Photo Gallery

All pictures are not represented in each blog post. Here are some extras for your viewing pleasure!

Most of these images are also not cropped. Please enjoy them in their “natural” environments!

My New Greenhouse!

  • Packs of white, gray, and clear shower curtains and soft white rope, on top of a grill. Brick, wood fence, and small river rocks on the ground in background.
    1/5 of the cost of a full pre-purchased greenhouse.
  • The cut off bare roots of a cured, dried sunflower stalk. Laying on a bed of small river rocks.
    Bare roots of the sunflower stalk. Cut with a reciprocating saw!
  • Closeup interior daytime view. Before the rain.
    Closeup of the inside.
  • Completed Greenhouse. Clear shower curtain for exposed sides. White shower curtain for solid wall areas, gray shower curtain on the floor.
    Just before the rain.
  • Bottom of self-watering pot, separated from pot, upside down, and propped up on a broomstick to give pitch to the greenhouse roof.
    Hoopdie pitched roof
  • Bottom of self-watering pot, separated from pot, upside down, and propped up on a broomstick. Zoomed out to show light aqua stool, with all plants inside greenhouse.
    Zoomed out shot of the pitched roof getup!
  • Bottom of self-watering pot, separated from pot, upside down, and propped up on a broomstick to give pitch to the greenhouse roof. View from outside.
    View from the outside.
  • Greenhouse at dusk. String lights creating a nice glow inside against the walls, highlighting the plants inside. Roof lines and cloudy gray sky in the background.
    Dusk view after the rain.
  • Greenhouse at night. String lights creating a nice glow inside against the walls, highlighting the plants inside. Roof lines disappeared into the night sky.
    Night view
  • Greenhouse at night. Side view from the back patio. String lights creating a nice glow inside against the walls, highlighting the plants inside. Brick visible on either side, roof line barely visible against the night sky.
    Night side view from the back patio.

Mulch for Protection

  • Absolute edge of large bed with garden fork inserted.
    Garden fork in the soil – large garden bed.
  • Side view of garden at the beginning stage of trenching for the border. Holly bushes in the back of the garden, unknown smaller bushes in front. Various spring plants in the earlier stages of growth. Neighbors garden nextdoor in the background.
    Trenching the large bed.
  • Four packets of bordering, still in the cellophane. Laying on the lawn with blue handled scissors.
    Ready to start placing the border.
  • View of the side front garden, fully mulched and bordered. The red hose is somewhat wrapped around. Spring plants in stages of new growth.
    Side bed. My red hose! 🙂

Beauty in Aging

  • Top of sunflower plant with multiple blooms. Some are fading and past their prime. Some are in full bloom, and some are just beginning to open up. Partly cloudy, blue sky in the background.
    Aging sunflowers and new ones bursting forth!
  • Elderly woman smiling, celebrating with carrot cake and "91" candles - and floral arrangement, on either side of her placemat. Coffee cup, creamers, sugar dish on placemat, glass of juice in hand.
    Happy Birthday Mommy!
  • Elderly woman gazing fondly on the bouquet of flowers, celebrating with carrot cake and "91" candles - and floral arrangement, on either side of her placemat. Coffee cup, creamers, sugar dish on placemat, glass of juice in hand.
    Mommy admiring her flowers.
  • Elderly woman, fork in carrot cake with bacon on blue on white paisley plate. Coffee cup to the right of the plate on red placemat. Remainder of cake barely visible. Shelving and living area in background.
    About to dig in for breakfast.
  • Elderly womans miling, fork in carrot cake with bacon on blue on white paisley plate. Coffee cup to the right of the plate on red placemat. Remainder of cake barely visible. Shelving and living area in background.
    It’s nice to eat birthday cake for breakfast!

The Most Important Thing

  • Red hose bunched up in a heap in the garage. Surrounded by fishing poles, boxes filled with misc. gardening items, and a bag of seed starter mix.
    Defunct hose. Can I salvage those connectors? Hmmm . . .
  • Red hose sprawled across small river rocks in backyard. Potted plants line the back of the house where the hose is attached to the spigot.
    Working hose.
  • Gray 2 or 3 gallon plant pot being filled at the spigot. Background is brick wall.
    New container since the yellow bucket got a crack in it. Good thing I love to garden!

