tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72470508959843891322024-03-05T12:12:14.365-06:00Garden of EHibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-7274999105479074882012-01-24T17:38:00.000-06:002012-01-24T17:38:36.941-06:00What Happens in January When Your Back is TurnedI spent a week in Michigan freezing my butt off, and another week of general busy-ness. Then two days ago I finally made the rounds in the back garden--it's amazing what exuberance the rain and whacky weather have created.<br />
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Such as... 25 square feet of tightly packed lettuces, 6 different kinds:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMGT436PFi4UIHp97wrB9zyYqd1obnhLVVpZDNfQaVB73eEzZNu7LsUMT9p_Fsh78idNkibS89Q4sNs5KKUG5gfH2z-2rtMLVFf7pNEfGskhyeHQuP7gVg1Xo6VCqsVPgsOqmVAWXPj7_/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMGT436PFi4UIHp97wrB9zyYqd1obnhLVVpZDNfQaVB73eEzZNu7LsUMT9p_Fsh78idNkibS89Q4sNs5KKUG5gfH2z-2rtMLVFf7pNEfGskhyeHQuP7gVg1Xo6VCqsVPgsOqmVAWXPj7_/s640/IMG_0083.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Giant leaves of chard just waiting to be thrown into chicken soup:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PvpZx5C6ayoebOWsuvemUaBf96azIaUESj4DQ9lnnrXZ-7pSOdj_NmWvLNUkuPOaybjN-2BRsBV_e8_3TTaCKtWyibM8ASAqWkgZACpn9JiAG9U5s_Q9Z43iYNM3tMXW4T7EOiLu0AQM/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PvpZx5C6ayoebOWsuvemUaBf96azIaUESj4DQ9lnnrXZ-7pSOdj_NmWvLNUkuPOaybjN-2BRsBV_e8_3TTaCKtWyibM8ASAqWkgZACpn9JiAG9U5s_Q9Z43iYNM3tMXW4T7EOiLu0AQM/s640/IMG_0088.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A six-by-six bed of carrots grown twice as large as they were two weeks ago:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhR3SyUaNHq0mnQ70GIrhzBOblLALByLaKBBG-wLDaxb0qmbs1WhbNcv0R_8akROrXVOjIgbw7w8LkZwTXPeSBLEWXihgh7yFp-o4Xp7Ndbg5kbr4clfcSRHpBW7XgPzg-2qI_dDAeevH/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhR3SyUaNHq0mnQ70GIrhzBOblLALByLaKBBG-wLDaxb0qmbs1WhbNcv0R_8akROrXVOjIgbw7w8LkZwTXPeSBLEWXihgh7yFp-o4Xp7Ndbg5kbr4clfcSRHpBW7XgPzg-2qI_dDAeevH/s640/IMG_0092.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Self-sown larkspur crowd into a corner by the back fence:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Gf85Lc4yFakY995ZtQfMUEE6RW_QocgPPlz0FGG7w8vsodgIeLbP8-pAjpVIM_-L7he4pHviemf4qQPUQnuDMSOl9qCT65YXfeGAtq8c8Pz6xMTTKVieYoLtNlt_BC40uwg5jiHMgNj_/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Gf85Lc4yFakY995ZtQfMUEE6RW_QocgPPlz0FGG7w8vsodgIeLbP8-pAjpVIM_-L7he4pHviemf4qQPUQnuDMSOl9qCT65YXfeGAtq8c8Pz6xMTTKVieYoLtNlt_BC40uwg5jiHMgNj_/s640/IMG_0086.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And oops, looks like I threw down an awful lot of poppy seeds:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXMzh6HJcqcT-p1Yl2qOuxv7pmg9zGYx4kiB7NS99bzc0nXDmswCHBwho37G3A2AH9BGL7TZQ9G-T98cB35ooTtxgHQlivjka8fR1oFNehCEPPb60BT95GVK7hXJovox0yoJxwMDzWHmX/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXMzh6HJcqcT-p1Yl2qOuxv7pmg9zGYx4kiB7NS99bzc0nXDmswCHBwho37G3A2AH9BGL7TZQ9G-T98cB35ooTtxgHQlivjka8fR1oFNehCEPPb60BT95GVK7hXJovox0yoJxwMDzWHmX/s640/IMG_0102.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A Supertunia I've had since April 2010 has risen again:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPq-cqLPEDfTV2mMfCqOHtA1-LgGCJK5YEFFxAmfsb0_OEGbOhSbVqvA2k7Q0Bu8UQWIeHVcZZz0XzlA0-Xp1alE5hblerX_qktPD6WoBYk3TcZYTsrg3P-_ncQCVWAcL25oQYrv6s2GD/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPq-cqLPEDfTV2mMfCqOHtA1-LgGCJK5YEFFxAmfsb0_OEGbOhSbVqvA2k7Q0Bu8UQWIeHVcZZz0XzlA0-Xp1alE5hblerX_qktPD6WoBYk3TcZYTsrg3P-_ncQCVWAcL25oQYrv6s2GD/s640/IMG_0098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And finally, what a surprise to see the loropetalum 'rubrum' covered in bloom!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofPYVJbVycLbJ9E1DoWj9lmF5Wyznn5ivQMgKp0FKz5aZujzX_PwvDwo-xuBkJjNArHSql2Afa8uUGIs7FtWZMDj3YI0GUeSH89yB3TpNxpM5QHlNs_BOLSxycb2EZ11z2vRi9_YM4_zF/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofPYVJbVycLbJ9E1DoWj9lmF5Wyznn5ivQMgKp0FKz5aZujzX_PwvDwo-xuBkJjNArHSql2Afa8uUGIs7FtWZMDj3YI0GUeSH89yB3TpNxpM5QHlNs_BOLSxycb2EZ11z2vRi9_YM4_zF/s640/IMG_0096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>What will happen if we get a prolonged sub-freezing spell like last February's? Anyone willing to wager how many days below freezing we'll get between now and March 1?Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-91797958913915183172011-07-17T18:58:00.000-05:002011-07-17T18:58:37.020-05:00Blooming in spite of it all<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I promise I took these shots on the 15th, though I'm a little late posting for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Some plants are carrying on bravely but look somewhat washed out in our harsh summer light.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my favorite is gomphrena--here are the red and purple varieties against a background of trailing lantana.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fIF-lwrsGLMxbiPvl4dIE3vgDwGsuQs1WDgqTy0I6YOpbw0gIQfOR4qzUtBTu7coDhVXkkg5BDE_Ow01R2zgm1xQMwQIKkzoBirtKICl1oTDh185YONIgQQGZsjYG_jW29oGpJiNJN_R/s1600/DSCF2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fIF-lwrsGLMxbiPvl4dIE3vgDwGsuQs1WDgqTy0I6YOpbw0gIQfOR4qzUtBTu7coDhVXkkg5BDE_Ow01R2zgm1xQMwQIKkzoBirtKICl1oTDh185YONIgQQGZsjYG_jW29oGpJiNJN_R/s640/DSCF2471.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This summer snapdragon (angelonia ) is true to its nickname. Next to it is a supertunia picked up at Shoal Creek. In June it browned back severely, so I cut it back to a few green stubs, and this is its comeback--super.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibi7NrqJMvo-rBYv_Z1f61k7zENoyjww5m-bgcHMqUvu6iFLP655tiOfFUo9BZAbwHXbr_1Ewyz5zV0jmHmMfrE45myVBexeSWWENDdCb3qr-DVmT1EHomWodShxZ6MawIV-6lz_f1VD6_/s1600/DSCF2473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibi7NrqJMvo-rBYv_Z1f61k7zENoyjww5m-bgcHMqUvu6iFLP655tiOfFUo9BZAbwHXbr_1Ewyz5zV0jmHmMfrE45myVBexeSWWENDdCb3qr-DVmT1EHomWodShxZ6MawIV-6lz_f1VD6_/s640/DSCF2473.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">If they're lucky, my several plumbagos get some water about once a week.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOo8mjm4puYD-jshTvcZJI87sioT6TlTFPuo5VC25QeJX1DNwgiWQg8Jok_C2X7njFUZ-VrdNOUEADp_biCAu0SIBHvuKpRnku3LH__SzFG-vOsH2-46o-ttE75D-eF_rNLp0GvQb7wOEU/s1600/DSCF2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOo8mjm4puYD-jshTvcZJI87sioT6TlTFPuo5VC25QeJX1DNwgiWQg8Jok_C2X7njFUZ-VrdNOUEADp_biCAu0SIBHvuKpRnku3LH__SzFG-vOsH2-46o-ttE75D-eF_rNLp0GvQb7wOEU/s640/DSCF2477.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This dianthus was potted three years ago. The cleome seeds itself everywhere. Zexmenia (background) would live in hell if it had to.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlFNcpUzzvWH9nBWyon1m2IXU9DrgJgPg9qk5cvbFNosvuNvORb0sjul6nHA1BYGx1oT3N3JpxdjSz1oh-rsm2iw86oNar60ohWQmT3QPFg4x2snauNcM_jNCRgCpe-q07YxyvElysYBe/s1600/DSCF2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlFNcpUzzvWH9nBWyon1m2IXU9DrgJgPg9qk5cvbFNosvuNvORb0sjul6nHA1BYGx1oT3N3JpxdjSz1oh-rsm2iw86oNar60ohWQmT3QPFg4x2snauNcM_jNCRgCpe-q07YxyvElysYBe/s640/DSCF2478.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Thyrallis looks spring-like and fragile but will bloom in the heat for a long time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9eUm6rnH2TOlwQVZQydHTAU6WIfP8sg399hVR6zqTYraygOg1GOhump08wMpWTw3WaCy-NfMTPrk_LEzkeam3e9QBL2jW1lB77cx_K3x9-lc5Zbbs_X42d-CLdxac9goT6w7EeW_FDUo/s1600/DSCF2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9eUm6rnH2TOlwQVZQydHTAU6WIfP8sg399hVR6zqTYraygOg1GOhump08wMpWTw3WaCy-NfMTPrk_LEzkeam3e9QBL2jW1lB77cx_K3x9-lc5Zbbs_X42d-CLdxac9goT6w7EeW_FDUo/s640/DSCF2480.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Passionvine blooms seem to come in waves--this week about ten popped up on this plant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VyYEeZAWrhSvD-JMZsqZOHb3t9ITXhMuVcMo9VExX6fDTwp_tC1Gzapa2jntdFhQqpQ-DKfHWfFimjjzA-dOAI9_gSjvNj51K1uCpv0GC051bkS9QAM4Gb-ztzBu_gQdPtiHBmO6bvYA/s1600/DSCF2483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VyYEeZAWrhSvD-JMZsqZOHb3t9ITXhMuVcMo9VExX6fDTwp_tC1Gzapa2jntdFhQqpQ-DKfHWfFimjjzA-dOAI9_gSjvNj51K1uCpv0GC051bkS9QAM4Gb-ztzBu_gQdPtiHBmO6bvYA/s640/DSCF2483.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Pigeonberry--the happy little groundcover that continues growing and blooming even while forming its red berries.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj7-kfn9sj-SAhAwvwa89ej1dZf7avv_rHjqLTWy-akY_kGIKB0m9oRHNl_eLGs3SK7AlSlNXLqJ_5V-ipwCCuwdkZfFuZ_GsT1Ai-9vr1l5ysUghZXjYZwZpCo7P0EXEKXg0k0rSJ4E3/s1600/DSCF2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTj7-kfn9sj-SAhAwvwa89ej1dZf7avv_rHjqLTWy-akY_kGIKB0m9oRHNl_eLGs3SK7AlSlNXLqJ_5V-ipwCCuwdkZfFuZ_GsT1Ai-9vr1l5ysUghZXjYZwZpCo7P0EXEKXg0k0rSJ4E3/s640/DSCF2484.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And what would I do without my giant flame acanthus bush within a few feet of my back porch. Hummingbirds galore!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2NbizmQzyUUhALPpFZDIR-87D0dx1AWbGdiFQivR9jnfaFgqQrIGDHSEjPdW-9y52PeSJQJV6iifxr4gPMEZoPrLESCHg1qrdoEd0vCS_TFkZgg_A53lS9W4j32PKy9TYWod2CROJnL5/s1600/DSCF2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2NbizmQzyUUhALPpFZDIR-87D0dx1AWbGdiFQivR9jnfaFgqQrIGDHSEjPdW-9y52PeSJQJV6iifxr4gPMEZoPrLESCHg1qrdoEd0vCS_TFkZgg_A53lS9W4j32PKy9TYWod2CROJnL5/s640/DSCF2487.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Elsewhere in the garden-- riots of orange cosmos, four-nerve daisy, Black n Blue salvia, indigo spires, frogfruit with its tiny white blossoms, tropical sage, Pride of Barbados, and the ubiquitous blackfoot daisy.<br />
Can we keep this up for another month?<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-14758595961174111822011-02-13T13:08:00.000-06:002011-02-13T13:08:56.748-06:00The dead, wounded, and missing in action<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lo! now the direful monster, whose skin clings</span></em></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>To his strong bones, strides o'er the groaning rocks:</em></span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>He withers all in silence, and his hand</em></span></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life.</em></span></div><br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>-</em> William Blake, Poetical Sketches - Winter, 1783</span></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQW8wMju_PHMFLTf_4rMuot84XU2FK8btNLbOnXyUuEXWT718wAmTD3uZgBFFe8abjAG6eAyedOBc8gchaJ6nBE9lL3VRu05JAz_VhHPcJsxFnQ83MUm2G7PoeBsuJMnhpmKEJEMgfFWo/s1600/DSCF2335.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573241565960461634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQW8wMju_PHMFLTf_4rMuot84XU2FK8btNLbOnXyUuEXWT718wAmTD3uZgBFFe8abjAG6eAyedOBc8gchaJ6nBE9lL3VRu05JAz_VhHPcJsxFnQ83MUm2G7PoeBsuJMnhpmKEJEMgfFWo/s640/DSCF2335.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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It's taken a couple of bleak winter weeks (and I hope they're the last this year) to prompt me to post after a long hiatus. Texas gardeners are fond of taking risks with marginally hardy plant, and this year has proved which ones have true mettle. The scene last week didn't look promising.<br />
In my garden some things definitely look dead, such as this no-name euphorbia that once upon a time was upright<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLynLBXcbWYWskxV6zpxETq7Gvu0fQyGoFlf0pAp5_tL3f2fq1JULJqsMME6ma6GGFxJLspet2ZMj1cgNnBQCt6MtdlfUs5Bvzv0a1VFk2OoBjY9-7N8BC96uMA8AU2xJIvhoks74goN_/s1600/DSCF2359.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573240927988210818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLynLBXcbWYWskxV6zpxETq7Gvu0fQyGoFlf0pAp5_tL3f2fq1JULJqsMME6ma6GGFxJLspet2ZMj1cgNnBQCt6MtdlfUs5Bvzv0a1VFk2OoBjY9-7N8BC96uMA8AU2xJIvhoks74goN_/s640/DSCF2359.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
and the pretty pine-cone cactus that has lost its oomph.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON3he09a5qHvPGImB3qZvfUioNY93E73dSz12mXVzvQGzIT9kKib4HBBDAhYzx41Kvb-F_zsKz1UP24WZTL_5jKtE2lfTLWLFcjAY2Ud1DFraq7zdRzBnuR9RN4cIIczeYdZgRk13fc8X/s1600/DSCF2356.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573240384925516626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON3he09a5qHvPGImB3qZvfUioNY93E73dSz12mXVzvQGzIT9kKib4HBBDAhYzx41Kvb-F_zsKz1UP24WZTL_5jKtE2lfTLWLFcjAY2Ud1DFraq7zdRzBnuR9RN4cIIczeYdZgRk13fc8X/s640/DSCF2356.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
