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My Excuse to go out in the Rain

| Flower Roberts

I decided that I needed to remake my plant markers for all my Hostas now that they are up.

Frances Williams Hosta

First I went out to find each hosta on my list and record its location.

This involved pulling up the old markers made of plastic knives (or pieces of knives) with faded writing.

Poor little Patriot has been eaten and stepped on.

Sometimes I could only decipher a few letters. I compared this to my list and identified most of them.

Then I made the new markers using plastic chopsticks.

I wrote each Hosta’s names on a chopstick with a marker,

then carved the name in with a Dremel tool.

Then I rewrote the name again to make it easier to read.

I went back outside to place each new marker around the base of the designated Hosta.

June Hosta

Have you been counting trips outside? I have been soaking wet three times so far.

Francee Hosta

Some folks have the sense to come in out of the rain, some don’t.

At least I hung my laundry inside.

FLOWER

 

Bunny Secrets Revealed

| Flower Roberts

You remember that I wondered whether the secrets whispered between these two were going to involve them digging a hole or hiding from me.   They did both!

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Charlotte is the main digger and bulldozer. It is amazing to watch her push dirt away from the hole.

Barley did some assisting.IMG_0137

Later, I checked on them.  I could not find Charlotte anywhere.  Only Barley.  He kept peering down into the hole.  I was almost frantic until I realized that,  Charlotte was deep down inside the hole.IMG_0133

When she finally emerged.  A shovel blade was used to cover the opening until the hole could be filled.  Those tricky rabbits!

FLOWER

I Wish I was a Tomato Plant

| Flower Roberts

Even as a little sprout, they know they should grow tomatoes.

There is no wondering and pondering.

Only the intent to grow, bloom and produce TOMATOES.

There is no questioning of flower color, shape or size.

They do not debate adding an eggplant for color, or an onion for flavor.

They only know to grow TOMATOES.

They don’t beseech the sky with no reply, “What should I be?”.

They do not doubt their tomato-ness.

There is no debate on their purpose in life.

They just do their thing, which is growing TOMATOES.

I envy their single-minded confidence.

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FLOWER

Monday in Eleven Vases

| Flower Roberts

My favorite thing about Mondays is the meme, Monday in a Vase,  at the blog Rambling in the Garden.

Every week gets started with vases of beautiful flowers from all over the globe.

I have only contributed to this blog meme once, with a tiny vase pin.

Yes, I am a post parasite.   Forgive me, Cathy.

To make up for it, I am sharing eleven vases of my flowers, done yesterday,

for my in-laws’  60th Anniversary celebration.

I never arrange flowers, so this was a stretch for me.

Most of the vintage vases were found at “treasure shops” in the area.

The vases sat on guest tables in clouds of pink or peach tulle.

My sister-in-law, Dana, made everything perfect.  If she goes pro, you better get on her waiting list.

Taco Supreme Iris, old type iris buds, yellow and red snapdragons. Baby’s breath not mine. Added because young Autumn ferns withered on the way to the church.
Krinkled White Peony, Chain fern, yellow rose buds

Foxglove, asparagus stalk, fairy lily, Persian Berry iris buds, Epimedium leaves and White Astilbe

Duchess de Nemours peony, Apricot drift roses, Coreopsis leaves, Variegated Solomon’s seal
Taco Supreme Iris, Krinkled White peony buds, Autumn fern frond, Coreopsis stems, yellow rose buds
White Astilbe and Apricot Drift roses
Foxglove, Persian Berry Iris and Montbretia leaves
Pure Vanilla Iris, Duchess de Nemours peony, Holly fern fronds
May Breeze white phlox, polka dot plant, Nora Barlow Columbine, Jewels of Opar
Banana Frappe’ Iris, Gabraltar azalea, Montbretia leaves, White Astilbe

 

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Karl Rosenfield Peony, white and pink snapdragons, Variegated Boxleaf euonymus, Jewels of Opar

FLOWER

Double, Double Toil and Trouble

| Flower Roberts

It’s peony(Paeonia) time here in North Carolina.

I love all types.  Singles, semi-doubles and doubles.

Krinkled White Single peony

The doubles are trouble though.

Duchess de Nemours double peony

They have such heavy blooms that they have to be staked.  Otherwise they dip down to the ground, especially after a rain.

I keep a supply of green stakes with open-ringed tops for this purpose.

Peonies like full sun and well-drained acidic soil.  They do not like to be divided.

If you must, divide them in  the fall.  Plant shallow.   Side dress with compost.

FLOWER

 

My Fair Weather Friends

| Flower Roberts

It’s just like some to show up only when things are good.

Here are two of my buddies that appear when the sun shines.

Slim is not our biggest nor boldest.  He is an acrobat.

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I sit and watch him move as though I am the one being charmed.

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Plop decided he needed to down-size this spring.

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He usually perches overlooking the Koi pond.

Since the largest fish is now huge,

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he feels more secure by the door in the Shubunkins’ above-ground pond.

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FLOWER loves her friends.

Against the Tide

| Flower Roberts

I have been paddling against the tide.

If I use strong strokes, I can maintain my position.

In sight of the shore of my intended landing.

If I weaken, I get pulled out farther and farther.

Into the deep, wild sea that may bring me down.

I am tired.   I am older.

I wait for the tide to turn and bring me in,

but it hasn’t.

I am ready to put down the paddle.

Let the tide have me.

Maybe I have been headed toward the wrong shore all these years

and fate has kept me from landing

in the wrong place.

FLOW

Cut, Pull or Stake

| Flower Roberts

We had a hard rain yesterday evening.

My houseplants get booted outside for storms.

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Now that the sun is back, they must be dragged back in before scorching.

The main job now is in the garden.   Everything got really wet and heavy.

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So I put on my rubber clogs to assess the needs of the day.

CUT the flopped over bearded iris stems and the shriveled old blooms off.

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Night Affair   Could there be a more purple purple?

PULL the ten thousand weeds. (9, 000 are sweet peas.)

STAKE the tall stalks and stems of iris and peonies.

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Krinkled White Peony

I shall not complain about the rain.

FLOWER