The Washing of the Water!

  • Spray from a hose blasting an okra plant. A double rainbow is visible to the left. A trashcan / rain barrel is in the background to the left, a small olive tree to the right, and a raised bed covered with screens in the back center.
    Blast those farmer ants and aphids!
  • Spray from a hose blasting an okra plant from the side. Dirt in the raised bed is visible. Utility area and grill in the background.
  • Spray from a hose blasting an okra plant, the end of the nozzle is in this view. A double rainbow is visible to the left. A trashcan / rain barrel is to the right.

Sometimes You Just Have to Clean it up A Little . . .

  • Cut okra stalks rinsed laying on a wood plank, set on an area of small river rocks.
    Cut okra stalks, ready to prep and eat!
  • Okra flower in full bloom with okra pods growing behind on the same stalk.
    Okra Flower I
  • Okra flower in full bloom with short okra pods growing behind on the same stalk. Closeup.
    Okra Flower II
  • Okra flower in full bloom with okra pods of various sizes growing behind (visible at left) on the same stalk.
    Okra Flower III

Tomatoes: A Hope for A Harvest

  • Green tomato on the vine, cords of white yarn holding up the plant, are visible.
    Green tomato on the vine.
  • Small-medium tomato ripening on the plant, barely past blush-red stage.
    Red tomato on the vine.
  • Small tomatoes at the early stage of ripening on the counter, still attached to the vine. Varying sizes and ranging in color from yellow-green to blush red.
    Grabbed these before the critters could!
  • "Yellow Pear" cherry tomato, ripe, on the background of a red and white kitchen towel.
    My one “Yellow Pear” cherry tomato is finally ripe!

The Promise of A Sunrise

  • Cloudy sunrise. Rising sun hidden by gray-blue clouds fanning out over glimmers of light.
    Cloudy Sunrise.
  • Cloudy sunrise. Rising sun hidden by gray-blue clouds fanning out, with hints of rainbow colors shining through.
    Cloudy sunrise with glimmers of rainbow.
  • Bright sun and rays rising over residential rooftops, dispersing the heavy cloud cover in a blue sky.
    Rising sun, rays, clouds.
  • Full sun with diagonal rays rising and visible in a cloudless, hazy sky.
    Hazy Sun.
  • Risen sun with slim rays in hazy sky with orange glow. Over rooftop, fence, and tree.
    Rising sun, orange haze.
  • Fully risen sun hidden, bright, behind clouds, over a rooftop and tree.
    Hidden sun.
  • Sun rays prominent as clouds are moving out and the sun is becoming visible again. Over a rooftop and tree.
    Sun bursting forth!

The Promise of Potatoes, in Pots.

  • Freshly harvested russet potatoes laid out on a paper towel to dry.
    3rd Potato Harvest – Russets!
  • Young child, African American male, intently concentrating on watering a pot containing potato plants.
    Grand nephew watering potatoes.
  • Young child, African American male, watering a pot containing potato plants, looking up and smiling at the photo-taker.
    Grand nephew watering potatoes II. Happy Little Helper!

The First Harvest.

Different harvests of the season that so far haven’t been blogged about! 🌿

Oregano

  • Oregano plant in small raised bed, almost ready to bloom. Against a backdrop of a wooden fence, in a very small raised bed.
    Full oregano plant, ready to bloom.
  • In foreground, yellow insect with black spots on the tip of an oregano stalk, against a background of more oregano stalks from the same plant.
    Hello little buggy!
  • In foreground, closeup of the yellow insect with black spots on the tip of an oregano stalk, could be a squash lady beetle.
    Are you a squash lady beetle? Hmmm . . .
  • Closeup of first oregano blossoms. White blooms barely open against the green foliage and closed buds.
    Barely-open first bloom.
  • Half open oregano blossom in group with barely open bud and closed buds, in a corsage type arrangement but growing like that on the plant.
    Oregano corsage?
  • Foreground: multiple beginning blossoms on a single stalk, with more stalks from the same plant in the background, not blooming.
    More oregano blossoms.
  • Oregano stalks drying on the counter. Arranged in rows on paper towels, against a patriotic backdrop of USA and American flags.
    Oregano laid out to dry.
  • Oregano stalks bundled and tied with white yarn, ready to be hung to dry.
    Oregano ready to hang up and finish drying.

