I love sweet summertime watermelons. Maybe time for a trip to the farmers market.

The watermelon rind pickles I used to make was a recipe from Southern Living. Took about 3 days of cooking, changing out water and keeping in fridge. They were very very sweet. My daughter loved them.

Annie, I mailed your card today.

First ripe Violette de Bordeaux fig this year

beautiful flower on bean vine

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Junebug has another garden joke to share! What do you call a lazy bug in the garden? A slug! 🤣

It's the BINGO WORD of the DAY: Slug

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Ruth, what vine bean are you growing? The flower is very pretty. I planted some scarlet runner beans in the spring and it had started making pretty red flowers. Once the heat started though, it stopped making flowers. It's still there but not doing much. Hoping maybe it will last until summer and maybe start up again in the fall. My first time growing so I don't know.

Annie and Nicole, are you growing anything in your garden right now?

We purchased a hanging pot with petunias for the front porch a few weeks ago. To my surprise it started producing seeds so I saved a few for a later planting.

Thank you Ruth and Annie for sending our your envies! Nicole, please let us know if you were able to send out, thanks! 😃👍

Mailing out today Sharon. I made the deadline :)

I'm sorry. The prize from last month hasn't been mailed yet. It was so tiring trying to finish up with my move from my house and I have been napping and napping and sore everywhere, but glad to have that step completed. If I remember right, I signed up to be hostess in July and I should be able to manage it. Will be sure to stop in again this month, too.

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There's a lot of buzzing around Junebug's rose bushes. Colorful red, yellow and pink roses. You take a sniff of a pretty rose, and bump noses with a bumblebee! It quickly flys away.

It's the BINGO WORD of the DAY: Bumblebee

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

I have all kinds of stuff growing in my veg garden.....tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, cucumbers, onion, herbs etc.....

I did not plant lots of flowers this year. My yard is in a confused state and well, I just had to much stuff that had to be done. I am in the process of having my patio deck and pool redone.....kind of a big job. They started at the end of April and said it would probably take 2 months. I think they are moving along just fine but they will not be done by the end of the month...that is OK. I do miss swimming in the pool, especially when it is on the hot side.

Actually, I have planted several different sunflower varieties...we will see if they come to be.

I do have lots of bees buzzing around, which I love. Yes, they have kissed me a few times....LOL!

Happy day!!

Not many words for my bingo yet. Hope everyone is doing well.

My garden is doin ok, i see more caterpillars this year and its nice to see them form to monarchs. Last year, I didn't see many. But this year, i have seen about four. My sunflowers are doing well but Wally the squirrel and friend thinks its nice to take the sunflower heads off. I even have a bird feeder they can indulge but I guess its not enough so they want a buffet of my sunflowers :(

Take care everyone and make the most of each day!!

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Junebug loves party games! It's time to play "Pin the tail on the donkey"! Donkey tails are handed out. You see something written on your donkey tail.

It's the BINGO WORDS of the DAY: Green Lacewing and Silverfish

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

JUNEBUG, I love party games as well....and PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY is a favorite.

Happy day FOTESSERS!!

Junebug, I'm growing long beans. They seem to handle the heat better.

My flowers and veggies have been doing good, but now the heat and no rain is really going to affect them.

Annie, what variety of peppers and cucumbers are you growing? Aleppo is the only variety that germinated for me this year. I haven't grown cucumbers in a couple years now.

Nicole, so sorry about your sunflowers. We have plenty of squirrels here so I know how destructive they can be.

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Junebug flies blindfolded and attempts to pin the tail on the donkey. Oops, Junebug pinned the tail on a curious garden possum! It quickly scurries away.

BINGO WORDS of the DAY: Junebug and Grasshopper

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Sharon, I will finally be mailing your prize for the month of May. Sorry to be so late. I'm packing it up now and will mail it after I go for physical therapy. You have a fantastic month going as hostess. So creative!

