Thursday, October 2, 2014

All Hail The Kale!

I have really fought hard
to keep SUMMER alive here.
How do I know that 
FALL is REALLY HERE?
It's the KALE!
Yes it is!
I bought 2 containers 
that each had 4 plants in them.
They were on sale 
mid summer and were pretty
PUNY looking.

I separated them and planted them
in three windowboxes.
I cannot believe how big and healthy they are!
 And while the KALE is flourishing
the ferns are starting to
WAVE GOOD-BYE.
They performed beautifully this summer
with all the rain and cool weather we had.
I am going to miss them.

What I WON'T miss are the 
MOSQUITOES.
Now---I  have a question for you---
WHAT KIND OF IDIOT
lets you take a picture of a mosquito
on his hand?

Don't ask!

your photo name

57 comments:

vivian said...

LOL!! some one that wants to humor you obviously.
most of my plants are definitely in the end zone!
have a great weekend
xoxo
vivian

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

My fern and urn plants are hanging in there, Diana. I almost wish they'd go already so I could just go get a pumpkin to plop down on top of the urn. I just can't bring myself to rip them out though until they are about done. Maybe this weekend since the temps are supposed to drop considerably Friday night.

Anonymous said...

Hi Diana! Oh, I love that kale and it looks like it's having a great time hanging out at your place. Mosquitoes! How I hate those little boogers. Well, they are so much smaller here in New York compared to south Texas and giving out a Texas hoot! :) Hope you're doing well and I've missed you.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Pam Kessler said...

I'm itching just looking at that last photo! Glad your kale is going strong. I love that stuff (not to eat, just look at)!

Ron said...

I love kale chips and kale salad. Enjoy the beauty of kale! And swat that lil sucker!

Maria Elena said...

Your kale looks wonderful. Yes, it is easy to see now that the seasons are starting to change. Still pretty hot in Texas and those mosquitoes just won't move away. :) Ours are X Large! LOL

Our Hopeful Home said...

I didn't know kale was a warm weather plant! I always assumed it was for colder temps in the fall. I do love seeing it in fall porch displays. I hear baked kale chips are good for you. Think I'll stick with my not-so-good-for-you sea salt kettle chips!
xoKathleen

Miss Kitty said...

Oh my gosh! I thought that was a stock photo you go somewhere on the internet...did you take that? Sorry for the fellow that had to get a mosquito bite/blood suck but really that is a great photo of such a little creature. Well, we have lots OF them down here in Alabama but I hear y'all grow them pretty BIG up there. Your kale seems like it is having its last hooray and loving the cooler weather.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

LOL!!! The kale looks beautiful Diana!!

Leslie Anne Tarabella said...

WOW! You caught that mosquito in the full action of digging in! Good one!

Susie said...

Diana, Your plants look so good. I have one kale plant ,LOL. Pitiful. I only bought one because I wanted to see how well they grow. Now that I see yours, I wish I had more. Hope things are running smoothly there. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

Kelly said...

I love how pretty Kale looks! I didn't even know you could buy it in the summer.

Down On The Farm said...

I know nothing about kale. In fact, I've never even seen it before. And no, I've never eaten it lol! My ferns are still hanging on as well, and as another commenter said, I'm ready to put a pumpkin there too, but I just can't pull them out as long as they look so good! Have a blessed day!!!

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

The kale is gorgeous! xoxo

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home said...

Your kale is so pretty! I have been looking for some to put with my outdoor pumpkins....no luck so far! Hugs, Penny

Barbara @ 21 Rosemary Lane said...

Your kale looks lovely Diana!!! Summer is slowly slipping away here as well although I am still out in the garden picking tomatoes off of dying vines. Time to embrace the season of autumn! LOL not sure what kind of idioit would let a mosquito sit on his/her hand for a picture, but apparently it is someone you know!
Have a great day!!!
XO Barbara

Nellie said...

Lovely Kale, Diana. I've never tried to grow that here. We have the garden kale that we love in salads and sauteed with garlic! I'd not be still long enough for that mosquito to land! xo Nellie

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

I always look forward to adding some kale to my pots in the fall, so many varieties! They don't show up at the garden centers here until September and you need to get them quick as they disappear fast!

