Hey There...There's A Fly In My

flowering dwarf Magnolia bloom among other flower parts. My junior high botany lesson

in science is more than fuzzy but enough to know that they are of plant origins.

There's nothing dwarf about this specimen's bloom nor it's fragrance.

Juniper Props Update

Since April 8th when these cuttings were taken about a quarter of them

have turned brown. A high failure rate of taking root is not unusual.

I just hope that these first time props will have better odds than say,

the lottery.

Riding on the coattails of a previous props session that accomplished to produce

one successful cutting out of three dozen was enough encouragement to

press on with just as if not more props challenge.

Still looking promising. I keep this covered with a clear plastic single use clam shell

that salad greens are bought in, that get a second use now as a tool in this game of

propagation.

As games goes, you loose some as well as win some. It's easy to draw an analogy

for gardening to life in general and to a life of constant gardening.

It just dawned on me another of many influential and inspiring people, one being a much

well loved relative whom also was, may I say it, a constant gardener.

Thank you for spreading the joys of gardening and a life time hobby and most important

passion.

Late Bloomer

If this Florida native Iris wasn't so photogenic.

This splash of color was so unexpected that it brought a smile to my face, my whole

being  was smiling. When I assumed that this rather homely and to go as far to

describe it's flower to be weedy looking specimen was finished with blooming

This late bloomer  presents one last chance to dazzle this constant gardener.

Well done.

Orchid Recovery

As it looks now and putting on some new growth after a long time of

shedding leaves. Added some fresh sphagnum moss and bindings.

You can see the yellowing leaf when I brought this orchid home last late August.

As you might can tell for some reason I thought to mount this orchid on it's

side, might had something to do with it's slow decline, if that is what it was.

It didn't give up the ghost, as they say.

Once again as always, time will tell.

Speaking of Rain

these Rain Lillys didn't waste anytime making them selves known.

Once A Jack Fruit Tree

now a Robert Fruit Tree. Jack Fruit tree standing at attention and
ready for deployment. Sir.

At ease.

 Got this tree in the ground after a couple of days of some good rain.

In the background in the picture below you can see some golden light from the
evening's late hour. I just came off from a bike ride and the clouds were putting
on quite the show. This display of ginormous clouds that towered and with
an expanse from east to west. I can imagine if you were able to reside on the
planet Jupiter that our cloud display would be just as spectacular. The bike ride
was almost otherworldly.

Now that I'm  energized I thought it would be a good time to dedicate this tree planting.

The one with the broad green leaves standing there with out a care, in case you ask.

I Salute You Robert On This Memorial Day

Robert was laid to rest on March
of last year. Gone but not forgotten.

I will have to dedicate a tree planting
just for you Robert.

Long Time No See

Has it been six years? Who cares, your a sight of great Joy and Hope.

Hmmm, Sacred Geometry?

Ooooaahhhhooooommmmmmmm...lets take another Ohm or Breath before this
 takes away your breath.

Need I say any more besides                              Pagoda                         one of the few
common plant names that are most apropos.

Plus One

makes three trees that have come into my possession this week.

In all fairness the third one has come full circle. I gave my neighbors
a seedling in good faith. Seeing their gardening loosing focus and
the challenges of a sun scorched yard three years in from their moving
in.

They've passed on back to me my Jack fruit seedling that I started last
December. This seedling has grown tall and branching like one
of my originals. I can say that this one has surpassed another of my
in ground seedling.

Funny, I've been planning weeks ago where I might plant this third
seedling without knowing it's future returning back to it's origins.

This long legged beauty is home, home sweet home.

My intended placement of candidate for Best Looking Specimen of the Year
will have competition. See next post.

Two Trees cont'd

Gifted/recused potted dwarfed? white orchid tree, Buahinia. No need
to twist my arm with this specimen.

Just look at those double lobed leaves for starters. I feel temperatures cooler just staring
at this image. Pulse, lowering too... Big! Smile!

I my have spot in ground for this one to. Once in a good spot, one less specimen to fuss
after and when it gets into that thriving mode, look at me.

Trust me, if and when this tree hits it's stride, watch out.

Two Trees

passed on, too much to take of and thus gifted to me.

 One had serious neglect, as in pot bound, too much sun
exposure, which would not been an issue had it not had it's root
stymied. After a week in my taking on this once nurtured Florida
avocado tree. Rescued comes to mind, even though I to have limited
space, let alone the required maximum sun exposure.

