Birds and Blooms – June/July/August/September

Birds and Blooms Magazine is an awesome way to learn about birds, houseplants, gardening, bushes, trees, climates, crawly creatures and plant identification. We have offered the opportunity prior for you to read this simple but very informative publication. It’s a great evening read. No TV and you learn so much. Let us know if you woukd like to view them. We can drop them by your location for a weeks lend. Then we can pick them up and pass them to the next location. Birds and Blooms is so worth your time. 

In the September issue we discovered an article about grasses. And we have a current client who wanted grasses as a backdrop to their newly established garden, which we actually planted. We visited the nursery and we selected six Pink Buhly Grass plants at about $75, and planted them last Friday. As you can see in the photo below they are lush and full and very attractive as a filler.

Please contact us to reserve your week of reading at:

ContessasHome@gmail,com or at 703-548-1882

“Contessa” says….., it’s all good!

Milkweed – Attraction – Butterflies

So…..this is “Milkweed.” Most often seen on farms,  in pastures, along the side of country roads in ditches and we spied two stalks of it ten days ago, right in the center of a neighborhood Daylily bed. We just pulled hard and it came out.  No real roots to speak of, just white dirt covered ends.  So we cut the tops off creating a pencil length stalk and without even washing it off, we put it in a glass of water in the kitchen window. A gardening friend didn’t think it would root or produce anything. 

Well today we looked at it….and there it is – new growth on both stalks. Nearer the top.

We are going to plant it in the garden in a sunny spot. Remember it develops an underground traveling root system so it can spread and become highly invasive – so plant it closer to a wooded area where it can grow without disturbing your more domestic plants and flowers. And once it takes off – do your best to contain its growth. It’s a bit like the herb “mint,” it will spread everywhere.

We only waited ten days for this new growth. Amazing plant life. It cannot stop itself. Nature just keeps on giving. We love it. And very soon we will have “butterflies.” How can you not love this. Pretty exciting!!!

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good

Gardening Today – 1620 block – Mt Eagle Place

Our “Aussie” client is a lover of encouraging and cultivating native plants. He is a repeat client. We have been with him three (3) years now. His backyard area is very wooded and there is a ton of low lying native plant growth, conducive to transplanting. Along the right side of his townhouse is a very steep bank. We were summoned to clear the bank of tons and tons of dandelions. We completed the job with two (2) full bags of “dandy weeds.” The longer term goal will be to plant the entire bank with a ground cover. So we took a “before” video of the bank which was our original assignment.

BEFORE

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Ajuga is the native ground traveler that is growing in the wooded area of this property, so today we transplanted  twenty (20) of these to the top 30 inches of the bed. This is an experiment to see if the Ajuga will not only grow, but creep and spread. If the transplants grow and spread successfully, we will assist with the population of the entire sloped bed. 

AJUGA

At the end of the first three (3) hours we retuned to trim back the boxwood bushes on the left tiered bed. One in very rough shape. We completely trimmed it back closer to the ground. It was in poor condition so we will see if it can be revived. We trimmed back dead growth on all plants and bushes in the beds today.

We edged all the beds. Secured all plantings with new garden soil. We also have instructed Parkfairfax to leave bags of mulch…,,and we will lay it…..once delivered. This project was completed at five (5) hours.

AFTER

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We receive a Prairie Moon Nursery native seed catalog every spring, and we left one for our resident to preview. He has already spotted a (12) pack iof native flowering plants  and is going to order. It was a great variety. So we are looking forward to seeing the delivery. Each plant is about 6 inches of growth and ready to plant. How fun is this? Cool….

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good.

Prairie Moon Nursery – Native Wildflowers

Our Spring 2022 wildflowers catalog has just arrived. Included seed products by category are:

• Pollinators

• Mix and Match Perennial Trays

• Single Species Trays

• Host Plants

• Milkweed

• Bird Favs

• BumbleBee Favs

• Prairie Classics (4 pages)

• Shade (2 pages)

• Ground Covers

• Seed Mixes (sun and shade)

If you would like to borrow or copy, please give us a call. (703-548-1882). We will happily drop it off for one week,  and then pick it up so we can pass it on to other clients. We do this every season. No biggie! Our pleasure to share. It’s a nice fresh copy and power packed with color sample photos

“Contessa” says….. it’s a very good thing.

Missing A Loved One – in Separation

QUEEN ANNE’s LACE – WILDFLOWER

“…..for he said: ‘May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are out of each other’s sight.’” Genesis 31:49

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.“ Hebrews 11://1

“For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:8

 “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

******

……my Father God, thank you for your scripture that calms  my heart snd soothes my longings.  Amen

How great is your love……

My Dearest Jesus,

I give you my day. May nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today. May each of my steps lead me closer to You. Help me walk by your holy “Word” and not my feelings. Feeling are so temporary. Help me to keep my heart pure.  Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be. Help me to cherish what comes my way as a planned blessing… rather than a personal inconvenience. And finally, Jesus, Jesus help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 83:13.

“Great is your love for me.”   Amen

When It Rains It Pours

Ha….. the mail has been so unpredictable of late. Mail from Richmond VA  taking 12 days. And yet, I mailed a Birthday parcel to my grandson in Colorado and it arrived in three days.  

So……Saturday we received our Birds and Blooms Magazine. Rather magazines. May, June, July and August arrived all the same day. I suggest something is amiss at the Post Office

The good news is we do love this magazine….. so tonight we have an evening of reading. It’s an inexpensive publication but some good information, and the bird and flower pics are quite nice. We honestly recommend it, if you aren’t inundated with too many magazine subscriptions. I’ve learned a good bit of new things, that I did not know, about birds in particular. This is very nice.

 

Good Night Jesus

Jesus, please hear my prayer……..

I thank thee for this night, as I prepare to sleep. Thank you for your loving care that you have provided for me all day  And now….. I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul you will keep. Please watch over me and guard me all through this night, and I pray you will wake me with your morning light. Amen.

Holy Spirit Fill Me Today

My dearest Lord, as I rise this morning to meet your new and “beautiful” summer day, please let me be filled with Your spirit. Wherever I go today, let me spread your love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness. Let me desire to become more like you and to worship you in all I do. Help me to want  these things so much more than the sin that might tempt me. Thank you my heavenly Father God for always going before me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

          NATIVE WILDFLOWER

          HIBISCUS – RUBY RED

Jesus, Jesus, how I love thee….

        FORGET – ME – NOTS

Jesus, oh how I love thee. You have been with me in the night and I awake to a gentle, cloudy but cool morning. A very nice change in weather. A day I can get out and pull some weeds in the coolish air. Kind of nice for a change. Thank you for being with me, and in me overnight. I adore your ever present calm and gentle spirit. You give me new strength and a clear mind. Thank you for rest. It was heavenly. Thank you my Lord and my God for no complications from my procedure. I am renewed in your spirit. Bring new opportunities for me to claim your holy and precious name, Jesus, to others. I give you my entire day, that it will bring you all the glory. Amen.