This amaryllis was worth the wait.
Its blooms are a deep, velvet red with ruffles.
The yellow pollen and white-ended pistil add contrast.
I may have a new favorite!
FLOWER
Beautiful Benifica
Raindrops on Rainbows
I had to go outside today despite the cold and rain.
I have been pacing like a trapped animal in the house.
I was happy to see this colorful spurge, Euphorbia x martini.
‘Ascot Rainbow’ is its variety name.
The raindrops added a nice touch of sparkle.
Thank goodness for some color on a dreary day.
FLOWER
Amaryllis Anticipation
Each winter I order at least one new variety of Amaryllis.
This year I ordered two.
Half-and-half is still blooming and has sent up a second stalk.
Benifica is making me wait.
Its buds are dreamy red velvet.
Every day there is slow progress toward blooming.
It is a joy to watch.
I will be happy when I finally see the faces of its flowers.
Until then, I am enjoying the anticipation.
FLOWER
Conk up: Tree down
I am fascinated by all things fungi.
This particular conk, Inonotus dryadeus, has been featured in my posts before.
It was growing at the base of a huge oak in my neighbors’ yard.
Another name for this type of fungi is “white rot.”
It is a symptom of the decline of the tree it is on.
The more conks present, the more disease.
Conks are a symptom, not a cause.
Last week the tree came down,
with some help from a team of men with ropes and chain saws.
My neighbor left the conk on my stone bench because she knew I would want to keep it.
Here it is now out of the ground and upside down.
I think it is beautiful.
Maybe I could make it into a hat to match these shoes?
FLOWER
Preening on a Post
I have watched this Great Blue heron for hours.
It has stayed on this post all morning.
Once I looked up to see the post empty.
Next time I looked, the heron was back.
I have spent the entire morning on my computer
while my friend has spent this time preening on a post.
I tried to sneak down to the shore for a close-up,
but it flew away…
to another post.
FLOW
An Amaryllis Race
Half-and-half has been declared the winner
in the 2019 Amaryllis Race.
Benifica lagged behind from the start.
A beauty contest will follow shortly.
Will the late bloomer take that prize?
We shall see.
FLOWER
Make Art not Fat
I have found a new place to go for instant gratification besides my kitchen.
(Winter gives me the munchies.)
My new hang-out without food is called Studio 73.
It is located just across the Catawba River in a lovely little town named Catawba.
I gave Rose a gift certificate for time here as a Christmas gift.
I tagged along with my camera and made a project myself.
I have not been so inspired in a long time.
The walls are covered in various forms of art.
Different artists display their work here. I was impressed by each array.
Rose and I had an enjoyable afternoon creating our own art.
She made a piece for her dorm door.
I created this camper for our entrance.
Stay tuned for another camper coming soon. I found one for the fairies.
I only hope they behave better in it than they did in their pumpkin!
You local folks need to check out this lovely Studio 73.
Just look for the giant paintbrush near the post office.
FLOW
Phishing in my Pajamas
Attention: Blogger friends
I need your help.
I have finished a book about my daughter’s life with epilepsy.
We have a blog “Seizure Mama and Rose.”
I am releasing stories from the book onto the blog to find our audience.
Could you PLEASE share the link with anyone you know
whose life has been affected by EPILEPSY.
I need to hear from them.
This is my mission, not my hobby.
https://seizuremama.wordpress.com
I have spent many mornings at my desk in my pajamas
phishing and dropping the link,
wishing I had some folks to help me.
Then I thought of all you guys. My blogger friends! Who better to find folks?
I know that should have been obvious, kind of like throwing the ball at the pins.
FLOW is slow!
Thanks for helping us,
FLOWER
Who’s Been Stealing My Compost?
I try to be a responsible Earthling.
I reuse and recycle as much as possible.
I count on my compost to replenish the soil in my gardens.
It’s one of my three dirty secrets.
My Three Dirty Secretshttps://floweralley.org/2017/10/14/my-three-dirty-secrets/
So I do not take kindly to some critter helping itself to my stash of organic trash.
This has happened twice recently, so I set up the critter camera to catch the culprit.
The sneaky stealer is to the left behind the white bucket.
An opossum.
I had so hoped for a raccoon! They are much more interesting.
You get what you get.
FLOW