Another of my favorite succulents looks like it has some real green left; it's not an upright form, so its recumbent state is normal.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3pCUH5e1VXfLFnZ9aNzMCU3Znr5Au4OQ8ecWMeDEQ3G_64lEJH-JPvk4BqtoxgSeQK-EGCdmu8okJKFc2y2U_r-xc1ka1IqKmDJu_x0vKYlgAivQVsrg-E6UvuRADaL8D-LX5gGWl_w_/s1600/DSCF2360.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573240054027527394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3pCUH5e1VXfLFnZ9aNzMCU3Znr5Au4OQ8ecWMeDEQ3G_64lEJH-JPvk4BqtoxgSeQK-EGCdmu8okJKFc2y2U_r-xc1ka1IqKmDJu_x0vKYlgAivQVsrg-E6UvuRADaL8D-LX5gGWl_w_/s640/DSCF2360.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
The society garlic, of which I have many, looked like goners, but then I noticed some bright green at the centers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDaRJn7LRvqaAz6cprgtGODOFpXOmBNKqwgiCh9xnuqAbeVkKhivIRccfT3CUjiFC3iGk6fSGLTcLTL0Cm1RCXZqyiutRfLfd0xW3FkoEQwf6PiKjakW0D0WU-J18Pj4b4upbmaBSIIiG/s1600/DSCF2342.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573239633396106882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDaRJn7LRvqaAz6cprgtGODOFpXOmBNKqwgiCh9xnuqAbeVkKhivIRccfT3CUjiFC3iGk6fSGLTcLTL0Cm1RCXZqyiutRfLfd0xW3FkoEQwf6PiKjakW0D0WU-J18Pj4b4upbmaBSIIiG/s400/DSCF2342.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="373" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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I was worried that my manfreda undulata "chocolate chips" that I had dug up and divided when it pupped in the fall would be mush, but it looks like the center spike has life.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Jmbm8pnNxYnFvML9-DJHWiJ_1weHpOu_CxbPNERCncSI_1g6R0utcY7Oh853Atk2U2VgGAmWoMMseHnvFNlErZ4k7NJoULwHN0g-U7g_tH_-wXzjKKIQ1Sh5vsY0w_OaL2aO2nZR4nW/s1600/DSCF2347.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="479" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573239087570075778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1Jmbm8pnNxYnFvML9-DJHWiJ_1weHpOu_CxbPNERCncSI_1g6R0utcY7Oh853Atk2U2VgGAmWoMMseHnvFNlErZ4k7NJoULwHN0g-U7g_tH_-wXzjKKIQ1Sh5vsY0w_OaL2aO2nZR4nW/s640/DSCF2347.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
I saved what little bulbine survived last year's 17 degrees and replanted it. Through that act of natural selection, it looks like it will pull through.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8-OBX-UpCKMynJRGPKKkZZC9pJd2_GbOWfHRu5iznOQpTeTWKM_z8-mjvXCGL0ch8FitGlnTL9XTZyeeatAhHdwLEhyzPhzupglDuOXDuhgXC15XyJ-QxWE-h0lb3IbXGmpH72ZqZSGZ/s1600/DSCF2341.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573238803663529474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8-OBX-UpCKMynJRGPKKkZZC9pJd2_GbOWfHRu5iznOQpTeTWKM_z8-mjvXCGL0ch8FitGlnTL9XTZyeeatAhHdwLEhyzPhzupglDuOXDuhgXC15XyJ-QxWE-h0lb3IbXGmpH72ZqZSGZ/s640/DSCF2341.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
Aloe "lizard lips," my favorite variegated aloe, earns a gold star for being hardy enough to survive two winters without being brought inside.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9n979KAxxQTvV_wAHhk7pg5uy_2vCQzdWuyI4SWXnnb4_Biu67CF2erwiZzhG3S_ILwDF5zBp6BELp4WRftB8fYmrTkmy13Vjl2e4G6GbZXzqnty1Uuij_mPU1AtEk8U5y50raTluqmi/s1600/DSCF2354.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573238323678522754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9n979KAxxQTvV_wAHhk7pg5uy_2vCQzdWuyI4SWXnnb4_Biu67CF2erwiZzhG3S_ILwDF5zBp6BELp4WRftB8fYmrTkmy13Vjl2e4G6GbZXzqnty1Uuij_mPU1AtEk8U5y50raTluqmi/s640/DSCF2354.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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In the vegetable garden, the more exotic plants in the mesclun mix are toast<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_qdr8rzmb_eav_sJ0PHqsL8xdeKf_q0sefVPsbz3yvRuPh6gVJwcKxe5zqhQfOQtjPqukLwzfXL-QRSlKt_yNaATsuESbyqox6R7PkSQiK0Yb7Fo1xH34NYEWrt7av0IqeHVGzkYENvu/s1600/DSCF2349.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573237968625829362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_qdr8rzmb_eav_sJ0PHqsL8xdeKf_q0sefVPsbz3yvRuPh6gVJwcKxe5zqhQfOQtjPqukLwzfXL-QRSlKt_yNaATsuESbyqox6R7PkSQiK0Yb7Fo1xH34NYEWrt7av0IqeHVGzkYENvu/s400/DSCF2349.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
and the more common lettuces like Red Sails and Salad Bowl are a little shriveled but still growing.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FRnm1I1hJ7vROd-PbR8w6yHGuK16N8fN9mKiIG3u_v-JFi8Wy9zmcnKYnCG71Tb6jGFQAemjOQIRqMGiY-yjbRc4tWVkrBNUD3PlLMH1kE45NGFuHv4Os-fyZ00Wf5jJftAHEiKgfF43/s1600/DSCF2351.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573237274517095858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FRnm1I1hJ7vROd-PbR8w6yHGuK16N8fN9mKiIG3u_v-JFi8Wy9zmcnKYnCG71Tb6jGFQAemjOQIRqMGiY-yjbRc4tWVkrBNUD3PlLMH1kE45NGFuHv4Os-fyZ00Wf5jJftAHEiKgfF43/s400/DSCF2351.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
The sweet bay tree is still green and pretty with its snow frosting. Other things I found healthy and green: lambs' ears, Mexican oregano, both kinds of rosemary, lavender, oregano, and snapdragons. Those paperwhites that had dared to start blooming lost their heads.<br />
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<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0gkMubLic-NKWzhHsy6fZdzie7IrVewNCtxxHLM6w-SxnIBAR52Qcw4tMhNdyNGzMniPpNQzruoh9T0G2hJr59AAJPZbWgJ7MzMwchsISmasoLtmaTXJLQYP9Qm2cpUCfZFgM7YcI0dT/s1600/DSCF2338.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573236597703844802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0gkMubLic-NKWzhHsy6fZdzie7IrVewNCtxxHLM6w-SxnIBAR52Qcw4tMhNdyNGzMniPpNQzruoh9T0G2hJr59AAJPZbWgJ7MzMwchsISmasoLtmaTXJLQYP9Qm2cpUCfZFgM7YcI0dT/s640/DSCF2338.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /></a><br />
Finally, just so we don't lose our perspective on how our weather contrasts with the east coast, this weather map sent to me by a friend in New Hampshire:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMejTdLArFm3risWS4xfdNY7EBvyLDZ7D2zjYBW9dRRzdkIsygrNOHwMLy9s3RxLnTLQlkKgQa35tJpMJpT1m46ZcaSENZNGtm-CTnivryQ8uIKQaSdo_AIL_hdDzB29uP9diyPZCPXDXi/s1600/forecast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMejTdLArFm3risWS4xfdNY7EBvyLDZ7D2zjYBW9dRRzdkIsygrNOHwMLy9s3RxLnTLQlkKgQa35tJpMJpT1m46ZcaSENZNGtm-CTnivryQ8uIKQaSdo_AIL_hdDzB29uP9diyPZCPXDXi/s640/forecast.jpg" width="568" /></a></div><span id="goog_1408966064"></span><span id="goog_1408966065"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-67611703798489527452010-06-04T11:26:00.000-05:002010-06-04T11:26:23.117-05:00Catching Up (or Gettin' A Round Tuit)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know it's been months since I posted, and I have no excuse, but it was a cold and dreary winter, and garden-wise there wasn't much going on except for the winter vegetables. The lettuces did spectacularly this year, and I was practically begging neighbors and friends to come and get some. Here's the final carrot harvest so I could make way for the tomatoes and peppers.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBpIq87CGiyK2vN10UCoRjbYW1bQ9rFb5TuKnfChPP894wlPusHKjvIixN9ZJipO69nJPYxX3jF05HUBl60ABx2738t4viYsbf4uMLNKDZeUNZfB73F3YCUunqIm65UM3FNc2ShLrz0Qr/s1600/DSCF2045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBpIq87CGiyK2vN10UCoRjbYW1bQ9rFb5TuKnfChPP894wlPusHKjvIixN9ZJipO69nJPYxX3jF05HUBl60ABx2738t4viYsbf4uMLNKDZeUNZfB73F3YCUunqIm65UM3FNc2ShLrz0Qr/s640/DSCF2045.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The 'good' days to get out and cut back dead stuff were few and far between--it was either raining or too cold. Okay, whining is over, and spring has come and gone. A lot of time was spent simply cleaning up and looking for what was dead or alive. Alive won.<br />
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The agaves did well, except for the ornithobroma, which croaked. Amazingly, the manfreda undulata "Chocolate Chips" had just a few little tip-burns, and on April 6 I found this bloom stalk shooting up. (Note the size of the mullein next to it-more on that later.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7Uz1YFVIawtzVVpxYqNyZ0W18bYpnduo_crpaz8yQuiFwiSDHMJskXQJTPvSYs1Av-e3NL8pj1ooCRdOyYrjfwAWpYXGHQx7upDwL56XvprKqXHrP9rrsGaGB4Q1ZLLR3Yhfm1Zf7UEh/s1600/DSCF2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7Uz1YFVIawtzVVpxYqNyZ0W18bYpnduo_crpaz8yQuiFwiSDHMJskXQJTPvSYs1Av-e3NL8pj1ooCRdOyYrjfwAWpYXGHQx7upDwL56XvprKqXHrP9rrsGaGB4Q1ZLLR3Yhfm1Zf7UEh/s640/DSCF2066.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Only 9 days later, it looked like this! <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9lGkbzkcDmtEnjzPZd0VQhyO3iO3JdcFNpcApLixvQyXRYcT3EyLrjIeUqcvZ6q1ylRQTecYFFEJcvNnJhu4zu_xc-fQR9agBtSBrcA3ItgpT7lvtMV9FhUHz1XfPbZx7ly_ZZhfqGy4/s1600/DSCF2076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9lGkbzkcDmtEnjzPZd0VQhyO3iO3JdcFNpcApLixvQyXRYcT3EyLrjIeUqcvZ6q1ylRQTecYFFEJcvNnJhu4zu_xc-fQR9agBtSBrcA3ItgpT7lvtMV9FhUHz1XfPbZx7ly_ZZhfqGy4/s640/DSCF2076.JPG" width="480" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Today it measures 8 feet. YuccaDo says it usually blooms in June, but it popped out last week. More weird than impressive.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB9aiLrQWMzksAat3taJo09D3K0Z6yng8gAV8-GWiVd7Kcri7UQNSFy1LckHWrq9z8tu3_Vc8u-kkM-v1ayAqUK-FRoI7vpLo-SDwuNSgGob81tjSnXwIZ81fprBeC0_UwTUGMM0egM73/s1600/DSCF2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB9aiLrQWMzksAat3taJo09D3K0Z6yng8gAV8-GWiVd7Kcri7UQNSFy1LckHWrq9z8tu3_Vc8u-kkM-v1ayAqUK-FRoI7vpLo-SDwuNSgGob81tjSnXwIZ81fprBeC0_UwTUGMM0egM73/s640/DSCF2109.JPG" width="490" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Cold weather and rain produced other miracles, such as these profuse 2 year old petunias in March...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMnjuGe0ZN63l0KvMKxpI6LbS18iCqXKv1Fqbq131Nn8NBnwhcIZ0N98Zgb_z0Z3S9R6VDpMFTWjCbypofYuR8VU4uGjsWMBnBu04xl1_D8PXdP0LDTEznYW18RvuYKJF7If2xMcVwzII/s1600/DSCF2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMnjuGe0ZN63l0KvMKxpI6LbS18iCqXKv1Fqbq131Nn8NBnwhcIZ0N98Zgb_z0Z3S9R6VDpMFTWjCbypofYuR8VU4uGjsWMBnBu04xl1_D8PXdP0LDTEznYW18RvuYKJF7If2xMcVwzII/s640/DSCF2061.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">iris at least a foot taller than ever before in April...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dg9EzyPu4z8j4KRETLhw5okdC6QTaew_c_EbtMkX9xnNlsytMljCW8YQXQSrJbglUX__hFt6E0rnIQU9Abc5H3D5FOH8j9NP723tVASFPESbAn3YnXCEjagTOjlvIGbZNFC34ODngjNX/s1600/iris+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dg9EzyPu4z8j4KRETLhw5okdC6QTaew_c_EbtMkX9xnNlsytMljCW8YQXQSrJbglUX__hFt6E0rnIQU9Abc5H3D5FOH8j9NP723tVASFPESbAn3YnXCEjagTOjlvIGbZNFC34ODngjNX/s640/iris+crop.jpg" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">what had been 3 little lambs ears exploding over the gravel path (I was always told they hate to be wet)...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7YBEtGanqnlFZqIdCpR5GjHKrGVClCLuH06DCiKXRAw01aYJwZkNS4xkpZpX-4LdRepPVol5ugZ_xNlLkeB4I_uE9oX-YFAtQnblvBjnaOkGh171K4dMNEAigUSIyyKRMPobFZapj2qT/s1600/DSCF2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7YBEtGanqnlFZqIdCpR5GjHKrGVClCLuH06DCiKXRAw01aYJwZkNS4xkpZpX-4LdRepPVol5ugZ_xNlLkeB4I_uE9oX-YFAtQnblvBjnaOkGh171K4dMNEAigUSIyyKRMPobFZapj2qT/s640/DSCF2064.JPG" width="640" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">the best my Jerusalem sage has ever bloomed...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7PRYyhtMRXAsxwqjKJcVjemOslrtoPZdycJii3HRBp7Hj906hghOR4dLkOACCb1HKm8gbEyyNuJ64rqAhUJpvGxZcugx3D79Fc33m2vx4DfogzteTmGOHKRURtBLOEivMb-iuLyfxCpv/s1600/DSCF2069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7PRYyhtMRXAsxwqjKJcVjemOslrtoPZdycJii3HRBp7Hj906hghOR4dLkOACCb1HKm8gbEyyNuJ64rqAhUJpvGxZcugx3D79Fc33m2vx4DfogzteTmGOHKRURtBLOEivMb-iuLyfxCpv/s640/DSCF2069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and a spectacular mullein that I didn't know would grow this big, and that I had to remove since it was covering up other plants.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRq4cZ0M-G1h9S6_jdsPx96zwCngW3BbJv8IwQDhh6251LwgrQ0d98hV2UuVfke32ObmLIomQnuKiGFHDlSWm44i0EuU4LDHl7_JYk6uI-uG-_WpBvOOIAiMBC-iboU9a3gRh9kCAasiZ/s1600/DSCF2105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRq4cZ0M-G1h9S6_jdsPx96zwCngW3BbJv8IwQDhh6251LwgrQ0d98hV2UuVfke32ObmLIomQnuKiGFHDlSWm44i0EuU4LDHl7_JYk6uI-uG-_WpBvOOIAiMBC-iboU9a3gRh9kCAasiZ/s640/DSCF2105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Another little miracle was the pair of Carolina wrens that decided in mid-April to build a nest in this gourd hanging from the back porch rafter.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvNMwMykuKrfuckqFEwm33E4nUo-C8kHSG8XvQEHmGh2M3_VIwQiR4xfkYdT5pm3IzsuZF2AwOQw1iufrbcoPffiHNmMELtWW7jqcfjefoWJGiLPtDRLm7ZhGGCldbylqZXoUu2RaWmNG/s1600/DSCF2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvNMwMykuKrfuckqFEwm33E4nUo-C8kHSG8XvQEHmGh2M3_VIwQiR4xfkYdT5pm3IzsuZF2AwOQw1iufrbcoPffiHNmMELtWW7jqcfjefoWJGiLPtDRLm7ZhGGCldbylqZXoUu2RaWmNG/s640/DSCF2106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>For 2 weeks the 'dad' bird constantly brought food to 'mom' on the nest. It became obvious that the eggs had hatched when one day I noticed that both mom and dad were bringing food to the nest--it was so cute to watch them take turns, sometimes both arriving at the same time and one waiting patiently on the fence top while the other one poked bugs into the invisible hungry mouths. About 2 weeks after the feeding began, both birds one morning became very animated, hopping up and down on the porch railing under the nest and singing loudly as if to say, "Okay kids, it's time to fly." By this time I had begun to see 1 or 2 little heads peeking out from the nest hole. After about 20 minutes of encouragement, the first one ventures out but isn't sure if he wants to try it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxKwfzRYJINNvdH2tJh3jEtP-ZXJNMZvqJTVZ2cJw9LOup59b7ySgjilt7LD8YeC24ySuq-4VmHq2Pf7UuVzCdQbfLDuc2PuD_NMSAXOVzTvEcUFC7C0f47x3KBldmwhJ4Xqjmc6nH-sV/s1600/DSCF2116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxKwfzRYJINNvdH2tJh3jEtP-ZXJNMZvqJTVZ2cJw9LOup59b7ySgjilt7LD8YeC24ySuq-4VmHq2Pf7UuVzCdQbfLDuc2PuD_NMSAXOVzTvEcUFC7C0f47x3KBldmwhJ4Xqjmc6nH-sV/s640/DSCF2116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
