The old saying seems to have very well described this month! It originated from the crazy antics of hares during mating season, especially in March. I've witnessed their crazy behavior before, and it was very entertaining! If you've ever seen them in action, hopping straight up in the air while doing flips, jumping at least seven feet high over and over again, you know how these antics will stick in your mind for years!! Maybe forever. LOL!
Blooming kale being enjoyed by the bees and other pollinators. Bees love all brassicas!
The apricot tree died a couple of years ago but the root stock lived so we let it grow... we're pretty sure it's a peach tree and it's blooming this year!! Yay!?!
Stella, one of the feral cats enjoys looking in the window at us!! But she doesn't like us looking at her. So funny.
My tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are ready to go outside to harden off, but I think I'll wait a few more days since it's supposed to drop back down to 40F, just in case it gets into the 30's.
Happy Easter!
So very thankful for Jesus' sacrifice, as the fulfillment of the old law and establishing the new law, that we may be forgiven our sins through him. (Hebrews 10:5-14)
Jesus prays to be glorified; what is known to be the longest of His prayers, just before his death, called The High Priestly Prayer ~ You will find it recorded in John 17...
https://www.biblegateway.com/p...
Peace Lily
It's been awhile since I posted to my blog! Last year had its challenges, dealing with the loss of loved ones and pets. So now, here we are, making our way into the unknowns of a new year! This year is sure to be better! It seems like so much is going on in the world but with all that's, happening, I'm choosing to stay positive! Walking in faith!
And it's seed sowing time!! Today is the beginning of what's growing in the garden this year... here's what was sown sow-far:
Tomatoes:
1884 Purple
Ananas Niore
Chocolate Cherry
Crimson Cushion
Esmeralada Golosina
Mariana (paste)
Rose (these are 9 yr old seeds)
Tommy Toe
Peppers:
Aji Cristal
Buena Mulata
Cayenne Long Slim
Fresno
Peperone Corno Rosso
Eggplant:
Purple Comet
Shiromara
Thai Purple Ribbed
It's just a start! Many more seeds to be sown...
I've had a sourdough starter going for the past few months. And it's starting to get good! It's been a fun journey with many attempts at making homemade breads. Bread making isn't as easy as one might think. It takes many tries before getting a recipe down, but I'm getting better. There's a loaf in the oven right now. I've also made some pretty delicious sourdough dinner rolls.
Here's the last loaf:
Although I haven't been posting here on my blog, I have been posting a weekly Spotlight of Words every Saturday. It's here, if you haven't seen it and want to check it out over in the sandbox forum~ The thread "Weekly Spotlight Of Words" in Sandbox forum
Picked up some pomelos at the grocer the other day. This one looked so pretty when I cut into it that I had to take a picture.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
We're right in the heat of things for sure. Triple digits for just about the entire month until today when it dropped down into the nineties. It's 94°F right now, ten degrees less than it was yesterday at this time so I'm very thankful. Whew, I hope it stays below 100°.
The tomatoes slowed down, of course and most are finished for the season. Although, all of the Italian varieties have continued to produce: Crovarese Grape, Rosso Sicilian and Principe Borghese. Yay! Still making slow roasted herb tomatoes. They're so delicious when you cook them long enough to caramelize a little.
Summer Garden Panzanella ~ another favorite:
Green Zebra tomatoes about to become salsa.
There's been no shortage of tomato hornworms either. This one was parasitized by tachinid fly.
There are less hummingbirds this year, but still a large number and I've had to put all eight of the feeders out. I'm probably going to get a couple more just in case the numbers increase. As they begin to migrate, there can be huge numbers passing through. I'll take pictures. 
The birdies have been enjoying the birdbath in this heat. Lot's of bluebirds!
The first half of the month, we've had cooler than normal temperatures. Plus, lots of rain and thunderstorms that are not normal for July in Texas. I didn't complain! Then it heated up into the high 90's where it's mostly stayed during the days... but it's July and it's summer!! Of course it's hot!
Strange and interesting early morning clouds with the moon? shining through.
In the garden...
The tomato plants have grown since I last posted. Actually, they are even bigger now, since the photo below was taken.
Honeydrop was the first tomato to ripen, and boy has it giving us plenty of big plump cherry tomatoes! Yesterday we enjoyed some bruschetta with Honeydrop tomatoes and Purple Ruffles basil. This variety has been a huge hit roasted with some chopped garlic, olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Keep coming, Honeyedrop!!
Honeydrop cherry & Crovarese Grape~
Crovarese Grape~
Watermelon Otome - Litte single serving melons are about 3 to 4 pounds each. I like to cut in half and share with my dear husband, although he'd probably prefer the whole thing. They grow fine on a trellis but I have put a sling on some of the bigger melons so they won't fall! Fun, sweet and juicy! 
Kale Lacinato
More tomatoes
Striped German bicolor heirloom tomato
The swallowtail butterfly larvae have been enjoying the dill and it's nice to see the butterflies in the garden. The larvae ended up eating all of the dill to the stem. There was one larva left sitting on a leafless plant, so I moved it to the parsley. Now, there's about six or eight caterpillars on the parsley. It should be wiped out soon. HA! I planted some more seeds outside, but they aren't sprouting... it must be too hot, so I'll probably need to start more seeds indoors.
I transplanted the marjoram into a larger container this spring and it has bloomed for the first time in I don't remember how many years... but many, many years of the plant coming back in a container left outside. I don't recall what variety, but I'll be sure to save seeds if it happens to make some.
Found this vine growing on a cover-fence. It can apparently be a problem so can't say if it will stay or not...
https://davesgarden.com/guides... image of Moonseed, Cocculus carolinus vine.
It's been a cool spring so far and now getting warmer. Things are starting to take off, some of them more slowly than usual. Peppers are rather pitiful. I lost a few plants. I guess I put them out too soon and they didn't like the cold. I'm just going to leave it at that and not worry about replanting any.
I saw this the other day, it sure is pretty... making a note here in case I want to go buy.
Purple padded prickly pear: https://www.tradewindsfruit.co...
Some native blooms ~
I've been saying for years I'm going to harvesting some of the yarrow growing in my garden. The flowers, upper leaves and stems have many medicinal uses, such as relieving fevers and to stop wound bleeding but so much more. It grows wild here and it's ready to harvest now! Due to its deep root system, yarrow is considered a powerful nutrient accumulator. Wild yarrow (Achillea millefolium) flowers are also considered edible although I've never tried eating them. I'm going to make a point to look into making some kind of tincture or elixir or other medicinal preparation. Does anyone have or know of a good and easy recipe?
Some Home Grown...
Salvia splendens Faye Chappell ~ so pretty. (note: get a better picture!)
First harvest
It is possible to grow squash in a pot!
A few vines of Rattlesnake beans.
Cucumbers are taking off!
I noticed the little native ladybugs are busy on them again.
The nymphs are pest eating machines!
One patch of back yard tomatoes ~ they're growing fast now.
***Many of the new flowers planted from seed are close to flowering... maybe next time I'll have pictures! ***
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." – Romans 15:13
Amen!!
