What Was Two Is Now One - Rhipsalis baccifera

It took quite the route to get here but who's keeping notes.

This will give our Florida lizards something else to climb on.

It took me a long time to dig up this cactus' name. If I can
find it quick this time I will post same.

Found it!

Surprise, Just Another Cacao Tree and New Orchid Update

Piano tuner is coming tomorrow so I had to get this specimen up
and out of the way, which gives an excuse still show it off to our
advantage, right?

Tagging along are some companion plants to add to this growing
growing indoor green place. 

What a great visual for some musical inspiration. Including some
of my sculptures in dramatic shadow.

Encore!

Orchid under the Cacao canopy.

Happy Haunting

Everything Must Come To An End

This once grand Blue Agave now looks like a flightless,
headless Halloween creature. I'll leave the rest of trimming
until after the holiday. It should look it's best under the street
light illumination.

It took seven years to grow this monster.

Cacao Tree Update3 - Fifty-Five Degrees - Burrrrrrrrr; Orchid's First Bloom; New Hobbie

I just looked at my phone's weather app and it shows that it was more like
fifty-two degrees.

As you can see from the cinnamon colored new growth that there has been
continuous growth after the last severe trimmings. All the reason to maintain
temperature above sixty degrees as not to break that growing cycle. It was a
good thing that it got a trimming when it did otherwise I would have to had
trimmed it in order to get this tree indoors.

Also hanging off it's branches, to your right, is my new orchid in it's first blush
of blooming. Although this orchid's warmth requirement's are not as strict
like the Cacao's but thought it was wise to tailgate.

This Ionopsis orchid is in it's second day of it's first bloom as shown above.

First day in bloom.


About two months in to doing some ancestry research. Wow what a roller coaster
ride. The highs and lows of emotions, some exhilarating and some real tear-
jerkers. Who knew.

Cat Nappin

This is more than a cat nap, must be almost five hours
and she must have reached REM sleep.

Ionopsis utricularioides - Update4

I know it's only been four days but just had to squeeze one in before
the blooms actually open up.

Today is yard trash day so did some clearing of some of the over growth
this rainy season brought us.

Ionopsis utricularioides - Update3

Third week in and this orchid is on a rage to bloom. Blooms are well
formed and lots of branching going on. Will have to start monitoring
on a daily bases to bring some 'slowing down time' action of in
the moment anticipation.


New single out that caught my ear and great vid, check it out.

Band:half•alive Song:still feel - Enjoy!

Yoga Underneath The Sweetgum Tree - American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) Revisted

Chill!

Today's First Meal & First Tomato Of The Season

The rich red color of my first tomato of the season is real
and as real as you can imagine they would taste too.

Yoga Underneath The Sweetgum Tree - American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

After an early dash to our downtown curbside market.

I was taking care of a pruning task in my front yard when a group of
neighbors toting yoga mats and on a mission. Needless to say and
recognizing this yoga trance and asked if they were heading out for
some yoga. Yes, and it starts in seventeen minutes at Anchor Park
on the lake along with an invitation that you should join us. Wrapped
up my pruning, tied my rolled yoga mat to my bike's handlebars, a first.
Certainly not the safest way to ride a bike, knowing that Saturday
mornings on the lake there will be plenty of pedestrians.  Headed out
with in my yoga trance to Anchor Park and passed my neighbors on
the way, with a disclaim, follow me!

Setup mat under this gorgeous American Sweetgum tree laden
with Spanish moss and a dead branch, leftover from last year's
hurricane Irma. Cradled and not wanting to give up it's bones.
In order to keep out of the sun for an hour.

Needless to say it was a treat to lookup and see this splendor
while doing a bit of yoga in some relatively cool Autumn
temperatures and no ant bites, though plenty of dried vicious
seed pods that eventually had to be cleared underfoot as
the practice progressed. Along with two additional shifts
to stay in this welcomed shade.

Closing this blog practice with the traditional Namaste.

Long Time No See - Tommy2

She's the stray that doesn't stray away knowing that
there is a handout nextdoor.

Rare visit and probably just woke up from a nap, otherwise
she keeps her distance.

Tarzan The Lizard Man

This Anole lizard found a new jungle-gym.
These guys are always keen in finding the new
in this yard, whether it's a higher perch for observation
in hopes of catching it's next meal.

Cacao Tree Update2 - Hurricane Clipping & Baby Picture (June 2015)

Today's hurricane Michael
dodge inspired pruning.

This top heavy plant got
blown over this evening
by a small gust that I doubt
even an indirect puff of wind
from our hurricane that is currently
in the Gulf, heading to Florida's
panhandle.

Looks we won't get our 90%
precipitation either that
was predicted.

Some off the top and sides...last week's photo op...thank you.

Flashback June 2015...

First Autumn Garden Tomato

Turkish variety tomato that caught my eye while sitting at my back porch
eating my first meal. Peeking through my forest like backyard and
broadcasting it's ripening flash of color that only a constant gardener
will notice.

If I leave it there another day, who knows what else will
get the honors of having the first bite.

Hurricane Michael - A Blessing And A Curse

Wind speeds increasing as it bares westward into the Gulf
and further away from central Florida. Good for us but not
good for others. I contemplate moving my potted Cacao tree
indoors , but for now I moved it underneath my carport.
In case the weather picks up dramatically. 

Living in Florida means living with hurricanes and what
it gives and what it takes.

First Meal From The Kitchen

Today's first meal is also a first time in preparing some Albacore tuna
steaks from Aldi's. Knowing going in is always to remember not to
over cook fish. Tuna in general is not an oily fist to start from so it's
even more critical to not over cook. Dosing it with unfiltered olive
oil after taking it off the fire didn't help much. The added fresh fruit,
red plums and blueberries saved the day. Toasted sesame seeds and
black pepper added the needed flavors.

Worth repeating while the availability still exists.

Ionopsis utricularioides - Update2

Ok, ok, I feel that I have to mist this orchid several times a
week, which gives me an opportunity to check on it's over
all health and development. So it's not every day that it gets
a misting.

So what do I  find? Another spike, which makes it a total of
two, which now makes sense that there should be at least a
total of two spikes per plant, in this case. There are four
plants in this orchid cluster. On has expired with one leaf
and it has seen better days. Two viable plants that are puting
out budding spikes. The other plant is either a late bloomer
or just too young and will have to wait until next season, which
begs the question as to when do the next generation come from.
spouting or seedling? 

Ionopsis utricularioides - Update

I've had this for eight days now and the development of its
flowers has been incredible. I have no doubt on this being
a quick to grow and just as quick to die.

I've photographed this against the white concrete in order
to contrast the budding spikes. What was once three single
stems that have now branched and forked to produce their
note worthy plethora of future tiny flowers, still weeks away.

Tomorrow I'm going to get some organic fertilizer to throw
at this tiny beast of an orchid.