His first flight is about 6 feet to the fence.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQDl_4G6nmjuOO4cgLRvPujhRRGh1VogvIpwjjyCYHsvONXoOY-0ox_q66Ll42e30dvQBH3TGzig_DtuHHehMzNW8ZGhrbLxIpBaZCNmkBA5dCd4dXbU9jTWuskHXc59Ty9pt8N-80JAd/s1600/DSCF2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQDl_4G6nmjuOO4cgLRvPujhRRGh1VogvIpwjjyCYHsvONXoOY-0ox_q66Ll42e30dvQBH3TGzig_DtuHHehMzNW8ZGhrbLxIpBaZCNmkBA5dCd4dXbU9jTWuskHXc59Ty9pt8N-80JAd/s640/DSCF2115.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
And within the next 10 minutes all 5 babies had taken wing, with mom and dad following them around the yard anxiously and noisily. The birds got very used to me and I felt privileged to have been a bird 'auntie.'<br />
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Finally, as one who is constantly on the hunt for leaf-footed bugs on my tomatoes, I have to share a discovery with you. One morning on a pink poppy plant that had grown up in the patio I found adult, juvenile and hatchling leaf-footed bugs and promptly killed them. A couple of hours later I looked again and there were more hatchlings--same process. I've probably eliminated about 100 of these bugs on the poppy plant in the last week. Next year I will plant poppies much closer to where the tomatoes are growing to take advantage of this new-found trap!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswT5noo26TySOspgHPPBXeoybZZoa89IESyEeLMYt_dPZlH8Kaezt2i2HCI6YPEArH157n40LU1t9QyMAIewrfG6BUEjLH77tC-p0qTxS8W_VE4SAyURtnTc9yKDTOnfcgGavE_B_hJb_/s1600/DSCF2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswT5noo26TySOspgHPPBXeoybZZoa89IESyEeLMYt_dPZlH8Kaezt2i2HCI6YPEArH157n40LU1t9QyMAIewrfG6BUEjLH77tC-p0qTxS8W_VE4SAyURtnTc9yKDTOnfcgGavE_B_hJb_/s640/DSCF2120.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-79967755101818128972009-11-17T02:06:00.000-06:002009-11-17T02:06:37.995-06:00November Bloom DayI know, I know, it was yesterday, but I was busy making spaghetti sauce, and then spent the evening eating it, with a Farmers' Market salad and a good chianti. Besides I wouldn't want to spoil my record of always posting a day late to Carol of May Dreams' invitation to show what's blooming.<br />
A better question might be, "What's not blooming?" Passionvine and Chiapas sage are all I can think of.<br />
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The paperwhite narcissus (against tropical sage) is something I usually enjoy around Christmastime, but this is not a normal year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIfZA03uuqlt5_KoW9tdbVwdhSfMSYtETDV1iWhTvCYGc5GdKPJ3vKINeNye8hd3FpfUy5qOZLn5abnW97OGuE4-iDQx9zdVC6eGW7dJOXFue4JcroTa8QPyDDNSVvz7t4szNwTe3ywpt/s1600/DSCF1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIfZA03uuqlt5_KoW9tdbVwdhSfMSYtETDV1iWhTvCYGc5GdKPJ3vKINeNye8hd3FpfUy5qOZLn5abnW97OGuE4-iDQx9zdVC6eGW7dJOXFue4JcroTa8QPyDDNSVvz7t4szNwTe3ywpt/s640/DSCF1937.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Out front, the Fairy rose wrestles for space with plumbago, bulbine, blackfoot daisy, and salvia greggii.<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztgs393dnxfpzJOXb7pTUutTGpf3fev5odb0jW-pjT2kBHnmh7sbzlTACQ2suQLGNPyW442ohk1Lb2xXKtPOnm5ilYDCvWv6nk7Z56U1hiaha67gjYRij07MAFho_1M9fUa7FxPrmDaRG/s1600/DSCF1933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztgs393dnxfpzJOXb7pTUutTGpf3fev5odb0jW-pjT2kBHnmh7sbzlTACQ2suQLGNPyW442ohk1Lb2xXKtPOnm5ilYDCvWv6nk7Z56U1hiaha67gjYRij07MAFho_1M9fUa7FxPrmDaRG/s640/DSCF1933.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A monarch lights on purple coneflower.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvjHV6VbB0er6X6n9Uq8V5L_ZnidjClLODHBRChsYES0NgyM-qAR1w9qAfKMwXCVRWz7Hp-8bfKl2rLP3rp4MEXbpkt0EY5zMTR9co3FYY4jVslE5tUvvr2jVxWCgaB0uFYrODRYeg582/s1600/DSCF1875crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvjHV6VbB0er6X6n9Uq8V5L_ZnidjClLODHBRChsYES0NgyM-qAR1w9qAfKMwXCVRWz7Hp-8bfKl2rLP3rp4MEXbpkt0EY5zMTR9co3FYY4jVslE5tUvvr2jVxWCgaB0uFYrODRYeg582/s640/DSCF1875crop.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Kingswood Torch" coleus<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uaEDRwQ0ARtLlP6dhwBKC7ssgo0u7pkS_Nxibme6l664HFTfo5WuOpwYTnXh0GzVMW52pgwp1ClrrzInFFqzrbPs6lE5NpxrFPnql2RWHsuVo9E3HCkwa5K7BHxY_lJpjyPDzcxjqykH/s1600/DSCF1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uaEDRwQ0ARtLlP6dhwBKC7ssgo0u7pkS_Nxibme6l664HFTfo5WuOpwYTnXh0GzVMW52pgwp1ClrrzInFFqzrbPs6lE5NpxrFPnql2RWHsuVo9E3HCkwa5K7BHxY_lJpjyPDzcxjqykH/s640/DSCF1892.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The always-reliable cosmos, which has been blooming steadily since April.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMhbGAagzjox0aml7qRYHZGTKK7QGAnNTia8avPX1MYbXp_wEBrf5Y9gJtW1K8EerchQniRJSgKNs1iucaobW-yH20QOIlvMyHCFjtt7jtWSR0rYjVmfhx9eSWgB3tT-Mgra_W7-7EMbd/s1600/DSCF1905a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMhbGAagzjox0aml7qRYHZGTKK7QGAnNTia8avPX1MYbXp_wEBrf5Y9gJtW1K8EerchQniRJSgKNs1iucaobW-yH20QOIlvMyHCFjtt7jtWSR0rYjVmfhx9eSWgB3tT-Mgra_W7-7EMbd/s640/DSCF1905a.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The volunteer Gerber daisy<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAuPXUBMCGhCamJm1poSYLuQ-rIX41h60AgX0wrMALX3d32WZzo_QePj2atJbuIC-nrHtwSciVDYCoX8DEtjQ6_qv5vCIUSpzN8kTmqP07jwib4DWTM5GMlE022fxVhZJNJ0QoSLefEO7/s1600/DSCF1918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAuPXUBMCGhCamJm1poSYLuQ-rIX41h60AgX0wrMALX3d32WZzo_QePj2atJbuIC-nrHtwSciVDYCoX8DEtjQ6_qv5vCIUSpzN8kTmqP07jwib4DWTM5GMlE022fxVhZJNJ0QoSLefEO7/s640/DSCF1918.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pigeonberry puts on more color in fall.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vR0PQ8mpiNVuOnVHCVW7jyjaekLPsWY2xC2DTNMANhDMdKoZHmfkyN7yTzZ_IXp9BHUllFuu2LmF0wdfxvpD8UtwZexh1PdbU5MCO2yhpIKDvl2gzZmex254OKNcQe2276VzdYQIpeml/s1600/DSCF1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vR0PQ8mpiNVuOnVHCVW7jyjaekLPsWY2xC2DTNMANhDMdKoZHmfkyN7yTzZ_IXp9BHUllFuu2LmF0wdfxvpD8UtwZexh1PdbU5MCO2yhpIKDvl2gzZmex254OKNcQe2276VzdYQIpeml/s640/DSCF1919.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Delicate and dainty Cecile Bruner<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiX80tszEmouvo5qHK-Da627irAp5xVLbBWnkhP7jUhtGR2VZ9W-LOwOzWamX4wmCyFaYreq-4bhOg4vqenCoaHqrxZSqYeVeOeCNTaD90e49C4I0sAjhTRWbNPrCNxjOoy0hg3fSisI0w/s1600/DSCF1927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiX80tszEmouvo5qHK-Da627irAp5xVLbBWnkhP7jUhtGR2VZ9W-LOwOzWamX4wmCyFaYreq-4bhOg4vqenCoaHqrxZSqYeVeOeCNTaD90e49C4I0sAjhTRWbNPrCNxjOoy0hg3fSisI0w/s640/DSCF1927.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The very long-lived red, orange, and pink zinnias--remember, Felder Rushing says, "Every color goes with every other color."<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6sb2ze8Yuyp_FBRxB1SMHWLnFcEcjdB6GfQrU9lt0G3WW8oYmlpDosfi6UZkHG_fqrUjtmjAHFgw5Yr1D8Nfi-agsU4yFdKHssaJ1mslKyhdapDAxjGAuvuCv3eByY-GiLdHqlZbkjtI/s1600/DSCF1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6sb2ze8Yuyp_FBRxB1SMHWLnFcEcjdB6GfQrU9lt0G3WW8oYmlpDosfi6UZkHG_fqrUjtmjAHFgw5Yr1D8Nfi-agsU4yFdKHssaJ1mslKyhdapDAxjGAuvuCv3eByY-GiLdHqlZbkjtI/s640/DSCF1894.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love this pinky-orange.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's after midnight, late again.<br />
</div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-51833207547424379202009-11-11T14:54:00.000-06:002009-11-11T14:54:24.474-06:00Bloggers' road trip<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The Austin Garden Bloggers' outing Saturday to San Antonio and other points south has been well documented by now, and a good thing, too, because... after taking just 9 shots, <em>my battery died! </em>Oh well, here is a partial look at what was a glorious day in beautiful surroundings with a dozen or so affable companions.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The first stop was Madrone Nursery outside of San Marcos where we met the slightly eccentric but very knowledgeable owner, Dan Hosage, who regaled us while we were waiting for the rest of the group with tales of keeping predators from his chickens with something akin to a .44 Magnum. He has a lot of good natives, especially trees, and maintains that his plants are survivors because he raises them 'tough.'<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Next stop, the San Antonio Botanical Garden, 33 delightful acres with a decidely south-of-the-border feel.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53AMhe2mYVlOULwD0v1O0B4CB_HvTe9bCkjedAhqsCkzzJ5PDuckUk5VdVwj8UhjybrtYMabVgoLJJzDaOEsVF2q8W8X8YhmgMG5akjQQs8cPYRc8mV6cfY_Z75fvIRzaY8szArfwuoPG/s1600-h/DSCF1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53AMhe2mYVlOULwD0v1O0B4CB_HvTe9bCkjedAhqsCkzzJ5PDuckUk5VdVwj8UhjybrtYMabVgoLJJzDaOEsVF2q8W8X8YhmgMG5akjQQs8cPYRc8mV6cfY_Z75fvIRzaY8szArfwuoPG/s640/DSCF1863.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vyRERQRio2kpiyMCPAnfjql3vcf3M4vy_wqrW6bNe9oHK_LVPxyYR0mBhMJ_1LxH-LoCiHCGRjcIc7xbsGwwHbBiSJVSPxKT6j_BjjBS71eD-We8uNnn05EpW72ZENQfec7cbAZ5frb6/s1600-h/DSCF1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vyRERQRio2kpiyMCPAnfjql3vcf3M4vy_wqrW6bNe9oHK_LVPxyYR0mBhMJ_1LxH-LoCiHCGRjcIc7xbsGwwHbBiSJVSPxKT6j_BjjBS71eD-We8uNnn05EpW72ZENQfec7cbAZ5frb6/s640/DSCF1862.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Besides the many outdoor themed gardens here, there are four glass-enclosed indoor exhibit spaces:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLlSu4T_EK9nzgw1xj4HYX488D49AtTeEEL1G9OBV7K0kChcmDSnkGPTG4lnpJPG3Xcspno7u2IjZpZ3vCRKPwnXvXXzFhD0Fqcle0nmuO_iQp87cHB0k9nB6yLO6eLyZUGuPhujoCVNE/s1600-h/DSCF1865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLlSu4T_EK9nzgw1xj4HYX488D49AtTeEEL1G9OBV7K0kChcmDSnkGPTG4lnpJPG3Xcspno7u2IjZpZ3vCRKPwnXvXXzFhD0Fqcle0nmuO_iQp87cHB0k9nB6yLO6eLyZUGuPhujoCVNE/s640/DSCF1865.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yOQNOJ__hVvaYizKw-wxa3rH97UQQoaxJiF7peVk2nrQI_m036IRfUJFihOE34QvFGlzCqiiTkfK47At1e7mTXF8Svrdzhr6Fcm4lIWEVyfk5U1rN_RNj004D20z7EmoKIXc3yzzI9Q3/s1600-h/DSCF1866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yOQNOJ__hVvaYizKw-wxa3rH97UQQoaxJiF7peVk2nrQI_m036IRfUJFihOE34QvFGlzCqiiTkfK47At1e7mTXF8Svrdzhr6Fcm4lIWEVyfk5U1rN_RNj004D20z7EmoKIXc3yzzI9Q3/s640/DSCF1866.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Alas, the camera died just before we went through the Palm & Cycad Pavilion. But I did manage to catch the Children's Garden, which was chock full of tomatoes and other veggies and protected by not-so-frightful scarecrows.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWW_ziHvI_8DHXh2jmnFbi5Nmcs4JT6QuYf-rY5ujVCJvucnWVSXXfbLhPwUBLYY0w1edcCWV9eJ54SgCaT7ChFvBrrHxlllAGwN2vVgTCuolY5Wc_3Y5WKzuZ-uQCmsvxs9NnTuNk-3uv/s1600-h/DSCF1864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWW_ziHvI_8DHXh2jmnFbi5Nmcs4JT6QuYf-rY5ujVCJvucnWVSXXfbLhPwUBLYY0w1edcCWV9eJ54SgCaT7ChFvBrrHxlllAGwN2vVgTCuolY5Wc_3Y5WKzuZ-uQCmsvxs9NnTuNk-3uv/s640/DSCF1864.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We had lunch at the restaurant here on the outdoor patio--I give it 4 stars. The <a href="http://www.sabot.org/">SABot</a> is now on my list for a spring visit--there is so much to see here. And we got in free with our LBJ Wildflower Center membership cards!<br />
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</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Last stop was just north of San Antonio at the Antique Rose Emporium. This location is not as large as the main one at Brenham, but still has huge variety. The atmosphere here is tranquil and very laid-back, with a most helpful staff. Three of us came away with a rose I've been drooling over for some time, "Livin' Easy," a floribunda of a color that is hard to describe (Creamsicle?). <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKEDbLPGxelv7WRebx22I_YjAQQ1bx3owPAGHEV3pWmX9CsJi_NoDjuqQ3p8bFyt3qE4meM1KNKtm1NRGT_fwE_u-I9F9JxgC-WD_PJk7vtT4PgU9oRSA0l092zIausDZ1vIyoRHO9NU9/s1600-h/creamsic_125_thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKEDbLPGxelv7WRebx22I_YjAQQ1bx3owPAGHEV3pWmX9CsJi_NoDjuqQ3p8bFyt3qE4meM1KNKtm1NRGT_fwE_u-I9F9JxgC-WD_PJk7vtT4PgU9oRSA0l092zIausDZ1vIyoRHO9NU9/s200/creamsic_125_thumbnail.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This is what it looks like:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jTuyQTsxfZ0fdMw9CZZDipba6IQYTSogvgVcioNPAozwu6ii34kXaaOFg0xo4g8s047pH9ecqq6QxBmFmhnz_EjcOpkoDG4RyYA_q5WzMHgtyUMpgD6kd0GpOxqWkjPNTC4vcBybKM1S/s1600-h/livin+easy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jTuyQTsxfZ0fdMw9CZZDipba6IQYTSogvgVcioNPAozwu6ii34kXaaOFg0xo4g8s047pH9ecqq6QxBmFmhnz_EjcOpkoDG4RyYA_q5WzMHgtyUMpgD6kd0GpOxqWkjPNTC4vcBybKM1S/s640/livin+easy.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Now to find a place to put it!<br />
</div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-29215455965136739642009-10-28T22:55:00.000-05:002009-10-28T22:55:39.784-05:00What I meant to say...In attempting to clear up what the plant was in Pam's "reds" photo from my garden (see previous post), that looked an awful lot like Japanese maple, I managed to muddle things further by calling it a "red-leaf hydrangea." I don't think there is such a thing. It's actually a red-leaf <em>hibiscus. </em>Sorry about that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0NAfjFwa0rfLOzLMo81XQA2J-5Y2TfozObZBRfeukHcW-BhDElQKx1PBtTmAsoQT-HdO_e_PLl_VZAB14Lw-oNB4iA5cC-4VWC0Zcf8CEcQ15CYpRGTpPiOwEhKda-yt9K3c8ZlN8HIS/s1600-h/DSCF1573crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0NAfjFwa0rfLOzLMo81XQA2J-5Y2TfozObZBRfeukHcW-BhDElQKx1PBtTmAsoQT-HdO_e_PLl_VZAB14Lw-oNB4iA5cC-4VWC0Zcf8CEcQ15CYpRGTpPiOwEhKda-yt9K3c8ZlN8HIS/s640/DSCF1573crop.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-83504263666014492662009-10-28T13:44:00.001-05:002009-10-28T22:39:01.366-05:00A very happy dayInside Austin Gardens 2009 will remain a vivid memory for a long time to come. Fantastic weather, appreciative crowds,<br />
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</div>kindly comments, cooperative plants (for the most part). My daughter, who comes over a lot, said, “It looks, well… different.” I told her she was missing the hose sprawled on the lawn, the wheel barrow half full of mulch, the shovels and gravel piles that until last week were spoiling the “ambiance.” <br />
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It was an altogether fantabulous day, and I have my fellow Master Gardeners to thank for making it so, especially Elaine, the well-organized garden captain, Janelle (everyone loved the plant tags), Rosalie, Holly, Vertie, smart and entertaining speakers Susan and Carolyn, and the many other MGs and interns who made everything run smoothly.<br />
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It was so interesting to see what people were drawn to: the Chinese ground orchids (bletilla striata-see previous post) that I got at Home Depot ($3 marked down from $17) after Elaine put me on to them, the gomphrena “Strawberry Fields” that have proliferated from a 4” pot bought 4 years ago and that reseed like crazy, the color combo of them plus the red-leaf hydrangea behind them that Pam caught so nicely in her photo (fooled you Pam, I know it looks like a mini-Japanese maple), the sprightly pigeonberry with its pink flowers and red berries that I had hoped would get noticed, the salvia azurea with its glowing blue blossoms that now is one of my favorites, the blazing red zinnias, the last-minute birdbath of concrete rounds and a handmade bowl (nice photo by Jenny), and the white spiderwort that resembles a starry night in deep shade. Not to mention the manfreda undulata “Chocolate Chips” that some bloggers now covet.<br />
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Then there were other things I hope got some attention because they so kindly chose to bloom at just the right time, such as the sweet rose, “The Fairy” next to the sidewalk with its clusters of small , pink blossoms,<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpHrUTB7KwU9tHXxEbAAe1OChR_RlysFi-6ywWP94uGhTCSr187XSbGSioF-uazFJXApeKLakmu7DVN9EirG7uzlVWX-Qn4-VOYVsMymnQiwpS5Ki8-mL20Nw0LBPzInPZ-qjUUw1Xksu/s1600-h/DSCF1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpHrUTB7KwU9tHXxEbAAe1OChR_RlysFi-6ywWP94uGhTCSr187XSbGSioF-uazFJXApeKLakmu7DVN9EirG7uzlVWX-Qn4-VOYVsMymnQiwpS5Ki8-mL20Nw0LBPzInPZ-qjUUw1Xksu/s640/DSCF1817.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi0d5-Jp4CgFpFCZLjFTEqlIYyQt83Xkb3vlttIHncn-732syGFJJat3-HGfbI1aZoSc8wRzaNcuZMhn7ZNhRY6Jho34ozpErjAo-3ljEJ8xmK50WVeNuWAvKGvv8TsgVO6cALBh_3Rew/s1600-h/DSCF1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi0d5-Jp4CgFpFCZLjFTEqlIYyQt83Xkb3vlttIHncn-732syGFJJat3-HGfbI1aZoSc8wRzaNcuZMhn7ZNhRY6Jho34ozpErjAo-3ljEJ8xmK50WVeNuWAvKGvv8TsgVO6cALBh_3Rew/s640/DSCF1738.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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and the big indigo spires also spilling over the sidewalk. And I hope people were able to see the new benches full of potted succulents along the driveway fence as they made their way into the back yard.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKvygqzmwpESLMdBXU6oOIdR8HZxxyOz78gIrphb71r_rv2TrgaAQf2LuIj4G4wjZGOulgG_HknfM0Qsz10OJ4hjMa7WN_pRU7RPLqVVJH-yCgaTu0LWeUhW5pXLv-fyFZ8_6xUTQicva/s1600-h/DSCF1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKvygqzmwpESLMdBXU6oOIdR8HZxxyOz78gIrphb71r_rv2TrgaAQf2LuIj4G4wjZGOulgG_HknfM0Qsz10OJ4hjMa7WN_pRU7RPLqVVJH-yCgaTu0LWeUhW5pXLv-fyFZ8_6xUTQicva/s640/DSCF1727.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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Oh, if the flame acanthus had just bloomed! The Martha Gonzales roses<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQxlY0RowS8Hkk5fl8fs0b3Qh53pTT10-qR1JiAtOzYZGb6paqQRf-geljprrbvjumDI11LYGqi0yYJrvsj_EPHVuW_bzY88oaLJOAB2zsHtwhnmc915U4xzogGwkbDOk5xUBBeojqe5Z/s1600-h/DSCF1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQxlY0RowS8Hkk5fl8fs0b3Qh53pTT10-qR1JiAtOzYZGb6paqQRf-geljprrbvjumDI11LYGqi0yYJrvsj_EPHVuW_bzY88oaLJOAB2zsHtwhnmc915U4xzogGwkbDOk5xUBBeojqe5Z/s400/DSCF1820.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div>are covered with new buds, so drive by next week if you’re in the neighborhood.<br />
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Stealing an idea from Randy Case to show "before" pictures, here are a couple from mine in late 2002, the day before I bought the house long-distance based only on these photos:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHILpLh-JEyOL2-QmREozpd4QJXCi7Y5rCMCYm0v93ixbq_6w-WfIAKgWQgxzMZw5nYiuwILSqlxTnuta_Q7k44QxqRK8ZcY2AElcj8_hPlSdnmoJIP_bqvurGIwp9qVS4abmbKO864u-/s1600-h/MVC-018S.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHILpLh-JEyOL2-QmREozpd4QJXCi7Y5rCMCYm0v93ixbq_6w-WfIAKgWQgxzMZw5nYiuwILSqlxTnuta_Q7k44QxqRK8ZcY2AElcj8_hPlSdnmoJIP_bqvurGIwp9qVS4abmbKO864u-/s400/MVC-018S.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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Strange thing—I spent Saturday evening thinking about all the new things I want to do with my back beds and how much wonderful stuff I saw in the other gardens I can cram into my place by March. I guess it’s a good thing that gardeners never rest on their “laurels.”Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-90687274277441246502009-10-21T11:40:00.000-05:002009-10-21T11:40:58.944-05:00Now that it's cool...Working outdoors pretty much every day in the summer from hell left little energy for blogging, so I wimped out until now. I took only one photo between July and September--no point when there's only rack and ruin and half-finished projects to look at, except for this amazing two-striped walking stick that appeared on the front porch one night in August:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Anisomorpha buprestoide (with male on back)<br />
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But then the rains came and with them a second spring. Wouldn't it be interesting to calculate the rate of plant growth per hour over the first 2 weeks of September. It seemed I could almost sit and watch things unfurl.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Chinese ground orchid<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZJ8UHSalru13XVf3Qejkiktqycbzx7Fk8lIGjKd9Ck3YTVvrw1WiquEua3wMnB9VSnOV4xlqqWPPI-EhOu1Mu_i8s2mESG7_MvsrhliAB2EtKWMedasbkYHhJauNDiAhocSYBj8q7ltk/s1600-h/DSCF1564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZJ8UHSalru13XVf3Qejkiktqycbzx7Fk8lIGjKd9Ck3YTVvrw1WiquEua3wMnB9VSnOV4xlqqWPPI-EhOu1Mu_i8s2mESG7_MvsrhliAB2EtKWMedasbkYHhJauNDiAhocSYBj8q7ltk/s400/DSCF1564.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Passiflora 'Incense'<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The storm that hit the Hwy 290-183 area on September 4 brought the schoolhouse lilies on September 6!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ocSyOXjkpM_RZ-mu0u1uLl0QnlgLMVH3XxoIpvqyics1PQscnpTj013TRSc95FresHMtJ9QAzhvN0rbVYNi4KXs2ZaaQS_VSTuwxuRgU7is80jsB-72-meWXLaOJ1KIiKsZkEqKAVQfY/s1600-h/DSCF1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ocSyOXjkpM_RZ-mu0u1uLl0QnlgLMVH3XxoIpvqyics1PQscnpTj013TRSc95FresHMtJ9QAzhvN0rbVYNi4KXs2ZaaQS_VSTuwxuRgU7is80jsB-72-meWXLaOJ1KIiKsZkEqKAVQfY/s400/DSCF1569.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And there was a population explosion of anoles--this little guy was barely 1 1/2 inches, sitting on a salvia leaf.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF6q8PT1oI3DolKxKvcHAKIVdTqRAvKf7UCXFQsgEYPU9zUYrdBaijffiFdkx7dS7XY8aLQ3M7GsJmCj6719p4UgDe5fbRwgMari4BASYwSMjSA9uzpwVLW-OnSMpBpqtBIrtRzcGDCZW/s1600-h/DSCF1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF6q8PT1oI3DolKxKvcHAKIVdTqRAvKf7UCXFQsgEYPU9zUYrdBaijffiFdkx7dS7XY8aLQ3M7GsJmCj6719p4UgDe5fbRwgMari4BASYwSMjSA9uzpwVLW-OnSMpBpqtBIrtRzcGDCZW/s400/DSCF1596.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This guy seems to be meditating<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm3l01Bo0_xnDmoveE4V-3MDWuz2OlNmLYSi1YDvPdAKTiOJKQL2UKyqNanMzqEtvOhWuimb9RpCKl_-Cp2MwGpnXHDiMX_2RDFo5eqyqfLGbeTR47JRT-gRdVypW_gWfiJy-mFP6IdLV/s1600-h/DSCF1682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm3l01Bo0_xnDmoveE4V-3MDWuz2OlNmLYSi1YDvPdAKTiOJKQL2UKyqNanMzqEtvOhWuimb9RpCKl_-Cp2MwGpnXHDiMX_2RDFo5eqyqfLGbeTR47JRT-gRdVypW_gWfiJy-mFP6IdLV/s400/DSCF1682.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The September rains caused a lot of things to bloom before I wanted them to, such as the Souvenir de la Malmaison and Martha Gonzalez roses, and the brugmansia, which went wild up until last week, at times having 10-12 blooms on at the same time. I do see a couple, though, that look like they'll open by Saturday.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYXXXhzPL1-d75rR8GJbSw08yr-meB70_FczdUFnbIKd43d8WCoaiGKNztHtBO0weQbOCns7QXIEjFQbDHB4XQNJUbZQhFV0cxh0O8cUdaxL9QUhxu2QZXlDTFNkhJXFL4yGDIpb1zLfH/s1600-h/DSCF1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYXXXhzPL1-d75rR8GJbSw08yr-meB70_FczdUFnbIKd43d8WCoaiGKNztHtBO0weQbOCns7QXIEjFQbDHB4XQNJUbZQhFV0cxh0O8cUdaxL9QUhxu2QZXlDTFNkhJXFL4yGDIpb1zLfH/s400/DSCF1690.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wonderful little white spiderwort that I got at the MGs' plant sale at Zilker Fest have spread well and will probably still be in bloom on tour day.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzcjSdWeL8icoQychLi5RNUXFZUrAny5nebf0UUq86SzjcUTKhrZ48JKQ_5JjYTFSWQV1o15v2ZN66MzREPnsO0BwU3EKEGKKhbkWU4omDUF7Uwqv0Wa-IpFNYObHLELXjAXzsrrmHXBH/s1600-h/DSCF1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzcjSdWeL8icoQychLi5RNUXFZUrAny5nebf0UUq86SzjcUTKhrZ48JKQ_5JjYTFSWQV1o15v2ZN66MzREPnsO0BwU3EKEGKKhbkWU4omDUF7Uwqv0Wa-IpFNYObHLELXjAXzsrrmHXBH/s400/DSCF1688.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of tour day, it's fast approaching--my nerves are a bit frayed, my arms are covered with mosquito bites, my back is sore, and my cheeks and nose are sunburned, but I've enjoyed every (well, almost every) minute of the preparations. There's a great sense of satisfaction in seeing ideas come to be. I am so grateful for the moral support of my gardening friends, not to mention their labor on projects big and small. The truth is, I could not have done this alone!<br />
</div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-20797190648470392302009-06-29T21:47:00.021-05:002009-07-08T23:30:33.958-05:00A Break from the HeatA couple of weeks ago I went back east to visit friends. What a lovely surprise to see that it has been raining in the rest of the world. In the Boston area and up in coastal Maine not only were temperatures quite cool, but it also rained about half the time.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>In Washington DC they say there hasn't been so much rain in 30 years, and it was evident in the lush, green surroundings. An old friend took me to see three places I'd never been before in our nation's </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZrS6AbOPk-vRfaM_Vk1-hWMsw2vVhv1ziUL0WVVP2r1HnsDsLw8EXXQuo-IlPW_JpG2E9TCFEvqxUfV92MW7bC6DLAwFfRQhxN16QRwbj-E-EZGrMbNa2PehWDoYNQBiyi8GMGQ9Zj7e/s1600-h/capitol.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352960813653200034" style="WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZrS6AbOPk-vRfaM_Vk1-hWMsw2vVhv1ziUL0WVVP2r1HnsDsLw8EXXQuo-IlPW_JpG2E9TCFEvqxUfV92MW7bC6DLAwFfRQhxN16QRwbj-E-EZGrMbNa2PehWDoYNQBiyi8GMGQ9Zj7e/s400/capitol.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><em>(note: real rain clouds)</em><br /></div><br /><div>First we spent half a day walking through the 50-acre Brookside Gardens near Silver Spring, Maryland, a spacious, Olmsted-inspired site that contains a variety of local and exotic plants--a very 19th century feel. Brookside has many specialized landscape areas such as the Aquatic, Azalea, Butterfly, Children's, Rose, Japanese, Trial, and Rain Gardens, not to mention a Woodland Walk.<br /></div><div><br />Woodland Hydrangea<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAg0lsIo9xbe-cSwrdi5kxVTrb4c-zzAu3TknbT54bN5p3GmTk_LMfmN13OxqcLjuiDJXXmPA-kMpZ3qN01JaAeIa0C4J11ViP-ZqHUvNejKx1oDfpQpeEcnAHn2gtuO9OyRzoZ56mP77/s1600-h/DSCF1507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352977336537590818" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAg0lsIo9xbe-cSwrdi5kxVTrb4c-zzAu3TknbT54bN5p3GmTk_LMfmN13OxqcLjuiDJXXmPA-kMpZ3qN01JaAeIa0C4J11ViP-ZqHUvNejKx1oDfpQpeEcnAHn2gtuO9OyRzoZ56mP77/s400/DSCF1507.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div>Indian Pink</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mh7phkGOYzmW197bf5HqVV7bZtBe8jWchykd_O48DZqs63dOSGfbfktzpBBDJdbBMys3x1HPrkcc_82tx93X5eGeG3xnYfJz9XivOYvTtssyeyu_-P1agBW823CKmwKR-W-zEpPL2hpl/s1600-h/DSCF1505.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352977326990091858" style="WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mh7phkGOYzmW197bf5HqVV7bZtBe8jWchykd_O48DZqs63dOSGfbfktzpBBDJdbBMys3x1HPrkcc_82tx93X5eGeG3xnYfJz9XivOYvTtssyeyu_-P1agBW823CKmwKR-W-zEpPL2hpl/s400/DSCF1505.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div>Japanese Garden<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyC5VuZLAj74pKQ2fTt7cnW9_9O3qnaP6l_vlP4fMV8pRGAhqq6MDvkvQxxEX5koRN019gJ9LkYSiO-GVI_InqrbbmOl1SNvQ0sbfwhLmDUCfDJVWT8TdzLEIV8F8DeWyfo8H2oecRyGsl/s1600-h/DSCF1504.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356305201661492962" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyC5VuZLAj74pKQ2fTt7cnW9_9O3qnaP6l_vlP4fMV8pRGAhqq6MDvkvQxxEX5koRN019gJ9LkYSiO-GVI_InqrbbmOl1SNvQ0sbfwhLmDUCfDJVWT8TdzLEIV8F8DeWyfo8H2oecRyGsl/s400/DSCF1504.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />Rose Garden<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2M1mBW0ywtpO9eRtkGxEe8N83mXzppYzh97t6z-CsByqvNdM7Xxj7hMXP7rAHqdUa3IBDSEII1507PGUxt9v1zQx7B5lGmj7V_lzvEYbworLu8hNqvyGK_v6bsx7yX_OC5CvkQs2Ouy4/s1600-h/DSCF1509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352981632183008866" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2M1mBW0ywtpO9eRtkGxEe8N83mXzppYzh97t6z-CsByqvNdM7Xxj7hMXP7rAHqdUa3IBDSEII1507PGUxt9v1zQx7B5lGmj7V_lzvEYbworLu8hNqvyGK_v6bsx7yX_OC5CvkQs2Ouy4/s400/DSCF1509.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Kousa dogwood (Japanese dogwood)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXO6FIWmMhc2RXiz8crYgu41YPSLotajd4UPRs5bSAW1ewUpLxQjE_z2At4GVUA0-vZM5XYh1rcNHdrE5temC0QVP1OKpZE2dj1826A81QEj-kVSezfWuaL6l4nxmyrFd5uH0Luxke6aD/s1600-h/DSCF1508.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352981623476202066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXO6FIWmMhc2RXiz8crYgu41YPSLotajd4UPRs5bSAW1ewUpLxQjE_z2At4GVUA0-vZM5XYh1rcNHdrE5temC0QVP1OKpZE2dj1826A81QEj-kVSezfWuaL6l4nxmyrFd5uH0Luxke6aD/s400/DSCF1508.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div>and water, water, everywhere...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakqL-p9gggCYweETiYO01Y7vfCW1WEqgV85BWVjLZs43R8dQ6xRRhzGfxg8DnggoWzoqXyzoWNjrxHM_SRv7EaNKW7yY3kzOzR2PdZRpvb0vzRb8zpMy7rQ8NxPDcOpvLoTgbjCO7y_bp/s1600-h/DSCF1512.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353986632544562450" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakqL-p9gggCYweETiYO01Y7vfCW1WEqgV85BWVjLZs43R8dQ6xRRhzGfxg8DnggoWzoqXyzoWNjrxHM_SRv7EaNKW7yY3kzOzR2PdZRpvb0vzRb8zpMy7rQ8NxPDcOpvLoTgbjCO7y_bp/s400/DSCF1512.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Then we took a driving tour through the 446-acre U.S. National Arboretum, a beautiful and fascinating place to wander in, preferably if one has more than a couple of hours. Established in 1927, it's an part of the Agricultural Research Service (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture), and is equal parts educational and research facility. Many 'improved' plant varieties have been developed here; introductions from the USNA include 25 varieties of crapemyrtle such as Natchez, Sioux, and Pokomoke. Since its beginning, the Arboretum has developed and introduced over 650 new varieties of plants. Some of the collections are astounding, such as the 15,000 Glenn Dale azaleas, and 1000 daylilies, including 150 award-winners from the American Hemerocallis Society. Too much to describe here--definitely a must visit if you find yourself in D.C., expecially in spring. Here's the <a href="http://www.usna.usda.gov/">website</a>.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The next day after a few showers we visited the U.S. Botanic Garden. Established by Congress in 1820 "to collect, cultivate, and grow the various vegetable products of this and other countries for exhibition and display to the public...", the garden's first greenhouse was constructed in 1842; eventually the garden was moved to the southeast end of the Capitol grounds. The current conservatory is a complete and accurate reconstruction of the one built in 1933, and was reopened in 2001.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F-m-j9u90fdTXvCAqkgNoaOxKFImFmrt7yKAdYstlnKrNgKcoKXCSbzuSsYNF8dNIKPvMunwwqScVmvTO8nEuSxveE4TCtL7zwwlKpe7q8DAd_6qzXi6GPlExY-QuUmd2TVsGyb8448_/s1600-h/800px-US_Botanic_Garden_Conservatory.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355193917362794994" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F-m-j9u90fdTXvCAqkgNoaOxKFImFmrt7yKAdYstlnKrNgKcoKXCSbzuSsYNF8dNIKPvMunwwqScVmvTO8nEuSxveE4TCtL7zwwlKpe7q8DAd_6qzXi6GPlExY-QuUmd2TVsGyb8448_/s400/800px-US_Botanic_Garden_Conservatory.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><p>The 3-acre 'National Garden' that now surrounds it was completed in 2006 and contains mostly plants native or adapted to the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as rose and pond gardens. </p><p>Box garden near main entrance<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9D9NmT7XD9qmLrPptEms9en1TOFlkS2BATP4KfsBK8h-bIIGSamV3S2BVJb1b8yCNgs1QX7PmnOhIfYBjrdknvwpqRxJHf0zAJREfnyy3BLGko1rbb4PvJgCCSrrfuIYANy8wunEKqiT/s1600-h/DSCF1521.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353986634272812402" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9D9NmT7XD9qmLrPptEms9en1TOFlkS2BATP4KfsBK8h-bIIGSamV3S2BVJb1b8yCNgs1QX7PmnOhIfYBjrdknvwpqRxJHf0zAJREfnyy3BLGko1rbb4PvJgCCSrrfuIYANy8wunEKqiT/s400/DSCF1521.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div>Inside the conservatory- Garden Court</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pNmJLkcAD9bqCFu99k_hCrfWQ6NJoz62h4UPLII8TGxQEMqaPA2hYZgZPjweWeUR-rZtDkQ8S6X5_B-LnTLqoKaQHTRcCHsgIt3LTJhQwZlLMPdec7C7M_ur-v-An52pCX5DxEHi1mCJ/s1600-h/DSCF1526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353992263251290994" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pNmJLkcAD9bqCFu99k_hCrfWQ6NJoz62h4UPLII8TGxQEMqaPA2hYZgZPjweWeUR-rZtDkQ8S6X5_B-LnTLqoKaQHTRcCHsgIt3LTJhQwZlLMPdec7C7M_ur-v-An52pCX5DxEHi1mCJ/s400/DSCF1526.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKRv2CvbFiODAVD4j2bcUIWy3vptzFQIvYEJ911efx12sOMndbKCDb3p7rgNNlriVkR2E4slA1PlTjGckraEN-TjIItSH8cjDiNRXwSrhvS5j9oDrGbpqGMuGHMq_DO4lLP32sd5DM7hG/s1600-h/DSCF1525.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353986647467070866" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKRv2CvbFiODAVD4j2bcUIWy3vptzFQIvYEJ911efx12sOMndbKCDb3p7rgNNlriVkR2E4slA1PlTjGckraEN-TjIItSH8cjDiNRXwSrhvS5j9oDrGbpqGMuGHMq_DO4lLP32sd5DM7hG/s400/DSCF1525.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />The Jungle- the dome here is 93 feet high<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lJD0MxLALcK-pQnwO1KGabn0z8kg3nx22nVM6Z7ItowZXq_-lVmYJ_4buG9YOQE-5RirxqK4vIY1SBA5BhMtuDN1eDcyoJ9RibIyrCYNA7PUa2prfhjLa_ycRO9Dwfo4QAP4XpJnpcTV/s1600-h/DSCF1529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353992266074842034" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lJD0MxLALcK-pQnwO1KGabn0z8kg3nx22nVM6Z7ItowZXq_-lVmYJ_4buG9YOQE-5RirxqK4vIY1SBA5BhMtuDN1eDcyoJ9RibIyrCYNA7PUa2prfhjLa_ycRO9Dwfo4QAP4XpJnpcTV/s400/DSCF1529.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPKjtzNdPJ4I8-6nIGvgJkwxQnD5wnSfIxwi79C8xx9uR8E-P7AIwqlvPDyX_a_Gr2Wc3S3svdwghdZ5eGWsFAgy1fcktlTgeXrbzctOBkxpE9y8UgJKtCrRdHhnxcJ0ms0-IZ_7uGX5v/s1600-h/DSCF1533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353992270292934770" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPKjtzNdPJ4I8-6nIGvgJkwxQnD5wnSfIxwi79C8xx9uR8E-P7AIwqlvPDyX_a_Gr2Wc3S3svdwghdZ5eGWsFAgy1fcktlTgeXrbzctOBkxpE9y8UgJKtCrRdHhnxcJ0ms0-IZ_7uGX5v/s400/DSCF1533.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>In the orchid collection...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHDwfeo6PfrLVsqZhQlPmR2yyoPTBzI4yNk4_Oq_ACHNuhkjQNvu6hfMMforwGed78c2jphZtrQkA27I7uaidXHitG7qqEfdbZXzAbabq7YvnlbOdHxuYvHbgN-smFxnJgmvI1Gg9ZDCz/s1600-h/DSCF1537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355193919545506322" style="WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHDwfeo6PfrLVsqZhQlPmR2yyoPTBzI4yNk4_Oq_ACHNuhkjQNvu6hfMMforwGed78c2jphZtrQkA27I7uaidXHitG7qqEfdbZXzAbabq7YvnlbOdHxuYvHbgN-smFxnJgmvI1Gg9ZDCz/s400/DSCF1537.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>painted metal flower sculpture</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz9PGolSPMFIKVO0b6PId8h2-Wo0oBRQCbSi4vy5b_hbsHgyJbcvRMLSNbPdeQ6NULpuZmSkDXI-gFeNsdcpVpZ_j8flY3wE5o3wdImSbXFNvJGsxfFjPqzrMZJ0blZeLYwxpYccydvzs/s1600-h/DSCF1541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355193924177102290" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz9PGolSPMFIKVO0b6PId8h2-Wo0oBRQCbSi4vy5b_hbsHgyJbcvRMLSNbPdeQ6NULpuZmSkDXI-gFeNsdcpVpZ_j8flY3wE5o3wdImSbXFNvJGsxfFjPqzrMZJ0blZeLYwxpYccydvzs/s400/DSCF1541.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div>The conservatory also contains desert, primeval, medicinal, southern U.S./Mexico, and rare and endangered species exhibits. I enjoyed it enormously in spite of the heat and humidity inside. Check out more photos and info <a href="http://www.usbg.gov/">here</a>.