tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290623372024-03-14T05:44:25.955-04:00A Study in ContrastsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.comBlogger454125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-64557421100431884982014-06-10T20:20:00.002-04:002014-06-10T20:20:29.460-04:00Bringing Out My Dead (But Maybe They're Not Dead?)<div>
Ever since I read Kristin Green's "<a href="http://trenchmanicure.com/2014/06/02/down-to-earth-bring-out-your-dead/" target="_blank">Down to earth - bring out your dead</a>" post, I've had Monty Python quotes running around in my head... which is never really a bad thing. It's funny that she went that route, because whenever I find new things sprouting in the yard, I've been calling out Steve: "Look! I'm not dead!" in my best Python impersonation.</div>
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There are quite a few plants that are still on the fence this year about their Dead/Not Dead status. These poor brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi' cuttings spent the winter sitting in a jar of water after I took them home in the fall: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two not dead, one dead, one maybe dead: Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi' cuttings</td></tr>
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All of the smallest cuttings bit the dust over those 5-6 months (!!!) and I potted up the rest in the urn this spring. The little guy on the left didn't make it, the leafy one in front is doing well, and the other two lost any leaves they have but have resprouted since... so there's still hope for them.</div>
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Definitely dead are the cannas that I tried to overwinter in a big pot in the garage. After weeks of looking at this...</div>
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... I dug around and found a few clumps of mushy corms. I'm not sure whether they were overwatered in the garage, or whether the couldn't take the bitter cold, but I will definitely go back to digging them out for dry basement storage next year.</div>
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One plant I'm REALLY not sure about is my 'Sky Pencil' Japanese holly. It actually looked okay for most of the winter, but come early spring, the leaves started to turn brown:</div>
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There are still a few green sprigs throughout the plant, though, and the base looks like this:</div>
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I think that the plant is still alive, because there are even some new green leaves at the very bottom. So the question will be: If the branches all (or mostly) died back, will I want to cut it back and wait it to get back to its current 4ft height... in another decade? Right now, I'm thinking no. So I'm still in wait-and-see mode.</div>
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Since I don't like to end posts on such a negative note, let's go through a short list of things I thought were dead at one point, but which aren't: 'Concord' and 'Himrod' grapes, and my 'Brown Turkey' fig that overwintered in the garage with the cannas. It took a while for the fig to leaf out... but here's proof that it's "Not dead yet!"</div>
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Did your garden have an easy winter this year? Or did you lose a few favorite plants, too?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-85336001313706052862014-05-16T22:34:00.000-04:002014-05-16T22:34:36.463-04:00GBBD May 2014: Latest. Spring. Ever. Or is it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been chilly and rainy for the past few days, and it really feels like the few nice spring days we've had were a total tease. Because of that, I originally titled this post "Latest. Spring. Ever." <div>
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And then I went back through May Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day posts of old... and discovered that the outside plants are actually NOT really that far behind. The purple allium that I posted last year are just starting to open, but everything else is pretty much on schedule. </div>
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Even the lipstick plant - whose flowers are resting amongst baby jades in the pot below it - is blooming right on cue:</div>
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Elsewhere in the house, the Meyer (Improved) Lemon keeps putting out fragrant blooms. And the crazy phaleanopsis orchid shows no sign of slowing, either. Check out all these buds:</div>
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Of course, the blooms are beautiful too. Especially backlit in the morning sun:</div>
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Back outside, the little species tulips are just a memory. But the fancy tulips - like "Hero" and "Queen of Night" - and all of the lamiums are starting their show:</div>
