Jewels of Opar Self-Sows

| Flower Roberts

I love this ‘Limon’ Jewels of Opar for many reasons.

Jewels of Opar ‘Limon’

The tiny pink blooms are lovely.

The seed pods really do look like glistening jewels in wiry stems.

The leaves have a bright hue that stands out among other greens.

Lastly, it self sows which is a plus if it grows where you want it.

Jewels of Opar

Seedlings do not like to be moved, so I usually pull up plants that are growing where I do not want them.

I am glad ‘Limon’ planted itself because I did not manage to sow most of my seeds this year. The Flower’s garden is in self-service mode most of the time.

Jewels of Opar ‘Limon’ is loved by tiny bees

The stems of flowers and pods/jewels are a beautiful addition in flower arrangements.

Flower loves the Jewels

Rain down ‘Shrooms up

| Flower Roberts

We have had many bouts of rain these past two weeks. My gardens have been watered.

I enjoy having the extra bit of time to mushroom hunt.

All these mushrooms are in my yard today.

I wish I knew all their names.

I love the various shapes and colors.

Notice that some have been nibbled on.

Enjoy the mosaic. Click on any you want to enlarge.

Training a Vine

| Flower Roberts

It takes lots of time to train a good vine.

It grabs what it touches and begins to climb and twine.

It must to be untangled when it grows in a knot.

A vine must be tended carefully and constantly as it grows.

This is this years’ new vine, Exotic Love Vine/ Ipomoea lobata.

Exotic Love Vine/ Ipomoea lobata

Its blooms are of lovely form and multiple colors.

The leaves have a fleur-de-lis shape.

I am pleased with this unusual annual.

FLOW

Devils in the Ground

| Flower Roberts

I hate to admit that it has taken me this long to select a suitable site and plant the three Devil’s Tongue plants that were gifted to me by my friends, the Popes.

I have moved them around in their pots to try out various locations. They seemed the most at home under the fig and beside a clump of Japanese Sacred Lilies.

I hope they will thrive in their new home.

Leaves emerging from Amorphophalus konjac stalk

Are wondering what configuration they are planted in? I bet you could guess. A triangle of course!

FLOW

Sunny Skies

| Flower Roberts

The sun flowers are brightening the skies no matter the weather.

These Mammoths are over seven feet tall.

Their faces stay covered with buzzing bees.

I planted these in the corner of my vegetable garden with butternut squash below.

Seeing a peeking sun is a good sign.

FLOWER

They Love the Rainy Nights

| Flower Roberts

We have had several good rains these past few days. The storm two nights ago was particularly long and drenching. It was also loud. No not the thunder…the local frogs and toads.

The cacophony of mating calls was constant and deafening. At one point an amphibian attached itself to the screen of my bedroom window(closed of course) which magnified his vocals. I laughed out loud.

Last night the chorus was totally silent. I guess the party had petered out. They did leave evidence of their activity in the koi pond.

I try to keep the fish well fed, so maybe a few eggs will be spared.

Some of the eggs have started to elongate.

A restless night is worth it to watch these develop into tadpoles…hopefully.

Amphibians love the rainy nights, but Mr. Flower does not.

FLOW

Flyer Meets Flower

| Flower Roberts

When flyer meets flower

Swallowtail butterfly on Stargazer lily

they both get a treat.

Bumble bee on blue lace cap Hydrangea

The flower makes some seeds

Swallowtail butterfly on Tiger lily ‘Splendens’ Double

and the flyer gets to eat.

Blue Crown Passion vine with unknown bug

FLOW

Teeny Tiny Nests

| Flower Roberts

Fluted Bird’s Nest fungi look like the nests of teeny tiny birds, but these ‘eggs’ are really spore cases called periodoles. The ‘nests’ are actually splash cups called a sporocarps.

The scientific name for these tiny, wondrous fungi is Cyathus striatus.

The immature nests are a lighter color and have a thin skin on top, so that the ‘eggs’ will not get launched out by a raindrop before they are ready.

Fluted Bird’s Nest / Cyathus striatus

The mature nests are darker brown with gray ‘eggs’ ready for takeoff during the next rain.

This last shot shows a mix of mature and immature nests. Nature is beautiful and magical.

Cyathus striatus

FLOW on Fungi

Walk Softly

| Flower Roberts

I must move carefully in the garden. There are friends underfoot everywhere.

Do you see it?

One of my most vivid memories as a young child is the murdering of a toad found in the sandbox at Mrs. Blythe’s nursery school. An older boy found the toad, tortured it and smashed it with a rock. He should have been sent straight to Jackson’s Training School or jail.

My sister and I took toad deaths very seriously. We had a graveyard in the woods where we buried the smashed flat, dried toads we found in the road. We would hold solemn funerals for the deceased. We also gave guided tours of our facilities to the neighbors, who I am sure were thoroughly amused.

So with this bit of childhood baggage, I fear the accidental death of one of my amphibious friends.

They are in every hole and hopping across every walkway.

When I burned weeds with my torch last night, I was on the lookout so as not to bar-b-que a little neighbor.

It’s hard to walk and work without worry when you have little friends underfoot.

FLOW