</div><div></div><br /><div>What a treat to get away briefly from Texas summer, even though it was still as hot as ever when I returned!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-7228664995408748102009-06-03T10:53:00.007-05:002009-06-03T15:26:39.184-05:00The tomato situation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGaK0SCUWEN9aYs7-Hvo-YLQIsB4M4xHm7wvHayklZ79MnzMLVYcbJtPU07kZX-BQSYns-bLTgG14lwusVHVh9U7rRW-HRypRN6pQW8OgIgSGLZseUtZdGOKdbpfFF7EoJkJ7l6IGu4dq/s1600-h/DSCF1461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343135500452594562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGaK0SCUWEN9aYs7-Hvo-YLQIsB4M4xHm7wvHayklZ79MnzMLVYcbJtPU07kZX-BQSYns-bLTgG14lwusVHVh9U7rRW-HRypRN6pQW8OgIgSGLZseUtZdGOKdbpfFF7EoJkJ7l6IGu4dq/s400/DSCF1461.JPG" border="0" /></a> It's just like all those years we had such high hopes every spring for the Red Sox only to have them dashed in August. I'm underwhelmed by the tomatoes' progress. This German Johnson has <em>not one </em>fruit on it, and the leaves have malformations, not to mention that the lower ones are turning light yellow.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then 2 of the lower green fruits<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXIYlPuG-b1dRVu5Qil3Dt_F_em9kpWO4HNErfKZqonnTkRQyaJkqzhN0R0jScps4rcDuDqk2DlBVPq-zd1uVU2xmAxXpouTj6qjmUI3tun3_SQJXDjgkaBsYR08o76F4k7dgEDrLaSTs/s1600-h/DSCF1464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343135494017212594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXIYlPuG-b1dRVu5Qil3Dt_F_em9kpWO4HNErfKZqonnTkRQyaJkqzhN0R0jScps4rcDuDqk2DlBVPq-zd1uVU2xmAxXpouTj6qjmUI3tun3_SQJXDjgkaBsYR08o76F4k7dgEDrLaSTs/s400/DSCF1464.JPG" border="0" /></a> on the Jaune Flamme turned up like this. I believe it's the tomato fruitworm, aka corn earworm. Disgusting! No worms on any other plants.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_otliBey48mbX1Pg_zt44bEdK9U8W6uNIvWSn9UVPlq2Sf3cwJPIZ4pHuusCTuLkYbT4kBj9j3cLdHUcJNiwBeDmdMah2CQgLpKDEyDDlQrFnHR1eRj3iXndh_HwalF0zGEQUfkllWFi/s1600-h/DSCF1479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132158075303426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_otliBey48mbX1Pg_zt44bEdK9U8W6uNIvWSn9UVPlq2Sf3cwJPIZ4pHuusCTuLkYbT4kBj9j3cLdHUcJNiwBeDmdMah2CQgLpKDEyDDlQrFnHR1eRj3iXndh_HwalF0zGEQUfkllWFi/s400/DSCF1479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />These are the holes where the worm entered.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpkvobacA1v_H76rqR68_dtxdQN_pL-meYi2Qwp0wMj_YOV-QE68S3kFqg6Bi3jtZnsLeI5l5QWuNauTCxtBfv2G-Gb_f5IcGRxTFV5qr7u3_okANB29XMIdGpofXJjys6tO5vCA55XtO/s1600-h/DSCF1488.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132151792393138" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpkvobacA1v_H76rqR68_dtxdQN_pL-meYi2Qwp0wMj_YOV-QE68S3kFqg6Bi3jtZnsLeI5l5QWuNauTCxtBfv2G-Gb_f5IcGRxTFV5qr7u3_okANB29XMIdGpofXJjys6tO5vCA55XtO/s400/DSCF1488.JPG" border="0" /></a> And this is clearly bird damage-- there were 3 of these on the lower part of the BHN-444, still hanging from the stem.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Current Tally (all green):</p><ul><li><div align="justify">German Johnson--no fruit, but topheavy with new blooms</div></li><li><div align="justify">Azoychka--2 large, undamaged fruits, some new blooms</div></li><li><div align="justify">BHN-444--4 fruit, lots of bloom</div></li><li><div align="justify">Black Cherry--lots of fruit and blooms</div></li><li><div align="justify">Jaune Flamme--lots of fruit and blooms</div></li><li><div align="justify">Juliet--lots of fruit and blooms</div></li><li><div align="justify">ripe and eaten so far--1 Juliet and 1 Jaune Flamme</div></li></ul><p align="justify">So I'm thinking I could have spent some of the $$$ I threw down on compost, fertilizer and plants at the Farmers' Market instead and had a BLT by now. No tomato picture (although they have lots), but here's some of the other great stuff at the Austin Farmers' Market last Saturday. If you've not been lately, you should hike on down there to the corner of San Antonio and 4th St. soon. Great people and dog watching, friendly farmers, terrific pickup breakfast food, the best coffee, and live music! Peaches, blueberries and blackberries in abundance.</p><p align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdYX98oWgJfyF7rHqz0UlM2GH0c_yC_Goj02mBqxWp4F2YbbaE4KpiH1VBjkE2b9VjuDD735zHJ1c8sLOyXDeW3avXZ-ncL49zARnafEyjz3Zhfst1pdl5Iinm7vWbYAee-Ne7hjj27Qa/s1600-h/DSCF1476.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343133823534908338" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdYX98oWgJfyF7rHqz0UlM2GH0c_yC_Goj02mBqxWp4F2YbbaE4KpiH1VBjkE2b9VjuDD735zHJ1c8sLOyXDeW3avXZ-ncL49zARnafEyjz3Zhfst1pdl5Iinm7vWbYAee-Ne7hjj27Qa/s400/DSCF1476.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPJDom8ZbHCaHWU8-KxgGHkfh8BT8yarN3PvIEQS8Rixw60ozFKs0KxxLsLxylZZfTNgpT4ZJdvC9K3MwRKb5kw4JqKwnMo2pFHdWw-0aXzEikbvRx8DfStx2KpzjvJkEQcXzgRZwUAd5/s1600-h/DSCF1471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343135485884457714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPJDom8ZbHCaHWU8-KxgGHkfh8BT8yarN3PvIEQS8Rixw60ozFKs0KxxLsLxylZZfTNgpT4ZJdvC9K3MwRKb5kw4JqKwnMo2pFHdWw-0aXzEikbvRx8DfStx2KpzjvJkEQcXzgRZwUAd5/s400/DSCF1471.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeJOyNWoUvVeM0vX9kbcvJ2S349B51QZG4I8DA8TzZykIDZHMD3IRup-msHr3GFdrsYDPinabHtX27hrBvT2h3ZfMjYzeOYRkTu0d9WhZVOkZk8osS9nLFP96jYkvIDbXvCC_c1Q12M5u/s1600-h/DSCF1469.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343133820511728690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeJOyNWoUvVeM0vX9kbcvJ2S349B51QZG4I8DA8TzZykIDZHMD3IRup-msHr3GFdrsYDPinabHtX27hrBvT2h3ZfMjYzeOYRkTu0d9WhZVOkZk8osS9nLFP96jYkvIDbXvCC_c1Q12M5u/s400/DSCF1469.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLkJmtGSqogC2Cl7_uBoo4jkP83upxd5eaA78jig3ltYn3XlxZeKHD6NPuIYkAiJBksEuuxFmt2LiXdMpCjoQNLzEe3wy8oKViOuX0McFOWmxJOryQ1ZFwQbsycC2MARu9ZExKndMof8r/s1600-h/DSCF1473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343133816389806754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLkJmtGSqogC2Cl7_uBoo4jkP83upxd5eaA78jig3ltYn3XlxZeKHD6NPuIYkAiJBksEuuxFmt2LiXdMpCjoQNLzEe3wy8oKViOuX0McFOWmxJOryQ1ZFwQbsycC2MARu9ZExKndMof8r/s400/DSCF1473.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjneghDyBh4Fvhwn3HXVROl-PhNHb02vg-iy3qwALHw_tRxIhMfTvR65569EOrYjMbRuRNGVwMC8-SeSRcTiHjwVStDdP8IVqZgkPJe8WFGiTKn9ExNtDFrpa0jHxXzC77XQDrzMQWufk/s1600-h/DSCF1494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132151539638514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjneghDyBh4Fvhwn3HXVROl-PhNHb02vg-iy3qwALHw_tRxIhMfTvR65569EOrYjMbRuRNGVwMC8-SeSRcTiHjwVStDdP8IVqZgkPJe8WFGiTKn9ExNtDFrpa0jHxXzC77XQDrzMQWufk/s400/DSCF1494.JPG" border="0" /></a> When not yelling at the vegetables, I'm now enjoying the new fountain that was installed last week. Those darn birds seem to like it, too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div></div></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-83353678462052472652009-05-12T22:51:00.015-05:002009-05-14T10:48:44.709-05:00Curiosities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JaTWF7y6k_0-w5tEBicqV2MtA7H6mZF9R-i2QW_WNJJSyNVgdx8ta5yt-mzOveWPut-k5X8VtpnX5elQNDyXDlkQVT0xH7xapAy-7xK752Ya4DXvQtjPxnR28kga_II_0nK13txdFqPf/s1600-h/DSCF1364.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335173453153207026" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JaTWF7y6k_0-w5tEBicqV2MtA7H6mZF9R-i2QW_WNJJSyNVgdx8ta5yt-mzOveWPut-k5X8VtpnX5elQNDyXDlkQVT0xH7xapAy-7xK752Ya4DXvQtjPxnR28kga_II_0nK13txdFqPf/s400/DSCF1364.JPG" border="0" /></a>There are lots of interesting critters showing up these days . I first noticed some lady beetle larvae on a large dill plant that I was about to pull out, since it had gone to seed and had very little green left on it. A few days later I saw 10-15 of them on a bronze fennel. Those are now gone and apparently grown up, but several remain on the dill, so I will wait a couple more days to pull it up and plant a replacement.<br /><br /><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Then as I was cleaning up the poppy bed, I saw four strange, horned caterpillars on the pink evening primrose. A little research revealed that they were larvae of the whitelined sphinx moth (one of 3 kinds of 'hummingbird moth'), which made sense since I had seen one the night before around my back porch light. The larvae typically have a lot of color variation, but if you see something similar to this on primrose or pentas, it's probably the Sphinx.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRGAKblci1nk1KkQOY4gxuk2ir7eYyMkruS-QoCHGwDfK5bX9ua6mrezFIN56xU3SAC7k59qmvL_ahYSKEl5xpCfiNKUcg045-w_mPD0qh6ucadxAnQRz94Ry-ilzYHXwAstqY4UE5PJO/s1600-h/DSCF1393.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335160204777739506" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRGAKblci1nk1KkQOY4gxuk2ir7eYyMkruS-QoCHGwDfK5bX9ua6mrezFIN56xU3SAC7k59qmvL_ahYSKEl5xpCfiNKUcg045-w_mPD0qh6ucadxAnQRz94Ry-ilzYHXwAstqY4UE5PJO/s400/DSCF1393.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is a borrowed photo of the adult.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiqi5YJblam5Mjhyd2-8kYNbJcaApmunz4Kzb1Y-Y1dmJmYua0c6GnzfYeUCV9uVk4d9r47tnaLBoeh0MxcpBAeuC-_ptXcf0whar0i7q0JOKJzb9w-V1xPnwVi6IDT8tl5GM-PnWMqYx/s1600-h/whitelined+sphinx+moth.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335170902968155266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiqi5YJblam5Mjhyd2-8kYNbJcaApmunz4Kzb1Y-Y1dmJmYua0c6GnzfYeUCV9uVk4d9r47tnaLBoeh0MxcpBAeuC-_ptXcf0whar0i7q0JOKJzb9w-V1xPnwVi6IDT8tl5GM-PnWMqYx/s400/whitelined+sphinx+moth.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>In the driveway there is a big tarp covering what's left of 2 yards of Geo Growers 'native mix,' and the last rain made little puddles in the folds. This Woodhouse's toad made the best of the shade and water. <em>Buffo woodhousii</em> is common throughout Texas and gets to be 4-5 inches long. According to <a href="http://www.enature.com/">enature.com</a>, its habitat includes "sandy areas near marshes, irrigation ditches, backyards, and temporary rain pools," and its call sounds like a sheep with a bad cold. Click <a href="http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0012">here</a> to listen. This guy stayed in his cool hidey-hole all day, then disappeared just before sunset--off hunting, no doubt.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHYNeIn3ZwqZ8AuVca52qsYUjPOXs39I3aJZmN8s_OENrmjA66OQODy0fspxnnyx_1j0YbdNC-NAnef2I3J3Xit_NIkOpheHXEUug0rWSAJ8cckfs2oC8k378_REM4uKRLXovXMQIj85x/s1600-h/DSCF1450.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335159244638957858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHYNeIn3ZwqZ8AuVca52qsYUjPOXs39I3aJZmN8s_OENrmjA66OQODy0fspxnnyx_1j0YbdNC-NAnef2I3J3Xit_NIkOpheHXEUug0rWSAJ8cckfs2oC8k378_REM4uKRLXovXMQIj85x/s400/DSCF1450.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Below is the very first slug I've ever seen in my yard, known as the common garden slug and prevalent throughout Texas. It showed up on my back deck one night, and at first I thought it was a leaf under the weak porch light. I tipped it into a jar so I could take photos in daylight. It was quite large, about 4 inches, and heavy--about 4-5 ounces. Did you know that slugs are hermaphrodites? Their sex organs are under their mantle (part behind the head), so you can imagine the contortions they have to engage in to have sex with another slug. Actually, there are photos of fornicating slugs that you can google if you really want to have a look. My slug was solo. I put him by the back fence hoping that some toad or bird would find him tasty.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjIHm5KFJbL2kaAkWmF10ocBkkk1scFP8rdcZ-45Lf92BHJerQioSJaDowPIl885RfFoljTSCVt7cojcE9zhZ2BZEelB-g35l5CgP3zJrmI7wIcNpqIrcDyeGrmTDt0qx_94X9Er9mMjX/s1600-h/DSCF1433.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335159238399381186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjIHm5KFJbL2kaAkWmF10ocBkkk1scFP8rdcZ-45Lf92BHJerQioSJaDowPIl885RfFoljTSCVt7cojcE9zhZ2BZEelB-g35l5CgP3zJrmI7wIcNpqIrcDyeGrmTDt0qx_94X9Er9mMjX/s400/DSCF1433.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Not a critter, but curious nonetheless, is the <em>manfreda undulata 'Chocolate Chips' </em>I got from YuccaDo nursery and planted in the new bed where all the St. Augustine grass used to be. There are several varieties of manfreda, a deciduous member of <em>agavaceae</em>, and this one was actually developed by YuccaDo from seeds of an unusually wavy form found in Mexico. It looks like an alien starfish that only Salivador Dali could imagine. It blooms in June, and if I'm lucky I'll soon have a 5 foot flower stalk. The plant itself has already doubled in size since planting.