A Sun and a Star

| Flower Roberts

Several sunflowers were not decapitated by the deer.

I was happy to see their bright faces.

It seems that this Mammoth Sunflower is having a conversation with this Texas Star Hibiscus.

Both plants are over five feet tall.

My grandmother had this hibiscus at her home.

My mom passed along some seeds to me.

I was happy to see a sun and a star enjoying a summer afternoon.

Flower

When the Fear Leaves

| Flower Roberts

I sit quietly and watch the world.

I am in hiding. I am vulnerable. I have one wing.

My arm must be treated like a fragile newborn.

The pain causes fear, but it will leave and I will heal.

Then I will do the tasks that I can only tisk at now.

I will take clear photos with a heavy camera held steady.

I will write true words with a keyboard using ten fingers.

When the fear leaves, I will be me again.

I will be fearless.

But for now, I will silently heal with a hopeful heart.

One Wing

A Plant with a Promise (and a Problem)

| Flower Roberts

I spent money on an annual in July. Why would I?

Because it had variegated leaves and a promise.

‘Monarch Promise’ is its hybrid name. Asclepias curassavica is its scientific name.

I wait patiently for Monarch butterflies every summer.

I am lucky if I see one.

I have other types of milkweed, but this one is special. The bloom colors are also two-toned.

My big surprise was that the pods were also striped.

Asclepias ‘Monarch Promise’

I will be saving these seeds BUT NOT bringing the plant’s pot inside over the winter.

Sometimes it is okay to buy an annual in July.

Now you know why.

FLOW

UPDATE: One of my knowledgeable readers,Eliza Waters, sent me this link about THIS lovely plant causing problems for our precious Monarchs.

https://xerces.org/blog/tropical-milkweed-a-no-grow

I am in ZONE 7, the plant can overwinter in Zone 10. I will be tossing the plant and saving the seeds instead.

THANKS ELIZA

The Statues are Snitches

| Flower Roberts

It only takes one glance at them to know how I am doing.

The statues, Lily and Moss, are an accurate indicator of my well-being.

They are concrete canaries in the coal mine.

If the creeping fig gets ahead , it means I am behind.

Ficus pumila, creeping fig

It’s a cute little vine, but don’t turn your back on it.

SLOW FLOW

A Ripe Butternut

| Flower Roberts

I am still in a sling awaiting surgery, so Mr. Flower must do all the heavy lifting.

His chores now include picking the large produce.

I told him it was time to pick some of the butternut squash.

He asked how he would know which ones needed the picking and which the leaving.

I had never been asked such a question. I knew the answer but how to tell someone else was the puzzle.

I had to walk myself through the garden to get an answer.

When a butternut is ripe it looks pale-skin-pink like a rubber baby doll under the leaves.

Not green.

Not yellowish.

Only the pale skin colored are ripe.

Mercy! I am glad Mr. Flower is picking these. That whopper might blow out my other shoulder.

FLOW