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Monday, July 8, 2013

Flowers, Food & A Lil Bird

 I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. We enjoyed a day grilling and visiting with both our daughters and their families. It rained just after the kebabs were brought in from the grill so afternoon festivities consisted of eating too much and chicken foot dominoes.

Our lilies are all blooming including this "black" one that looks mostly burgundy to me.

 Whatever the color, it's my favorite.

 Bergamot, also known as bee balm and horsemint blooming in the backyard.

 The spike-y tipped blossoms make me smile kinda silly like.

Celosia in the shade under the back deck. These plants are considered medicinal as they are used for treating a host of symptoms.  Also, the leaves, which taste like spinach, are sometimes added to soups and stews in Mexico, especially. I haven't tried them yet.

Pink impatiens, also under the deck.

 This little Carolina Wren had a nest in one of my flower pots. I missed the maiden flight of the lil birdlets as it rained nearly everyday since they hatched.

What's for dinner - grilled shrimp brushed with butter seasoned with garlic. That. was. good. So were the steak/onion/squash kebabs, but the photo is too fuzzy to post.
Hope you're staying cool. o.o

Sharing with...
Bloomin' Tuesday

16 comments:

  1. gorgeous red and pink blooms! the shrimp - yum!

    we had friends that loved to play chicken foot. :)

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  2. Your flowers look absolutely gorgeous. I especially love your lilies. Unfortunately, it poured all day on the 4th at our house, so we had to move everything to the 5th

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  3. Hey Tea! My mouth watered at the shrimp photo! Good grief. That's a feast in itself.

    Your flowers are beautiful. I have many times thought to order some black lilies but have just never taken the time. My verbena is in a hanging pot. The rain has really beaten them all down. I'll get a photo of them soon. They're so easy to care for and deadhead themselves.

    I've never heard of chicken foot dominoes. I used to play many years ago but have no idea if it was chicken foot or not. ha

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  4. Hello from Michigan. WOW those burgundy Lillies is absolutely stunning.. as is the rest of your flowers.. OH, Shrimp is my most favorite food to eat.. They look soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo very yummy... Hugs Judy

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  5. Your plants look wonderful! Such pretty blossoms. There is a bird sitting on a nest of eggs in our grapevine. I hope I get a glimpse of her babies. Your shrimp looks delicious!

    Have a great night!

    :)Vicki

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  6. Is that the same bergamot that is put in Earl Gray tea? It is my favorite tea, and I don't even know what goes into it.

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  7. Hi Kay,
    I'm glad you asked about the bergamot because knowing this plant is in the mint family and that it was used in colonial days as a replacement for tea by some after the tea dumping incident at Boston Harbor I naturally assumed it was the same bergamot in Earl Grey tea. However, I've tried tea made with my bergamot, and it's very bitter and weed-like in the teacup so I thought it was probably just a different type of bergamot than what I have, but after reading your comment I looked it up and got a bit of an education on it. It seems there is an actual fruit called a bergamot orange that gives Earl Grey its lovely, hint of citrus flavor. Heh, I had wondered about it in the past but just never researched it so I'm really glad you mentioned it. So cool know for sure. Here's a link to read more about the bergamot orange:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergamot_orange

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  8. Hi! I popped over from Bloomin' Tuesday! Welcome! I'm somewhat of a regular over there and enjoyed finding your blog after you linked up.

    Love, love, love the Great Smokies. Growing up, I vacationed there every summer with my parents. None of my kids have ever been there, but I did take my husband there once. I live in the Shenandoah Valley and see the Allegheny Mtns out my front door and the Blue Ridge out my back door. So, it helps when I miss the Smokies.

    I enjoyed all your beautiful blooms!

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  9. I'm liking the reds in your garden. Dinner looks good too!

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  10. I thought the verbena was an annual until I just now looked it up for you. ha I'll have to read up on it more. Try this site: http://www.plantdelights.com/Verbena_garden_perennials/products/379/ The color I have is Sissinghurst. I see so many here I've never seen before. I've never ordered from this company before or even heard of it. It just showed up in the search engine. I'd send you some of mine but I have no idea how to do that. I'll read up on it and maybe I can find out what to do. If I remember when I'm out tomorrow, I'll stop by the greenhouse and ask the owner what his advice is.

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  11. WOW! Youre flowers are GORGEOUS!!! Not to even mention that shrimp. I'm afraid of shrimp on the barbie (ha) for fear I'll turn it into rubber LOL!

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  12. Sounds like such a wonderful 4th! The flowers are so lovely and that shrimp makes me hungry. What are chicken foot dominoes?

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  13. Dear Toni,
    Oh, my!!! I can see the 'velvet' on the lily petals! How gorgeous :) You have such beauty surrounding your home~ what a awesome God we have!!!!
    Thank you for the visits :)
    The grilled shrimp looks mighty good...just brush it with garlic butter, right? Yumm!!!
    Have a very blessed and peaceful rest of the week and weekend, friend!

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  14. Also, I would love it if you'd link this up (if you haven't already ;)<3

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  15. Thanks Jacqueline! I'm linked. I just had my sisters here so I've been absent-minded lately. Yes, the shrimp was brushed with garlic butter.

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  16. Your flowers are so beautiful. The shrimp looks very good. I like your burgundy lilies very much, too.

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Thank you for your comments!