And thanks for posting pictures, everyone. Some really nice plants! I remember watching for those hornworms. Oh, they can eat everything in sight. My neighbor gave me some tomatoes this morning. He grew them on his balcony. Maybe I will try some fall vegetables on mine and see how it goes. I've never had much luck with vegetables in containers, but a new place so maybe a new outcome. His balcony gets the same light as mine.

Nicole I got your envie today! 🥳 Love all the goodies you sent. The gnome swap envelope and notecards are adorable! I look forward to sending it out. I love pretty stationary 🥰 Thank you for the assortment of seeds and other goodies! It was fun opening everything. Thank you for an awesome envie! Made me smile 🤗

tgif everyone! Sharon, both of us received happy mail today. thank you Annie for the summer goodies! luv them all and i was cautious opening your card for some hidden confetti, hee heee.

Ur welcome Sharon and thank you for hosting this month!!

🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂

Junebug cheers as a Praying Mantis carries out a platter filled with decorative cupcakes to the garden table. 🧁 🧁 🧁 🧁 Let's have one!

BINGO WORDS of the DAY: Praying Mantis and Colorado Potato Beetle

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Junebug

Grasshopper

Good grief, the Praying Mantis in your neck of the woods is capable of carrying a platter of perrrrttttty cupcakes....LOL!!!,

Ruth, I am growing jalapeno, shishito and Trinidad Scorpian peppers.....cucumbers, I am doing quite a few of one variety, Spacemaster Bush. The last 3 or 4 years, I have had so many problems with any variety of cucumber....voles and moles remove the plants. This year I have some in containers and lots in the ground, surrounded by mint in containers and planted garlic. Moles, apparently do not like mint and garlic. I can not put the mint in the ground as it will invade and take over quickly. I remember when cucumbers were the easiest darn plant to grow. So far so good.....knock on wood!!

Happy gardening......Happy weekend!!

I had problems for years trying to grow cucumbers. It would start off good, produce maybe 1-2 cucumbers if I was lucky, then the plants would just die from disease. We have a bad powdery mildew problem for our area. Last year I tried a new variety to grow, Muncher cucumbers and it was a total success for us. Its a staple in our garden now. It produces high yields on the plants. I have already harvested over 12 cucumbers off of three plants so far. I also tried Spartan Salad cucumbers for the first time this year and it did ok. Got about four off one plant, and one off another that has since died. Don't think I will grow that variety again. I have not tried the Spacemaster bush before.

My one bell pepper plant had peppers on it and I was waiting for them to get to a good size to pick, but to my surprise, I found some of the peppers gone and one that just went to mush! I can only guess the rain we have been getting was too much for them. 🤔

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A cupcake has fallen on the ground and rolled into the bushes. A hungry earthworm wiggles it's way into the cupcake for a tasty treat!

BINGO WORDS of the DAY: Earthworm and Spider Mite

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Junebug

Grasshopper

Praying Mantis

Colorado Potato Beetle

Darn those earthworms....but I love my earthworms....never can have enough of them. They are so generous with us, I guess they deserve a sweet treat once in a while......

Ruth, got mail!! I just opened yesterdays mail................

Thank you Ruth for the lovely card, a gift certificate for a Summer beverage and seeds, reseeders Tropical Red Salvia, Blue and Purple Larkspur and Double Pink Peony Poppy. Great selection. Gosh, I love reseeders. I don't have to think about them!! And they never fail me!! Thank you....Thank you!! And one can never go wrong with a Summer beverage!!

Happy Sunday!!

Oh my forgot to post a picture of my fun from Ruth......

Hope your all having a good Sunday.

Friday we went to Weatherford and stopped at the Farmers market. Thought the Parker County peaches might be ready although the Peach Festival isn't until July 12. We did buy peaches, plums, cherries, onions, potatoes and watermelon. The peaches and plums aren't very sweet, but the watermelon and cherries are great.

Junebug, I was going to get cucumbers for your pickle recipe, but they didn't seem fresh and crisp. I did order Muncher cucumber seeds today.

Nicole, I know you love sunflowers. Do you grow them for eating the seeds or feeding the birds, or just for the beauty of the flowers? The big yellow ones make me think of a summer sunshine smile.

