Sunday 26 July 2020

July Garden Green Joys, Facebook Group Blocks, Breakfast For Supper

Back in December I showed you this Madagascar Jasmine, a completely new to me plant we received in this pretty Christmas arrangement. 
                                 
 I managed to keep it alive all winter and moved it to the front veranda when the hot weather began...the one thing here that enjoys humidity.  Lately I've been pleased to see it's leaves grow much larger and was especially happy to see new leaves appear-finally-all the lighter green in this photo.  I'm still grappling with the issue of repotting but since it's obviously doing okay I'm going to leave it for just now. 
Sticking with greenery, my view out the sewing room window is of these hostas. We called this property Hosta Heaven when we first saw it because there must be over fifty hostas here. It's quite shaded in this little corner and they are doing well. I removed three or four the first summer here and replanted them along the laneway. The deer have found them there and keep them trimmed. 😞
 It would be nice to have some colour here. Anything you can think of that would be colourful and maintenance free...I have enough weeding to do.
 I should say that the shorter plants in between are mostly Hens and Chicks that also do well in this location.
We've had several wasp nests in inappropriate spots. One under the back deck where it had to be removed (thanks SIL!) because they were around the patio door. Another is under the front veranda and so far, we are tolerating it there because it is located in an impossible spot to get at. I got stung on my thumb joint which I found surprisingly painful at first (and I have a high pain threshold); my swollen, slightly aching thumb has made me much more wary of them.  I don't have any fear of such things normally. 

Most enjoyable slow stitching...
I worked on my Claudine's Quilt Quilt It & Dotty Facebook Group project yesterday.  Here is what I've achieved so far. What do you think about the blues for that row?  Still in its papers and unironed and for some reason I couldn't find that last block. It turned up afterwards.  I'm returning to the darks for the next row which I have to make the freezer paper templates for today.  
And here is another sweet block from the Quiltmania Solidarity SAL.  This is Australian designer, Veronique Diligent's pattern which I changed up a little. My first time working with hexies and I loved it. These are small- about 1 1/2 inches so didn't take long to stitch together. You can look at more of Veronique's work at her Wattlebird site. I wonder what is a wattlebird. 
Another hot day here in our corner of Ontario, Canada...37 C with a humidex of 40.  I think it will be a breakfast for supper day (do you ever do that?). Hubby's favourite sausages are in the fridge and I have a hankering for pancakes.  Won't need an oven which is good. 
Another July Joy is linking up with Kathy's Quilts and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
 



26 comments :

hetty said...

That Jasmine plant looks terrific. I love, love, love your hostas. Happy stitching. That block looks interesting.

Karrin Hurd said...

Great projects, beautiful hostas and Madagascar Jasmine. Love the blues in that row!

Turid said...

Beautiful hexies. Take care, it might be addictive, like by me.

Libby in TN said...

We had breakfast for supper last night! We do a type of fritata with hash browns on the bottom, then crisp bacon, then eggs beaten with green onions, then shredded cheese and topped with fresh garden tomatoes. Your hostas are amazing. How about adding some colorful coleus? I don't think they are perennial, though, so would need to be replanted each year.

Nancy J said...

Love the circle block, pardon the double description, is that what we would call an oxymoron>? The blues with the other colours is so lovely, Take care with wasps, they can be so hostile in a group.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

We just had pancakes and bacon for lunch, so simple and tasty! Your hostas are beautiful, Jocelyn! I haven't grown them successfully here - maybe it's because they need a more humid environment, and we are too dry? That Solidarity block is lovely! I like the hearts around the outside of the hexies.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I love your corner of green that you show but I can think of nothing colorful that doesn't require maintenance. I hope someone else can think of something. We just had a porch visit from our daughter and we were ready for the air conditioner when she left. It was very humid out there and close to 90 - well be glad for fall weather and that won't get here for 2 more months. I love your jasmine plant I have never had one so no help to you there either!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Is there a garden anywhere without hostas? If it exists I think I have yet to find it!

Jenny said...

