How Does Your Garden Grow?

I love growing things. That said, I also enjoy more relaxation and less physical pain as the years go by. I've found that container gardening and raised beds provide both.

Most of these zinnias are volunteers from last year that came up in the vegetable garden.

Zinnias provide vivid color and are very heat/drought tolerant.

They do tend to fall over and often need some support.

We currently have three raised beds with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and eggplants.

We usually grow more than we can use in these small beds.

My old mandevilla spent another winter in the garage.

It does require frequent watering but I think the result is worthy of the care.

 

Wonderful color!

Succulents are another good choice for easy care containers.

They also spend the winter in the garage.

Texture with very little care.

I have no idea what this plant is or where I got it.

It has very sharp needle like points so it must be treated with respect.

My begonias were cut back and placed in the garage over the winter.

With a bit of sunshine, fertilizer and water they are very happy.

My potted oleander bloomed again this year.

This year I planted my iron wash pots with yellow lantana and moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora).

 

 

The red crepe myrtles are really pretty this year.

A bit of welcoming color at the front door.

While photographing the zinnias in the vegetable garden I found MORE cucumbers ready to pick.

 

I spend more time on the patio relaxing with a cool drink and a good book these days.

I enjoy growing pretty flowers and fresh vegetables with much less effort than in the past.

Containers and raised beds are working for me.

Happy gardening!

 

♥andPeace,Myra

Lakeport Plantation - Lake Village, Arkansas

Part of our lower Arkansas Delta road trip included a visit to Lakeport Plantation. The plantation is an Arkansas State University Heritage Site. The house is is the only Arkansas plantation home still standing on the Mississippi River. Lycurgus and Lydia Johnson built the home in 1859.

The home was placed on the National Historic Register in 1974. In 2002 it was designated as an official project of the Save America's Treasures program through the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

 

Arkansas State University operates the site as a museum and educational center.

 

I really like the side porch with the pretty wrought iron details.

The tall windows with pretty blue shutters go all the way around the house.

The photo above was taken of the back porch.

The back of the house.

The new bridge between Lake City, AR and Greenville, MS is visible from Lakeport.

 

I encourage you to step back in time with a visit to Lakeport Plantation.

The plantation house is still surrounded by cotton fields.

 

♥Peace,Myra

Arkansas Lower Delta

Over the 4th of July weekend, my husband and I took a road trip down the lower Arkansas delta. I wanted to see the "new" bridge at Lake Village that crosses the Mississippi River and Lakeport Plantation. On the way we found several interesting places to stop.

Turkey Scratch, Arkansas -

Levon Helm's old stomping grounds

The A.B. Thompson Store in Turkey Scratch

 

We stopped at the Arkansas Post Museum.

I took this photograph of the iron collection.

I really like the pretty blue one.

1686

Pretty quilt in the old dog trot house at the museum.

The museum is operated by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Just down the road is the Arkansas Post National Memorial.

We watched the 20 minute movie about the history of Arkansas Post.

In the photo are all of the flags that have flown over Arkansas Post.

Pretty wild ground cover at the Arkansas Post Memorial

 

These plants were along the tree line growing in old rotting leaves.

 

Bonnies Café in Watson, Arkansas

 This definitely says Delta to me.

I got a few chiggers photographing this character!

 

Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center

 

 

Beautiful cypress swamp in Southeast Arkansas

Lake Chicot - Lake Village, Arkansas

The Original Doe's Eat Place

Greenville, Mississippi

We frequently eat at Doe's in Little Rock but I've always wanted to eat at the one in Greenville, MS.

It was closed for the 4th of July.

I took this photograph crossing the bridge between Lake Village, AR and Greenville, MS.

It was blurred by the movement of the car but I like the way it looks with a bit of editing.

 

Bridge between Lake Village and Greenville (2010)

  

One of the lovely old homes in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas.

 

We had a fun and relaxing holiday visiting historical sites and enjoying the beauty not far from home.

We even found time to visit old friends along the way and enjoy a lunch of bacon, lettuce and home grown Arkansas tomato sandwiches!

 

While in Lake Village we stopped by Lakeport Plantation.

Lakeport is an Arkansas State University Heritage Site.

I will share my photographs in the next post.

 

♥andPeace,Myra