It’s almost time for our first freeze here in North Carolina.
Many plants have been moved inside.
Now my job is to water and turn pots.
My workshop is a jungle. It is my inside garden now.
I enjoy weaving around among the flowers and greenery.
The colors are a comfort as the world outside turns brown.
The Schlumbergeras are starting to bloom.
I distribute these throughout the house.
Any bloom is a mood booster.
Flower
We rode up river to look at the damage caused by the swift and high water.
Many boathouses had been torn from their ramps.
There was a boat precariously perched on its lift.
Many piers suffered damage from high water and debris.
On the way back I spotted a boathouse that you may recognize from my last post.
The rogue boathouse was escorted back home by two towboats.
Water does whatever water wants.
FLOW
I live on what used to be the Catawba River.
A power company has built dams to form a series of lakes.
The water at my location still moves like a river and has not changed much in hundreds of years.
I can tell where the original river ran by how the water moves.
We are experiencing flooding right now.
The lake above us is over full. Water has risen and pulled out debris from its shores.
This debris is coming over the dam at the present time.
I have been sitting in my chair at the windows watching the water move.
I am in awe of its power to move heavy things.
Its flow is fast. Things are being propelled like a fast moving parade.
I love water. I respect it, but I do not fear it.
I will be here most of the morning.
Watching nature’s power.
Flow
I was fascinated by an unusual tree at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens.
Its name is Chinese Parasol Tree, Firmiana simplex.
It had several features that were of interest.
One was its green bark which had an unusual texture.
Also, its leaves were huge and complex.
It had a nice shape overall that made it attractive from a distance.
This may be a tree for all seasons.
Flower
What is it about water movement that mesmerizes?
I could have sat by the crown fountain all afternoon
listening to the sounds and watching the glistening spray.
As a science teacher, I referred to water as the miracle substance
because of its properties as a solvent and its three phases at natural temperatures.
There is more to water than physics can explain.
It’s movements and reflections are more art than science.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has a water show going on
even when the flowers are taking a break.
The many fountains, pools and canals deserve their own attention.
The afternoon sun gave the splashes plenty of sparkle.
FLOW
We visited Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, North Carolina today.
I was especially interested in a new artist installation that I had not seen.
‘The Magnificent Seven’ is by Patrick Dougherty.
This Stick Work piece was big enough for folks to walk through and play in.
I think it is a lovely addition to the garden.
(More to come water features, planters, a magical tree and anoles)
I went on another adventure today,
deep in the mountains, across several creeks, through three locked gates.
My uncle Jim lead us to this hidden gem of a hide-away.
I have dreamed of such a place,
by a stream
with a fire pit
and a porch.
An outhouse was never part of my dream, but this one is dreamy.
It even has art inside.
I do believe there was magic here. ( I mean in the area, not in the outhouse)
The person who built this and I should be friends.
We have dreams in common.
We may know some of the same fairies.
Flow
Zeta threw down a lot of limbs last week.
It is always interesting to look at what has taken up residence on the dead wood of a tree.
These life forms get heavy with rain, then the wind stresses the limb to the point that gravity wins.
Here is a limb full of life.
It is covered with fungi and lichen.
The fungi here is called a jelly.
The lichens are grouped by their form.
They can be crustose, foliose of fruticose depending on whether they appear crusty, leafy of fruity.
If you would like to learn more, use the link below.
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/lichens/gallery/index.shtml
Flow
All you need is a fire,
a full moon
and some fairies.