Nothing wrong with breakfast for supper, whatever takes your fancy is sure to be just right! Your hearts and hexies look so sweet, but hexies are not for me, although I certainly admire all who seem to churn them out with no trouble at all!

piecefulwendy said...

I'm no help on the additional plants, but your hosta are lovely. Hope you can get rid of the wasp's nest at some point; that does not sound enjoyable at all. Love the round block, it looks challenging and fun!

PaintedThread said...

The green plants are soothing. I really like the star/round quilt. What will you make with that? Very cool. Sometimes breakfast is the best dinner (sometimes lunch, too). :-)

MargaretP said...

Do the wasps have a paper like nest of honeycomb shapes? They hurt !
We had them on the farm, get any empty plastic bottle that squirts well when squeezed, practice with water, not on the nest .😂Fill it up with diesel fuel, roll up a sheet of newspaper from the corner so the torch is long.
Wait till they are all back at the nest, quickly squirt the fuel on and have someone ready with the torch burning,set it alight and run ! ! Knock the nest down later and take it away so any strays don't start again or hang around.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Your Hostas look lovely. I have a spot as well,that is shady,so I do have some Hostas there. I think I may add a couple more next spring.

Kim said...

Isn't the Madagascar Jasmine a wonderful plant and I love all those Hostas outside your window. Gosh, it does sound a tad hot there. The thought of pancakes is making me feel hungry. =) Both your blocks are pretty. Do you know, I rather love the blues in the first block. Love those hexies and sweet little hearts.

Pip said...

I love all the different greens of your hostas, perhaps aquilegias would grow well there and add a spot of colour. A wattlebird is a type of honeyeater, they feed on the nectar of flowers and can be quite a noisy bird.

Jenn Jilks said...

Well done with the jasmine! I must admit I've just had to throw some plants on the composter. I just could not cope.
Hostas are so wonderful. Our deer agree with your deer!

MissPat said...

I think your hosta garden is calm and soothing and the varying greens provide enough contrast. Hard to find flowering perennials that would provide season-long color in deep shade. Containers with large angelwing begonias might help, but would require watering which looks like it would be difficult in that location.
Hope your wasps aren't actually hornets which can be very aggressive.
Both your handwork projects are lovely.
Pat

Karen in Breezy Point said...

Your hostas look wonderful--so lush! I wish I had taken a photo of mine before they were decimated by deer. I missed one night of spraying and they nailed my hostas and lilies--so maddening! The hearts and hexies are adorable.

Deborah said...

Your hostas are beautiful. Enjoy the sunshine. We have finally got some sunny warm days here in Alberta! No rain in the forecast today but who knows. We have had many storms this year.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Hostas are a favourite because they're so showy and so easy care. My idea of gardening! We got a beautiful planter filled with at least a dozen different succulents for Christmas and so far I've only managed to kill two. Pretty good average for me!

CathieJ said...

I love the variety of hostas that you have. Your quilt projects are very pretty. It is in the 90s here today and I just returned from grocery shopping. I told hubby that we are having take-out tonight, but breakfast for supper sounds good too.

Angie said...

Jocelyn - lovely, lovely hostas. I do miss them - they would not do well in our dry environment here. I remember (not fondly) the challenges with the deer and my hostas! And don't talk to me about slugs! Do you think daylilies might work there for a splash of color?

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

Your hexies are perfect. Love that block. Those hostas are huge. I like all the different shades of green. We need to have breakfast more often than I can remember to do!
Take care.

Judy Hansen said...

Hi Jocelyn,
A friend just advised me to make a mixture of 1/2 milk and 1/2 water, and squirt it from a squirt bottle on my plants, and the deer will leave them alone. I am trying it, and so far they have stopped eating me plants. Of course, I have to remember to squirt them again after a rain. Thanks for linking with Design Wall Mondays, Judy

kiwikid said...

Would hellebores fit in with your hostas? I am not sure if they would flower in the right season for you. Your Jasmine looks great too. We have a large number of wattle birds in our garden,they love the native plants and flowers.
https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Anthochaera-carunculata
If they link works it will show you the red wattle bird we get here.

K Reeves said...

We do breakfast suppers at least twice a month, more when it's very hot and we have lots of eggs.