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I haven't seen blooms on my peach tree just yet, but both cherries have bloomed. (I only hope that this cold spell isn't bad enough to spoil my chances for fruit!) The red currant that I cut back in the fall is sulking, but the other current is more than making up for its partner's funk:</div>
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It may be hard to see the "flowers" in this picture... but I always take a close look when they're in bloom. I find these little clusters oddly charming:</div>
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And that pretty much covers everything that's going on here for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. (Except the 2 trays of annuals that I had to move into the house... but I'll save that depressing sight for another post!) For more of what's in bloom around the world, check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2014/05/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2014.html" target="_blank">Carol's May GBBD roundup</a> over at May Dreams Gardens.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-23011853031533467772014-04-10T23:04:00.000-04:002014-04-10T23:04:13.708-04:00April Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day: New BeginningsYes, I'm a little early for April Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day... but the coconut orchid is blooming, we have taxes to do this weekend, and I just know I'm not going to sneak in a post otherwise. (Hey, I'm usually late, so maybe this can make up for a month or two!)<div>
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I am particularly excited about the coconut orchid bloom (above) because this is the second time I've grown <i>Maxillaria tenuifolia</i> - and it's the first time I have overwintered it successfully! I'll be sharing my trick in a later post.</div>
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Phaleanopsis orchids are much easier to overwinter, but it's been particularly fun to see this one start blooming. I had to stake the flower stalk (which has been growing since December!) and the flowers seem all topsy-turvy as a result.</div>
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A tiny pot of peperomia, which I nestled on the window sill between orchids to give it some humidity - and so I would remember to water it - is also blooming. Perhaps to show its appreciation?</div>
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Speaking of tiny... assuming that all continues to go well, we will have another tiny thing to care for in September. Baby M is due around September 11th, and has kind of thrown a wrench (a very welcome wrench!) in our plans to put the house on the market and move this spring. :-) So I have decided to embrace the garden again for one more year... and to resurrect the garden blog as well.</div>
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For more of what's popping up this April in gardens around the world (and maybe outside of gardens, too!) check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/search/label/garden%20bloggers%20bloom%20day" target="_blank">Carol's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post</a> on April 15th.</div>
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<i>A quick note, to round out my GBBD: It's too early for anything to be blooming outside here... Lake Erie keeps us fairly cool in the springtime, and it's been a long winter! But I do have tulip and paperwhite foliage popping up in the yard, and my Meyer (Improved) Lemon is also blooming in the dining room.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-43973976435570590822013-10-17T20:00:00.006-04:002013-10-17T20:00:49.671-04:00From Traditional to Tropical: October Foliage Follow-Up<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #666666;">As always, visit <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=23603" target="_blank">Pam at Digging</a> for more of this month's fun foliage posts - and to share your own!</span></i></div>
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It's a mixed bag this month for the October Foliage Follow-up! I have everything from late season vegetables:<script type="text/javascript">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQC2z5ZNWmrk8rZ1uWNiXxJPkjQErSkJkq36xUxapczsJftolm2KHpvAUbBNoIGQDfhHJqWiZT4O19GJW0VnvZbW9rFe7cXgQdiXcmSl-V3mSUG3cIs5a11klMb_0tZuIeVKU/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQC2z5ZNWmrk8rZ1uWNiXxJPkjQErSkJkq36xUxapczsJftolm2KHpvAUbBNoIGQDfhHJqWiZT4O19GJW0VnvZbW9rFe7cXgQdiXcmSl-V3mSUG3cIs5a11klMb_0tZuIeVKU/s400/IMG_0134.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A golden variety of Swiss chard</td></tr>