Musings from Kim K. said...

What gorgeous kale! Goodbye mosquitoes! I'm ready to be done with those nasty things. Josie is so allergic to them.

Simply LKJ said...

Yes, will be replacing our summer plants this weekend. Actually looking for to a different look.

Kim said...

I guess there really is a season for everything! My zinnias, morning glories and daisies are still going strong, blooming with such color. Everybody else has started to fade, getting ready to hibernate for the cold. I am looking forward to the mums and their rich colors and yes, to saying goodbye to the mosquitoes and those teeny tiny beach gnats. I will not miss them at all! Happy October!

Jane@Bluebird1959 said...

Love the kale! My ferns are going gangbusters right now...but we've got some windy, cold, and rainy coming tomorrow which could spell the end. I am going to try overwintering one if them indoors although that has been a fail in the past! Have a great weekend, Jane

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I won't miss the mosquitos either! The kale is beautiful!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your big fern sure is pretty, too! We'll have summer time a little longer I think! lol But I love it! Enjoy your day sweet one. Hugs, Diane

SImple and Serene Living said...

Your kale looks beautiful. No, no, no on the mosquito. 88 degrees today. Going down to 37 on Saturday. SIGH!!! xo Laura

Stephanie said...

haha. . . Your Kale is beautiful, Diana. It's 33 degrees here this morning with snow covering the mountains just above us - I think my plants are probably all dead now... Hugs to you :)

Tessa~ Here there be musing said...

Those pretty colored kale... So great, for decoration.

As to the mosquito pic, it had to be a scientist, proving something.

But I didn't click on the source link.

One thing though, if it has a source link, it can NOT be of your "long suffering" husband!!! -giggggggggggggles-

Happy October,
Tessa~
"Here there be musing" blog

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

You are to funny..... only you would think of that. I needed that this morning - a needed good chuckle this morning.
Have a great day and thanks for making my day.
Mary

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

Kale is so pretty with all those colors. Ugh...don't even get me started on all the mosquitoes! It's definitely "mosquito season" here. Hope you're having a great day!

Gina said...

I love your pretty kale! So colorful!

Linda said...

The kale is beautiful......I'll have to remember it next year.

Nonnie said...

Awwww, come on. Do tell about the idiot!!
Will the kale last through the winter?

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Diana,
Your Kale looks amazing, my parents always grew it in their flower beds. A pretty sign of Autumn, I'd always wanted to plant it but with my Postal stamp sized lawn and my boxwoods I will just need to admire others Kale. So today I worked outside, made homemade chicken noodle soup (Philly is finally feeling a taste of Fall with it being 68 today) then I logged into my dashboard and got excited to see that you posted. So I come down to the last photo and I choked in laughter!!!!
xoxo,
Vera

Anonymous said...

Your kale is a beautiful delight. Dutch people eat it.
They cook it twice as it is strong kale.
Cook your potatoes. They use dutch meat like the sausages like a hot dog. Or you may call then Knockers.
Then you make gravy or have gravy already made. So with your potatoes cooked and hot and your meat. And your kale cooked. You have it all on oyur plate for your meal. Then you pour hot gravy over it. The men also like to take a slice of bread on bottom and it all on top and then the gravy. If you have a dutch friend. I am sure she can tell you this way but much easier. Oh my is it delicious.

chateau chic said...

Your kale is so beautiful!!
Mary Alice

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

Diana, will you eat it or just decorate with it? I've planted it for years in a mixture of decorative plants and didn't know it was kale. duh!

Donna said...

How pretty! So will you be eating it? I know that kale is supposed to be good for you, but it doesn't SOUND good! Give me spinach any day!!

Heaven's Walk said...

What a great idea for color all year long, Diana! The purple is so pretty! Yes, thing are winding down here, too. Although my 'Million Bells' hanging baskets are still going strong. I'll miss their flouncy, ruffly little purple-pink flowers out my windows. I don't think our grass has been this green this time of year in a lonnnng time. The wet, cool summer was wonderful to keep it healthy looking. :) Hope all with you on that side of the lake, girlie!

xoxo laurie

Merlesworld said...

