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Melody Leftwich z8 TX
- Female
- Plano, TX
- United States
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- Blog Posts (12)
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Melody Leftwich z8 TX's Groups
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Frugal Gardening
352 members
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Square Foot Gardening
128 members
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Book Reviews and Recomme…
51 members
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Xeriscaping
61 members
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BUGS-The Good, The Bad &…
170 members
Melody Leftwich z8 TX's Page
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Interactive Activity
For a barrel, go to your local car wash. They some times will give them away. I know the barrels at my local car wash are white so.....they may need to be sanded a little so the paint will cling to the surface and then paint it black to keep out the…
love the water saving tips
Wow...my first time to see Bluebonnets! Am from MI and live in TN...never have seen them before...! THANK YOU FOR POSTING SO I CAN SEE THEM! Made my day!
A little late in the season but we are still having mosquitoes in the yard..I have a very fragrant scented geranium. I can pinch off a leaf and rub the oil on my legs and arms and the mosstquitos stay away. This is the most fragrant geranium I have…
I have Preserving Summer's Bounty. I recommend saving your money. It doesn't have all that many recipes and I was surprised that it was lacking in pickle and tomato recipes. I agree with the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving though. It's MUCH mo…
This is great information. I have a cookout coming up and I've been concerned about the mosquitoes. We've had so much rain, they are everywhere. I've been experimenting with vinegar and water spray as a repellent. Has anyone tried this? At first the…
Have you ever heard of composting kitchen wastes with black soldier fly larvae?
Yesterday I opened the plastic bin where we put all our scraps (so the dogs don't eat them) and I saw hundreds of these disgusting wiggly grubs devouring cantaloupe rin…
I wish I lived close to you so I could come and help-- I, too am a cancer survivor. Cervical cancer, has been in remission since the end of 2002. Is there not one of your neighbors that have some early teen boys that would like to earn $10 for doing…
Um, Carolyn? Try putting the water in first, leaving it alone for three days to get rid of the chlorine, then add the compost and wait another three days. The initial chlorine in the water kills most of the beneficial bacteria you want. For a specia…
Arrrgh! I'm not allowed to travel yet or I'd be making hotel reservations so fast the net would crash! Lady Bird Johnson is and was my hero. Sigh. Go for me huh?
And thanks for the welcomes!
Okay, now on to personal mosquito protection. Did you know that mosquitoes don't like vanilla or mint? A little vanilla or mint extract (say a teaspoon in an 8 ounce bottle of water) sprayed on you or your clothes will make them find somebody else--…
I just wanted to say I hope your recovery continues to go well. Take care and take it slowly. You will be able to do things just may be differently.
Glad you are mending and hope you continue to take it easy. I know it is hard to just sit back and watch but sometimes we are meant to do just that. After my car accident I didn't realize that I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THINGS ANYMORE AND THOUGHT I WA…
Profile Information
- Skill level
- Intermediate
- What kind of gardening do you like to do?
- Easy, care-free, xeriscape, native gardening with organics
- How much time do you spend a week on average in your garden?
- In or On? Every minute I'm allowed to and just enough to keep it going pretty.
Why I garden
I garden to combat depression and keep moving. I find it very therapeutic in the doing and the enjoying. I spend at least an hour every day on my patio swing admiring God's handiwork and listening (and watching) the birds. Wildlife is a delight to be worked with and sometimes around (rabbits!). If you've never seen a red-tailed hawk swoop in for the kill on a rabbit just feet away from you, I can only say it's an exciting, appalling and heart stirring sight. I see unusual and beautiful things everytime I step outside (last week I spotted a feral ferret at the mall)! I prefer organics and natives but I'm not rabid about either. They're just the right choice for me.
Melody Leftwich z8 TX's Photos
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Melody Leftwich z8 TX's Blog
Still Around but as predicted, I have a lot to get re-planted.
Hi everyone! Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm still around but recovery is unbelievably slow. The arm can tolerate keyboarding now at least for a while (not the hours it used to get yet though). For those puzzled by this. I had a breast reconstruction using the latissimus muscle from my back/shoulder area. They scraped it off my shoulder and upper arm and "flipped" it around under my arm to create a pocket for an implant. I won't bore everyone with the entire story of the whys/wherefores of h… Continue
Posted on July 22, 2009 at 10:24am — 3 Comments
Going Offline for a Bit
Just wanted to let everyone know I'll be offline for at least a week and possibly more. I'm going in the hospital for breast reconstruction. While my mostly grown kids have promised to water my garden I doubt they'd be much help answering questions or admiring your beautiful gardens. Their plans run more to playing XBOX, watching movies and eating junk food. No worries, I'll be fine and back before you know it. Meanwhile, mosey over to Connie's page if you need help--she's a pretty savvy lady!… Continue
Posted on June 17, 2009 at 4:35pm — 5 Comments
The American Garden
Just read a fascinating article on The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's "Green Scene" website about the American Style garden. It mentions our fascination with English Gardens and Japanese Zen Gardens and asks "What's the American Garden?"
