I went for a walk on the Boone Greenway and discovered a wetland created in the middle for teaching about nature and controlling the mosquito population.
This jewel was created in a low spot next to a stream to control runoff.
I recognized many wetland natives and spotted two deer living right in the midst of folks out walking.
This type of thing makes me very happy. The more people learn about nature the more they will appreciate and respect it.
Fall is a busy time for anyone who collects seeds and cuttings. It is also a time to prepare house plants to go back inside. I have been doing my fall tasks early this year. There have been busy years when no prep was done.
This Ric-Rac has not been trimmed in three years. It will get a good cut and cleaning today.
These traumatic falls involved my whole family hastily hauling in all house plants the afternoon or evening before an early freeze. This resulted in bringing in stow-aways such as worms, spiders, and lizards. The unprepared plants were too big and crowded. Air flow is essential to prevent diseases. Crowding results in deaths over the winter.
This epiphyllum is a tangled mess from neglect. Unhealthy parts will be removed.
House plants grow quickly while outside in the sun and rain. They get so large that they must be pruned and purged. This is also a good time to take a last batch of cuttings. Succulents and cacti pieces need to lay flat and callus over. I keep them separated and oriented in paper bags.
Hoyas need purging also, but do NOT cut the ends off. New blooms form there. Remove whole shoots and root them.
Purged pieces that are unhealthy are composted.
These pieces were damaged, diseased or deformed.
After several weeks of callusing, the pieces of plants may be potted and sparingly watered.
Cuttings from (L to R) Ric Rac cactus, Dragon Bones Cacti, Night Blooming Cereus, Epiphyllum(red), Pencil cactus, Hoyas
I am getting my supplies for mixing my rooting medium of potting soil, perlite and orchid mix for these cuttings. Good drainage is essential to prevent rotting instead of rooting.
I give away or sell these new plants once they are established.
It seems as though the garden celebrates its survival through the summer in September. I know if I can just keep plants alive until now that they will experience a second wind. My new Oxblood Lily has shown up to celebrate fall.
Oxblood Lily
I am glad that I am home to enjoy this last little splurge of garden flowers.
Thomas Edison dahlia
The blue ginger has finally settled in after years of struggle. It bloomed last year but is much healthier now.
Blue Ginger
The Life Saver plant, Huernia zebrina, is putting out many blooms and buds.
Life Saver Cactus
Even the Night Blooming Cereus is budding one last time.
The dahlias are blooming as well. I am glad they survived another summer of neglect.
Firepot dahlia
I guess all living things breathe a sigh of relief as cooler and wetter weather moves in. I am glad to be home for a bit.
I love my flowers for their colors and forms. Some of them remind me of other things that I love.
This hibiscus reminds me of the orange sherbet that my grandmother would serve. There was orange or light green and sometimes a mix of orange, green and yellow. It was very cold so I would swirl it around in my bowl to make it soft and creamy.
When I look at this hybridized orange hibiscus, I see a bowl of swirled sherbet.
Years ago I made a Key Lime pie for Rose. It is her favorite dessert. Of course I planted some seeds from those little limes. Now the tree is over six feet tall in its giant pot on wheels. It must be hauled inside for the winters.
The tree has made tiny white blooms during the summer for a few years now.
This year is the first time it made limes.
They are tiny even by Key Lime standards. I am hoping they will continue to get larger.
This is what we gardeners live for, our hard work coming to fruition at last.
floweralley 