocery store bought pineapple and planted it it the soil in the backyard. It seems to be growing well. I will dig it up and pot it for winter growing before the first frost to see how that works out. Anyone else have success doing this?


    Old Times Here are Not Forgotten ...we're living in high cotton

    Cotton Plant:



    Friday, July 2, 2010

    N. Lutea, American Lotus



    Here you will find 'N. Lutea, American Lotus. This is the 'seed pod' which is often used, after growing larger, in dried flower arrangements. This is the pod after shedding the beautiful white flower petals. The petals lasted about three to four days, then fell off when I touched them, revealing the beautiful pod. If you want to see the Lotus flowering click here for our earlier post please.

    Wednesday, June 30, 2010

    Water Lotus Bloom



    Water Lotus: I have wanted one for so long ...it has been well worth the wait. The picture below is provided to see how large the Lotus is ...that is my hand and anyone that knows me, knows it is not a small hand. This beautiful Lotus was purchased at my favorite garden store, Across the Pond, where owner Trevor Cole is often found 'on-site' to help you with your gardening needs. If you haven't walked the grounds of Across the Pond, you are missing out on a beautiful experience. Thanks to Trevor for setting this Lotus aside for us!

    Zinnias



    Canna (Italian Group) 'Yellow King Humbert'



    Watergarden Update (Video); June 30, 2010





    Saturday, May 22, 2010

    Monday, May 17, 2010

    Bunny with a Hat



    Hare with Lizard Hair

    This was too cute not to post. This picture comes from my Mom and Dad's garden. Check out the lizard toupe.

    Friday, May 7, 2010

    Lola Inez Hood Dunavant Flower Pot


    I love this pot because it belonged to my grandmother Lola Inez Hood Dunavant, who was an avid gardener. All of my grandparents were gardeners. My love for vegetable gardening was spawned by years of summer vacations spent in the vegetable gardens of my paw paw Thornton and paw paw Dunavant. My grandmother Dunavant and my Dad are responsible for my love of water gardening. They both maintained (grandmother) and maintain (Dad) beautiful water gardens.


    Muscadine



    Although our Muscadine Vine does not sit in our water garden area, it is a part of the overall backyard garden area. The Muscadine grape grows wild in the southeastern U.S.. Our Muscadine is a mature and very fruitful vine. The dark grape is sweet, juicy and very tasteful.


    Mum


    This is a Mum in a beautiful pot. The pot sits on a rock next to the watergarden.


    Mixed Color Pansies


    The pansy or pansy violets are a large group of hybrid plants cultivated as garden flowers Pansies are derived from Viola species Viola tricolor hybridized with other viola species, these hybrids are referred to as Viola × wittrockiana


    Lemon Tree (Meyer)


    A new addition to the pond area is our Lemon tree. It is a Meyer Lemon that was purchased at Bennett Nurseries. Wikipedia says the Meyer Lemon (Citrus × meyeri) is a citrus fruit, native to China, thought to be a cross between a true lemon and a mandarin orange or sweet orange. The Meyer lemon was introduced to the United States in 1908 as S.P.I. #23028, by the agricultural explorer Frank Nicholas Meyer, an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture who collected a sample of the plant on a trip to China.


    Thursday, May 6, 2010

    Worlds Largest Hosta


    This is a picture of the worlds largest Hosta. I have placed my Harley Road King in front of the Hosta so you can see the size. The bike is actually a scale model of the 2006 Harley Road King.


    Growing Container Strawberries


    This is a strawberry plant I have placed in a concrete planter I made.


    Hanging Strawberries


    Here i have placed a strawberry plant in a metal bucket. I hung the strawberry plant in full sun. Notice the long tendrils trailing from the bucket. If you look closely, you can see the shiny CD that is placed in the bucket to discourage birds from eating the ripening strawberries


    Flamingo guarding roses


    Here you see a picture of our plastic Flamingo guarding our rose plant


    Varous plants in containers


    The picture above are pots of peppers (Cayenne and Jalapeno) and moss rose.


    Container Gardening


    Above is a large planter where I have placed a tree, bulbs, Irish Moss, and two different types of ground cover. Additionally, I placed a landscape light in the pot to help highlight the container at night.


    Cotton Plant as an ornamental specimen


    Pick up some cotton seed from your local nursery or your nearest cotton gin and plant the seed in a large pot. The cotton plant makes a beautiful ornamental specimen plant for your backyard garden. The picture above is a freshly emerging plant that has just popped through the soil. The plant will eventually bloom with pretty flowers and then produce cotton. Many of us have seen cotton growing in fields, but it is so taken for granted in the deep south that we do not think of placing a specimen cotton plant in our backyard so we can enjoy the beauty of cotton up close. Stay tuned for more pictures as the plant matures.

    Note: Be sure to check the agricultural laws in your area before growing cotton. This protects large cotton farmers from boll weevil infestation.


    Blue Pansies



    This is a picture of some blue pansies. This pansies do well this time of year here in North Alabama. This picture was taken on May 6, 2010.