With some conservative limb pruning limb and new soil. More patience
is required as not to cut it back even more. This rescue's leaves have gone
from sun beaten banana yellow to a now ripe lime yellow. Trumpets sound,
chlorophyll is rebounding. Signs of new shoots are swelling as to be expected
with the daily diligent waterings and minor fertilizer supplementing.

Along with some minor surgery in the way of deadwood amputation. Yes
it will leave a scar, after all this specimen has some growth (age) rings, but the
scar will give it some street cred. Plastic surgery is not and option.

Still debating whether to keep it pot bound, potted and cater to it's wants and
needs. Mind you, being relegated to potted culture will have other limits than
what it had been relegated to before coming into my possession.

This trees can grow to massive proportions, which begs the question why bother
keeping it pot bound? Because we can.

Mind you the art of Bonsai has been around well over a millennium.

Eighty-Five Gallons

approximately, of rain water gathered the other late afternoon was an event.

That's right, bailing an un-numerable amounts of water from two downspouts
to buckets then to barrels is in many ways, fun, exercise, disciplined play and
mindful.

Time frame? No idea. The last pour was hours later, that much I know. My
carport's collection not only takes time to produce but also time to slow to
it's last drop. Pouring that last collection to top off my second barrel was
like putting your last apple into your meal two to three days before next
grocery visit. Knowing that that single fresh ingredient had the ability
to enhance your meal and that that lone apple had it been eaten on it's
own would not been appreciated.

Months and certainly seasons later when I dip in to these collections of
rain water. If not only myself, perhaps a thirsty plant will have benefitted
from my enthusiastic and sheer enjoyment and some say labor, for the
sake of gardening.

As I would confess to a life's hobby of sustaining life not just my own.
Just like my father, mother, sister and brothers, grand parents and their...
Well, you know, have done for many reasons of their own.

Two Plant Wonders In One Day

These garden findings to this magnitude in one day let alone in a season.

First, a first for this Pine Tillandsia to launch it's first ever florescence.

If you know where to look, then you know what caught my eye today.
Perhaps it was envious in it's attached orchid that is in the process
of putting a spectacular display of first blooms since six years.

Drum roll.....

I've had this new orchid not even a year and it's it's been on a constant
slow spiral down hill. Dropping it's primary leaves until there are two.
That is, now there are three new primary leaves emerging. What gives?

Sometimes there isn't one thing that I can single out that could have
brought on this new growth, knowing that I though everything
at it. I've thought of tossing it out to, after all not everything as to go
to plan, note previous entry.

The last two things that come to mind was an orientation to some morning
light and an introduction of a new fertilizer not even a month ago.

Time will tell. Being a patient gardener has it's merits and frustration.


Did I say two, there are three. Just that there will not be a photo-op
for this third wonder. I have an orchid that I purchased along with said one,
shown above. It did gang busters, already blooming and then then blooming
this Spring and just when I thought it had finished blooming I spied not
one or two, but three new flower bud clusters.

This cancels out my finding two tomato seedlings cut to the ground by
what I attribute to some sort of wilt. I did rescue both and have them
in water. One of the wilts almost looked too decimated, but hey one
of my favorite sayings is. They want to live just like any other living
thing and can some through some rather unsurmountable circumstances.
Man made or not.

Latest Orchid Full Reveal

With the head of the Australian Frilled lizard...hehehe.

I'm still grappling with the fact of my being underwhelmed with this piece of beautiful
of existence we call an orchid bloom.

A standard grocery flower comes to mind, the so called Peruvian lilly or it's Latin
name Alstroemeria. To me the common name and the Latin name doesn't
help me either. They sort of cancel them sleves out just like this orchid imposter
similar coloration and striped throated petal. No doubt hybridized to no end.
Well there was an end and this it.

In fairness I was anticipating a white orchid bloom, where that I came from is not
concrete, but more like a desire than anything. Then there was a blush of pink
that intrigued and conflicted with my mental image of what should have been.
This is where reality and imagination collide.

Any way it is what it is. I still enjoy it's non orchid like foliage,which is the real
reason that I purchased this unique beauty. The bloom, meh.

This adventure still continues, knowing now that this specimen could use a lot
more sun exposure. This should give me more pencil like structure, and a lot
more blooms. Perhaps by then I might look at it differently, or not.

I've spent years waiting and conjoling a Cacoa tree to bloom and by no means
was the bloom any where as near this spectacular but it was the process and
the fact that it did bloom as in two blooms.

I shall call you Twiggy or
Pencilla.

First Orchid Bloom cont'd - Terete Vandas

Second day of it's color(s) reveal and first shot that is in focus.

First Time Bloom

getting ready to open and looking forward to see what it has for us.

