Garden 2014....

This is an update to all my current garden children.  I will update as I get things in the ground and start putting the ones I have started from seed into their places.  I have lots going on and more still to go.  I have held back on some of my plantings (unlike last year) because of the crazy weather we have had in Alabama.  Cold, hot, cold, hot, and repeat.  I only have so much room in the house to bring stuff in where the dog doesn't pee on it or the one year old doesn't pull it to pieces.  I have approximate 4-5 more plants to set in soil, some of which are very temperamental as I learned last year.  Below is where I am at right now......

I set this on the back porch and I have three containers that look identical to this one.  I

have always been a sucker for merigolds and this year, I added Sutera Cordata to the

mix.  It's Proven Winner branded as Snowstorm Blue Bacopa. It is a trailing variety and

given the chance, these plants should get along nicely, but will appear rather full.

 Here is one from last year.  A hardy perinnial geranium, this plant is a "Purple Haze" variety.

The foilage is supposed to be purple in the Spring but this particular plant didn't set purple

foilage, only certain leaves had irradecent trim.  The flower is very typical of the geranium

and you can see below, it is a very deep purple.  I didn't get a flower last year and waited patiently

for this year, when it really came back strong and put out leaves quickly.

 This is a Cheddar Pink Dianthus.  Usually this dianthus flower 

appears more full, making the full circle rather then five distinct petals.  Both the color

and the actual petal make-up are very distict on this plant.  It didn't flower last year and

was very curious as to what I had this year.  The foilage is frosted green when mature.  It has

been very tempramental and now I know why.  The harder they are to grown, the more

beautiful the flower. 

 Another plant that wintered over, is this Saponaria Ocymoides, a low growing, trailing,

ground cover that I put in a basket.  It has since spilled out of the basket by two feet

and has put on quite the show this spring with TONS of intracate light pink flowers.  I 

have a place in the yard that I will put this and allow it to spead it's legs a little.  I liked

this particular variety because it doesn't spread is easy to control without it taking over.

I bought this rose bush last year and it was fairly slow growing.  It's a climbing rose
and was quite small last year(it's first year) but when it did bloom, it was gorgeous.
Well, this year it has really taken off.  It's blooms are unique in the fact they change
color through it's life cycle from a bright yellow after opening, to an pink with yellow center,
and ending with a white centered, dark pink rimmed 4" flower.  This was labeled as
the Pinata Rose.  Life cycle goes left to right below.

This is the actual rose bush from above.

Who can hate a knockout rose bush?  This is a mature specimen and I
usually cut it way back each year because it almost takes this particular
area over by end of summer.  It's really blooming now though!

I have a few Iris's and this purple version(don't know the name) is a
fairly small variety.  I inherited it from the previous owners.

My tomato garden is coming right along.  I have Farmstand, Jetstar,
Roma, and Ritebite varieties in this raised garden.  I even have some
peppers on the end for good measure.

And last but not least, a wet dog with slobber and everything.

Tallapoosa River Canoe Trip 2014

Our 2014 trip was reduced due to time constraints........ and the fact we didn't have time to goof off like we wanted too last year.  2013, we did roughly 77 miles in three days starting above Lake Wedowee and ending at Horseshoe Bend.  This year, we cut roughly 27 or so miles off  the previous trip by starting below the R.L. Harris Dam and ending again at Horseshoe Bend Military Park's boat ramp.  This years 50 mile trek in 3 days was A LOT more enjoyable.  We had time to stretch our legs, look around, and weather permitting.....relax.  We had decent weather with drizzly rain the first day, a great second day filled with sunshine, and the last day was pure rain/cloudy/cold.  So, we had a chance to experience a full spectrum of weather conditions on the river.  This continues to be an enjoyable annual trip and Springtime seems to be the best time to go, water level wise anyway.  As a tip to anyone who might try and make a float trip down the Tallapoosa....please remember to bring your life jacket, watch the scheduled water release times from Harris Dam (the river doesn't play), and make sure to register your car with the Horseshoe Bend Military Park at the visitors center before you leave your car there overnight.  The pass they give you lasts for an entire year and only requires your cars tag number.

Things you can expect on the river:

We saw lots of animals and a wide variety of bird life.  There were times when you could see multiple bald eagles at the same time.  Otters are a constant presents on the river but they are shy and one must keep a constant vigil to see one.  Beavers will slap the river at night, angry of your intrusion to their world.  Coyotes and deer can be seen on the rocky hillsides as you pass.  Geese, blue wing teal, wood ducks, mergansers, and grebes can be seen around the shoals looking for dinner.  The month of April see's the highest water levels and those fluctuations are inline with fish migrations up the river.  You will most likely encounter other boaters at the main sections of shoals fishing for white bass, crappie, or spotted bass.

Side Note: 

Please remember that camping alongside the river IS considered trespassing.  While Alabama Power has a leeway of a certain number of feet off the river on both sides, it's still considered trespassing the second you set foot outside your vessel.  The best way to insure a smooth river experience is to plan ahead.  A lot of the people you will encounter up/down the river are extremely nice and the vast majority don't mind the occasional camper BUT.......don't ruin it for everyone and leave trash or start cutting down tree's.  There are spots where campers are welcome but should you encounter a land owner on the river, please remember you are on HIS land and he has the right to ask you to leave if he so chooses. 

The rock cliffs below R.L. Harris Dam....

 We flipped the canoe on the second day and found this little guy inside the canoe (haha).

 The infamous "Canoe in the Tree."  We are always amazed at how powerful the river is.

There is stuff in the tree's, way up in the top of the tree's, from when the water was high all over the river.

 M.G. standing next to the river while we take a break.

 The river can be wide, and shallow in certain spots.  Your required to stay

in the river channel unless you like dragging a heavy canoe.

 The river and ol' trusty the aluminum canoe.  It's a miracle it still floats.

Overview, year in review 2013/2014...........

It was an interesting year, 2013.  The birth of my first child Allen W. Adams and all the wonderful things becoming a father entails.  This year also saw my Brittany Boone become a more polished dog in the field.  Deer season was a complete bust however and resulted in 3 animals.....two small bucks and a doe for the freezer.  The weather was good, the football season was a BIG suprise, and 2014 is already shaping out to be a memorable year.

 My little buddy, in all his cute chubbiness.

 Boone backing a GSP while quail hunting in Headland, AL.

 A 115lb hog killed on our annual pack-in trip to N. Ga.  Finally killed something this year.

 Yogi bear.....who loves bird seed.

 125lb hog killed in the Sipsey Wilderness Area in N. AL on a late season March hunt.

 Boone doing his best picture pose yet while locking a quail down in standing corn.

Auburn surprised everyone with a ticket to the National Championship game.  What a year!