A bit of magic of the summer season integrated into my photographic lens from this past month. I have truly enjoyed the simplicity of the photographic blog posts each month that I began earlier this year. Photos do tell their own story. July, it’s been a warm month… in memories and temperatures. Thanks for tagging along with me!
I have linked a few other blog posts from this month in here as well. Take your time with this one folks and find all the other blog posts within, coming back to them as you can. I so appreciate your continued support! I hope you enjoy these special July memories in photographic form.
A Walk Around Kerr Scott
ReflectionsPeaking ThroughA Walk By the Lake … If you didn’t get a chance to read Rooted in Wilkes yet, I hope you will get a chance to do so soon!
Home
Contradictions in the SkyTime to BlossomBlue Skies and BloomsYoung BloomsJust Like LaceBusy Bee 🐝In Full BloomAngel TrumpetA peak inside a blooming Crepe MyrtleSimplicity of a trailing vinePeaceful, Easy Feeling… Morning SunriseBarely ThereRising to the OccasionNight skySeeking Raindrops
Friday Flower Fun at Wilkes County Hardware
First Flower Friday… success! See you again August 9th!!!
North Wilkesboro Greenway
Growing Field of DreamsWildflower Dreams
Blue Ridge Parkway
Where the Wildflowers GrowBlue Ridge HorizonBlue Ridge Skyline
The month of June is the gateway to Summer. Here’s a glimpse of summer so far in the hardware life.
A bit of sunshine and color… totem pole is complete! A huge Thank You going out to Kim Reid for her patience and expertise, this came together beautifully! And yes, your local hardware store can help you with this project! More to come on this later!! Peeking through Same view… different day 💕Home sweet home sunrise
The Mountains are calling and I must go….
Sun peaking through the cloudsGolden hour approaches Hello Blue Ridge! Magical Sunset Sunsetover the Blue Ridge Good morning Blue Ridge Mountains Sunrise in progress Sunny SundayEvening storm rolling in
Other June Favorites
Hay There!Sunflowers 🌻 Colorful Black-eyed SusanA little bit of Fall colors in JuneOyster Shells
An Overview of Hardware Store Happenings in June
New summer t-shirts are selling fast! New pottery by Lisa Pruitt! Spicy sauce! Anyone ready for some homemade ice cream???Southern Summer… Making Homemade Ice CreamRestock of Goat Milk Soap! This product is an amazing seller!!!Blue Door Houses and more, by Kim Reid… these are selling quickly! New pieces by Keegan Watson Mid June brought drought like conditions…Summer Watering TipsReady for canning season??? We got y’all covered! Reset complete! Wow!!! What a job that was… moving cleaning, canning, outdoor grilling… but well worth it!!! Pools are big part of summer season inside Wilkes County HardwareFamily Splashing Fun-Pool Days of SummerSaturday morning bunny visitor. He had escaped from his cage from his home nearby the pool that we do daily maintenance for. After a few uncertain hours, we found his home! Thanks to all who reached out to help him get back home safely! This month has been a busy month in the garden/yard! Thanks for stopping by to pick up weed control, pest control options… and much more! Thanks for shopping local! Here’s to splashing into Summer!
May is a prime gardening month. May flowers are in bloom, the vibrant colors are abundant. For me, the month of May means spending time in the garden preparing for the beautiful blooms of summer and waiting for the growth of each young tender plant.
Black-eyed Susan vine
I must confess and fully admit that my garden is always a work in progress… flowers coupled with growing weeds amongst them. This time of the year, the challenge is to keep up with the pace of weed growth, I usually fail miserably. But, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. The memories and the sweat equity of what has been accomplished so far in the garden.
Dill is springing up everywhere in one of my favorite flower beds and I’m absolutely loving it!
My style of gardening is a rustic cottage charm. The cottage garden style is less structured and not as formalized. The plantings flow seamlessly together. This style allows for a diverse mix of plants that I love. Viewing from a distance, the pattern of my gardening style is probably not evident to anyone but me.
The ultimate story behind the gardener and garden itself is revealed walking amongst each flower variety, enjoying the blooms, connecting each flower with its own unique story and legacy.
This pot came from my Mother in law’s home. It is a cherished planter that I look forward to growing beautiful plants inside each year
The garden story is each flower itself. I have a garden of true memories passed down from generation to generation. My personal connections to my garden flowers and what I have planted is deeply rooted and linked to my personal life experiences and memories of those who I love. So each May I work to bring the garden story back to life, creating a garden full of beautiful memories and vibrant blooms. Nothing could be better!
All this being said, I do have a few plant friends that I love to plant each year. The striking colors, the scents, the aesthetics, and durability(long lasting nature) of the plant definitely impacts my decisions to continue to place these into my garden. But, many of the reasons why I pick the same type of flowers each year is due to my associated memories with these flowers… past celebrations, or memories of strolling through family gardens so many years ago.
Red Geraniums are a must have in my garden every year, they bring wonderful memories of my two Great Aunts who always had them in their front flower boxes each year.
So here’s to celebrating this month with a few beautiful blooms. Enjoy the bounty of the blooms that are amongst you at the close of May 2024.
These perennials were transplanted many years ago from my granny’s flower garden. She often shared her beautiful garden flowers with everyone who loved flowers as much as she did.Thyme is growing and beginning to flowerThis planter is an oldie Goldie… passed down to me from my mom several years ago. My strawberries are happily growing New handbuilding project completed, a bright red poppy flower added into one of my flower potsYarrow, gifted seed packet from a dear friend
Gardening Challenges this month:
1. Critters crawlers… snakes and lizards 😳 stories and more!!! Read more about them in the latest blog post, find the link below.
