Fern Fiddles

| Flower Roberts

The first fern fiddles are emerging from the ground.

The Japanese Holly fern, Cyrtomium falcatum, is always first.

Fronds are specialized leaves growing from underground stems.

They roll out from the base to protect the tiny new leaflets.

Other protection involves scales which drop off after the young fronds emerge.

IMG_1260

They are also covered by hairs for defense.

IMG_1264

Once these fronds mature, they will be tough enough not to need scales and hairs.

IMG_1261

Mature fronds produce spores on their undersides for reproduction.

IMG_1262

Here are spots where sporangia were last season. The spores have been released.

IMG_1258

I find fern fronds fascinating.

FLOW

Tete a Tete Twins

| Flower Roberts

I love anything blooming right now.

Yellow flowers are like spots of sunlight in the garden.

IMG_1239

All daffodils are appreciated, but I do have a favorite.

The Tete a Tete bulbs form little bouquets.

IMG_1242

They look this way because they have short stems

and because some stems hold twins.

IMG_1250

This habit makes the bunch look like a bouquet.

Two cute is too cute!

IMG_1251

 

Flower

A Herd in the Yard

| Flower Roberts

When the green shoots up the deer show up.

IMG_1204

A pine fell and knocked down the fence around the green patch.

They started there for a snack.

IMG_1206

Then the herd moved down the bank to the daylilies.

IMG_1212

The big one in the front knows me.

I waved to her as she posed for my camera.

IMG_1226

Time to fence in the expensive stuff.

I try to deter the deer, although they are dear.

FLOW

Snow White and Rose Red

| Flower Roberts

My two Camellia japonicas blooming has reminded me of a fairy tale,

Snow White and Rose Red (Schneettweichen und Rosenrot).

IMG_1172
‘Professor Sargent’ Camellia japonica

My sister and I had some relation to this story.

She was a redhead and I a blond.

IMG_1127
‘White by the Gate’ Camellia japonica

That is where the link ends…I hope.

As with most fairy tales,

the good little girls turn the monster (bear) into a prince and marry him and his brother.

Mothers, let’s rewrite these PLEASE.

Leave in the good and kind,

but change the reward to a self-fulfilling ending instead of a wedding.

IMG_1165

(No offense Princes.)

Flow

 

Our Book is Not About Flowers

| Flower Roberts

If you know of a child who has epilepsy, their family may benefit from our book.

This has been decades in the making. It follows my daughter’s journey with epilepsy from diaper to dorm room.

I wrote it for parents. Ours was a lonely journey with many twists. I want to help other parents who are trying to raise a child with this disorder.

It is full of personal stories and insights…but not flowers.

Maybe my next book will be about gardening.

Flower/Seizure Mama

Fungus Flowers

| Flower Roberts

All it takes is rain for the fungus flowers to appear.

IMG_1143

Even in winter, the bonnets bloom.

Perched on stalks like tiny parasols.

Raised only inches high to open their tops

and stretch out their gills

IMG_1149

to spread their spores

to sow some more

fungus flowers.

Flow

Season Lessons

| Flower Roberts

I appreciate the snow because I know I will miss its whiteness and brightness.

I celebrate in the white confetti falling and clinging to everything.

I listen to the rain with a glad heart.

I will miss its cool drops in the heat of August.

I wish the warmth of summer could stay in my bones through the chill of winter.

Each season has its lessons of gratefulness and faithfulness.

During winter, I have faith in spring.

I know that in the soggy, cold soil are future flowers.

Snowdrops, crocus, scilla, narcissus and tulips.

I know because I put them there. I planned for spring.

I believed in spring during a crisp and colorful fall many years ago.

Even in the cold, dark winter. I have faith in spring.

Everybody needs some spring in their heart.

IMG_1135

HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY

Flower

 

2 Much 4 Me

| Flower Roberts

I don’t have to go anywhere. The action comes to me.

Yesterday, there was a pine on our power line.

It was smoking and sparking.

Then a big truck came to cut it down.

In the meantime the river rose.

Then all this mess settled down and around.

While all that was going on, two birds (red and blue)

with too little brains and too much testosterone attacked the windows all day long.

(Hmmmm. What does this remind me of?)

There was so much action here, that I had to go to the city to find a little peace.

This country living is NOT for the faint of heart.

Flow

Winter Survival Tips

| Flower Roberts

I am having to pull out all the stops on this blah day.

The rain shows no signs of stopping.

I must stay inside. I must stay up.

I will be staying near my giant blooms of ‘Pink Surprise.’

IMG_1069

I will be drinking coffee out of my Barley cup.

IMG_1067

I will be writing book reviews on gardening books.

I will thinking about spring.

IMG_1077

That’s how a flower survives winter.

Flow