Tara Miller Designs

Remembering Summer

Hard to believe this was 1 mo ago... 

Ants ate my Poppies!

    

I have googled my brain off to find out why ants (little black ones...teeny-tiny) were eating my seedling poppies. My little guys were being eaten from the top down after they had about 2-3 sets of leaves but before they could bloom. There is nothing out there covering ants eating poppies, and I can't wrap my head around that. We don't live in an age where we are the first to experience anything, let alone something that can't be found via Google. Yet, I have found nothing after 2 days of searching (and I happen to be pretty good at googling...I might even add it to my resume).

 

However, one trip to my local Home depot set me up with a strapping red haired older gentleman who not only answered my questions but armed me in my battle- BEHOLD: Bayer Rose & Flower Insect Killer. Use it! It rocks. It freed my poppies which are back on the mend and not longer dying. I use it on all of my non edible plants to protect from any insect that I haven't discovered yet. Since I just moved in, I am not familar enough with all the predators in my area.

 

For assistance with my edible plants, such as tomatos and pumpkins, I use Garden Safe Fungicide 3-in-1. It totally rocks with any pests that find my plants are yummy as I do.  I highly recommend both products and spray each every 30 days to insure continuious protection

When Pumpkins Bloom

Earlier this spring I was digging my pots out of the garage where they have lived since the move, preparing my soil and picking out my seeds. Unbeknowst to me, some pumpkin seeds had gotten into 2 of my pots and all the watering, chruning and general gardening had put them into the perfect position that must have been lacking previously. They shot up like kudzu and took off. 2 days ago, I finally got around to digging them up and putting them into the garden to give them a real chance. To the pumkpins, this was like a cotillion and the next morning I was great with several beautiful blooms. They only lasted a day but they were breath-taking. 

Garden Hutch

I live in a pretty strict neighborhood, as far as architecture and historical aesthetics go. That means no parking huge RVs in front of your house, Leaving your car on cinder blocks and any other, general, sometimes small infractions. In my case, an unpainted pine shelving unit holding empty pots and garden equipment destined for greatness. Well, I received my letter from the HOA suggesting that I put my shelves and ugly equipment where the sun don't shine, my garage.

"Ha", said I shaking my fist, "No one tells me what I can't keep on my front porch, I will show them!"

I ran to my local superstore and picked up 2 cans of pale yellow spray paint. In this case, I believe the color name was Stick-it to the Man Yellow and started looking for some outdoor fabric. Apparently, outdoor fabric in any bright happy, fun time, garden colors is not very common, so I grabbed a vinyl table cloth (go for the oblong- more fabric) and set to work.

I painted the unit, that took about 2 hours with drying time- no problem. Then I sewed up my table cloth with a center box pleat and side seams. If you are careful where you make your cut on the tablecloth you don't have to double turn the top. I added my sew-on/adhesive Velcro and Voila- A festive garden hutch- in the exact same place on my front porch with all the same stuff, minus the empty- now filled pots and I have successfully bite my thumb at the HOA. Ahh the simple things!

Right then.

Time Listed:  In 3 days it will have been a month.
Number of people who have looked at my house: 0
Yes, you did read that correctly. Zero. It is quite the opposite of people interested, it would appear that they are, in fact, not interested.
I know that there are lots, LOTS, TONS of house on the market now. And I know that we live in an area where, frighteningly, there are lots of homes on the market due to foreclosure. But I fail to recognize how they are competition for my house, which is in good repair, with fresh paint and flooring. They are, so I have heard, without interior doors, dead bolt locks stolen and discarded clothes everywhere. Mine is move in ready. In fact I have no doubts that once someone comes to look at my house, they will make an offer. The trouble appears to be actually getting people to my house. I recently did a search for my area, in my price range and found over 100 homes for sale. Any advice? Please, I really want a new sewing machine.
However...One of the many bright spots of my fine home here is my gardens. Take a look.

This garden always cheers me up when I drive up my driveway. That and the dogs greeting me. I have worked so hard on it and yet not so hard as to have all these flowers. I found out that my favorites, like the zinnias, from last year reseeded. I was overjoyed. They are more massive this year than last and they keep coming. One of the many reasons to be glad for long summers here (take that awful humidity! In your face.)