Category Archives: Gardening

Things I See Around Town: Is Spring Coming?

Posted on February 11, 2020 by johnvic8

Here we are approaching mid-February, and I spied a bit of color on cherry (?) trees in our neighborhood. It’s not much, but a bit of pink on a drab, cloudy day is a real promise of what’s to come. … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Nature, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Turning dirt into soil.

Posted on February 4, 2020 by johnvic8

Looking back over 25 plus years of down-in-the-dirt gardening, there are a number of important lessons that have etched a place in my mind.  I hope you will find them worth sharing. I learned that I could do everything right … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Looking Ahead to 2020

Posted on December 31, 2019 by johnvic8

Here we have come to the last of of 2019 and the last day of the decade. It’s tempting to look back at the past’s challenges and victories, but I prefer to focus on the future. This photo of Camellia … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Holidays, Things I See Around Town | Tagged | 9 Comments

Things I See around Town: A Splash of Color

Posted on October 18, 2019 by johnvic8

When I am visiting gardens around town, there are times…delightful times…when a splash of color grabs my attention. Such a time occurred last summer when I was touring the Billinda Daylily Garden here in Charlotte. This purple annual coleus is … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Things I See Around Town | 5 Comments

Masks on a Garden Wall

Posted on September 6, 2019 by johnvic8

During our visit to San Diego in July my daughter, the art teacher personified, devised a summer project to create masks to hang on her garden wall. The idea was to paint a face on discarded ends of palm tree … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Things I See Around Town | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Father-daughter Time

Posted on August 12, 2019 by johnvic8

I recently returned from a week in San Diego visiting family there. It was a delightful week, especially being able to spend time with my first great-grandchild, John. When I make trips to San Diego, my daughter usually has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Things I See Around Town: Chaste Tree

Posted on June 21, 2019 by johnvic8

One of my favorite plants is the chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). I happened to spy a group of them in full bloom on my way to tennis . I am happy to share these photos. Chaste tree is a magnet … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Things I See Around Town | Tagged , | 4 Comments

My Porch Garden

Posted on May 17, 2019 by johnvic8

It has now been over a year since we sold our home and garden. That’s hard to believe, but time does, indeed, go fast. We have decorated our new apartment with greenery and have given special attention to our screened … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Things I See Around Town | 10 Comments

It Bolted

Posted on March 30, 2019 by johnvic8

The lovely ‘Miz America’ mustard I posted several weeks ago continues to thrive on my screened porch. It survived a tough winter and, as the weather warms, it is coming to new life. But what is this strange growth coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Nature | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Things I See Around Town: Treegator®

Posted on February 28, 2019 by johnvic8

There is a new home building project underway next to our church. As the builders have put in landscaping, I noticed several Treegator® irrigation bags installed around newly planted trees. I see them in lots of places around town. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Nature, Things I See Around Town | Tagged , , | 2 Comments