Garlic

This is softneck organic garlic grown from a single garlic pod, purchased at Sprouts Farmers Market! The dried garlic greens went into a jar for use in soups.

  • Garlic bulbs freshly harvested, freshly cleaned. All but one (to the side) still connected to the green stalks. Laid on a wood pallet on a bed of river rock.
    Freshly harvested and cleaned.
  • Braided garlic against the backdrop of a dark cabinet door. Ready to hang for drying.
    My first garlic “braid!” Ready for drying.
  • Two piles of garlic greens. To the left, completely green stalks ready for use. To the right, mostly brown stalks that will go into the compost. Laid on the counter.
    Separated for use, and not-for-use.
  • Chopped green stalks on a white cutting board.
    Chopped and ready to dry in the oven.

Lavender

  • Mediterranean herb garden in small metal raised bed. From rear ond going counter-clockwise: solar garden light; lavender plant just starting to bloom; small lemon thyme; full rosemary; english thyme (cut off from viee and barely visible); freshly harvested oregano. Backdrop is wooden fence and Texas sage in a black plastic pot.
    Lavender ready for harvest.
  • Foreground: lavender blossoming up the top of the stalk, lower leaves of the bush visible. Texas sage in the background.
    Lavender blossoms on the stalk.
  • Closeup of lavender blossoms on the top end of the stalk. Wooden fence as background.
    Lavender blossoms.
  • 5 lavender stalks laid on paper towel to dry on counter. Jars filled with various nuts, chocolates and pasta in the background, with ceramic angel.
    First harvested lavender stalks.
  • Full view of turquoise office clip holding lavender stalks to dry. Hanging on faux deer-antlers desk lamp, with desk flags in back and plants to the left, atop the walnut-finish piano.
    Lavender hanging to dry on the piano.
  • Turquoise office clip holding lavender stalks to dry. Hanging on faux deer-antlers desk lamp, with desk flags in back and plants to the left.
    Office clips come in handy for many things!
  • Full (2nd) lavender harvest laid out to dry on a paper towel, on the counter.
    2nd harvest.
  • Lavender and garlic hanging to dry from two plastic white hooks, side by side.
    Drying lavender and garlic at my side-desk.

Onion

  • Green onion grown from root end of full onions. Three sets on bamboo cutting board.
    These tender green onions were grown from the roots of large onions from the store! Sept 2020, Colorado balcony.
  • Author's hand holding a bunch of freshly harvested red onions against a backdrop of watermelon vines.
    First Texas harvest of Red Onions! 2023.
  • Author's hand holding a bunch of freshly harvested red onions against a backdrop of watermelon vines. Author's husband, African American male, is posed, grinning, with a blue t-shirt on, next to the bunch of onions.
    Hubby had to get in the picture with the onions!

I Love Sunflowers!

  • Sunflower half opened against a sun-setting cloudy sky and brown wooden fence.
    Sunflower 1
  • Sunflower half opened against a sun-setting cloudy sky and brown wooden fence. Closer view than Sunflower 1.
    Sunflower 2
  • Sunflower opened 3/4 peeking out. Closeup image.
    Sunflower 3
  • Sunflower opened 3/4 peeking out. Leaves of the plant more visible than Sunflower 3. Side view,.
    Sunflower 4
  • Almost exact duplicate of "Sunflower 4."
    Sunflower 5
  • Freshly opened sunflower in full bloom against partly sunny/cloudy blue sky. Closeup. Smaller sunflower bud in background.
    Sunflower 6
  • Same view as "Sunflower 6" but from a distance. Full plants with leaves are visible.
    Sunflower 7
  • Almost exact duplicate of "Sunflower 7."
    Sunflower 8
  • View across the yard of sunflowers in various growth stages. One almost in bloom. Sunflowers are flanking the compost tumbler.
    Sunflower 9
  • Closer shot of "Sunflower 9," bloom is slightly more open in this image.
    Sunflower 12
  • Along the fence view of sunflower with multiple blossoms on the stem. Composting tumbler is directly behind, and taller sunflower in bloom is behind the tumbler. Purple chrysanthemum with a single blossom out of season is in the foreground.
    Sunflower 16
  • Almost exact duplicate of "Sunflower 17," but from further away. Solar garden light is now visible in the foreground, top of the tallest sunflower plant in the rear is also visible.
    Sunflower 17
  • Baby sunflower plant growing out of rocky soil where the compost heap used to be, backdrop is an unfinished pallet leaned against the fence.
    Sunflower 13
  • Morning sunflowers facing the east, away from the viewer. Growing out of wooden planter box with light aqua table and chairs in the image.
    Sunflower 10
  • Closer shot of "Sunflower 10."
    Sunflower 11
  • Double sunflower in sun's rays. One sunflower is bent over facing the viewer. The other sunflower is facing away from the viewer. A light aqua chair is also visible.
    Sunflower 15
  • Double sunflower blossoms against a mostly sunny sky and wood fence in the background,.
    Sunflower 14

