This is a picture of my mother-in-law’s backyard taken several years ago.  She had this beautiful clematis vine, but someone trimmed it back too much and it never has been this full again.

I tried to grow a clematis vine here in Texas once, but it didn’t last long.  I think the direct sun and heat was too much for it.  If I ever decide to try growing one again, I think I’ll plant it in a mostly shady area.

These flowers are from my backyard.  They are not just any flowers…the original bulbs belonged to my grandmother (my daddy’s mother) years and years ago.   My grandparents lived out on the farm, and I’m told my grandmother had these flowers planted by their house.

My mother got bulbs from my grandmother’s garden, and then many years later I got some bulbs from my mother.  I hope to eventually give some to our daughter to plant at her house.  That would be the fourth generation.  What would really be neat would be to take a picture of the grandbabies in front of these flowers that came from their great, great grandmother’s garden.  That would be a special picture!

Some of my favorite lights are the solar powered led lights that are used outside in gardens and flower beds.  I wish we had more of these and plan to eventually get more.  They are really great because they are practically maintenance free.  Our friends have quite a few in their garden area, and the soft light is very inviting.  It’s just the right amount of light to sit outside and enjoy the evening.

I got these directions with some flowers one time, and I think these are good so I’ll share with you:

• Start with a clean vase.  (I clean my clear vases in the dishwasher.  If I can’t do that, then I’ll soak the inside of the vase with white vinegar and water.  Martha Stewart said one time that flower vases should be clean enough to drink out of – that’s before the flowers are added.)  
• Use warm water to fill the vase.  
• Add flower food to the water.  
• The next part is real important.  Remove all foliage below the water level.  (Otherwise, the leaves will start to rot in the water and the flowers won’t last as long.)  
• Recut the stems on an angle.
• Place flowers in vase and enjoy!
• For long lasting flowers, change the water and recut the stems daily.

My flower garden is in need of work.  I have worked in the front yard flower beds and they’re OK.  But our back yard definitely needs improvement.  Our Crepe Myrtle trees need to be trimmed as well as some other things.  It has been so dry here in Texas that the trees are not blooming as much, and neither are the Canna lilies.  The Day lilies are not blooming at all.  Maybe I need some garden decor to brighten up my backyard?