New Plantings

The canopy of this disturbed Crape myrtle is recuperating (long story) and shading
these new Sandwich tomato seedlings grown from the last crop's last tomato. I almost
didn't save any seeds and the few I had some salt added to them, to show how close
to being gone.

Time will tell if it was worth the effort, but it won't be from lack of trying.

Just looking at these green bundled powerhouses of hope, is enough for the moment.

All you have to do is grow and I all I have to do is to water and feed ya and if
all goes to plan you will feed me and others lucky enough to taste this harvest.


This third generation Compari tomato is doing well and is managing the season
changes and getting ready to blush.

Garden gnome included.

This Looks Better

than it tasted, oh well, I still had the best of what is left at this near

end cycle of fresh food. The spoiler was the frozen carrot patties,

just a reminder to mix them up where they can't be tasted as profoundly

as shown here.

This Is Nothing

you should smell the honey dipped fragrance coming from these salvaged blooms
otherwise destined for the trash bin. Not one for cut flowers, but there is always an
exception.

Day two.

Hmmmm....

what I  knew going in, was that this half hanging planter was not maximizing it's
full potential. Also, this orchid needed it's own space and let's dive in to make
this happen.

Separating these pot buddies of several years was not an issue. Finding pots
to house these, now pot less specimens should not be an issue, while looking
in my minds eye inventory.

This creative process is no different than any medium you work in, which has
been my own experience. Nine times out of ten the results do not disappoint. If
they do, you go back and make it rock.

Exhibit A:

This Mistletoe cactus Rhipsalis
baccifera has the envious orchid
looking as if they never seen each
other before. That is what being in
close quarters can do.

I had to turn the orchid away to face
it's more familiar direction, facing the
afternoon sun. Perhaps the orchid was
just blinded by the light.














Exibit B:

This cactus's architectural qualities, something I  never saw coming into this project
is truly mesmerizing. So says, this constant gardener.

Close quarters blindness strikes again.

 

Last and not least.

Exhibit C:

'C' for class. This orchid that hasn't bloomed for me in the last two years. Not only hangs
on to it's blooms but cast a plume of fragrance six to eight feet away. The fragrance is bit
like a man made one and than is not a compliment. The first time I smelled this and thinking
that this scent can't be coming from this medium sized bloom. This is a medium sized blooming
orchid with a big fragrance.

Now turn around and face the sun like a good orchid.

Specimen Gets A Head Cut

I knew this was going to happen as soon as I bring this equatorial potted plant indoors
to preventing from catching a cold, from our below sixty temps tonight.

The waiting and pampering need is gone, now that I witnessed it blooming. No
fruit, but hey. Now I can take it down a notch, not only in care but manageability.
This potted behemoth must way close to fifty pounds and that is if it hasn't been
watered.

So here it is, having just brought in the afternoon before.

Then I saw what I needed to do while processing this second glamour shot. Mind you
that I have been contemplating since August of last year, after the grand finale. As how
and if I'm going to trim it down to a more manageable size, as in Bonzai or in this case,
macro-Bonzai.

I'm one of those, form over function, every time. So after the first lop, having seen that
in my minds eye. Just the top canopy, if you will. I go out of the room to let it marinate
a bit and when I come back. Not enough!

Viola! This is where you say, this is going to hurt me than it will hurt you 
and it was true. I didn't hear a peep from this. I even found a nice chunk of 
charcoal to bring in the spirit of the Bonsai.

Perhaps one day when this flushes out and when I look for the that unattainable fruit 
low and behold. Well, I can always hope.

We Got Wild And Not So Wild

First there's the wild. This little guy represents four that got escorted to lake this
week. I lost count the many that got to 'go to the lake' this year and truly folks,
is was to an honest to goodness, really big lake.

I had fun getting two into one of these containers yesterday. After all I can only fit
one container in my bike's fanny pack. Ever since I took up this campaign to reduce
the numbers of this frog, it seems that I'm making room for more. If this week is
any indication. Although I am hearing other frogs songs, which is a good sign.



Now for the not so wild. We have a neighbor down the street that thought it would be,
I don't know wtf she was thinking. Oh wait, she wasn't thinking. When she brought three
domestic Peking ducks and abandoned them to the neighborhood. Well guess what, that
was less than a year and now there are two less of them ducks as of Cinco d'Mayo.

I'll spare the gory details, one was by alligator and like a car crash witness that can't look
away, there was a human witness to this urban preventable act of nature. The alligator
was in it's element, as well was the duck. Alligator sightings as frequent as they are, it
never gets old and to witness it's primeval energy is pretty crazy stuff.


