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My Living Memory

| Flower Roberts

I went on the trip of my dreams last fall.

My family spent two weeks in beautiful Italy.

Everywhere we looked there was something new, unusual and exciting.

This flower stopped my in my tracks.

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Everything else fell away

the only two things in the world were me and this face.

Passion flower.

I posted it as a wordless Wednesday from Tuscany.

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Now,  I have this plant. It arrived last week, wrapped up in a box from Easy to Grow Bulbs.com.

Passiflora hybrid "Blue Crown"
Passiflora hybrid “Blue Crown”

Every year when it blooms,  I will pause and remember

that I got to have one of my dreams. I am so grateful.

FLOWER is fortunate!

Toads to Tadpoles

| Flower Roberts

Two toads met in the quiet little pond.

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They spawned in the cozy lily basket.

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They left behind a slimy string of black eggs

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These hatched into squiggly little tadpoles.

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Most stay inside the basket where it is safe

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The ones that swim out become snacks for the King of the Koi pond

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Mama toad is unconcerned

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She’s busy napping under my bag of potting soil.

Follow the FLOWER.

Yellow Trumpets

| Flower Roberts

I found gold today.

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I was at an undisclosed location looking for a black squirrel,

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when I spied bog heaven on the shore of a lake.

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I got my shoes all squishy getting these photos, but it was worth it.

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How ironic to find Yellow Trumpets in Dizzy Gillespie’s hometown.

The genus name is Sarracenia.  I don’t know whether it’s the  flava or alata species.  

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They are pitcher plants.  They trap insects in the pitcher and dissolve them as a supplemental source of nitrogen not available in the soil.

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This town has been one thrill after another.

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I will be sad to leave,  but my family,  plants and bunnies need me.IMG_7737

Follow the FLOWER.

The Resurrection Fern

| Flower Roberts

These fascinating little epiphytes grow on the barks of trees. They seem to prefer horizontal limbs.

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When they are dry they curl up and look almost dead.

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When it rains they soak up the water from the bark and..

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Viola. Alive again.

Its scientific name is Pleopeltis polypodioides.

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The photo below was taken on Monday.

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Then again in the rain on Tuesday.

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By Wednesday it looked alive again.

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Viva la Fern!

 

Cheraw in the Spring

| Flower Roberts

I enjoyed a long walk today

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In my son’s new town.

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He moved here this past fall,

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so this is my first glimpse of spring in Cheraw, South Carolina.

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The azaleas are in full flower now.

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The wisteria are wafting their scents into the breezes.

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The birds are nesting and singing.

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I awoke to a song I did not know this morning.

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I’m feeling like a Southern Belle.

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I can’t think of anything more southern than moss

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and magnolias,

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Unless it’s an ornate gate.

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Snowballs in spring are just magical.

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The boy may have trouble getting rid of mama.

Ranunculus Reigns in April

| Flower Roberts

Bright colors, Tight petals, No thorns

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Ranunculus reigns like an early rose

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It actually comes from tubers, not bulbs

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Likes cool weather

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May have up to 30+ blooms per plant

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Great source of cut flowers.

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What’s not to love?

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FOLLOW the FLOWER to Spring