December Plant Update

A lot going at home on this month meant that not too many plants were mindfully observed besides our own house plants. We did get about and about to see some plants, luckily. 

Guest room house plants have the best light. 

Blurry new shoots on our eternity plant. 

Our back yard just as the now starts. 

And more snow in Ocean Grove. 

And a little festive snow. 

Were you too busy to plant gaze this month? Or were your plants observations on point?

I'm looking forward to a new year of plant observations in 2018!!

November Plant Update

November has become decidedly cold. Trees changed colors and shed their leaves, we've had the first frost and more. Almost all our inside plants are happy, a few still need extra dirt. We acquired some plants from my grandma, mostly xmas cactus that bloomed almost immediately. 

We rarely have cut flowers in the house. 

A view to the back yard, behind the screen door. 

Our blueberry bushes, planted. 

This lovely beet. 

A walk around Sunset Lake. 

Down in Bayhead. 

Bittersweet berries. I had never seen these before!

I wish we had got out more, to hike or explore, as the weather turned. Hopefully December we will get do make more pointed plant observations. 

What were your November plant sightings?

October Plant Update

It's been a warm and wonderful October, only towards the end turning chilly. There has been a lot of plants to observe outside, and to tend to inside. Getting near the first frost means we are adding dirt, and sprucing up our plants in doors, and moving them around to make room for our inside plants that have been hanging out outside all Summer.  I also got to visit Deep Cut Gardens for the first time in many years and ogle their succulents. Then rushed out to pick up a few new ones for our home!

Repotting, and maintaining out indoor plants for Winter. 

So mant succulents!

So many cacti!

Infinity

We were a little late for the rose garden in it's prime. Next year! 

Fishermen at The Manasquan Reservoir. 

Winter is definitely on it's way Down The Shore. What are the plants doing where you live?

August Plant Update

We went exploring in the woods a few times in August, so we saw a some plants that aren't just hanging around the yard or neighborhood. What fun! We did a lot in town as well, which is always a lovely way to observe the plants!

We stumbled upon this wall of hibicus. 

And saw a million mushrooms. 

My husband said that this day he saw more variety in one place at one time than ever in his life!

Needless to say, we will be going back to this mushroom lush spot. 

These teeny flowers were so interesting!

This little guy looked like some kind of daisy/chicory highbred.  

Spotted this fellow in my driveway, on route to munch on that little weed perhaps. 

Our wall of morning glories is in full bloom and fantastic!!

We spotted this crane and a Great Blue Heron on a walk to Sunset Lake. 

It's been a lovely month to get out and explore, but buggy! I've been eaten alive! September should bring some great plant observations but hopefully with less bugs!

What are plants doing where you live?

July Plant Update

July is almost over and it's time to look back and some of the plants I observed. 

Blackberries from a neighbors yard are so tempting!

Flowers from a local eatery.

Echinacea on Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove. 

The long road in Whitesbog. 

Our local pet shop backs up agains a magical wood. 

My lilies were huge this year!

Being out on the porch is doing the oxalis good!

Tom taking care of the house plants!

Do you take note of the plants around you? Do you keep a garden for flowers or veggies? Share your observations here. 

June Plant Update

June was a good month for plant observations, but maybe not the best moth for photos of those observations. I did snap a few good ones. We got to spend a lot of time out doors, in the yard, neighborhood and at the beach (going nearly twice as many days compared to last month). and we also got to see some different environments, like the Pine Barrens. 

Beach grass and beach roses. 

This massive field loved all the rain this month. 

My porch roses before it got too hot and they all dried out. 

The ivy on the back fence is going nuts. 

Another beach rose. I can't get enough!

And lastly, my favorite pine behind our house. The white speck is a mocking bird that was sitting in the tippy top branch and performing a complicated ritual. 

This month and this year, I can't help but notice how many mocking birds there are!! Growing up I feel like I never saw them, but now they are everywhere. Some people might consider them pests, but I think they are lovely!!

What nature have you been observing in your neck of the woods this month?

May Plant Update

May had flowers, that's for sure!! I never realized how much I liked some of these common yard flowers until moving to Asbury Park. I mean, I like all flowers, but azaleas and roses have jumped up to become favorites in the last two years. It's amazing to see them bloom in the spring. 

Those colors are surreal!

I worry every year that our potted plants won't return, but so far so good!

Rododendrons are native to NJ and on my list for the yard. 

Such a lovey yard I came across walking in the neighborhood. 

Last year we had tons and tons of these wild little white flowers in the front yard. This year we were happy to see them return, even in fewer number. 

