sweet peas~Today's Flowers 032710

My sweet peas have now started to grow and bloom. Some are over 7 feet tall! They are all growing along our 6' chain link fence, which serves as a dog run to keep our two dogs from going over by our neighbors, who don't appreciate them! The neighbors were supposed to take down their aging, sagging wooden fence and put up a brick wall, so we installed the chain link fence to keep the dogs safe while they started their work. They never did. I kind of like having most of our yard now "dog free". It has given me the opportunity to plant seeds along the chain link fence, like my sweet peas. I glanced out yesterday and noticed there were quite a few of them, enough for a cut bouquet, so out I went, armed with my scissors! And, here they are in their bouquet!

Butterfly garden~Think Green Thursday 031810

The Living Desert Reserve, in Palm Desert, CA has a butterfly garden and I love to wander through it and see the butterflies. I stopped by yesterday afternoon (after school) for my second visit. I like it there because it's cool and there are so many beautiful flowers for the butterflies! And, there are LOTS of butterflies! There are also several hummingbird pairs and I'm going to try to get a decent picture of one of the little fellows! They have color charts to that you can identify the fliers (of course, I didn't have one yesterday) and that will be my next goal. Aren't they all beautiful? Think Green Thursday for March 18, 2010.

My Sweet Peas~Today's Flowers 031410

My sweet peas are blooming! These are the ones I planted in December, all along my chain link fence in our back yard. I FINALLY have a good place for them to grow! I've tried places in the front yard, but none of them got enough sunlight for the sweet peas to grow. Here, along the fence, out back, they get full sun ALL DAY! YEAH! Some are nearly 5 feet tall! I've already done two cuttings and more blossoms are on the way. I'd like to get some horse manure from the ranch and spread it along them, but maybe I'll wait until next year to do that. In the meantime, their fragrance fills my kitchen! Today's Flowers for March 14, 2010.

Broccoli crop~Think Green Thursday 031010

I went home through the fields a couple of days ago. These fields are near my school where I teach and I see them every morning on my way to work. I never seem to have time in the mornings to stop and look at what's growing, so after school on Tuesday, I drove out to investigate the fields. This large one had a crop of broccoli which had been recently harvested. The tractor was out there plowing the crop under. If I remember correctly, they will soon plant corn on this field and it will yield two crops of corn over the spring and summer. It's interesting to see how the crops change over the seasons here in our desert southwest. With a 365 day growing season, yes, different crops are planted throughout the year on the same field. In winter, farmers grow cool season crops like onions, peppers, lettuce, or broccoli (I could REALLY smell the broccoli after they harvested it and when the tractor was turning the crop under!!!) And, once our warm weather starts, like now, farmers will start planting the warm season crops like corn and beans and squash and melons. Think Green Thursday for March 10, 2010.

Window Views and Doors, Too~030310

Hubby and I have been members of the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert now for ...let's see...over 31 years. I was pregnant with our daughter when we first became members and she is now 31, almost 32 years old! We have watched it grow and expand and add many, many new animals. I have always loved their garden center and every time I go, I have to wander through it and look at all the plants! This door into the garden center has always been a relaxing place for me. It is so quiet and shady! Window Views and Doors, Too for March 3, 2010. For other participants, please visit: http://windowviews2.blogspot.com/