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Lifesaver starfish Plant

| Flower Roberts

This plant throws its parts around. No nearby pot is safe from a well tossed arm.

When this plant arrived from Logee’s, I sent back a complaint that the pieces were not even rooted yet.

Their short response was…It does not matter. Now, I know why. No roots needed. Neglect necessary.

Something must have signaled this Huernia zebrina /Lifesaver Plant to bloom now.

Huernia zebrina

Each pot, no matter its location, is blooming.

Its blooms are too perfect to seem real.

Huernia zebrina/ Life Saver Plant

It thrives on neglect with full sun and very little water.

This may be the perfect plant for you “Black Thumb” folks.

FLOW

A Sun and a Star

| Flower Roberts

Several sunflowers were not decapitated by the deer.

I was happy to see their bright faces.

It seems that this Mammoth Sunflower is having a conversation with this Texas Star Hibiscus.

Both plants are over five feet tall.

My grandmother had this hibiscus at her home.

My mom passed along some seeds to me.

I was happy to see a sun and a star enjoying a summer afternoon.

Flower

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 Ripe Butternut

| Flower Roberts

I am still in a sling awaiting surgery, so Mr. Flower must do all the heavy lifting.

His chores now include picking the large produce.

I told him it was time to pick some of the butternut squash.

He asked how he would know which ones needed the picking and which the leaving.

I had never been asked such a question. I knew the answer but how to tell someone else was the puzzle.

I had to walk myself through the garden to get an answer.

When a butternut is ripe it looks pale-skin-pink like a rubber baby doll under the leaves.

Not green.

Not yellowish.

Only the pale skin colored are ripe.

Mercy! I am glad Mr. Flower is picking these. That whopper might blow out my other shoulder.

FLOW

Pineapple Lilies

| Flower Roberts

Much of my garden looks withered and tired in this heat, so I appreciate any plant that stands up and blooms mid-July. That’s when the Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ plants burst into bloom.

These blooms are visited by many insects. They are especially loved by bumble bees and Hummingbird moths.

‘Sparkling Burgundy’ Eucomis

This group has slowly spread over the years to form a lovely display. The plants have lost some of their color because they are not in full sun. I will eventually move the perimeter plants to a sunnier location to regain the burgundy spots.

A tiny version of Eucomis stays in pots. Its name is ‘Aloha.’ The blooms are the size of a thumbprint.

‘Aloha’ Eucomis

Eucomis plants originated in Africa, so they can take our North Carolina heat.

The bulbs are poisonous which means they are not eaten by my little friends.

FLOWER

The Beheading

| Flower Roberts

I love my deer friends. I do not mind sharing a bit of my flower smorgasbord. But some things are off limits.

I have fence rings and mesh to gently signal that certain special plants should be avoided.

These deterrents do not stop the most determined eaters. Most of the time the eaten parts grow back.

But what does one do with a headless sunflower?

The poor little juicy buds were removed overnight.

Now I have topless, leafless stalks surrounding an obelisk. This is not the look I was going for!

Well at least I have one bloom. I hope this isn’t removed by a raccoon!

FLOW

Glad it’s July

| Flower Roberts

Gladioli are show-offs in July.

They are like flower fireworks in the garden.

I love how they shoot upward and bloom for weeks.

My two types in the Glad Circle are Pricilla (pink) and a Mardi Gras mix.

The Mardi Gras have the extra feature of interest in their purple pollen.

I am always Glad it’s July because of my Glads.

FLOW