First Things First

Images of first beginnings!

This first set is of my balcony garden in Colorado. This slideshow runs from March through August 2021 and is included here under First Things First because this was a place that nurtured the idea of a gardening blog! This was the fourth year of gardening on this balcony.

  • Planter box with freshly sprouted rows of peas, swiss chard, and giant caesar. March 2021 on Colorado balcony.
    First Sprouts!
  • Planter box with rows of identifiable leaves of peas, swiss chard, and giant caesar. April 2021 on Colorado balcony.
    Growing nicely . . .
  • CO Planter box on rail with soil only, and two hanging pink planter boxes, one with pink geraniums and one with basil just starting. There is an American flag and the view of neighbors' balconies. April 2021.
    The other side of the balcony.
  • Planter box with maturing vegetables. Multiple other plants and flowers in ivory, red, and pink pots. May 2021 on Colorado balcony.
    CO Balcony garden May 2021.
  • CO Planter box, closeup of peas, swiss chard, staked. giant caesar growing.
    Closeups I.
  • CO Planter box, another closeup of peas, swiss chard, staked. giant caesar and beets growing.
    Closeups II.
  • Closeup of carrot seedlings growing in peat pots, nestled in styrofoam egg carton.
    Carrot Experiment.
  • Ivory colored pot with post-bloom Easter Lily and catnip growing together, plus red pot with rosemary and sage growing together.
    Post-bloom Easter Lily and catnip growing together: Rosemary from the store and and sage planted from seed.
  • Small purple pots: one with peppermint and one with lemon balm.
    Peppermint and Lemon Balm.
  • Ivory pot with a clump of daisies in full bloom, marigolds soon to set buds, and alyssum just getting started from seed.
    Daisies, Marigolds, and Alyssum.
  • Planter box with tall and staked tomatoes, basil growing underneath. Stonecrop budding to the right. All spring vegetables have already been harvested and replaced. July 2021 on Colorado balcony.
    CO Balcony Garden. July 2021.
  • Planter box with closeup green cherry tomatoes, ripening. July 2021 on Colorado balcony.
    Cherry tomatoes, getting there!
  • Harvested bunch of baby carrots. August 2021.
    Baby Carrots! August 2021

Second Set: Getting Started Indoors – Texas Spring 2023! Most of these didn’t make the cut because they were too blurry. My android couldn’t deal with the close-ups necessary to catch this new life springing up! I don’t remember what most of these are, individually, but they have to be tomatoes or peppers. I planted multiple varieties of each.

  • Zoom in on green seedling.
    Green seedling.
  • Zoom in on barely visible white sprout in the foreground. Very faint green sprout in the high background.
    Barely visible sprouts: white in foreground, green in background.
  • Zoom in on white, turning green, sprout.
    Another just-pushing-out sprout.
  • Three green sprouts pushing up out of the dirt.
    Pushing up out of the earth.
  • Two white sprouts barely pushing up. Very close zoom.
    Barely pushing up into the air!

Heavenly Plant Matters

All images on this site, unless otherwise noted, were captured by Elizabeth Lewis and shown unfiltered.