The other was by either Fox or Coyote that slinked away in the dark and it is my speculation
to have only seen a glimps of a low to the ground shadowed feature that crossed my driveway
ribbons out of the corner of my eye. Shortly after my making a loud clap into the dark, having
heard what was to be this duck last sound along with some rustling noise in the hedge and or
tall grass.

We started to having reported sightings of Coyotes for nearly five years now to.

I went into the house to get some illumination, not that I would have
needed it, what with a near full moon. This creature looked peaceful lying there in the
moon light and actually looked quite beautiful, was my first reaction that is before turning
on my flash light. Yup, Fox or Coyote. I took measures to dispense with said creature so as
not to encourage this wild creature's return, thinking that that might be a possibility or worse
finding the remains who knows where in the broad daylight.

To end this entry on a lighter side. I have a picture of a not so wild bread buddy.

This guy comes in groups of three or five. A group of five was a challenge to make sure each one
got it share of bread. I can only spare the heals of this sprouted bread I get at Aldi's. What better
way to spread the wealth and in return a few laughs and grins from watching these creatures
receive hand outs from us, two legged creatures.

Three More Potted Plants...Strike That...Six

find their spot in this urban garden.

Take this Tiger Lily that's been waiting to get out of it's pot bound home for
four years now. Time will tell how well it will finds it's new settings.
From here it looks like it's been there for some time now.

For their is nothing permanent  evening in gardening where it's just a matter of it being moved
to another possibly more suitable location.

Another intriguing angle.

Oops, did I say three? I will have to change that title.

Here's actually four in this picture. A reddish Black Ti with a couple of varied
shaped Philodendrons, that counts as one , knowing they spent their props infancy
together as a collective culture. The middle is a recent  purchase in February from
our big box home improvement stores. Hey, would like to pronounce is as a garden
improvement store. A white Lilly of the Nile and it's shadow what was left of a nearly
spent deep blue Lobelia. Just east of that is another prop that graduated to a spot in the
the garden. A ruffled leaf begonia that throws up some delicate foot long spikes of tiny
white flowers.

Last count, that brings us to five plants to ground for show-n-tell.

Except there was another one that put to ground. So that makes six for this week.

The grand-dad of them all.

 That thick old branch is quite old relatively speaking. It's quite woblly
actually and was lucky it didn't colapse on me while transfering from the
pot to ground. There was a real healthy new root coming out of the base
of that old branch, plants just want to live.

This old Orangewood  used to be part of a hedge in our local botanical garden
before it was replaced with another hedge. I don't how it came into the hands of a local
nursery man, but it was love at first sight when I spotted it. That was five years
ago. It has long since sprouted new branches that pale in comparison to the original
gnarly portion. A long with some new seedlings that sprouted from seeded volunteers.

So to, it gets it's place in this constant gardener's urban dream garden.

 Last count, six plantings. That makes this year a banner year for in ground plantings.

Picture This

because I don't have a picture of this event.

First of all, put out of your mind what you think you know. There will always
be new discoveries in your every day life.

Something as small as a June bug, even in the month of May. Chilling under
my back door's porch light, at night and who's hour will remain a non issue.
Perhaps, looking for it's next meal or just being cautious that it won't be
someone's next meal for one said big juicy house gecko that is standing
by mind you, upside down. Not knowing if geckos goes for extra crispy
shelled beetles., which was the furthest thought on my mind.The moment
I flick my finger against the screening on my backdoor where
the unsuspecting beetle unprepared for this sudden force an falls to the porch
concrete landing unlike a cat on all fours it lands on it's hard shelled back.
I've witnessed many a June bug spend a lot energy righting themselves more
often than they would prefer not to mention the vulnerability. Well guess what,
extra crispy beetles make for extra crispy noises.

So what other possible creature of the night might get in onto the scene?
How about something with big ears, better to hearing extra crispy June bugs
righting themselves and at what frequency would this be at? An all to familiar
sound to a nocturnal mouse with big eyes, better see you, my next meal ticket.
As this mouse scampers up onto it's prey and it picks up this extra crispy noisy
morsel and puts it in it's mouth and dash's back down into it's familiar darkness.

All the while witnessing this bit of urban wild life transact before my eye and
thinking that mice must have some protein and it's not from cheese, as seen many
a time in cartoons and story telling from childhood days in school.

Who knew. This is one lucky mouse, knowing we have an outdoor cat next
door and several owls in the neighborhood, but not as lucky as me to have
been a witness to this non pictured event.