The mozzies are here, did you send them. The kale look good.
Merle............

God's Grace Overflows said...

My, oh my... what beautiful Kale you have! Will you be eating it or just leaving it as a pretty plant? I'm hoping all our "flying pests" have died for the year. We are finally getting some cooler weather here, I mean if you call high 60's to low 70's cool! All is well here, getting the guys ready for hunting. They'll be leaving sooner than I'm ready for! Pray they get their tags filled!

Many Blessings to you, Diana!

Hugs,
Amy

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Diana, your kale is beautiful and healthy. I hope they stay this way throughout the season. My ferns are still doing well but we are still in the 80's. We have summer with a fall wind and today a big storm with hail and high winds. It sent patio furniture flying~~~
Hey, swat that squitter~~ our town tested positive for west nile. No chances here for a photo shoot! LOL
Hugs xoxo

living from glory to glory said...

Hello, I think Kale is such a pretty plant! And really good for you, but I have not eaten much of it myself! Yes who would stand still and let that pesky thing take their blood???
We had a huge problem with the flies this last month! We are also starting very cool mornings, freezing temps soon!
So glad you were able to go to the funeral, your a very special lady!
Love, Roxy

Sherry @ Thrift My House said...

That's some pretty kale... and the mosquitoes here will carry you off! They're huge. I can't even drink coffee on the porch :-( I'm so ready for cold weather.

Gypsy Heart said...

Beautiful plants! Can you move the ferns inside for the winter? I love them but they seem to come to my house to die. I told you we'd be great gardeners together. :)

xo
Pat

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

The kale must've liked where they were planted! Maybe the fern can join you in the sewing room? We were getting bit by Mosquitos last weekend when it warmed up. Now we're getting rain overload!

This N That said...

Some paper will do anything to have their picture taken. LOL. The Kale is beautiful. One of my fall favorites. Have a good evening.

Joy Junktion said...

I was out in my yard this morning as finally able to start getting ready to plant for fall, winter and spring! Can't grow much of anything around here in the summer (too hot), going to the nursery this weekend to buy some flowers and plants! Your Kale looks good enough to eat :) Now, about that 'person' with the mosquito............ Blessings, Cindy

Cranberry Morning said...

I love flowering kale! I wish I had remembered to plant it this year. And I have fried up kale with chicken sausage, onion, and sweet potato. Yummy!

LostRoses said...

Gorgeous kale! Clever of you to buy them early. I've moved seven potted ferns indoors for the winter. They're such a pain to keep them going but I'm always glad in the spring.

sweetvintageofmine said...

LOVE your Kale....it's so pretty! I don't eat it, just enjoy decor-ing it!! Blessings~~~Roxie

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

Are you eating the kale?

My Garden Diaries said...

Love that festive kale friend! And I will not miss the mosquitos either! Happy weekend friend! Nicole

Mindy said...

Being the obsessive gardener that I am, I had never grown kale before. I bought three ornamental kale for the first time ever this year. I'm pretty excited to see how they do. I blame the blog for the shift to fall gardening. I am a fair weather gardener at best.

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Diana, the kale is really beautiful. I love when I see it, but I never think to plant it for decorations. And maybe the skeeter was too busy posing and not thinking about biting. Is the idiot (your words, not mine) a mosquito whisperer?..Happy Thursday..Judy

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Hi Diana, wow your kale is so pretty and I love them when my gardener plants them with the mums in my garden for fall. Have a nice fall weekend.
Julie

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

I have never planted Kale. I am sad about saying goodbye to my ferns too!
Blessings,
Cindy

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

The same kind od idiots that allow themselves to be covered in bees? That gives me the creeps! I love the colors of the kale! I think I'm going to get some mums and kale this week and do a little fall decorating before it gets too late. I resisted for a while, but the weather is telling me that it's time. Big sigh, no more summer. Oh well, at least I still have my flip flops! LOL Hugs, Leena