Critter RiddlePest control issues are tough on plants, be proactive and stop by Wilkes County Hardware for best options for your garden
2. Rapid weed growth- May showers have brought an abundance of weeds! Yikes! Time to get out there and get some weeds pulled and sprayed!
Several types of weed control options are available at WCH
3. Excessive Rainfall- My peonies and roses took a beating this month with all the rainfall. It was time to deadhead rose bushes after the rainfall, and I have cut back my peonies after they finished flowering.
Foggy May Morning
4. Deer and rabbits oh my! – I have been extremely lucky this spring and little activity has been noted around my garden, but the nibbles have begun by the end of May😬! Time to grab the granular and the spray!
Options for deer control are available at WCH
Gardening Successes:
1. New garden plants finds!
Shrimp Bush
2. Garden totem pole in progress
These are loosely stacked for now waiting on other pieces to be finished and finalized before the pole is placed into the garden. I hope to finish my first project soon.
3. Planting on the “good garden days”
Yes, I have read up on my almanac for the BEST days in May… find the link below for May Planting BEST Days. June best days are coming out soon on the blog!
Updates to my window to the world (view outside my kitchen window) are constantly changing during the flowering season.Hanging baskets on the back porch are beginning to fill in with color Petunias have been constantly showing off in May
5. Tomatoes are coming soon!
I hope your month of May gardening has brought you joy, and great memories. No matter what state your garden finds itself in, Just get growing!
Just simply marveling in the magic that May brings each year. The month of May brings an explosion of color and beauty as the glory of Spring fully emerges. Sharing a few of my photo favorites from this month’s captures.
Morning Solitude Hues of Blues Storm Clouds Rolling YarrowMagnoliaCatching The Morning Sun My Window to The World African DaisyAmaryllis in BloomHello Little Strawberries! Shiloh Visiting the hardware store
May is a wonderful time to be in the garden! Here’s a quick rundown of some of the BEST days according to Blum’s Almanac to plant, fertilize, harvest, or weed. Mark up your calendar to remind yourself, save this link, and head on down to Wilkes County Hardware to begin the Gardening season strong! Let’s get growing!
Tutorial on How to Read The Blum’s AlmanacPlant Above Ground CropsMay 2,3,6,25-26, 29-30Planting Flowers: May 10-12, 18,19Seed Beds: The BEST time to begin planting new seeds… May 10-12,20-22 Transplant Days in May: 2-3,6, 29-30
Get growing with a fantastic potting soil medium. This potting soil is “the workhorse of potting soils” and hands down my favorite! A MUST Use for transplanting!!!
Baccto is definitely in order to refill your planters this Spring. Yes, you should replace the potting soil in your planters each year by switching out the old, spent soil.
Our repeat gardening customers love this potting soil AND it is a fantastic value!!!
Here’s an interesting fact… Other potting mediums price their bags per quart or by Cubic foot(based on volume of product and additives) but not this brand! Baccto is priced by the gallon, making this a very affordable option and a much better value for quality potting soil! The price point, $8.99, for 25 pounds, $13.99 for a 50 pound bag, both competitively priced! It might be time to make the switch in 2024.
LASTLY, As a FULL service hardware store, we will LOAD these heavy bags into your vehicle for you!
Great Value!!! These two gardening gloves retail for LESS than $3 a pair!Prune to Encourage Growth: May 2-3,6,25-26,29-30Destroy Weeds 1, 27-28, Wilkes County Hardware has a good selection of different types of weed control products. Ask us about what your garden plan looks like, we can help you make the best decision for your garden care. Chemical Fertilizer: May 10-12, 20-22Organic Fertilizer: May 2,3,29-30Harvest your May Flowers, or crops using this Gorilla Cart… now available at Wilkes County Hardware. BEST Days to harvest in May: 1,4,5,23-24,27-28,31
May Garden Tips:
1. Water well, especially small containers… these small containers act like a “crock pot” on a warmer day, cooking those plants inside! Yikes! Go big when it comes to container gardening. You will water less. When watering with your water hose, water at the soil level not directly on the plant surface.
WCH recommends watering your plants in morning. Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for a new watering can, water hose, or sprayer.WCH Recommends: Zero-G watering is soooo much easier with this lightweight hose!!!
2. Have a plan when it comes to making your garden Deer Resistant
Deer 🦌 Repellents
Be proactive in keeping pests at bay. Wilkes County Hardware has a good selection of deer repellents. Be vigilant about your routine when it comes to spraying your plants. We recommend spraying your plants at least every two weeks… AND more frequently after heavy rainfall. I have also found that my deer became “immune” to the pods… If one method doesn’t appear to be working well for you, then it is time to switch it up. I’m currently using the deer spray and granular to keep activity to a minimum in my yard.
3. Insects are inevitable as the weather warms up… these creatures come out of their sleeping slumber. Don’t wait to see what happens next, stop by Wilkes County Hardware to learn about your options.
4. You have Gardening Power! You can do this in your own time and space. Do what works well for you and keep on growing and improving.
Your garden is not only the outward sign of beauty for your home, it’s also a reminder of hope and resilience to bloom even in difficult circumstances.., and lastly an opportunity to showcase cherished memories of those you love. Let’s get planting!
The Hardware Life - A wife's journey into the hardware business 