A bit of my yard-garden

I like to chronicle my yard-garden from year to year so that I can see how much growth is taking place, along with any other changes.

Today, I stumbled across a great buy on a pink Dogwood tree.  It was neglected at the back of a greenhouse, and the center of it had died, but there is plenty of good growth on the small tree.  It is the variety with blooms that measure about 3 inches across ! ! ! !   I got it for $5.00 ! ! ! !   I planted it in my front "shrubbery row".

Starting at this end, Purple Crepe Myrtle, 3-color Butterfly Bush, Pink Dogwood, 2 Rose of Sharons,planted together, Dwarf Crepe Myrtle, Redbud tree, dwarf myrtle, pink single-bloom Rose of Sharon, dwarf myrtle,dead Rose of Sharon(needing replacing), dwarf myrtle, double-flowering lavender Rose of Sharon.  Unseen at the corner, Purple Asters and Red Knock-out Rose bush.

 Most of the Rose of Sharons and Crepe Myrtles were planted in the summer of 2011, the year we bought this place.  The Redbud tree was added last summer when I was able to pick it up for $10.00.  It bloomed this spring and is looking good, although I have found a broken lower twig where something, most likely deer, is eating on it.

I'm always interested to read when Larry buys roses and other plants in the 'discard basket' at Walmart's plant center.  I check mine regularly too, and have made quite a few good buys.  A few days ago, I found an Easter Lily that was looking pretty rough, but had a nice bloom on it, and 6 more buds.

The lower part of the stem was covered in brown leaves which I removed, and the rest of the plant is just wonderful !

The clerk told me that he could mark it half-price for me, so I brought it to the register.  When he scanned it, it showed the cost as being $0.02.  I laughed and said, "that'll be alright with me".  He scanned it again and it came out the same, so he said, "it's all yours for 2 cents!"  I also found 4 of the gift-sized hydrangea plants that looked pretty rough, but have new growth all over them, and they priced the same !   The Lily has been blooming like crazy, more every day, and puts off the most WONDERFUL scent I have ever encountered in a flower !  I don't know where I'll plant these new additions, but I just love trying to save the rejects !

My Azalea bushes are finally getting acclimated to their new spot along my side boundary, and are blooming beautifully.........I think they reached their peak today (I caged them because of the deer BITES ~!~)

Note of record:  Hubby has a touch of pneumonia again.  He tends to come down with it about twice a year on average.  But he's doing okay, taking a few extra meds, and staying quiet.  Love that man of mine !

Marking Time, a finished quilt

I just finished the binding on this quilt today.

It is called
                    "Marking Time"

This quilt was made for the grandson of a friend of mine.  He is currently imprisoned and can't receive the quilt, but I am praying for God's mercy in bringing about his release.

The quilt finished around 59 inches by 82 inches.

  It is backed in his favorite color, green.  I didn't have enough of one fabric, so I used a darker green to frame a lighter green, and I really like the effect.

I machine-quilted this one using my walking foot for the interior of the quilt, stitching in the ditch mostly.  Then I meander-free-motion-quilted the outer border.

Lottie-dah gives her approval.

I was inspired by this photo from a quilt in the Civil War Sewing Circle book.