DIY Sun Shade

Terry came up with this idea for our latest garden project. I'll let him tell you how we went about doing it.

We recently decided to put a retractable sun shade over our garden patio and two swings to provide some mid-day shade. The challenge was we also needed to be able to retract and secure it when we wanted to build a fire in our fire pit or if there was going to be severe weather or wind. We used 3 copper clad 8 foot long ground rods (the types electricians use to drive in the ground) as “curtain rods” over the top of the arbor secured with copper pipe hangers. We used a 9 foot by 12 foot canvas painters tarp we got at Lowes for the shade and clip-on curtain hangers to hang the tarp on the curtain rods. Provides great shade during the mid-day sun. Turned out pretty good but we’ll be working on improving how we retract, close and secure it this weekend. Then it will be done – check out the pictures! These pictures were taken late in the day so the patio wasn’t shaded.

He Who Plants a Garden Plants Happiness

Our garden, our little piece of heaven on earth.

Birds and Blooms

Sunflower seedling in our garden.

Willow tree Robin's nest. This is the third year in a row that they've nested in this spot.

Our Tree Swallow couple is back. They're setting up housekeeping in our garden bird house. We're hoping they have a successful nest this year!

Tree Swallow coming in for a landing.

Jackmanii Clematis

Garden 2013

We planted our garden several weeks ago. With all the rain and heat, it's already taking off. We hope to have plenty of cherry tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and okra.

Maters and Onions

Maters and Onions in two of our raised beds.


We just got the other two raised beds planted with okra, squash,
cucumbers and sunflowers!

Summer Flowers

I "heart" Zinnias :0)

The Zinnias are blooming in our garden. They seem to love this
extremely hot weather.

Hubby Terry and Jessica enjoying our garden swing.


I love this picture of our cat, Libby! It looks like she's sticking her
tongue out at me :0)

Rest Stop

I found this little skipper moth resting on a Zinnia leaf in what's
left of our garden. The butterflies and moths are few and far
between these days now that the flowers are dying out. I'm
already counting the days until next spring :)

"A garden is never so good as it will be next year." ~ Thomas Cooper

Zinnia Sky

Sunflower Stump

Ready To Take Off

"Butterflies are self propelled flowers." ~ R.H. Heinlein

Goodbye Sunflowers!

The sunflowers in our garden were picked clean and dying out.
Saturday morning I cut them down and cleared them out of the
garden. I'm sad to see them go :( Already looking forward to
planting them next year!

Hummingbird Moth Part Deux

Fast Food

I took this picture out our backdoor. Because it's been so hot and
humid lately everytime I take my camera outside it fogs up. This
cardinal was chowing down on one of our sunflowers. It was funny
because seed hulls were flying everywhere :)

Okra Flower

Butterfly Kisses

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

"Butterflies are self propelled flowers." ~ R.H. Heinlein

Don't Fool With Mother Nature

Two bad storms moved through our area last night. I woke
up this morning to three sunflower stalks broken off at the
middle of the stalk :(


Our Jack and the Beanstalk sunflower as I liked to call it was
one of the casualties of the high wind.


This is whats left of the sunflowers that
were knocked over in last night's storms.
At least I have this beautiful bouquet to
enjoy for awhile :)

"After a storm comes a calm." ~ Matthew Henry

Free Food

Sunflowers are not only beautiful, but they attract lots of
birds to our garden. This cardinal was enjoying a midday
snack. I snapped this picture from our backporch with my
long lens.


Wearing it out :)


So many sunflowers so little time.



"No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same
in one garden." ~ Hugh Johnson