Bleeding Hearts Are In Bloom!

One of the few things in which I pride myself regarding my yard is a small metal arch I installed across the sidewalk near the front of the house. I planted two vine-type plants at each side....one each Bleeding Hearts and Confederate Jasmine.

The photos above and below are from yesterday....the delicate bleeding hearts.....a heart-shaped flower with a blood red blossom out the bottom is one of my favorites. The blooms have replaced the Confederate Jasmine and their heady thick lovely smell from just two to three weeks ago.


Perhaps, now that I am retired I'll do more to make my yard look good.....Certainly needed!

By-the-way....and from the "It does not have to cost much department".....My metal arch is interesting. I bought the arch several years ago at a garage sale down the street. It had been a Christmas decoration, and now the bulbs were mostly out and the clips that held them to the arch were mostly gone. I wanted the arch! $3 I paid for it.....then found a metal arch 8 feet tall will not go into a Town Car! I walked it the three blocks home, holding on to both sides and hanging the top of the arch over my head.....should have gotten a picture of that! I then tightened the connections of the arch, and out came a spray can of white Rust-O-Leum....(sp).

When done it has served now for three years as my sidewalk arch and, while showing a rust spot or two near the screws holding it together, it is doing quite nicely. I figure I have about $2 per-year in the thing, including paint!

I love it when a plan comes together!

By-the-way.....As one might guess from my flag flying above.....I am a Proud American who celebrates Memorial Day.....A Salute to every American Soldier.....Coast Guard, Marine, Army, Navy, Air Force....and a special remembrance of my Father, 1lt Paul K. DeLand, Sr., a multi-purple heart veteran of WWII. You are remembered Dad, each and every day!

Duke (Lt. Cmdr., U.S.C.G.A., Ret. - Branch Chief, National Staff)