This time last year, I was spreading one of several truck loads of garden soil to create raised beds in my garden. I had lived in my current house for 6 months, and I had just begun my efforts to transform the barren field behind my house into a natural haven. View from my screened…
Growing Comfrey in My Cottage Garden – Red Violet Flowers – A Plant with Healing Properties
Today, I planted Comfrey in My Garden ,and I Can’t Wait to Watch This Beauty Grow. Yesterday, I wrote about Mealycup Sage, which is more of a blue violet in color tone, Comfrey is red violet. I love all the tones of violet in my garden. The violets are excellent accents and/or backdrops for all…
Salvia farinacea – Mealycup Sage – A Violet Blue Perennial to Add Accents & Filler to My Cottage Garden
What a Great Day! My friend gave me two wonderful perennials to plant now in early October for glorious color in next year’s garden. She gave me some of the blue Mealycup Salvia and the yellow Stella d’Oro plants from the following bed. I am thrilled. Blue Violet and Golden Yellow are complementary colors, and…
The Book of Daniel in the Bible – with Notes
The Book of Daniel begins with a discussion of Nebuchadnezzar. Who Was Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible? “1. Sources. In addition to 2 Kings 23-25, Jeremiah 22; 32-40; 2 Chronicles 36, Daniel and Ezra, a Babylonian Chronicle (BM 21946) outlines the events of his first eleven regnal years. Otherwise two brief historical inscrs., building texts and some 800 contracts are…
The Book of Acts in the Bible – with Notes
Who Wrote the Book of Acts? Most scholars believe that Luke wrote the Book of Acts Who Was Luke in the Bible? LUKE, THE EVANGELIST 1. Identity. Luke is mentioned by name only three times in the NT—all by Paul while in prison (Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; Philem 24). He never mentions his own name in…
Roselle or Red Zinger Hibiscus – Health Benefits of Red Zinger Tea
I grew up in a cotton-picking region near the Mississippi River in America’s Southeast. Cotton plants have blooms that look like okra and native hibiscus plants. While most people grow red zinger hibiscus for its health benefits and to make red zinger tea, I grow this shrub for its flower. The health benefits are simply…
What Is a Hedgerow and Why Have a Hedgerow at the Back of Your Garden?
Goldenrod at the Very Back of Jacki Kellum Garden God planted the above stand of goldenrod next to the very back of my garden. This stand is not actually in my yard. It is at the back of an untended area at the back of my neighbor’s yard. Because I don’t have much control over…
Flowers that Bloom in My Mississippi October Garden
Hardy Pink Chrysanthemum – Jacki Kellum Garden Last spring, I planted some tiny starts of a perennial and hardy pink chrysanthemum, and it has thrived like no other plant in my garden. In fact, we suffered several days of nearly zero degree weather, sleet, and a deep freeze this past January, and my mums remained…
Studying Other Artists and Illustrators – Studying Other Writers – The Importance of Copying the Masters in Becoming Better at Your Craft
In addition to being a practicing visual artist and writer, I have taught both writing and art 3/4 of my life. Although I have NEVER allowed my students to submit a copied piece for a grade, I have always told them that copying more accomplished artists and writers is a wonderful way to learn. Many…
The Legend of the Poinsettia – Retold and Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon 1994 Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon…