First Meal - Mango, Artichoke Hearts w/ Tuna

Finally A New Sprout

I made up this simple terrarium from a found fern from outdoors. It was simple
and yet a pleasant distraction and created something beautiful. One of my
simple fundamental rules of life.

Appreciating beauty, whether found or created.

All the while this plant sat on my kitchen window's sill, it would loose a
frond. Not that if many to loose, what being in it's infancy. So what with
cooler temperatures coming and having to rely on the unpredictability of
inconsistent sunshine too. What is one more addition to my winter indoor
garden menagerie in hopes of it thriving and thriving it is with it's first
new frond.

While The East Coast Braces For a Blizzard

This is what forty-six degrees and gusty winds looks like yesterday around the lake.

An eel caught in the clutches of this wood stork.

Attention To Some Wintering Orchids

The Now, is always the best time to do something. It may not be the most
beneficial time for, in this case, the orchid, but under the circumstances,
I think it was a win win. I trimmed up and replenished them with some fresh
orchid medium. Doused them in some chilly rain water, which must
of been a shock, but hey, other than that, I don't think they would
complain.

Discovered an orchid in bud, so out it comes from it's orchid sanctuary for display
amongst some mistletoe cactus. Also to my amazement, a surviving Easter cactus
cutting that was taken during late summer. Along with a pot of Aloe doing nicely
in this shady spot.

A wonderful discovery this evening that a fourth season to PBS's Mr Selfridge begins
this month.

Winter's Afternoon Moon

Out for a walk to warm up and saw this sighting of the moon high in the sky.

Winter Ice

 

Looking through my share of my parents wedding anniversary Czech Crystal

chandelier, for some spare brass wire used to join the different parts of crystal.

I find that some have been disassembled and reassembled by whom?

 

These doubles caught my eye and added them to a dream catcher I made last
year. Was it my father, who was always intrigued with 3D puzzles or perhaps
one of his grand kids? The making of something else from something, runs
in the family.

Two Tears or Two Winter Ice Prisms

 

 

I Just Acquired Some Tomato Insurance

No guarantees if it will pay out and when, but it makes me happy. I took
four healthy looking cuttings from the original volunteer plant that I planted
mid summer last year. It still has two tomatoes left on the plant. We are
expecting near freezing temps tomorrow morning. All the more reason to
get some cuttings to freshen up the next generation of potted tomatoes.

This indoor winter garden I have is also growing.

Some Home Grown Tunes From Will Christian

I've known Will for many years through three name changes. On his forth
unofficial name change of Will Forever.

Here he performs at the Dixieland Village Gallery Saturday night.

Having some fun with photo shop elements. Added some of Will's Art to the mix.

Enjoyed and evening with some singing and seeing some familiar (Will's fans) faces.

Finally A Picture of My White Earred Squirrel

There's a pair of these in my yard and for over a month I've been trying to
capture a picture of them and I think are some unusual markings.
This guy is looking really plushy too.

When's The Last Time You Seen The Likes of This Lichen, Drumbega Flower and African Violet Cutting

Was on the north side of town at a friends house and cleared some
fallen branches from her yard and look what I found. The last time
I've seen these color combinations was from a salt water tank that
needed a serious cleaning of it's algae.

As 'tis at sea, as 'tis on land.

It never hurts to explore in spite of the weather. In this case it was blustery and had rained
earlier. The weather did not bother the bees. Each one of these flowers from this Drumbega
had it's own dedicated  bee.

As beautiful as this flower may appear, unfortunately it's fragrance does nothing
to enhance it's beauty. It must be a fragrance that only bees love.


African violet cutting's sprout ready to take on a life of it's own. Even if it is
in a K-cup.

Going Bald At Their Own Pace

I have three groupings of Bald Cypress and they have their own timing
when they drop their needles.

I've indicated theses Bald Cypress trees in these pictures with white symbols.
This is my third grouping of The Bald Cypress that I had planted. In the middle
of this grouping is a Pond Bald Cypress and I started it from seed, gathered from
a tree along side a lake not far from here. They all though appear to start dropping
their needles working up from the bottom first.

Here is the second grouping of Bald Cypress trees and I can say for a fact

that the middle tree is the last to put on needles in spring by weeks compared

to the other two. So I can see why this tree of the three would be the last to

drop it's needles. The tree on the far left has been dwarfed considerably by

the other two. All three of these trees started off with dual trunks and was

the main reason why I selected them, but eventually one trunk dominated

and sucked the life out of the other and you wouldn't know it because

there are no remnants of that former self.

 Presenting the Originals. The granddad to the left of the tree will be last to drop

 it's needles.  I just collected some of these needles to burn in the house as a means

of incense. I also have some white oak flooring shavings from last night's project.

If Today Is Any Indication...

Nice rain today, off to a great start for a wet winter compliments to El Nino.

Today's Florida Winter Garden

A Meditation On Trimming The Side Garden

I may have crossed that line of subtle trimming and obsessive trimming

and the end results aren't telling either.

I hit all the points that needed to be addressed and that makes me happy and

if you look really close I think you will see the plants smiling too. 

Transplanted my garden pagoda to it's new location at this side garden. The 

pagoda still needs a few tweaks before it looks like it not only belongs but that it has 

always been there.

Didn't have to do much on this end of this side garden, which

started out as an instillation to commemorate our Gulf Oil Spill

brought to us by BP in 2012. Unlike the environments that have been 

impacted by the oil and the addition of the toxic dispersants. This man made simulation

of my idea of the Gulf of Mexico has finally come into it's own and only had

to recover from my hand in it's creation.

I have elements from the Mexican Beach Stones, Water Element with a recirculating

pump to the exotic plant life that is so indicative to having the human occupation and

it's demands and stresses. Some Florida coral rock and a couple native plantings of

native blueberries, orchid and Bald Cypress knees to round out it's extremes.

China May Have Their Bird Nest Stadium...

Doing some winter garden maintenance on this Florida native, Turks Cap
hibiscus. This started out as a clipping from an artist friend. It now acts as
a natural hangout for birds, squirrels and it's predictors, the neighbor's cats.
I love it's architecture and the soft wood makes for an easy trim.

It is also that time of the year where the Bald Cypress Trees drop their needles.
Not much different from a light coat of snow that brings a quiet all around.

First Meal FT. Pink Lady Apples In Tuna Salad

Went to our farmers market and found some favorite apples,Pink Lady from one
of those Carolina's. Just the smell of those apples, once I got home was the ideal
addition to my first meal.

The Diversity of Blossoms

We have this elaborate Camellia bloom with it's multi-layered non-fragrant
petaled flower. If it does have a fragrance it is too subtle to notice. All the
while the things that attract our interests are far from what the flower's needs
to perpetuate it's self.

This here Tea Olive bloom is quite simple. So simple that it would have gone without
notice had it not had this incredible fragrance. Once you realize that this tiny bloom
is producing all this fragrance. This bloom almost takes on an enchanting transformation

Four Face/Mask Set And Released In Fire

This is the first of several pictures that I had taken of a well worn T-shirt that I
had set fire to. It's not like I'm in the habit of setting fires in general. This was more
of a end of year and seeing the new year spontaneous burn. So I just snapped away
while this shirt laid on the concrete. Mesmerizing as most fires are and with everything
now a days, with cell phone in hands and capable of capturing a moment. It wasn't
until I processed these did I see face or more like masks. The one above I thought was
the most obvious. Mind you that this process of seeing is more reflective of how much
left and right brain dominance. How many times have you and another are looking at
clouds and speaking up that you see this or that and sometimes you see
it and sometimes you don't, same concept.

This was the second most obvious and now that I post this I see between these
two are those classic drama masks, Tragedy and Comedy. All of this takes on
a new dimension by being born of fire.

While still being human like and buried deep and if you notice it being

early in the burn. This face is small and yet intensely in an action of either calling or sounding

an alarm. Not so obvious but still intense. 

To me this one is combination of human and animal and more abstract than 

the other three. Multi dimensional and is worth exploring where revsiting

this image is essential.

Japanese Eggplant Plant Search and Found - Going the Extra Mile(s)

A vendor that was trying to locate some Eggplant plants
for me at our farmers market warned me off of a variety of eggplant
Nadia , although  not a Japanese variety, he did not have a good success with
this variety. 
.
Had he have been successful in locating a variety of eggplant for me he would have saved me a trip to
the other side of the world, all so known as Winter Haven. 
  That's seventeen miles one way, but then I would not have rediscovered Doty's, pronounced
with a long o, Farm & Garden Supply Inc. They even had Rhubarb starter 
plants.

It was my intention to replace the Eggplant with my Compari Tomatoes volunteer but, didn't have the heart. LoLooking back I'm glad I  didn't.  

 

 

 

 

Transition Lighting

Instead of taking down the Christmas lights in it's entirely. I just just transitioned
a strand to my a side window. To keep the glow of this season's holidays into this
new year.

Winter Sky Summer Temperatures

Wednesday's walk around the lake revealed this gorgeous cloudscapes.

Starting my trek around this lakes with the ever changing and 

always showing off something new for the senses.

Having one of Florida's native Cabbage palms gives us that Florida flavor.

The other side of the lake and can't help but notice the cloud that is hovering over this
water bound tree happens to appear to be hovering over my house.

I'm calling this for a lack of the terminology as a nine point panorama.