Annie, glad you got the card. Hope you love the reseeders as much as I do.

The original poppy seeds were given to me by the manager at Clark Gardens. I think I posted some pictures in April.

This year I'm having a hard time pulling up all the cypress vines. They reseed a little/lot too well.

Larkspur does as well, but I really love it. I just pot up a bunch of it for the plant swap.

I must have dropped a bunch of castor beans last year because I've had a lot of volunteers this year. That would be okay except they aren't where they can stay.

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Junebug is surprised by a spider stringing a fun pinata from a tree. Time to swing a stick at the candy filled PINATA! 🎉

BINGO WORDS of the DAY: Spider and Lady Bug

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Junebug

Grasshopper

Praying Mantis

Colorado Potato Beetle

Earthworm

Spider Mite

YUM....I hope the pinata is filled with chocolate, caramel and toffee.

Happy Monday Y'all

Beating the heck out of a Pinata is a blast of fun!!! Hey Ruth, maybe there is $$$$ keeping the candy company inside the Pinata too!! Some toffee is sounding really good right now....LOL! Junebug, you are doing a mighty fine job....great party!!

Ruth, I just received a very cute birthday card from you....and a nice little tuck in!! Thanks so very much!!

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You spin around in a circle with the stick then WHACK the pinata! Candy flies everywhere! Everyone cheers 🥳 and a surprise ice cream birthday cake is brought out for Annie! Junebug and all the party guests excitedly sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Annie! 🎉🎉🎉

BINGO WORDS of the DAY: White Moth and Nematode

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Junebug

Grasshopper

Praying Mantis

Colorado Potato Beetle

Earthworm

Spider Mite

Spider

Lady Bug

wahooo Annie!! happy happy Birthday to you! May your day be filled with laughter/joy/happiness/moments being created to cherish for a lifetime/God Bless!!!

I need four more words for bingo. Happy Tuesday Everyone!!

Happy Birthday Annie

Junebug and guests, THANKS for the birthday wishes!!

Happy day ladies!

🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

A group of beetles start bouncing on balloons and have a fun bouncing race! We laugh at their silly actions.

BINGO WORDS of the DAY: Ground Beetle and Soldier Beetle

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Junebug

Grasshopper

Praying Mantis

Colorado Potato Beetle

Earthworm

Spider Mite

Spider

Lady Bug

White Moth

Nematode

Hope you had a nice birthday Annie!

Its been so hot over here. Its even hot and humid after the short rain showers we have been getting. I spotted a caterpillar on my dill plant out in the garden. I think its the one that makes a butterfly after? I let it be as I harvested alot of dill already and was just letting it go to seed.

Anyone close to bingo?

Yes, I think that caterpillar turns into the beautiful black swallowtail.

I've seen a few of those and a lot of other butterflies in my yard so far this year. They love the blue mist flower and lantana.

The phlox are blooming now and I usually see a lot of Tiger swallowtails on it.

When I was getting tomatoes off the vine a couple days ago, a dragonfly was on the tomato plant. It didn't move so I just left that tomato. I took a picture, but it's hard to see the dragonfly.

Yesterday there was a Common Whitetail Dragonfly going from the monarda flowers to a small pole and back for hours. I didn't try to get a picture of it. Haven't seen it today.

I'm seeing a lot of cardinals and doves in the back yard today. Still not a lot of hummingbirds.

I think I need three more words for bingo.

Yesterday I made Key Lime Pie bars. What's your favorite Key Lime recipe?

Happy Wednesday everyone.

🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

One of the balloons pops and startles a caterpillar nearby!

BINGO WORDS of the DAY: Caterpillar and Hornworm

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Junebug

Grasshopper

Praying Mantis

Colorado Potato Beetle

Earthworm

Spider Mite

Spider

Lady Bug

White Moth

Nematode

Ground Beetle

Soldier Beetle

Annie, you must like hot peppers with those peppers in your garden. What do you use them for? I mainly grow bell peppers and paprika peppers. I have one plant of heatless jalapeño, my first time growing so don't know how it tastes yet.