It goes on to mention that peculiarly American custom I'd never even realized was American--The Mailbox Garden. So how many of you have a "mailbox garden"? I've been toying with the idea of making one in my garden planning for Fall and I'd like your input… Continue
It goes on to mention that peculiarly American custom I'd never even realized was American--The Mailbox Garden. So how many of you have a "mailbox garden"? I've been toying with the idea of making one in my garden planning for Fall and I'd like your input… Continue
Posted on June 12, 2009 at 5:02pm — 6 Comments
It's Wasp Season
I stepped out on the patio this morning and saw my first wasp nest ever here at the new house. In some ways this was a welcome sight as it confirms that biodiversity is returning to my home. Also, I realized that more troops have volunteered in my fight against the harmful insects that were a serious problem here last year.
Wasps are one of the most beneficial critters you can have! They go after harmful insects like tomato hornworms, cabbage loopers, black widow spiders, ants, aphids and many… Continue
Wasps are one of the most beneficial critters you can have! They go after harmful insects like tomato hornworms, cabbage loopers, black widow spiders, ants, aphids and many… Continue
Posted on June 1, 2009 at 2:00pm —
Corn Gluten Meal--The Organic Choice for "Weed & Feed"
If you have ever looked at those chemical "weed & feed" products longingly--I've got a revelation for you. They neither weed nor feed very well. Problem is that for the "weed" portion to be effective you have to spread it before weed seeds germinate--well before grass can use the "feed" portion. If you wait for the grass to actually need fertilizer it's way too late to use a pre-emergent.
Don't despair though, there is one thing that does the job beautifully: Corn Gluten Meal.
Corn Gluten… Continue
Don't despair though, there is one thing that does the job beautifully: Corn Gluten Meal.
Corn Gluten… Continue
Posted on May 27, 2009 at 11:49pm — 4 Comments
Comment Wall (66 comments)
- At 5:37pm on September 27, 2009,
Connie Kupke Z8 TX said…
- Hey girl, are you still out there??? I have been worried about cha.
- At 9:28am on September 18, 2009,
Lisa Dent said…
- Melody, do you know were to look for Iris informatioon. i have several hundred iris that I am making an Axillary garden, but the area has a lot of weeds. my husband said to run land scape fabric, but I am afraid of heat, and mold. Any suggestions?
- At 1:06pm on July 14, 2009,
claire said… - Hope you are healing well.
While others admire my heavily planted urban gardens, and see it as part and parcel of me being an artist, I create it and art as counter depression. Gardening, life of plants have enlivening effect. Nature being the cosmic partner in my garden adds hope and spirituality, relieves my chronic sadness . And I'm darned proud of how excessive the small spaces are. Will put up pictures.
Yayyy for plants and trees, finally respected for role in healthy earth.
- At 3:41am on July 6, 2009,
Norma Singleterry TxZn9 said… - Hi Melody...thanks for letting us know how you are doing. You are in my prayers and I look forward to you being back. Take special care of yourself and may your days be restful. Miss ya.
- At 9:31pm on June 29, 2009,
Barbara zn8 VA said…
- Hope this message finds you well!
- At 5:53pm on June 25, 2009,
Connie Kupke Z8 TX said…
- Hey, how are you?
Dr. Perry was not convinced there were any real issues, but wants to do a follow-up mammo/sono in a month to compare the the recent digital films. I was a bad girl and hadn't had a mammogram since 1997, before they were ditigal. Most likely I will not even need one of those stereotactic biopsys like the first radiologist recommended.
Hope you are recovering well!!!!! I miss you!
- At 7:42pm on June 20, 2009,
Connie Kupke Z8 TX said…
- Hi, how are you doing? Been thinking about cha.
My doc put a referral in to a surgeon in Denton named Carey Perry. I will have to go with what my insurance will pay for. Most likely my problems are cysts, but if not, I will do more research before I accept any care.
- At 11:36pm on June 19, 2009,
shirley 7B NTX said… - Take care girl, I'll miss ya and all the research you help me with. And all you contribute to this web site.
- At 8:42pm on June 18, 2009,
judi comisky said… - Hi Melody Sending well wishes your way!! Hope you feel better real soon!! Char was right, WE DO NEED YOU!! Judi and Roofus Too
- At 7:13am on June 18, 2009,
Char Smith said… - Melody,
You WILL CERTAINLY be MISSED! TAKE care, get well soon and HURRY bad, we NEED you here!
Char
Interactive Activity
Lydia, it sounds like you have a much bigger groundhog problem than I do! Funny thing is that our groundhog does not touch the tomatoes (although the chipmunks eat the ones that hang low on the plants). I guess that's because he is so obsessed with…
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mia and Tanya. These busy eaters will pretty much polish off all the Passion Vine leaves. Not to worry, they come back with a 'passion.'
Pretty boisterous thunderstorms in the middle of last night. Hubby slept through it. Our lovable mutt Rudy had to be sedated.. poor baby but he was fine then. JoJo, our 7 mo. old goldendoodle almost bounced off the bed when one super loud thunder cl…
We have had emails asking if we are gardeners well how is this our family farm 5 generations good enough.
love the hairstreak's antannae...black/white and black with a yellow tip..is that cool or waht???
Thank you Judi & Fred! :)
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