Inside things today

Hello, my friends.  Today is one of those "inside days" as the weather has turned cold overnight.  Yesterday it was mild and sunny, today chilly and windy.  Doing "inside things" today, cleaning up a bit, put in a load of laundry and watering my thirsty house plants.

I try to remember to water my plants every week but that doesn't always happen.  I add all-purpose plant food year round, do you?   

 Since Mourning Dove Cottage doesn't have a lot of inside light, I am surprised how well these few plants are doing.  I keep them near different windows in the house.  

My Christmas cactus had beautiful pink flowers this year.  Made me very happy!  

So I'll be doing more inside things today but tomorrow, for sure, I'll be in the garden.  Warmer temps and time to start planting the veggie garden.  

Enjoy your day!  

Catching rainwater

I've been watering the garden and all my hanging plants with rainwater collected from our rain barrel. These past few weeks have been brutal and everything is so dry from the heat. Yesterday was 102 degrees and the next few days will be the same.

I can't say I like the looks of these barrels (not to mention where to hide them) but when it comes time to give my poor thirsty dried up plants a drink, I am very thankful for this ugly black barrel.

Right now I am waiting for a break in this heat and for some cool refreshing raindrops to fall.

Outside In

Today I moved some of my houseplants indoors. I usually take them outside over the summer months and they seem to grow twice the size by the time I bring them in come fall.


This is a huge philodendron I've had for years, and although it loses some of its leaves during the winter months inside, it grows twice as many leaves the next summer when I move it outside to the back porch.



The Christmas Cactus always seems to do better when it's been outside in filtered light during the summer.

This is a ponytail palm that has gotten so much healthier outside this summer. I keep it on the patio.

Did you know plants are healthy to have inside your home? They remove toxic air, and the healthier the plant, the more purifying. They are also known to bring about a calmer and more optimistic atmosphere, reducing fatigue and cold-related illnesses. So what could be better? You get beautiful year round foliage and a healthy happy home!

Now, I just have to find a place to put them.