I think this variety of sunflower got its name of Velvet Queen because the petals are so velvety soft. Isn’t it nice that sunflowers come in such a variety of sizes and colors?
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Hydrangeas in Antique Colors
This is the second set of pillowcases I’ve embroidered. Hydrangeas, by Dimensions. Of course, I couldn’t use the colors recomended on the package, no siree. I had to choose my own, you know. Actually, now that they are done, I’m not sure hydrangea flowers really come in these colors, but they have that nice, soft, old fashioned feel that I wasn’t getting from the more, shall we say, vibrant colors on the package.
I used:
DMC pink 223
DMC purple 3740
DMC green 3364
DMC yellow 437
And, since there is a matching dresser scarf, you know I had to buy that for a future project. I guess I’d better keep a close eye on who selects which set of pillowcases from my basket this Christmas, so I know who to give the matching pieces to next year.
Oliver and the Cherry Tomato
Oli, can you catch?
Oh, no! Where’d it go? It bounced off your big chompers. Do you see it? Your tomato is on the glider, hiding under the edge of the pillow.
Don’t worry, sweet puppy, mommy’ll get it for you.
Collecting Cosmos Seeds
As far as I can tell, this is one single cosmos plant. It will bloom continuously all summer, and into early autumn.
And what pretty blooms they are.
I have mostly orange ones, but cosmos comes in all kinds of colors: red, orange, yellow, white, pink, purple…
Most of the orange cosmos I have in the yard this year are from seeds that I collected from last year, or ones that have self-seeded the last two years. I only ever bought one packet of all orange cosmos, three years ago. The seeds are so easy to harvest that I don’t see myself ever buying cosmos seeds again. Unless I want a color other than orange.
I did still have one packet in my seed box, that was left over from 2005, of a cosmos mix. It is Burpee’s Cosmos Bright Lights Mix. Since it has reds, oranges and yellows, I’m going to try to collect seeds mostly from the patch where I planted these. That way, I’ll have more of a variety next year.
Cucumbers Are Taking Over
There are two cucumber plants at the front, going like they are on sterorids, and one at the back, growing on the trellis at a normal pace. They are climbing all over the tomato cages, smothering out everything in its way, creeping out onto the sidewalk.
Between these three cucumber plants, I’ve gotten more cucs than I know what to do with. Every day I’m picking 4 to 6 cucumbers. Every. Day.
So cucumbers straight up, with dip, in salad. Cucumber salad. What else?
Green Bungalow Craftworks 
