I had this African violet for quite a while and it was all wilting and dying. Our credit union president at work has several beautiful blooming violets in his office. I asked him how he gets them to grow so good. He said I should put mine inside a bigger container and put the water in the outside container. Here it is three months later starting to bloom and looking pretty healthy. My Mom always had such beautiful African violets and now I will too. I guess you just have to listen to the growing secrets. 

Here's Owen and that's the Pumpkin Patch garden behind him. The pink flowers to the right are Gaura...watch for them next year, they're the up and coming perennial for 2005. I missed altogether the flowers behind him, they are hardy Hybiscus. Well that's about it, looks like Owen wants me to pick him back up. Happy gardening! Sure is a beautiful fall in WIsconsin. 

It's been quite a summer. I was given a few tiny tomatoe plants at the end of July. They were heirloom and I don't know what kind they are. I figured I wouldn't get any tomatoes but as you can see in the picture I have a regular crop of tomato. Having the tree fall in the yard and the flood in the basement further delayed gardening and also the discouragement that went with it all. But I've started back taking care of the yard again and while it doesn't look great, it's becoming presentable. I have my little secret garden back in place and like to sit there and read or daydream, sometimes I even garden.  

The zoo garden has really grown a lot. I think maybe the Spider flowers are a little overwhelming for it though. They are just annuals so they won't come up again next year. I sure have been able to save a lot of seeds though.

Today Owen and I visited the animals at the Wild Life Sanctuary. Here he is shown with a Bobcat with a barrier in between them. Also there were wolves, ravens, fischers, a show off fox that loved having his picture taken, and a deer that came right up to Owen so Owen could touch his nose. Owen especially like the Raven because it was flying around. His parents picked him up shortly after we got back home. He was so sleepy. 

I turned 64 on August 31st. Only 18 months until I retire. Here are a few of my birthday gifts. It was a great day. 

This is the picture I've been looking for, for quite some time. Found it today, although not in the best of conditions. Got it anyway. It's called The Angelus. Hope to get a better copy someday.