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ4c597b8uDq9W26Y-uK8zI_Fz3xupqXqGFHK0ZYydRhMluFj_2IBqCJo40JrtcK4dvulWGgYpMnYRhU9ixzlIr_Gdj0uTK9xotVrZ8wdshjw4-nnJCLCSySqfZ014lC9wpeKQPsOZ5ie/s1600-h/DSCF1384.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335159228467584386" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZ4c597b8uDq9W26Y-uK8zI_Fz3xupqXqGFHK0ZYydRhMluFj_2IBqCJo40JrtcK4dvulWGgYpMnYRhU9ixzlIr_Gdj0uTK9xotVrZ8wdshjw4-nnJCLCSySqfZ014lC9wpeKQPsOZ5ie/s400/DSCF1384.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I hope you are discovering some curious critters in your environment.</div><div> </div></div></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-13346529934938908312009-04-29T16:25:00.007-05:002009-04-30T01:15:26.653-05:00Enchanted April...is the name of a beautiful film about four interesting women on a sort of retreat in an Italian coastal villa. It's also an apt description of what's been happening the last couple of weeks hereabouts. Before April ends I must catch up on Bloom Day and Earth Day.<br /><br />Plants large and small have been showing off with little or no help from me:<br />This magenta Wave petunia has been blooming off and on for the last 14 months with no fertilizer since last summer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkRahxCVic_E1YdJECn5VEVmFFAa4Rpv2Q7PVMirkjhvjkKLNwHLrf6jo8f4okZafkLKG2cNWsDeu_VkjS4NomyYOvhYDNVpx4fAdhxvGqRmueCAKmWkC2Z2zN3lyfy-y0yG-2-QQm_2T/s1600-h/DSCF1320.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330236748220825986" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkRahxCVic_E1YdJECn5VEVmFFAa4Rpv2Q7PVMirkjhvjkKLNwHLrf6jo8f4okZafkLKG2cNWsDeu_VkjS4NomyYOvhYDNVpx4fAdhxvGqRmueCAKmWkC2Z2zN3lyfy-y0yG-2-QQm_2T/s400/DSCF1320.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a double petunia I bought at Lowe's--it's taken over a 3 foot space in the driveway bed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx3Acvou0992QkuIT7JQgj2n2VphYfPRQghdB2W6y1-S1GZBJ3wr_AZmZ5hKY3_ZVURvJfHUTwfjHYEOtRWHFJVg0IlIlysywRGc6yq4JRZhuwG-XjzZofDLrGduFjRMShyrs40HplV4g/s1600-h/DSCF1344.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330236741753095250" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx3Acvou0992QkuIT7JQgj2n2VphYfPRQghdB2W6y1-S1GZBJ3wr_AZmZ5hKY3_ZVURvJfHUTwfjHYEOtRWHFJVg0IlIlysywRGc6yq4JRZhuwG-XjzZofDLrGduFjRMShyrs40HplV4g/s400/DSCF1344.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />One of my top 10 favorite plants of all time, Jerusalem sage (<em>Phlomis fruticosa)</em>, is bigger than ever and can be seen from a block away. Its alien-looking flowers bloom all along the stem, and its velvet-like sea-green leaves are delicately edged in white. And it's evergreen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoLZOGnYVSaXyxGjF9Z9YAXuJV6i7lyyC5vA2YHKkejXiqBGpkr7uGe26UT_8zlXKZqKDtPu7vqrkRrJkq7sN0SxkT3xmzF0WXCxtcwlwJwgGG-91BDAYHD3K2xTk59GCqx8kvG0O0ALz/s1600-h/DSCF1348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330235474428368626" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoLZOGnYVSaXyxGjF9Z9YAXuJV6i7lyyC5vA2YHKkejXiqBGpkr7uGe26UT_8zlXKZqKDtPu7vqrkRrJkq7sN0SxkT3xmzF0WXCxtcwlwJwgGG-91BDAYHD3K2xTk59GCqx8kvG0O0ALz/s400/DSCF1348.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here's a view of it alongside Martha Gonzalez roses, mealy blue sage, and indigo spires, looking along the sidewalk from the front walkway.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXlpsnQjESokBSrnJHfLofRAYezWT20qkBN0Ckbi_sKMcJoQ4_8E_Op6_ictIsP-T5etsbcgADZAUFNQq6SJwlvmWNQGwWb1JI7NvQtmu_oeSujz_itbrAjJmJejMvmrVsDAq790q8GZ6/s1600-h/DSCF1347.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330235468947808050" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXlpsnQjESokBSrnJHfLofRAYezWT20qkBN0Ckbi_sKMcJoQ4_8E_Op6_ictIsP-T5etsbcgADZAUFNQq6SJwlvmWNQGwWb1JI7NvQtmu_oeSujz_itbrAjJmJejMvmrVsDAq790q8GZ6/s400/DSCF1347.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The new bed where I took out 400 square feet of grass in the back yard is coming along. I have adorned it with my buy of the week--a copper dragonfly found at Wildseed Farms near Fredericksburg. It has green marbles for eyes.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4yCVKTL_9izTmlBMTwt14jE88iEfdcGC2RWn3LZfXJOtmNOWaZPELCPDuIdPTfS1HIM13SugsrQX5MIQoatkjV1xFNxitI-EkXDLmrfl3bEOg2vpPrmSuyUg8jSMewz7jevDDsYrPzzQ/s1600-h/DSCF1380.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330235468413418450" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4yCVKTL_9izTmlBMTwt14jE88iEfdcGC2RWn3LZfXJOtmNOWaZPELCPDuIdPTfS1HIM13SugsrQX5MIQoatkjV1xFNxitI-EkXDLmrfl3bEOg2vpPrmSuyUg8jSMewz7jevDDsYrPzzQ/s400/DSCF1380.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A few of the stella de oro daylilies have burst out all at once after having been divided. I believe the name means 'stars of gold.'<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1CspjRLFfNhmYGIczkmyHlrqDwj2WL-bMoM0mU_AMPxj2-S9-Lq7uNlTLWF30dNM9fpNgWIwc6a8RZjhlEwrtzyHCiKZJKQWqWV6oViv9mV0FsSYhXcpNwS4G0A2hjlQwoo03H6Ey-on/s1600-h/DSCF1374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330234542315319650" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1CspjRLFfNhmYGIczkmyHlrqDwj2WL-bMoM0mU_AMPxj2-S9-Lq7uNlTLWF30dNM9fpNgWIwc6a8RZjhlEwrtzyHCiKZJKQWqWV6oViv9mV0FsSYhXcpNwS4G0A2hjlQwoo03H6Ey-on/s400/DSCF1374.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the other side of the front porch the Black 'n' Blue (<em>salvia guaranitica)</em> has already been cut back once and insists on crowding the roses. It's almost as tall as me. The name refers to the large cobalt-blue lipped blooms and true black sepals. It spreads by underground shoots which can easily be pulled up (and potted up for friends).<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOsSha89j2a7ZmfbYoExTF6nY14z3tv_vgR05xIdXZohUbqNtqZYqqjYoqMoIRzE-I9l5KFzjEsEToF7xTYcjjgNGhVPthyphenhyphenxvpcJg9vQJLkWyxt5XUFDXVMcXClGmWXJSMGl6w6RuJaU8/s1600-h/DSCF1373.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330234540206972418" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOsSha89j2a7ZmfbYoExTF6nY14z3tv_vgR05xIdXZohUbqNtqZYqqjYoqMoIRzE-I9l5KFzjEsEToF7xTYcjjgNGhVPthyphenhyphenxvpcJg9vQJLkWyxt5XUFDXVMcXClGmWXJSMGl6w6RuJaU8/s400/DSCF1373.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The tomatoes and peppers are gung-ho from the rain and a couple of molasses/fish emulsion cocktails. This "Black Cherry" is doing the best. I'm growing some others I've not tried before such as "German Johnson," "Azoychka" (yellow flesh), "Flamme," and BHN-444.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-jvkDDf0vePcEUh9-OEvVUNaH_-JJjFhRhX961bWrqKg2zFfcYA_9upkOacJTfCoPAyDXj1FQjKh0oCSJMr6ZlheRVvF0gIkpbAuo9ackwDGlEf-HZbnI84qtrt1fo9aQKo9jjtWSXc_/s1600-h/DSCF1367.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330234538948096194" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-jvkDDf0vePcEUh9-OEvVUNaH_-JJjFhRhX961bWrqKg2zFfcYA_9upkOacJTfCoPAyDXj1FQjKh0oCSJMr6ZlheRVvF0gIkpbAuo9ackwDGlEf-HZbnI84qtrt1fo9aQKo9jjtWSXc_/s400/DSCF1367.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Pam of Digging gave me the vegetable mulch idea--on the way home from picking up a visiting friend at the airport, I zipped into Callahan's and got a bale of coastal Bermuda hay. It spreads easily and smells nice, doesn't cost much, and I have plenty left for next year.<br /><br /><div><div>Another watering vacation this week with .8" of rain since Monday.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRX5un7shJWd95VbHVvZnrJK7L09iCUWgb9Hdlzy7SBEZNhDRAZf-zoH2im4PH_MSN_6KjKkGhHjybl0N9fn_C9Mpora5KDVkPcHtQGT7PbWC0aH1aXLVRMofhvd3sf_j-S9m5x6zryJn/s1600-h/DSCF1359.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330232343571267730" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRX5un7shJWd95VbHVvZnrJK7L09iCUWgb9Hdlzy7SBEZNhDRAZf-zoH2im4PH_MSN_6KjKkGhHjybl0N9fn_C9Mpora5KDVkPcHtQGT7PbWC0aH1aXLVRMofhvd3sf_j-S9m5x6zryJn/s400/DSCF1359.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div>Both birdbaths magically filled themselves, and the glossy abelia (background) responded with more blooms than I've ever seen.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eU4tsdOkqkdyFIBBHWTwetvf5DYzKD9PzwLULg_x-tnzcDNM9tW7VexWuQQPry0J_Mn6RrciMazGc_mt5asTp5fH3tOjObM6V_YMebSnd48AbEVJUhH1Q9ddKqMekyx4haFtbIt2Kh-I/s1600-h/DSCF1371.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330233474924302194" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eU4tsdOkqkdyFIBBHWTwetvf5DYzKD9PzwLULg_x-tnzcDNM9tW7VexWuQQPry0J_Mn6RrciMazGc_mt5asTp5fH3tOjObM6V_YMebSnd48AbEVJUhH1Q9ddKqMekyx4haFtbIt2Kh-I/s400/DSCF1371.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsfHWQ2jvtv1ch5s8DU5PwdG0gjn1Gqs9kqvcel6Ac-lpTAY9MRWquBhA8F6c2A4hWDzSZXOGXY7qGPjz1i8wHN6ex9DzfOEyV0MdVXPI2s-uVuycmufFPBVZqeBiotuXu2PqHeE7j8-K/s1600-h/DSCF1383.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330233477368040002" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsfHWQ2jvtv1ch5s8DU5PwdG0gjn1Gqs9kqvcel6Ac-lpTAY9MRWquBhA8F6c2A4hWDzSZXOGXY7qGPjz1i8wHN6ex9DzfOEyV0MdVXPI2s-uVuycmufFPBVZqeBiotuXu2PqHeE7j8-K/s400/DSCF1383.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>In honor of Earth Day I had the old and new rainbarrels linked and set up on higher foundations. My other contribution was to give up my <em>Statesman</em> paper delivery. Instead, I subscribed to the e-edition, which is 1/3 the cost and comes every morning by email, a page by page replica of what's in the paper edition. No more throwing mountains of timber in the recycle cart!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHDDXmfNQMRBiYKZu_wfRO-tavkExfcE1VtaLwbNl0MoHLUXkyrPCDrGChhncJDIJndjtXpIZMnAUVGyvqubBgC7_bcp2gdx0Hpgjl7CZZK_0etvL3uCrImzcaqtyHqU_DB07RFxWBhrF/s1600-h/DSCF1354.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330233480856934082" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHDDXmfNQMRBiYKZu_wfRO-tavkExfcE1VtaLwbNl0MoHLUXkyrPCDrGChhncJDIJndjtXpIZMnAUVGyvqubBgC7_bcp2gdx0Hpgjl7CZZK_0etvL3uCrImzcaqtyHqU_DB07RFxWBhrF/s400/DSCF1354.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />On the other hand, I used a lot of gas on the 600 mile trip to and from Marshall for my first state Master Gardeners' conference. Most of the sessions and speakers were very good, and I bought 2 purple passion vines (<em>passiflora '</em>Incense'<em>)</em> I had been looking for. Everyone was given an EarthKind rose in a pretty Marshall pot (the area is known for its pottery). All in all, it was probably worth the trip, but I wouldn't necessarily go every year. I think the central Texas one-day conference last fall was every bit as good if not as elaborate. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-58347542326286153642009-04-11T16:30:00.009-05:002009-04-12T02:12:24.624-05:00April is the cruelest month...How easy it is to forget what spring is like elsewhere, when we've been basking in warm weather, reveling in emerging greens and bursts of color here at home. Now, I grew up in Michigan, so I should know better, but I went off to visit my mother the day after April Fools (how apt) optimistically taking my gardening shoes, gloves and pruners with me. I could help Mom out by getting a start on cleaning up the garden from the ravages of winter. The day I arrived was warm and sunny (Michigan definition of 'warm'- 65 degrees). The next day (this is where the cruel part comes in) it rained all day and stayed around 45, as it did on Saturday and Sunday without the rain but with high winds. Then Sunday night a dire forecast. This is what we woke up to Monday morning: <div><br /><div></div><br /><div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDbHgkvz0I2YF56aGX1XQqpDddPiCO0PwuJJ7nyqTqR54-jZJ0YKIBGvY2nebCEedzI1A1-Ky4WeXpQHey95GrMSeVLmlEEigjdTXuBiaiHAQRR7fbxgd47uurm1PDDzbMwujgox_wG6t/s1600-h/DSCF1292.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323558102335384306" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDbHgkvz0I2YF56aGX1XQqpDddPiCO0PwuJJ7nyqTqR54-jZJ0YKIBGvY2nebCEedzI1A1-Ky4WeXpQHey95GrMSeVLmlEEigjdTXuBiaiHAQRR7fbxgd47uurm1PDDzbMwujgox_wG6t/s400/DSCF1292.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVuyIB89wfazsbXUcDH_bTGXhfK4rVSUcqGCXwCi8N2_vgfXJnNlPDLfYLlJWdq8SRntnu201gGcxkmRP0Vdt_LozcOyxUa2WUWcaIPhElybl4njNqRT3q74cKOGqKxq8w0UZD5hta4zv/s1600-h/DSCF1291.