Alien Life Form?

Nope.  Just a crazy big Giant Puffball Mushroom found in my front yard this morning.

If you google Calvatia Gigantea you'll see even larger ones than ours, and that folks even eat them. But I just don't have the courage to eat something this scary looking found growing wild in my woods!

Have experience with these? Let me know. Maybe next year you can come over and we'll make this Giant Puffball Pizza.

Focus on the Garden

Oh deer. They're hanging out.

Apparently our backyard woods are so comfortable that the deer have decided they can just hunker down and nap there.

I discovered a small herd numbering about seven just, well, loitering there yesterday.  And munching on ground cover.

Yeah, I am sure she saw me. Didn't phase her one bit.

A little kiss.

Oh deer, it's twins!

I heard a rustle in the woods in front of my house this morning. Looking out the window I discovered a small fawn dining on my hostas. (Can I get you some dressing for that salad honey?!)




















I ran for my camera, only to discover that Mama and a second fawn were following right behind the first.  Mama kept a close eye on me.

And then they were gone.

And so were some of my hostas.

Have An Ice Day!

The world has an icy coating this morning.

It's quite magical.

Allium Tricoccum - The Ramps Are Up!

There is a small window of opportunity here each spring, to harvest the elusive ramps, or wild leeks that grow in the woods behind my house. Yesterday was a prime picking day!

Ramps look a little like Lilies of the Valley, but you will know what they are the minute you dig one up. The garlicy onion fragrance is punguent and unmistakable. Ramps are difficult to propagate and are considered a rare plant in some regions. Never pick them from public parks!
(Or from my yard, without asking first!) I usually find them growing in the dead leaves near the base of trees. We have soil that's full of clay in our area. Guess the ramps like that.

The entire plant is edible. I chopped my bunch into fine pieces. Sauteed the white portion with a little butter, olive oil and kosher salt. Then added the chopped greens just at the end. The browned onions were then added to cooked rice and mushrooms. A delicious side dish.
Eat them raw and you'll have bad breath for a week!
But it's so worth it.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Holy beach stones!!
Look what I found in my newspaper this morning!

This is just too exciting. A great article all about etsy
(now I don't have to try to explain etsy to everyone...I can just show them this!)
I get a little PD love here.
Also featuring a few of my fellow Cleveland Team buds:
hiannie
monaco
lazyTcrochet

The stars must be aligned or something.
Happy day!

Images from the garden

Hydrangea

The garden is looking so beautiful this year,
thanks to years of heavy labor by my better half ~
and his great eye for garden design.
My job is to keep the deer away.
(No easy feat, I assure you!)
And to cut a few select blooms to arrange
in vases from time to time. Ah, summer.


Hydrangea


Day Lily


Day Lilies


Hydrangeas


Echinacea (Coneflower)


Clematis Jackmanii


Echinacea (Coneflower)


Coreopsis & Catnip


Cosmos


Bee Balm


Osteospermum hybrid Sunny 'Sheila'

Happy Independance Day

Just in time for the 4th of July...my new summer american flag banners are up in Moreland Hills on SOM Center Rd. I like the way they hung them along with the flags. All we need now is a parade!
(And a safe return for our troops)

My First Moreland Hills Pole Banner!

They just hung my new spring banner designs on a bunch of utility poles on SOM Center Road. I love this community, and am proud to have created these new banners for Moreland Hills. This is the one in front of Village Hall.

I am currently working on another design for the summer months...