Snap Dragon Seeds

Snapdragons are short-lived perennial plants that survive well in cold seasons but are often replanted each spring and considered annual plants. They do best in full or partial sun, in well-drained soil since their roots are susceptible to rotting. Removing the dead flowers is important to help them to continuously produce beautiful flowers throughout their growing season. They are susceptible to ethylene gas so removing dead flowers and keeping them away from ripe fruits or vegetables also helps them bloom longer. They grow during their peak seasons of April to June and August to October in the Northern Hemisphere. The seeds look like skulls.

Cone flower

Echinacea is most common in the Ozarks and in the Mississippi/Ohio Valley. Its habitats include dry open woods, prairies and barrens. Echinacea purpurea is an herbaceous perennial up to 47 in tall by 10 in wide at maturity. Depending on the climate, it blooms throughout summer into autumn. Its cone-shaped flowering heads are usually, but not always, purple in the wild. It is pollinated by butterflies and bees. It prefers well drained soil and full sun. It is also grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Sphinx moth

Sphinx and hawk moths are common pollinators and are known to collect nectar from flowers. As caterpillars they feed on a huge diversity of host plants and as adults they prefer nectar over flowers. Because of thier large size and ability to hover slightly mid-air while feeding they are sometimes mistaken as hummingbirds. This one was the size of a half dollar coin.

Spring flowers

Sunflowers

Wild common sunflowers can be grown as a crop for its oil, wild bird food, livestock forrage, or for ornamental domestic gardens. These were part of a Metroparks trail, and were numerous and beautiful.

Lupines

Lupin, Lupine or regionaly known as blue bonnets, these flowers grow all over North and South America and the seeds were even used by Native Americans as a food crop.

Russian Lilac

The Beauty of Moscow Lilac is a Russian cultivar. The double flowers are white, pearled with a lavender-pink blush. It definitely is a heavy bloomer yet exceptionally fine. It has extremely fragrant blooms and dark, glossy, green foliage. Mature growth for this lilac shrub is around 10-12' tall and wide. This one grows along my sidewalk next to the garage.

Trout

Trout slices prepared with lemon slices, salt, pepper, thyme and home grown organic lavender flowers. This was a fun switch up from our regular lemon pepper seasonings.

Flowers everywhere

Lowes plant department!

Flag Iris

Blue and yellow.

Wreath

This year's wreath is also edible. It is lavender and rosemary. It smells heavenly.

Globes

I re-did my globes with festive holiday ribbons. You are looking at "Nevada" and "Colorado".

cactus bloom

This tiny pink flower is from my hens and chicks succulent. It looks like there will be about three flowers total, right now.

Globes

Lithops

Air Plant

I made my plant a new clay shell to live in.

Cherry blossoms

Coveted by all
turning into such beauty -
the falling red leaves.

-shiko 1664

Swamp Milkweed

Swamp milkweed prefers moisture retentive to damp soils in full sun to partial shade and typically, is found growing wild near the edges of ponds, lakes, streams, and low areas—or along ditches. It is one of the best attractors of the Monarch Butterfly, which feeds on the flowers and lays her eggs on the plants. The emerging caterpillars feed on the leaves. The nature preserve near the airport is chocked full of this stuff. It smells almost floral.

Mojitos

10 fresh mint leaves from the garden
1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste
1 cup ice cubes
1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum
1/2 cup club soda

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

Air Plants

Peace came upon me, and it leaves me weak.
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep.

Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe and to love you.

Constant air circulation -- as the name indicates -- is paramount to keeping your plant happy.
Air plants need some moisture; from late spring to mid-autumn, mist daily. In winter, mist only once or twice a week.
Fertilize monthly in spring and summer using a low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer mixed at only one-quarter strength. In general, fertilize weakly.
Although they love warm weather, most air plants need protection from full sun. If it's a type that grows naturally wild on trees, keep it in moist, partial shade. If it is a ground type, such as T. cyanea or T. lindenii, grow it indoors in bright, filtered light and outdoors in partial or dappled shade.
Don't let an air plant sit somewhere that's colder than 45 degrees; it will die at those temperatures. If you live in Zone 9 or warmer, you can grow an air plant outdoors all year if you keep it dry during the winter.