Month: August 2021

When the Fear Leaves

| Flower Roberts

I sit quietly and watch the world.

I am in hiding. I am vulnerable. I have one wing.

My arm must be treated like a fragile newborn.

The pain causes fear, but it will leave and I will heal.

Then I will do the tasks that I can only tisk at now.

I will take clear photos with a heavy camera held steady.

I will write true words with a keyboard using ten fingers.

When the fear leaves, I will be me again.

I will be fearless.

But for now, I will silently heal with a hopeful heart.

One Wing

A Plant with a Promise (and a Problem)

| Flower Roberts

I spent money on an annual in July. Why would I?

Because it had variegated leaves and a promise.

‘Monarch Promise’ is its hybrid name. Asclepias curassavica is its scientific name.

I wait patiently for Monarch butterflies every summer.

I am lucky if I see one.

I have other types of milkweed, but this one is special. The bloom colors are also two-toned.

My big surprise was that the pods were also striped.

Asclepias ‘Monarch Promise’

I will be saving these seeds BUT NOT bringing the plant’s pot inside over the winter.

Sometimes it is okay to buy an annual in July.

Now you know why.

FLOW

UPDATE: One of my knowledgeable readers,Eliza Waters, sent me this link about THIS lovely plant causing problems for our precious Monarchs.

https://xerces.org/blog/tropical-milkweed-a-no-grow

I am in ZONE 7, the plant can overwinter in Zone 10. I will be tossing the plant and saving the seeds instead.

THANKS ELIZA