Magnolia Pods

After working on the greenhouse almost all day yesterday, I was hoping to show you all the wonderful progress I made ... not to be.  I did make a LOT of progress, but it doesn't show well in photos.  I dismantled the previous framing that was supposed to hold the windows (which had been installed wrong), added blocking and supports here and there (not very visible), worked out a new plan for EXACTLY how to install the windows. and began to cut and install the trim (not too spectacular at this point). 

Since I can't wow you with my work on the greenhouse yet, let me show you some photos that I took on Sunday afternoon.  We have a really large Magnolia tree in our front yard.  Every fall, the ripe seeds emerge from their pods, and the red seeds practically glow in the sunshine.

Our tree is a Magnolia Grandiflora, the majestic Southern Magnolia.  In the late spring, it is covered with sweet-smelling, saucer-sized cream colored flowers.  The seeds develop within these pods during the summer, and they emerge in the fall.

I'm glad that previous owners of our property had the foresight to leave the lower branches on this tree.  Magnolias are messy trees.  When all of these seeds and pods and other assorted litter falls to the ground, the skirt of branches hides it all ... and we can enjoy the seasonal show without having to worry about the clean up.

I loved these last two photos, because each of them captured predators at work ... Assassin Bugs and a Jumping Spider.  (these are the good guys!)

Once things warm up a bit this morning, I intend to get right back outside to try to make more progress on the greenhouse.  Perhaps I will have something to show you tomorrow ... with the new plan firmly in place in my mind, things should go pretty quickly from now on ... fingers crossed.