Last year, I planted this iris and it never bloomed. I was ecstatic to see it thriving! I hope they go nuts and cover the front bed. 

My lemon balm came back with a vengeance. 

These were roadside in Allenhurst NJ. Anyone know what they are?

I want roses everywhere!!!

Beach roses, too!

Theses are the roses in front of the post office that I pass every day on my way to work. It's such a treat and they bloom all Summer. 

What are some of your favorite May flowers? Did you plant this year, or just enjoy what comes up?  Share your plant observations!

April Plant Update

April saw a lot of plant activity! We're still on our way through the month and I hope the old April adage holds true, bc we have a had our share of rainy days!

We moved a bunch of plants around inside to help them thrive. 

My front beds were starting to bloom at the beginning of the month. 

After clearing them out a little and giving them some love, they are doing even better. 

Trees are blooming all over town!

My herbs are slowly returning. 

I've gotta clear these guys out and add soil. 

Only about half my baby roses made it thru the Winter, but the ones that did are living it up!

I can't wait until the weather evens out. What have plants been doing where you live this month?

March Plant Update

The beginning of the month was warm and promising for bulbs and shoots, but as it went on we had snow and storms and cold temps. Hopefully most will survive and Marches plants will bloom to April flowers. 

Snow covered shoots. 

The beginnings of a bloom. 

One of the many succulents I bought last month grew a little flower that only lasted a few days. 

My neighbor's daffs get more light than mine...

But not as much as this dude.

Our kitchen tree is going nuts. 

The quality of this last photo is pretty poor and not a plant update, but a certainly a yard update. The Cooper's hawk that visited us last year has returned!

What were your March Plant Observations?

January Plant Update

I've tried to keep a watchful eye around me so far this month. Here are some botanical observations. 

Seeing these made me rue not foraging them. 

Outside, a huge snow storm, inside the plants are thriving. 

Here's how an outside plant faired. 

Teaching at The New School this month, I've been observing some of their growing experiments. 

This is more a picture of critters than plants, but the other morning there are no less than 12 morning doves on our back porch. They were huddled in the rain, and waited for the squirrel (seen behind) to finish enjoying his breakfast before alighting to the feeders. 

Have your January plant observations been what you expected? 

December Plant Update

Not too much mindful plant observing went into this month. But here are some casual observations: 

In early December there were still plenty of roses out. 

They might be struggling, but they are still here. 

This spot looked quite idyllic, despite the unmown grass and bitter cold.  

My Amaryllis budded and bloomed and then bloomed some more. 

I like the xmas color they provide. 

Pictured here, the one that has some white hanging out with some bamboo. 

And of course there are xmas trees everywhere! Manasquan, NJ

Belmar, NJ

Manasquan again, 

Spring Lake, NJ

Tell me, what are the plants doing near you?

November Plant Update

November is here and Winter is well on it's way. So far the month has been colder, and rainy, but there's still plenty of plants to observe. 

Early in the month, the moonflowers were blooming like mad. 

My christmas cactus blew up, too. 

We bought a record player, but the house plants still the show. 

The trees turned so fast. 

October Plant Update

October is fast becoming my favorite month of the year. It was a great one for observing plants around our new home. It was also a very busy month, so I'm sending out my observations a little on the late side. 

American Beauty Berries are busting out the extreme purple. 

Roses keep on making late game appearances. 

The last of the echinacea. 

Milkweeds are weeping their seeds for next years monarchs. 

The morning glories are still reaching for the sun. 

What are the plants doing in your neck of the woods?

September Monthly Plant Update

Inspired by Aquarian Soul, I've decided to record the plants I see around me each month. 

It has been a fun first year in Asbury Park, seeing what grows and blooms in our yard and all around us. Some things were a total surprise! I documented many plants on Instagram and in the blog in a casual manner. This coming year, I'd like to keep a closer eye. 

Here are some plants I'm seeing in September:

Beach Roses are blooming their last blooms. They smell amazing. 

Some of the roses have already turned into huge hips. I might be researching how to forage and use these for something good.  

I took our oxalis out to the porch to enjoy more sun before the cold weather. It was getting very leggy inside. 

My neighbors chicks and hens bloomed weeks earlier than mine. So much so I started to think mine never would. But here they are!

The morning glories that we gladly share with our neighbors went nuts this month. They are out in full bloom in all manner of colors. We will have tons of seeds to harvest, spread and share this year. 

My husband doesn't like succulents but I'm planning on buying some up after seeing them at Sunset Farms, our favorite local nursery. 

What plants are cropping up where you live this month?