Ruth, I have never tried making key lime pie before. Looks yummy though!

Nicole, were you able to get any sunflowers seeds? I did not know squirrels would do that to the sunflowers! Crazy squirrels lol. We use to have a pear tree in our front yard at the old house and the squirrels loved eating on the pears.

Happy Thursday Everyone!

One more bingo word to gooooo!!!

Yes, thankgoodness I planted more sunflowers and did succession planting so I can have enough sunflowers to share. I think the easiest part is getting the seeds. The hard part is growing the plant with so many obstacles that come its way.

Where did the time go? Its almost the end of June.

Take care of everyone!

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Junebug had a wonderful time at the garden party and is so happy you came! Hope you enjoyed the party 🥰

BINGO WORDS of the DAY:

Lady Beetle and Weevil

Previous words posted:

Gypsy Moth

Honeybee

Mexican Bean Beetle

Squash Bug

Aphid

Butterfly

Wasp

Japanese Beetle

Cabbage Worm

Slug

Bumblebee

Green Lacewing

Silverfish

Junebug

Grasshopper

Praying Mantis

Colorado Potato Beetle

Earthworm

Spider Mite

Spider

Lady Bug

White Moth

Nematode

Ground Beetle

Soldier Beetle

Caterpillar

Hornworm

Bingo :)

TGIF

Wooohooo Congrats Nicole!

Congratulations Nicole.

Junebug, thank you for the invite to your party. It was a blast of fun, bugs and all!! You made every day rather interesting. I never new bugs had it in them to do what they did during the month of June......Sharon nicely played!!

Nicole, congratulations on your BINGO win!!

Happy weekend to all.

Thank you ladies for coming to Junebug's garden party and making my first swap a success! 🥳 Looks like everyone received their swap envie, thank you!

Nicole I will mail out your Bingo prize next week.

Have a wonderful summer everyone and stay cool!

Jeanne will be hosting our July swap. Hope to see you there!

Junebug, so sorry, I forgot to respond to your pepper Q.

I use them is salsas, beans, chili, stir fry's, meatloaf, foods that I want a little pickup.....I have never found any jalapeno that is really hot. But hot is certainly different to different people. I have learned to know my "audience" when using hot peppers. Some people can not even handle a mild jalapeno. I have dried peppers as well. Ruth grows many hot peppers as well.......Ruth what do you do with your peppers.

Last of the month already. What a party it was. Thank you for the invitation, Junebug.

Great month! Sorry I haven't been in to visit more but if all goes according to plan my house will finally be for sale later this week. Feels like such a milestone. Hope it sells soon. I will miss having the garden and miss the neighbors, but I think a house that large needs a family. Just hope the new owner loves it. I would have stayed there longer except it was getting to be a lot to keep up with and I know it's even more of this getting older ahead.

Okay, enough of that. I am hostess for July and will do my best to get the new heading listed tomorrow. Should work out if nothing unforeseen pops onto my calendar.

Junebug aka Sharon, thanks again for a wonderful 30 day party.......

I love parties that keep going and going!!!

Happy July to all......

Thanks ladies! It was fun hosting 😃👍 I just finished transplant some dwarf tomato plants to the garden as it wasn't doing much in the small containers I had them in. Also restarted some thyme seeds as my single transplant was disturbed and died. I think one of my chickens did the chicken scratch on top of it lol. Gonna put them in a more secure spot this time! Hope everyone's summer gardens are coming along. I am so ready for the heat to move along 😂

Nicole, I have your Bingo envie ready and put out for the mailman to pickup. Thanks everyone for joining in on the bingo game 🤗

Thank you for being hostess. You were very create and did a great job!

The July Swap is posted.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6501220/july-fotess-games-activities-stars-and-stripes#n=0

Thanks Sharon for my prize, luv the lemon sunflower seeds (one of my favorite flowers) and your durango red marigold that you homegrown!! Thank you for hosting this month!!