These beauties live in a glass pavilion at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
Orchids were everywhere, in pots, on trees, on the walls, hanging around.
I wanted to post their names, but their identification is beyond my realm.
I have always been fascinated by orchids.
Their shapes, their colors, their pollinators.
One of my favorite books is The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean.
I understand why folks have obsessions about them.
These flowers seem other-worldly, angelic, heavenly…
Flower
That is the question for Bromeliads.
Some have big, bold blooms.
Some have colorful bracts, sepals, or leaves instead. Their tiny blooms are inconspicuous.
Some have tanks full of water, while others depend on constant humidity.
Some are terrestrial.
Some are epiphytes.
They all belong to the pineapple family, but so does Spanish moss.
I am wondering about this family. There seems to be too much variety to be related.
Bromeliads have beauty in many forms.
FLOWER
Fall has its own decor. It includes dried hay and corn stalks, yellow and orange mums, pumpkins and gourds.
It sounds so simple, but it takes skill to conjure up a seasonal mood from such simple ingredients.
I always applaud such skill. Let’s look at some lovely examples.
This says it all. They know it’s fall.
This is a bounty of fall beauty. Eclectic excellence.
Symmetry and synergy!
Even the hay maze is dreamy.
The folks at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden know how to do fall.
Hooray Halloween!
Flow
Belmont, North Carolina has its own harvest moon this month.
They have installed an inflatable moon downtown in Stowe Park.
The moon is an exact replica of the actual moon which is lit up at night.
The whole town has decorated in the ‘Moon Glow’ theme.
I may have to head back down there one evening just to see this moon lighted.
FLOW
We found an interesting winery this past week.
Banner Elk Winery is located in a peaceful spot.
It has a pond and picnic tables.
The children there were very busy playing as their parents relaxed.
Someone smart designed this place.
There is a lovely little creek running into the pond with a stone bridge across it.
There is a centrally located fire pit.
The entrance features a life-sized, driftwood sculpture of an elk.
Inside the building is cozy with a giant stone fireplace.
It is the perfect respite for folks who want to visit while their children romp through nature in full view.
The bartender with an “I hate you” tattoo even gave me their Sangria recipe.
It was worth zig-zagging on mountain roads to find this jewel.
FLOW
Sometimes I take things for granted.
I am guilty of this when it comes to fall here in North Carolina.
Of course the leaves turn colors in October.
Of course it is gorgeous.
I forget what an unusual treat it is until I notice the ten-fold increase in traffic in the mountains.
Then I see what everyone else sees with new eyes.
The cold comes. The green goes into the tree and the other colors are left out in the leaves.
I hope I will remember this lesson about other things.
I live in a beautiful place surrounded by kind folks. I am lucky.
FLOW
I purchased an hibiscus combo pot earlier in the summer.
The colors would be a surprise. It thought this would be fun, anticipating the combination of blooms.
I was pleased with the results. Two ended up being the same type, but were a gorgeous double peach colored.
There was also a stunning red.
The last to bloom was a vibrant pink.
I have loved watching this plant on our deck. It has put on quite a colorful show.
That’s why I call it the ‘Hibiscus Circus.’
FLOW
I have learned my lesson. I will never order seeds off of the internet that are not from a known company.
Remember that my first set of seeds was supposed to be Flying Saucer Morning Glories.
Those bloomed weedy purple instead of blue and white. I had to do my first killing of the season.
Now my Lablab purpureus has formed seed pods that are NOT purple.
My neighbor accused me of growing Kudzu. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/five-facts-kudzu-in-florida/
Anything that looks like Kudzu and grows like Kudzu does not belong in my garden.
It is not really Kudzu, but it is misbehaving by grabbing everything around it.
I have been removing the seed pods so it will not self-sow, but I have gotten behind.
It may be time for my second murder of the season.
POOR FLOW
I glanced down at the pond as I passed by. I spied something brown on the water lettuce.
It was the size of a frog, but had fur and was shivering.
Rose and I sprung into action.
We got a rake and scooped that scared baby up.
It sat in the pine needles shivering for a bit.
Its mama came for it and led it under the walkway.
Then she returned many times to look me in the face as if to say “Thank you.”
My heart is full.
FLOW
floweralley 