Author: Flower Roberts

An Herbarium Legacy

| Flower Roberts

I found many treasures during my travels last week.

This one has inspired me very much.

It was an herbarium on display in the Island in the Sky, Canyonlands Utah visitor’s center.

I inquired about it to a young ranger.

“Karen did it.” was his reply “She’s a legend.”

Is Karen here? I asked. “She died in the ’80’s.” he said.

Karen has been gone for almost forty years and I am enjoying her legacy.

It was beautifully done. The flower cards had color-coded margins.

Each plant specimen had a whole plant photo and plant description with it.

I can do this! Maybe this will be my next project for a North Carolina park.

This is good stuff. This is how people learn to identify plants.

Thank you Karen. You are a legend.

Flower

Crazy Las Vegas

| Flower Roberts

I took my camera to the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to photograph plants.

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I should have known that this would include over-the-top displays like everywhere else.

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Everything is bigger and brighter in Las Vegas.

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Do not think that I was disappointed to find giant tigers and elephants.

I was just in shock and awe.  I was wide-eyed the whole evening.

I loved the life-sized fairy flying among  the colorful kalire.

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The huge tigers had wagging tails.

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The elephants nodded their heads.

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The colorful trees were perches for giant peacocks.

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There was a huge lamp large enough for a genie.

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I guess the fox wanted to do some wishing.

This “Indian Summer” display was a bit overwhelming for the Flower.

I am happy to be back home where everything is life-sized and accurately colored.

One crazy day in Vegas was enough for Flow.

Stay tuned for a lot more of UTAH.

Flower

Red Coffee Beans

| Flower Roberts

My coffee beans are finally starting to ripen.

A few are a lovely red hue.

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The little tree is full of beans.

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It will be brought inside before freezing temperatures hit.

The beans will be harvested later this month.

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I plan on roasting them and grinding them

to make my first cup of tree-to-cup coffee.

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What a treat that will be!

Flow

Fall from Here

| Flower Roberts

I wanted to leave my pots out for one last drenching rain before bringing them inside.

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The heavy rain last night has turned the river red.

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Jean May has tossed down her pink confetti to let me know the party is over.

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The garden is covered in a colorful carpet.

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The trees are aflame.

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It’s time to move inside.

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The buds on the Schlumbergeras say so.

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I have projects to keep me busy.  My world will be smaller.

Fall is here folks.

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Flow

Ode to Jean May

| Flower Roberts

Every fall just as the days get shorter and the flowers start dying

a glorious angel appears in my garden.

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The season becomes brighter because of her blooms.

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Her name is Jean May.

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She is a Camellia sasanqua.

When the darkness of fall starts to dampen my spirits,

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Jean May comes to my rescue,

to remind me everything has its season.

I love Jean May with all my heart.

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She is a blessing.

Flower

Foiled by Two Photos

| Flower Roberts

I had big plans for the bunnies.

They were moving outside.

I have spent months working on a pen inside the bunny yard.

There are now two barriers between them and danger.

It has fence, hardware cloth, mesh,

plexi glass, polyethylene and metal.

(Shower curtains will be replaced by metal when Mr. Flower has time to help.)

There are boxes, tunnels and a hutch.

They even have market lights on a timer!

It is quite elaborate and a bit messy. (Sorry neighbors)

But it was all for naught.

My plans have been foiled by two photos from the neighbors’ critter cam.

The first is of three raccoons. I was aware of one, but now feel outnumbered.

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The second is the hind end of a rather large coyote.

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Years ago one tore down some fence and left a dirty paw print on the window screen.

THUS, those two messy bunnies will continue to come inside at night.

We can’t have them partying with these wild ones.

Mama needs her sleep.

Flow

 

 

Future Friends

| Flower Roberts

It’s time to start cleaning up in the garden.

Be careful you do not remove some future friends.

We must not compost our companions.

You may recall my writing spider friends

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named for the plants they lived on.

Two of the three left behind egg sacs.

Lucy (on the Lucifer) hid hers beside the gutter’s down spout.

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Fern (on the Autumn fern) attached hers to the highest fronds.

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I most be careful to leave these in a safe place.

It’s nice to know there are future friends

waiting in the garden.

Flow

When Everybody Leaves

| Flower Roberts

When everybody leaves

and you are alone with yourself

will you be quietly content

with who you are?

Can you keep yourself company?

Will you know your own voice?

Will you be solid or hollow?

Will you have the strength to sit quietly alone

or will you feel the need to leave yourself

and seek other company?

Everybody leaves.

Who will you be then?

Flow