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323556520364579442" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVuyIB89wfazsbXUcDH_bTGXhfK4rVSUcqGCXwCi8N2_vgfXJnNlPDLfYLlJWdq8SRntnu201gGcxkmRP0Vdt_LozcOyxUa2WUWcaIPhElybl4njNqRT3q74cKOGqKxq8w0UZD5hta4zv/s400/DSCF1291.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div>No, I didn't take these shots in black and white.</div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div>The next day we drove through the last flurries to the airport, and I arrived home feeling as though I had just clicked my ruby slippers together three times. The garden had continued on in my absence.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KKsDB6tBQsDp1NYGuWZOS5MNMIuVL7go1F0PWa0xNsgqgLbiFJkCrKOH22Ibl1m-YCK2y6n3YzhW-56r9aMY0nQqd13aug1u7I14aCv3LkSa0sLCh9YbfQ-sB-IgmtxQKSWSlVOX451_/s1600-h/DSCF1277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323676536247767058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KKsDB6tBQsDp1NYGuWZOS5MNMIuVL7go1F0PWa0xNsgqgLbiFJkCrKOH22Ibl1m-YCK2y6n3YzhW-56r9aMY0nQqd13aug1u7I14aCv3LkSa0sLCh9YbfQ-sB-IgmtxQKSWSlVOX451_/s400/DSCF1277.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Iris and larkspur play off against the three new pots in the shade corner. </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3bBvrNFv3mwO4cqoF1OinkCJRriedc-m5FMFEjemuyRiuHVDLEmxTx2fCUzXAvqhpvMciiPBnVI1Iuu1diGfmHhnKUsc-BpFhvDabgN11V1ZHhAxjizrcFNjrzqgtVQe2OKs_z06R5Ea/s1600-h/DSCF1282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323676541548511794" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3bBvrNFv3mwO4cqoF1OinkCJRriedc-m5FMFEjemuyRiuHVDLEmxTx2fCUzXAvqhpvMciiPBnVI1Iuu1diGfmHhnKUsc-BpFhvDabgN11V1ZHhAxjizrcFNjrzqgtVQe2OKs_z06R5Ea/s400/DSCF1282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Bluebonnets and zexmenia are spilling onto the sidewalk.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkbKcaTHgYPeZjq2m-KGnnFBG12ZEsoFXVGUOyzFVNbGZ_YfddteDTGZuGt2L6D-oqQ2wVTd1ljZjy4OvkpC9JptCJrLZOBad8kFdRytrDWdgGcN83rCAxjhGIf1RNU_hPk_QHZnjbAyq/s1600-h/DSCF1284.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323676545980617330" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkbKcaTHgYPeZjq2m-KGnnFBG12ZEsoFXVGUOyzFVNbGZ_YfddteDTGZuGt2L6D-oqQ2wVTd1ljZjy4OvkpC9JptCJrLZOBad8kFdRytrDWdgGcN83rCAxjhGIf1RNU_hPk_QHZnjbAyq/s400/DSCF1284.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This Texas yellowstar must have hitched a ride when I dug up my first two bluebonnet rosettes from my daughter's farm a couple of years ago. </div><div> </div><div>By the way, Eliot didn't really mean that April is cruel because it can snow when you don't want it to; he was lamenting that spring awakens too many conflicting emotions about life and death and thus is disturbing.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"April is the cruellest month, breeding</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing </span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Memory and desire, stirring </span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Dull roots with spring rain. </span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Winter kept us warm, covering </span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Earth in forgetful snow, feeding </span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">A little life with dried tubers."<br /></span></em></div><div></div><div> </div><div>Maybe this is a deliberate turning-upside-down of Chaucer's more joyful lines:</div><div></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"When that April with his showers fragrant<br />The dryness of March has pierced to the root,<br />And bathed every vein in such liquid<br />By which power engendered is the flower,<br />When Zephyrus also with his sweet breath<br />Inspired has in every woodland and heath<br />The tender crops, and the young sun<br />Hath in the Ram has his half course run<br />And small fowls make melody,<br />That sleep all the night with open eye...."<br /></span></em></div><br /><div>I could add, <em>"and Monarch caterpillars munch and dream of May."</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzkg88aVlp4wxeWnbbDhry2RKUhJL12YxFtcATiIg3C4gUwX_JN986eaTh9QrD7W652FpOnxYbdkGPrvecyktqpwXXoeZ5aQPPdXMyJG3HiefAEBs6nL5ZftiCsIvsk2N6FDOk84F589x/s1600-h/DSCF1305.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323692561620651490" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzkg88aVlp4wxeWnbbDhry2RKUhJL12YxFtcATiIg3C4gUwX_JN986eaTh9QrD7W652FpOnxYbdkGPrvecyktqpwXXoeZ5aQPPdXMyJG3HiefAEBs6nL5ZftiCsIvsk2N6FDOk84F589x/s400/DSCF1305.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Eby_ylp6ta_sYkWkRkDSP0qD3pb0uplz3mKL-lfmDn08pysYVuoDHz6nEANp8TRoSjF-vlPeOSrGWgzluC1u8O8PfsyhnzLafDnFyuW5qUnkqQAeHkdzxysS3LV2uIFazYSu_hKOOKaP/s1600-h/DSCF1307.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323692565767418450" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Eby_ylp6ta_sYkWkRkDSP0qD3pb0uplz3mKL-lfmDn08pysYVuoDHz6nEANp8TRoSjF-vlPeOSrGWgzluC1u8O8PfsyhnzLafDnFyuW5qUnkqQAeHkdzxysS3LV2uIFazYSu_hKOOKaP/s400/DSCF1307.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-4166110769096977042009-03-25T08:15:00.007-05:002009-03-26T00:12:12.065-05:00When is a redbud not a redbud?Answer: When it doesn't get any red buds! I watched it for weeks and nothing. Meanwhile my neighbor's redbud, a volunteer squeezed between her garage and my fence, is merrily blooming away. As shown below, mine just started pushing out a few measly leaves, mostly on the tips of the branches. This tree, which I call Quasimodo due to its shape, was here when I bought the house and has grown maybe 6 inches in 6 years. I think it's dying. Any thoughts?<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMhfiapHJ8ZTi7xtM3MXbAphPWI3icOq26E2Ry4hGJy4gdpDzDDuC4haSnivvjZwJEENZ_HxY_JuExJxD9BhY5JlAHERSkf_xcZEQIiZoMMIChyphenhyphenqoue2nKxv5p32lEXrKTomeAjY3Kbtz/s1600-h/DSCF1224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317119693800214194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMhfiapHJ8ZTi7xtM3MXbAphPWI3icOq26E2Ry4hGJy4gdpDzDDuC4haSnivvjZwJEENZ_HxY_JuExJxD9BhY5JlAHERSkf_xcZEQIiZoMMIChyphenhyphenqoue2nKxv5p32lEXrKTomeAjY3Kbtz/s400/DSCF1224.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><br /><div><strong>When is a harlequin bug not a bad bug?</strong></div><div>Answer: when it's a dead bug! Getting ready to pull the various lettuces and mesclun mix plants to get ready for tomatoes, I discovered brown stink bugs and harlequin bugs were on the tall, blooming arugula. When I saw an HB crawling on the edge of the bed, instead of catching it for my collection, my (gloved) hand shot out involuntarily and--- smash. Lesson: arugula is pretty when it blooms, but it attracts the wrong crowd. Sorry the picture is so gory.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozBpxZlvStieCxp255H6vF8MR5yjGeXKrVApI6hSfCuNughzG1rzOs-jvOt0eHYe0WENzdVuPc8lI4tNZbQmUwrv2pk2V5sGyyZcEiP7HqwIPSpohI9mJBvs3rke7esZ7iRK_JY9wCXXc/s1600-h/DSCF1261.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317119704955732162" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozBpxZlvStieCxp255H6vF8MR5yjGeXKrVApI6hSfCuNughzG1rzOs-jvOt0eHYe0WENzdVuPc8lI4tNZbQmUwrv2pk2V5sGyyZcEiP7HqwIPSpohI9mJBvs3rke7esZ7iRK_JY9wCXXc/s400/DSCF1261.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div><strong>When is a rose not a rose?</strong></div><div>Answer: never. "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose." And the Souvenir de la Malmaison "...by any other name would smell as sweet." Yesterday morning's gentle rain dressed up one opening bud and one full-blown bloom with what looks like pink pearls. </div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HRegq2QgL-_GcGK40vyfHkDl6Aam6gKD6hmvZZWYHiudnD_fFqF6g94tmpebNEhr0I9uwam9m15VXajB_HG4rVIfU94coAda7KNNg5lV3hpnyidmLuqp2u1bN-fef7plf1VBHcgnYghl/s1600-h/DSCF1271.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317349926990514466" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HRegq2QgL-_GcGK40vyfHkDl6Aam6gKD6hmvZZWYHiudnD_fFqF6g94tmpebNEhr0I9uwam9m15VXajB_HG4rVIfU94coAda7KNNg5lV3hpnyidmLuqp2u1bN-fef7plf1VBHcgnYghl/s400/DSCF1271.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtQs13YCh2JgQBbmrdVM84q4Pi2cPw0w5u4k8iLYa2gfUWlDq3yVSjIUkgA4m3CH_c8lec6wchpD_FuSw0Q-jpGyMp9Q_Th2lODYwGczGGqkbriYAV5fe2peBxzXtkgxDKzU42sAEk8Ul/s1600-h/souvenir+rain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317349935612880034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAtQs13YCh2JgQBbmrdVM84q4Pi2cPw0w5u4k8iLYa2gfUWlDq3yVSjIUkgA4m3CH_c8lec6wchpD_FuSw0Q-jpGyMp9Q_Th2lODYwGczGGqkbriYAV5fe2peBxzXtkgxDKzU42sAEk8Ul/s400/souvenir+rain.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><strong>Finally, when does life imitate art?</strong></div><div>Answer: When it reminds me strongly of one of Georgia O'Keefe's erotic flower paintings. The old-fashioned red-violet shade of this bearded iris also reminds me of my grandmother's garden in Kentucky, very long ago.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuPsxl8xoWZ6q8bC4Ug06bLiWGsICqMXVC20hT0sLDpBkg_xA4REwnSCVzis98acN1WgloSOhE5eVovSWgWOdOOKlHD1MXar1MZQ0crqpBQmvv3emZU1hEmtVCTXQGWv7T8asBJLK1lrv/s1600-h/iris+closeup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317355924942113426" style="WIDTH: 311px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuPsxl8xoWZ6q8bC4Ug06bLiWGsICqMXVC20hT0sLDpBkg_xA4REwnSCVzis98acN1WgloSOhE5eVovSWgWOdOOKlHD1MXar1MZQ0crqpBQmvv3emZU1hEmtVCTXQGWv7T8asBJLK1lrv/s400/iris+closeup.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7247050895984389132.post-11729221458053637772009-03-16T01:28:00.001-05:002009-03-16T10:59:54.435-05:00As good a time as any-- Bloom DayI’ve been meaning to start this blog for almost two years. Several of my fellow gardener friends’ blogs have inspired me, and now I have a halfway decent if cheap camera, and it’s Bloom Day, so here is the beginning of the Garden of E.<br /><br /><div>The winter garden is coming to an end, of necessity, since there are only four raised beds and the spring garden will use the same space. But before we eat the last of the lettuce, carrots, cilantro, and collards, I enjoy watching some of the vegetables get tall and flower.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQviy4AtGk-K1BhwYj-nte1NvJrl1vKGNVAz38l6vyUP8oSTGprLvn8I2ghVm9kHJH4_PfJhbSe0XEW-AbAuR8dHOnvAl4FErXL734t1gQaxXpRLXRJyOo-ju3rDVWHpMtxQhf6KuP7pr/s1600-h/cilantroflower09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313661780824790066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQviy4AtGk-K1BhwYj-nte1NvJrl1vKGNVAz38l6vyUP8oSTGprLvn8I2ghVm9kHJH4_PfJhbSe0XEW-AbAuR8dHOnvAl4FErXL734t1gQaxXpRLXRJyOo-ju3rDVWHpMtxQhf6KuP7pr/s400/cilantroflower09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Cilantro is like the purest white, delicate lace...</em></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLhU0xWBNz9s29M2DvOssTfGd5xUukBHRQk7umstLoCVs2N8XcrZBi2wcBp-ybc3u4DxXmzgS9DP0WWIdAUZ8gpvNL7-6kLoFlfr-FMK4WERpiKF2q21LBLrtn7HaMaPU5a6zUZ-sNTeS/s1600-h/mizuna+flowers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663260708925426" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLhU0xWBNz9s29M2DvOssTfGd5xUukBHRQk7umstLoCVs2N8XcrZBi2wcBp-ybc3u4DxXmzgS9DP0WWIdAUZ8gpvNL7-6kLoFlfr-FMK4WERpiKF2q21LBLrtn7HaMaPU5a6zUZ-sNTeS/s400/mizuna+flowers.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>and mizuna flowers are a delightful combination of eggyolk yellow and spring green.</em></div><div><br /></div><div><em></em></div><div>My other favorite bloom this week is the Louisiana phlox that has stayed very small for the last 5 years. It's been moved now to a sunnier location in hopes it will expand. It looks like painted china instead of a living plant.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxiitfI7TGKGKy_EhH_mnbRZWiHV7m1ESyjmEAPX2GzT3d_YIMT_arwwOyPCO2hcsKOXPfEYT94zUGZ0fu_crVGd7dJeqRa5o9swzoxskDCVgEIKiuzei25hd5l2sF4IB0PNVIx4cP-VG/s1600-h/LAphlox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313665624656798850" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxiitfI7TGKGKy_EhH_mnbRZWiHV7m1ESyjmEAPX2GzT3d_YIMT_arwwOyPCO2hcsKOXPfEYT94zUGZ0fu_crVGd7dJeqRa5o9swzoxskDCVgEIKiuzei25hd5l2sF4IB0PNVIx4cP-VG/s400/LAphlox.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Well, it <em>was </em>bloom day, but now I see it's after 1 a.m.</div><div><br /></div><p></p>Hibiscushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147978408087856055noreply@blogger.com2