We're Still Bloomin'!

One of the most difficult times for a gardener in Southern Mississippi is the July and August months. The heat here can be unbearable, even for the flowers. My mixed baskets are heat exhausted, so is My John so it's pretty low maintenance for now. When we grew our seeds this year we focused on things that would be natural bloomers in the heat to fill the gaps of blooms during these months. Wanna see?

Peach Hibiscus

Moonflowers, these are night only bloomers. Love to walk out in the moonlight and see these beauties. A moonflower is a vine, started out small, and now is covering the front gate. Looks a little aggressive will have to keep the cutting shears near by on this one. This is the starter for what will someday be my "moon garden."


Pink mandevilla. This one is not scared of the 100+ temperatures here. Just start it on a trellis and let it go.


Yellow Hibiscus. The yellow flowers are my favorites. Even with roses, I want the yellow dozen that no one ever buys at Valentine's Day.


Cajun Hibiscus, a return investment year after year. These babies get it when it comes to bloomin'!


We have enough to share with co-workers, fellow chefs and neighbors. As a matter of fact, I have enough to share with you too, because everyone else is sick of me dumping on them. The peppers have gotten out of hand. This is one morning's pick.


This is Tibouchina, also known as a princess flower. This is John's favorite plant, and he really knows plants. Rare to say the least. I had one a couple of years ago, that was stolen. It took me forever to find another.

Here is my Plumeria. I am really proud of this one. Plumeria is very hard to grow. I really had to work at this one. You know how some flavored things don't smell like it originator at all? Like, grape flavored things do not smell like grapes. Well this smells exactly like the Bath and Body Lotion. Amazed me at first, and one little flower can fill my garden with this scent for days.

Thanks, for stopping by the garden, take some blooms home if you like!
Love,
The Bumpkin

Living On The Gulf Of Mexico

I love the fact that the Gulf of Mexico is a short walk from the swing. Cool, or at least cooler, tropical breezes have been a regular around these parts lately. $3 a pound for jumbo shrimp at the docks. Casinos are having awesome entertainment for each of their "summer series." Tropical plants in full bloom (watch for my upcoming post on this). Right now, other than the horrible heat, I'm lovin it here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Now here's a geography lesson for you.

Be patient, I don't have photo shop so I can't put a little mark for you. If you look right up there almost center where it says Baton Rouge, you'll see The Bumpkin waving at you right in between the n (in Baton) and the R (in Rouge)right on the very tip of the Mississippi Coast line. Hey everyone it's me The Bumpkin! I've got my thinnest cotton shorts, thin strapped tank top, and my Guy Harvey flip flops on. See me right there, toes dug into the sand?
This little geography lesson may come in handy in the next few weeks, I want you all to know exactly where I am.
Welcome to my nightmare once a year every year of my life.


Meet Ana.........

Alot can change in the next five days, especially the strength once it enters the Gulf. The water is mighty hot out there. Not good. It helps them to strengthen.
Now meet Bill.

Two days ago, Ana was on this same path, and now you see where she is going right. My brother-in-law is Bill, please don't let this one be the one. He's quite an a** to say the least, he's also very unpredictable. He is also a terrible drinker and wobbles around a lot.
Now meet Tropical Depression #4 which will later today be Tropical Storm Claudette.

She formed in the Gulf last night at the last minute. Great!
And finally meet Investigation #91----looks like this fellow will be Danny!

So, today will be spent taking pictures of all my stuff also known as a contents inventory for insurance claims, washing all the clothes, shopping for a few necessities, and drawing water for the boys. You must have 2 gallons a day for each pet and person. You do the math on us and our five dogs. My John says he will start to pick up stray things out of the yard, and secure them in the barn. You guys don't have to worry to much about The Bumpkin and our 2O paws. If there is one man who will be ready, it will be mine. The neighbors call our house "Fort Bumpkin", substituting our last name for the Bumpkin portion. After Katrina, we made the necessary changes to our little part of the world. It's the live and learn approach to hurricanes. He built a barn, so we would have somewhere high to go. The winds we have learned aren't necessarily the worst part of a hurricane.
Meet Mr. Storm Surge.

Now you think about the picture above, and laugh with me. Whoever was lucky enough to snap the pic, had to immediately run like hell. Lots of rain here lately which means the water level is rather high. Not good again.
Again, alot can change in the next few days, and now that you know exactly where I am, you will know when it's time for you to wear your knees out for The Bumpkin.
Keep us in your prayers,
Love,
The Bumpkin
Note to my regular readers.
I have not seen any banana spiders lately, we are going to search the garden today, and I'll keep you updated.