It's Tuesday.. Do you see what I see?

"To be a poet is a condition, not a profession." ~ Robert Frost

"I went down and had a friendly reunion with the constellations.... I get a wonderful peace and the most exquisite pleasure from my friendship with the stars."
~ Ellen Glasgow

If we could destroy custom at a blow and see the stars as a child sees them, we should need no other apocalypse.
~ Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Hi and welcome to another Tuesday with a couple of pictures for you to examine and make a guess.. I have to thank my sister-in- law Camella for actually making these two "what is it" Pictures for me.. My sad little camera couldn't see as well as hers could.. I knew that you would never be able to guess from my sad little pictures.. Thanks Camella!
this first one surprised Dave and I.. we did plant it.... but it grew where it wanted to instead of where we had planned for it to grow.. These items used to be commonly planted by all homesteads.. Every body needed them.. You may even recognize this thing that hangs from the top of a tree in this picture.. Can you tell me not only what it is but also what kind... and what it was used for?? I grow several different varieties of them most years but this year I only planted one.. It is also edible although I don't eat it..... I thought it had failed me since it decided to grow where it pleased instead of where I planted it..{Update~ It's gourds~ Dipper gourds in fact!}

I was looking up in an old cherry tree that overhangs the duck pen because I could hear my escaped finch sitting up there somewhere calling to his mate.. He had darted out of the cage a few days before as I was feeding them.. he still sits in the tree calling for his ~still Caged and already nesting with a new Mister~ mate.. I was shocked by what I saw.. I have never seen this plant do this before.. The old cherry tree looks beautiful dressed in the wonderful blossoms that go along with this item.. The hummingbirds love it too.. Guess what it is and leave me a comment..

This one is another one that keep the hummers busy.. I think the Hummingbirds in my yard might even get fat from all the things here for them to drink from.. The police took a few of these from me before I started planting them behind the house.. that way they can't find them.. Do you know what I have here? Look closely at it.. I just love this plant... I have a few of them growing close to my banana trees..It loves water and my plants are way taller than my House... I made a lot of money last year selling this.. What do you think it could be? I will tell you that you can't eat this.. It is not what some of you may think.. Then again I will only know what you think if you leave me a comment and let me know you were here.. Make a guess.... you might just be right.. and I love to read the comments from everyone too..
~ {Update~ It's a hibiscus .. though it looks like an illegal plant this can not be rolled and smoked~ yes it has been tested by the county sheriffs department~ It is know as Texas Star and/or Swamp Hibiscus..}

Do you know what I have shown you today? Do you recognize these two plants? Just for fun I have also included a shot Camella made as she was finding her way out of my home made jungle.. She had already been down all of the secret paths with Dorie where they spotted a hose snake and a stick tiger tail peaking from the deep surrounding jungle... they had rested beside the still waters for a second and were happily emerging from the forest.. I love it when children come here.. I love the ooohs and ahhs they make when they spot a stone angel or a sparkling glass ball sitting on a pipe perch over a fish pond..I enjoy them spotting a blue tailed lizard or a fat bull frog just before he dives under the water.. Or as in these Pictures today a strange and unique plant.
Do you know what they were? If you know comment and share your guess with me.... If you don't know just comment to let me know you were here... I'm sure someone knows.. Some one even remebers what the first ones are used for.. Maybe some day; some of you will come and poke around in my bucket Jungle.. You might bring children and go with them down a secret path.. where if it will hold water I will make it the home for a fish or a frog or a turtle.. and if it will hold dirt I will make it a planter for something blooming or edible.. or maybe even Both.... where chickens crow and ducks quack and birds sing........and where I am almost always planning a new surprise for the people who find my place restful ..... Until then.. Have a great day!
Patsy

It's Tuesday!.... Do you know what it is?

"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book." - Ronald Reagan


"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."- Ronald Reagan


"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
- Ronald Reagan

Welcome to a quick what is it Tuesday post.. Look at the picture below and tell me what you think this plant is. It is a pretty plant that prefers rich moist soil and partial shade . It can tolerate direct sunlight but plants grown in shade tend to be larger and more succulent. It is related to mint in appearance, but it is not as invasive and easier to control. A clump-forming herbaceous perennial with heart shaped, deeply veined leaves that are covered with stiff hairs, it grows up to 1-2 feet high. Bluish-white or yellow flowers grow from the axils of the leaves and bloom from May to October. After pollination, long oval brown seeds appear. The leaves should be harvested before the flowering for optimum flavour and fragrance. The plant should be cut back in the fall. Any Ideas yet? The Amish people use this in a lot of their medicines. I have personally used their Ear ache drops made with this and found it to be very soothing and helpful..

This plant is a native to southern Europe and northern Africa and has been cultivated for over 2000 years. It has a long history as a healing herb and was also part of a drink that ensured longevity. The branches were strewn on floors to freshen a room, as mentioned by Shakespeare in "The Merry Wives of Windsor".
The Arabs introduced it as medicinal herb, a tea that was taken for anxiety and depression. It is still known in France today as a remedy for fatigue and headaches. The leaves were rubbed onto beehives to prevent swarming and to encourage the bees to return to the hives. I know the bees love it.. The honey bees here are fat with the nectar they suck from this plant every day.. a big garden spider builds his web from the edge of the planter to the nearest tree every night only to have me knock it down the next day to get to the water sprinkler. The Greek physician Dioscorides wrote about it being used for scorpions stings and insect and dog bites.

Wow.. I sure am glad I grow this plant in my bucket garden.. You can't tell from the picture but these plants are spilling out of a raised box made from four old shelves that were headed for a land fill... I love recycling things into containers for my gardens.. I even have stuff growing in a pair of Dave's old boots...

Let me know you were here by leaving me a comment.. please try and figure out what this plant is that grows so well in my gardens.. Maybe you have an idea for a unique planter for me to make? Maybe I can make it and fill it with this mystery plant.. take a guess if you don't know.. I bet someone out there knows.. is it YOU?! Have a great night!
Patsy