Waiting for the Last Bloom

| Flower Roberts

I have missed so much this summer. I was determined not to miss the last bloom of my precious Night Blooming Cereus. It is one of my magic plants. It reminds me there are still miracles.

I missed its first bloom several weeks ago. The second set of six bloomed Friday night. I was blessed with one last bud at the bottom of the plant. Tucked behind another spent bloom, I almost did not see it.

It turned up its neck yesterday to form a pipe-like shape. This signals it is ready to bloom.

I prepared the space for my late night visit by putting a lawn chair in the proper place. I set a flashlight by the door. Set out my camera and phone.

I quietly descended the stairs around 9:30PM. I thought that I might be a bit early, but it had all ready started to open.

I sat patiently in my chair listening to the insect orchestra accompanied by the quiet percussion of a light rain. Becoming hypnotized by the gentle swaying of this angel-white bloom in the breeze.

I was spending time with a living treasure that marks time by blooming only once each year.

I thought of the other years I had sat in the dark with this plant waiting for its miracle and wishing for other miracles. I am grateful for this green beacon in my garden. Making me pause and wait. Making me wonder. Holding me in its time and place.

There could not be a more beautiful flower.

FLOWER

A Message from a Spoon

| Flower Roberts

I am trying to make old things beautiful. I am a caregiver. I want everything at its best.

I believe the possessions of my family deserve respect. They chose these items. They bought them when money and resources were scarce. These are the things they saved and passed on. They have value in many forms, not just monetary value.

I learned this lesson from a strange, little, tarnished spoon.

There is a bowl of mismatched, silverplate, serving pieces at Mama’s house. I have been sorting and polishing all things silver and brass.

Among these utensils was a strange-shaped, blackened spoon. Its design matched nothing else in the bowl. It even had remnants of silver polish dried in its crevices.

Polishing such a faceted piece is hard work. Someone must have decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

I had to rub every bit of it multiple times to see its shine. It was like the sun emerging from a cloud.

That strange, little spoon is a gorgeous work of art. It has a P on the handle for Pearson, my great grandmother’s married name.

I spent a lot of time researching the mark of the maker; a lion on hind legs facing left, holding a snake, standing in a C.

It was made by Frank W. Smith Silver Co. of Gardner, Massachusetts. Its pattern name is Oak.

It is a treasure. I told my sister I fell in love with the spoon and must keep it. It spoke to me, you see.

Be careful while sorting and choosing what you keep. You may miss out on a tarnished treasure.

FLOW

Here but not Here

| Flower Roberts

I am home for a funeral. Another precious friend is gone. Another lonely widow is left.

Being here is important, but I am not really here.

My mind is at Mama’s house. It is slowly being dismantled.

Things are being moved and polished and researched and assessed.

We are finding little treasures and surprises. These are being set aside on the desk.

We want to be sure that our heirlooms do not get mixed in with things with no history.

I am washing Daddy’s clothes. I missed a pocket containing jelly beans and tissues and screws.

Our lives are being played backwards as we struggle to move forward.

I ask Mama about things we find, but she cannot remember much.

She was the family’s memory. Not any more.

I am here watering my neglected plants and doing laundry. No plants have died… yet.

It seems that there has been a strange shift in my values. I must be careful.

No stone will be left unturned. All drawers will be emptied. All shelves cleared. Closets opened.

I must be careful about what I choose to carry from my past into my future.

I will choose this load with caution, as I carry what is there to here.

Will home be here? Will I? Hard choices must be made. It is time to decide what should be kept.

FLOW

Favorite Bunny Photos

| Flower Roberts

I am staying at Mama’s now, so we added the internet so I can work from here.

I came across these photos of Barley and Charlotte while researching Daddy’s shop equipment.

I used some of these in a post entitled ‘Busy and Not Busy.’ These two bunnies kept me busy! They were a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.

Why was Barley covered in dirt?
It seems that Charlotte had decided to dig a hole beside him. Barley had decided to stay put.
She was usually moving and he was usually not moving.

Charlotte: Busy, Barley: Not Busy

I miss these two. Now, I am too busy to take care of any pets.

My garden is surviving without me thanks to my neighbor and family watering plants during these HOT days.

Mama is doing well. Sis and I are sorting 65 years of belongings. We are keeping the treasures that bring back the memories. I will post on this occasionally.

This is a tough part of life’s journey.

FLOW

Some Costa Rica Photos

| Flower Roberts

I will post on plants in future posts.

It was an amazing adventure.

The link to the place we stayed is below. It was wonderful.

https://www.thelanktuary.com/

Home

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/740793708702267436?source_impression_id=p3_1690163431_X0yvPSfCfhIXLCf6

FLOWER

A Head Full of Bees

| Flower Roberts

I love the scent of Cardoon blooms,but I must be careful as I sniff them. Each tufted head is full of bees.

They love wiggling around in the purple, mop-head blooms.

I spotted some beetles in the fray.

This plant has huge leaves, lovely buds and irresistible blooms.

FLOW

Pineapple Lilies

| Flower Roberts

If you want a group of plants that makes a quiet statement try some Pineapple Lilies.

There are several types of Eucomis, but this on thrives best in my North Carolina garden.

I purchased this Eucomis from one of my favorite places on Earth, Brookgreen Gardens. This South Carolina attraction has both sculpture and gardens. It is a must see. They host fabulous events.

https://www.brookgreen.org/

https://wordpress.com/post/floweralley.org/1380

FLOWER

Hibiscus in Custody

| Flower Roberts

Last year my four hibiscus plants were out in the yard around the fire bowl in big pots. I planned on doing the same this summer. The hungry deer had different ideas. One hibiscus plant died over the winter, so I cannot blame them for that. The other was brutally eaten beyond any chance of recovery. The surviving two had to be wheeled into protective custody inside the fence on hand trucks.

I guess they will spend the remainder of their lives behind bars.

The peach double seems to have recovered rather nicely.

The red had more limbs removed , but is finally blooming.

Hibiscus blooms are even lovely from the back.

I am glad I was home to rescue these lovely plants from our hungry herd.

FLOW