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Gran’s Almond Bush

| Flower Roberts

I am so happy to have another “family plant” in my garden.

This Flowering Almond shrub came from my mom’s mother. I think it is a Prunus glandulosa.  It has always stayed small, like a dwarf form.

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I remember a year when we had a late snow. Its tiny pink blooms were dusted and glistening. It was a beautiful memory that I cherish.

My sister got this bush from mom when they paved over its spot near the house.

She sent part of it home with me yesterday.

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I am researching where to put it and how to plant it. It is too precious to make mistakes.

I will keep passing these treasures along.

The Flower is rich in green…plants of course.

FLOWER

 

 

I Found an Earthstar

| Flower Roberts

I found an Earthstar in my yard.

Its rays were spread, its sac was flat, its spores were gone.

Its job was done.

I peeked into the mouth-like hole to see if I could spot a spore.

But all were washed away by rain.

This tiny barometer knew just when

to unfold rays and open its pore

to send its tiny jewels into the wet world

to be stars.

My Bad New Neighbor

| Flower Roberts

Well the honeymoon is over.  I was hoping we could be friends.

But there are some habits that the Flower cannot tolerate.

At first the digging was a novelty. The excavation was a source of fascination.

It thought this was just part of getting settled in.

But its been months and the digging continues.

My new neighbor has an addiction to digging.

I did not mind its sharing my cold frame until the pots started sinking into the ground.

Now a line has been crossed.  I was out with the bunnies when I noticed a pile of fresh rubble under the bunny hutch.

This is not their home. They, of course, have their own room inside the house.

This hutch is their outdoor retreat from wind and birds-of-prey. It is also their outdoor toilet.

This huge pile of rocks has been removed from under a slab of concrete.

We still haven’t met our new neighbor. I tried to get Charlotte to identify him from photos, but she refused to squeal.

Mr. Flower suggested trying a trap. What should we use for bait I asked, “Rocks?”

We borrowed a critter camera that did not work. I suggested purchasing our own. Mr. Flower said he did not wish to spend money on such a purchase.

I interrupted him to inform him that I was saving my money for new bikinis for our trip to Mexico. ( Pure fiction is the perfect distraction. It throws them off course. When they recover from the shock, they are so grateful that what you just said was a lie that they will gladly give you the original object requested.)

I am expecting that critter cam any time now.

FLOWER

 

 

Water and Ice

| Flower Roberts

I am fascinated by water.  I call it the miracle molecule.

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It is the only substance on Earth found in all three states (solid, liquid and gas) at natural temperatures.

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Water molecules form a lattice as they freeze. This is why ice floats.

IMG_6979I have posted on snow several times.  Here is some ice art for your enjoyment.

 

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I could have stayed here all day watching the water flowing behind the ice sheets.

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I love nature with all my heart.

FLOW

Rescuing Red Ridinghood

| Flower Roberts

I just couldn’t leave it there with a long root reaching desperately out from the bottom of the pot.

That would be like ignoring a drowning person’s hand reaching out of the water.

I did not know that its name, Rooikappie, meant ‘Red Ridinghood’ in Afrikaans until I looked it up on-line.

I brought the aloe home and did some trimming before repotting it.

These little pieces will be left to harden off for a few days and then rooted.  (Free plants.)

Little Rooikappie looks happier all ready.

My what big teeth she has!

FLOWER

Found Some Fountains

| Flower Roberts

I heard a symphony as I stepped from my car.

So many sounds. Soft and soothing , yet exhilarating.

The instruments had no strings. Water was playing.

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Water moving in various volumes at different tempos.

Nature’s music.

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Each instrument was unique in it’s shape and sound.

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How could anyone just choose one and break up this band.

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I never thought of fountain sounds before.

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There is usually only one playing a solo.

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Not at White House Garden Center in Cornelius, North Carolina.

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Here, there are dozens performing together.

Each is as lovely to look at as to listen to.

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I went there on an errand and had an adventure.

If you are searching for a fountain.

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You will probably find the fountain of your dreams there.

Bravo!

FLOWER

An Art Outing

| Flower Roberts

I love to go to places that sell art,

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just to enjoy all the talent I don’t have expressed by others. (kind of like dance class)

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Today, I visited the Wooden Stone in Davidson twice.

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Once before lunch to take pictures, and again after lunch.

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During lunch I looked at all my photos to check for quality

and to decide what pieces I had to have.

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Mr. Flower was with me, so this limited my purchase capabilities.

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It’s okay.   I know how to get back to the lovely little town of Davidson, NC.

Look for this lovely bench out front.

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I got two of the things photographed.

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I won’t tell which two because they are gifts and of course all my friends read my blog.

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Oh, more suspense!

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I really wanted this cutie-pie for myself.

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FLOWER

 

 

 

The Missing Man

| Flower Roberts

My love of unusual plants came from three women, my Gran, my Mamaw and Miss Robbie.

This post is about Miss Robbie’s son. She is the one who gave me the “Sacred Fig Tree.”

He was the missing man. We send him cards, now that his mother is gone.  He usually sent a response.

He was a loner. Very quiet, but always courteous and properly dressed.

The cards came back. Where had he gone?

I sent dear Mr. Flower to snoop around the homeplace.

It was empty. A neighbor said he fell in the street, months ago. He left in an ambulance.

He never returned.  Where was he?  I called the authorities.  No one knew anything.

I am not a relative, but since I was so upset, a nice person whispered some information.

I found him!

I called to make sure his only relative (age 94) knew where he was.  She did.

THE END.

 

Just kidding.

I heard his name on my answering machine yesterday.

The city wants to tear down his abandoned house. It has been ransacked.

Miss Robbie’s lovely home full of lamps and books and knickknacks and clothes and silverware…

These were someone’s belongings.   Someone old.   Someone alone.   Someone ill.

Now the house itself is being threatened.

My heart hurts.

I got no phone call today. I will call the nice lady tomorrow.

I am not a relative.  But I care.

Please don’t mention this to my mama.  She will have a fit.  I am waiting for some good news.

FLOWER

Spoiled Bunnies

| Flower Roberts

I wanted to post pictures of big bunny tracks for Ilze’s girls in Latvia.

That would require my bunnies to walk in some snow.

Is that too much to ask?  Apparently, yes.

These two photos are the best that I could do.

They are spoiled you see.

I spent two days shoveling snow off the deck above the bunny yard so they would not get dripped on.

The bunnies spent the snow days snacking and napping.

They do not like coldness and wetness.

Barley looking at snow.
Charlotte peeking in the French doors of the bunny room.

They are not wild bunnies you see.

They are spoiled bunnies.

FLOWER