Uncategorized

We See What We Look For

| Flower Roberts

It has been a hard week for the FLOWER.

It was my plan to remove every weed

from every garden and then to re-mulch all the flower beds.

So this has been “Weed Week.”

I couldn’t have more weeds if I had planted and tended them.

So my focus this week has been on the weeds.

This morning I forced myself, the FLOWER, to go out to my garden and

focus on the FLOWERS!

You see, when you look for bad, you see bad.

When you look for beauty, you will find beauty.

You may even find a bunny or two as well.

ALL these photos were taken this morning. No weeds allowed.

Enjoy!

IMG_2750 IMG_2749 IMG_2748 IMG_2747 IMG_2746 IMG_2745 IMG_2737 IMG_2734 IMG_2732 IMG_2723 IMG_2725 IMG_2701 IMG_2703 IMG_2711 IMG_2712 IMG_2713 IMG_2714 IMG_2724 IMG_2716 IMG_2717 IMG_2718 IMG_2719 IMG_2726 IMG_2715 IMG_2730 IMG_2705 IMG_2696

What weeds?

Anxious in August

| Flower Roberts

When the Dogwood berries start to turn, I get anxious.

IMG_2587

No calendar needed.  August is ending.

IMG_2591

It is almost time to start back to school.

For a teacher this means wrap up loose ends.

IMG_2592

There will be no more free time until June.

This is my second year of not teaching, but I still get anxious.

IMG_2618

It is a sort of “nesting” behavior,  like during pregnancy.

Get it done NOW.

Clean out that closet, write those Thank You notes…

Get ready, finish up, get ready, finish up…

IMG_2569

Unlike last year, there are no trips planned.   No getting ready.

My page is empty.  Totally blank.

I must choose what to do next?   Where will I go?  Where will I land?

IMG_2619

Do not envy this freedom.  It is intimidating.  It is lonely.  I have no tribe.

IMG_2637

I am afraid of this clean slate.  The canvas is blank.

I must reinvent myself again.

Another era has ended.

IMG_2549

A new day is dawning.

IMG_2503

The FLOWER is free and full of fear.

 

Disappointment in the Flower Bed

| Flower Roberts

My husband has a large cactus. (Ritterocereus pruinosis)

IMG_2428

I am not wild about this plant. It is big, tall, ugly and spiny.

He loves it, so I have tolerated its presence for the duration of our marriage.

It has to be moved inside every winter. It is quite a big production.

In and out, in and out, in and out, over and over.

After thirty years of caring for this plant, a small bud formed about midway up.

IMG_2426

Finally, his cactus was going to do something exciting!

We have checked its progress daily.

I have photographed the bud’s enlargement.

When will it open? What color will it be?

IMG_2445

I was hesitant to leave town for fear of missing the big event.

Alas. When I checked on it this morning, the bud was going limp and shriveling.

IMG_2481

I hate it when that happens.

Such disappointment.

IMG_2480

I am considering cutting the top off to root it.

Any suggestions?

 

 

Wild Passion

| Flower Roberts

Talk about a tantalizing title!

One of the wild Passion vines that I found on the bank has finally put out a bloom.

IMG_2339

Now I can post the wild flower photo side-by-side with my hybrid I ordered.

20150929_114604

 

 

 

IMG_2340
Wild Passion Vine Leaves
IMG_2322
Hybrid Passion vine leaves
IMG_2321
The hybrid has 5-lobed leaves, bracts at the petiole, and curlier tendrils.

I found three wild vines on the bank. I have cleared out the weeds around them and staked them.

They seem to be struggling to survive, unlike the potted hybrid.

Typical.  “I’d Rather be a Tall Ugly Weed” (Julio Noboa Polanco)

Follow the wild FLOWER!

 

 

 

Ants on my Plants

| Flower Roberts

Ants are not bad.

IMG_1609

If they are on your blooms,

IMG_2146

they are just sipping some nectar.

If they are running up and down the stems and leaves,

IMG_2159
Scale on Key lime tree.

you probably have aphids or scale,

IMG_2180
Aphids on Butterfly weed.

which the ants milk like cows.

Ants on blooms are okay.

IMG_2092

Ants all over your plant probably means there is a problem.

The ants are a result, not a cause.

Follow the Ants.

 

 

Hot Out? Stay In.

| Flower Roberts

July is brutal in North Carolina.

I have been out today working on two different posts.

I  just can’t stand the thought of another shower before my afternoon appointment.

So I plan to look over a new book I discovered via my Nook.

I check out samples of e-books.  If I like them, I then order the paper version.

My latest gardening book is A Gardener’s Latin by Richard Bird.

IMG_1937

I have learned a lot of Latin over the years as a scientist, but this one breaks it down for gardeners.

This is a lovely book that is hardback and a good size for carrying around.

It is sectioned by groupings such as prefixes and suffixes, places, textures, habitats, colors, shapes…

IMG_1938

Did you know that roseus, ruber, rubens, rufus, russatus and sanguineus all refer to various shades of red?

IMG_1942

The illustrations on each page are colorful and delightful.

IMG_1941

I plan to take this little treasure with me to my appointment.

No use sitting around looking at old magazines.

Read with the FLOWER.

 

 

 

 

 

Tidy It Up in July

| Flower Roberts

I know it is hot!

Our temperatures are in the 90’s in North Carolina.

I also know that the weeds are growing fast due to our afternoon rains.

My garden is like a sauna in the afternoons, so I must work in the mornings.

I get all my tools, bug repellent, hat , bandana scarf , gloves and bucket together.

IMG_1860

I make a big bottle of 1/3 Gatorade, 1/3 water and 1/3 ice.

I march myself outside and refuse to come in until I have done

my proposed section of garden.

I ride my little cart or sit on a snow disc on the hills.

IMG_1861

Right now is time to clean up bearded iris and daylilies.

IMG_1867
Bearded iris before cleaning. Keep in rows for easy access. I clean mine several times per year.

My method is to cut plants down to 8 inch fans, remove stalks and totally clean out around each plant.

IMG_1858

If you have any plant diseases, you need to dip your shears in a bleach solution between plants.

Here is yesterday’s pile of cuttings and weeds.

IMG_1865

I will put fresh mulch around the cleaned up plants in several days.

I can divide and move things around later, but it is important to clean up so as not to move problems with the plants.

IMG_1863

MY NEXT POST will be on dividing bearded iris. Stay tuned for that.

Follow the SWEATING FLOWER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independence?

| Flower Roberts

Today the USA celebrates its Independence.

IMG_1598
Snow Country Dahlia

Is any country truly independent?

IMG_1693
Bleeding Heart Vine

Is any group of people independent?

IMG_1733
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’

Is any person truly independent?

IMG_1587
Blue My Mind

NO

IMG_1688
Mortimer/Frog in Residence

We are all interdependent.

IMG_1601
Cypress Vine

All people, all animals, all plants, fungi, bacteria and even viruses.

IMG_1681
Barley

Every living thing needs something outside of itself to survive and thrive.

IMG_1709
Bee on Basil Bloom

In this time of derision and divisiveness,

IMG_1589
Crimsom Shadows Daylily

I choose to celebrate my INTERDEPENDENCE.

I appreciate my oxygen from plants, my food from other living creatures

and my tiny little piece of land that I live on.

May the sun keep shining and the rain keep falling.

Happy July 4th!

IMG_1730

FLOWER