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To forgotten-in-the-summertime plants that reveal themselves in themselves in fall's slanting sunshine:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP6c9gkns0hrU44UgmNq5axrMksDhVQ6MA6u0n248PmWGrxprnnBXVLOpQ-4V6uUAxLgxWHMTV1RN5mOR0m_1ltbeYSfVvuBqVLknixmSZ_dMdej9TNKJsGuiRQ6lKaOhgjFW/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvP6c9gkns0hrU44UgmNq5axrMksDhVQ6MA6u0n248PmWGrxprnnBXVLOpQ-4V6uUAxLgxWHMTV1RN5mOR0m_1ltbeYSfVvuBqVLknixmSZ_dMdej9TNKJsGuiRQ6lKaOhgjFW/s400/IMG_0099.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glossy-leaf European ginger</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOqitarw5ENZHlfS_1_43Ah2hRmCk7awh8Us0T8q1EbNOB-O4g5CLcPcDaXjktyxfzWIDctke75NeWp32C6OxlxlR6zi4sD71S0Ok0-DxyTszKY-pZULy8dY6LZry0QdqI_a1/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOqitarw5ENZHlfS_1_43Ah2hRmCk7awh8Us0T8q1EbNOB-O4g5CLcPcDaXjktyxfzWIDctke75NeWp32C6OxlxlR6zi4sD71S0Ok0-DxyTszKY-pZULy8dY6LZry0QdqI_a1/s400/IMG_0107.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grape hyacinth foliage and the last of the coleus</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JPRaWEDJ6xHQjwqgeZ3QYiFS6CAbhZVYTbZ3SXmMBPxd-vBMKG2xcFzPPdHz0U_vRPZ2Gc_Ba7ZFsT69Re7JVOm-QqUiS_7trMVceNdVivARCUU3VpIssk39CrSUHOu5z-kH/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JPRaWEDJ6xHQjwqgeZ3QYiFS6CAbhZVYTbZ3SXmMBPxd-vBMKG2xcFzPPdHz0U_vRPZ2Gc_Ba7ZFsT69Re7JVOm-QqUiS_7trMVceNdVivARCUU3VpIssk39CrSUHOu5z-kH/s400/IMG_0111.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Little Zebra' dwarf miscanthus</td></tr>
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To the hot foliage of tropicals (like this red cordyline/Ti plant) that are bright enough to put the tree leaves to shame:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhx3FY9IENiEyxD2KXz_9k-A51FYLChnN5q5Vs6599-FA04yd1RjidcSibYM1ks1bww3gj1KCtdeBXtt9QZzcIu-680uJ5atwhs6vTy3-tGUB4hTB43M5qchUpqH65CK5jcxJ/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhx3FY9IENiEyxD2KXz_9k-A51FYLChnN5q5Vs6599-FA04yd1RjidcSibYM1ks1bww3gj1KCtdeBXtt9QZzcIu-680uJ5atwhs6vTy3-tGUB4hTB43M5qchUpqH65CK5jcxJ/s400/IMG_0092.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Okay, I'm currently in love with this cordyline and I can't pick just one photo to share... so here are a few more:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAAvfpgYCrOqpx6_KL8bzN0aXS-8rZSTz0f17-aNewoHMeV0oGhMpMT_a3hpC5fL9vm_3l80y4wk66S5GaOAPx3FjSa6k456d0i4V0KAsA89NwPJ4J365xxPI_CckkJgLTTQl/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAAvfpgYCrOqpx6_KL8bzN0aXS-8rZSTz0f17-aNewoHMeV0oGhMpMT_a3hpC5fL9vm_3l80y4wk66S5GaOAPx3FjSa6k456d0i4V0KAsA89NwPJ4J365xxPI_CckkJgLTTQl/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjLovVfsZl7n5g5S6Tyh41HHczu1aVI7ZccuuFQjx0zpNwrpGJ_BWLApr12bmGdraEHq7XtWUDk8RdtIBPy3njZBan0jJrhQO4pMR8aaAbZ8KVKRVqiKqBToe05bGPVXIQWXf/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjLovVfsZl7n5g5S6Tyh41HHczu1aVI7ZccuuFQjx0zpNwrpGJ_BWLApr12bmGdraEHq7XtWUDk8RdtIBPy3njZBan0jJrhQO4pMR8aaAbZ8KVKRVqiKqBToe05bGPVXIQWXf/s400/IMG_0094.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHy8sEfhFx3xTu1TqfF76718V2qi4hOhk4e3QslqcqcCp_zDoeTwdBfpsgR7rEqexlCNmGemw9Z93fb_Xjh7ydj4UTVCUiFGtF5XAfTFnzuJH4M0cq0vtq-bsoPNiDJ8CLxdQ_/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHy8sEfhFx3xTu1TqfF76718V2qi4hOhk4e3QslqcqcCp_zDoeTwdBfpsgR7rEqexlCNmGemw9Z93fb_Xjh7ydj4UTVCUiFGtF5XAfTFnzuJH4M0cq0vtq-bsoPNiDJ8CLxdQ_/s400/IMG_0096.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
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Soon, the cordyline will have to come inside, joining the other tropicals and non-hardy succulents on a windowsill:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIyF1w6Cw9c-hZgy3e13WbkmqaDSTq1SQg2TvUA8pExNAFUAo1jrNzLgrzKA0l7uqPbDQOeTFNqavPgz_CrQISSHKdZ3oe5nbBWFZXcgCvRlN5wecGzOCeqO-1A3BcgZOjWYU/s1600/IMG_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIyF1w6Cw9c-hZgy3e13WbkmqaDSTq1SQg2TvUA8pExNAFUAo1jrNzLgrzKA0l7uqPbDQOeTFNqavPgz_CrQISSHKdZ3oe5nbBWFZXcgCvRlN5wecGzOCeqO-1A3BcgZOjWYU/s400/IMG_0081.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother-of-thousands, tillandias and orchids</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d-shiNwPbbbm_jFvV-0oaxm5EFB_rouLXSDDnjOPNQwLtPHZzKk6vMyfTCQMbpivXYoHKUmcW8UgcdTD4a5JwaRYCFduk3wXcqKjo55ePALBFZlANLbi6MOWD4L2Q6XYgwbO/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1d-shiNwPbbbm_jFvV-0oaxm5EFB_rouLXSDDnjOPNQwLtPHZzKk6vMyfTCQMbpivXYoHKUmcW8UgcdTD4a5JwaRYCFduk3wXcqKjo55ePALBFZlANLbi6MOWD4L2Q6XYgwbO/s400/IMG_0082.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up of one of the current crop of "thousands"</td></tr>
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The cordyline might get a few companions this winter. I have a dish of rescued tillandsias that are taking up too much valuable space on a pedestal... surely a few of them can be tucked into the cordyline branches?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruq2lPWlRHkoUh-B9sNJ5zf1aDbE9789L1HmthDs-lR-RTjqbxuy9cPfS5i0x40f-CpRlnVE-8mo7fwHSIq8JlQfA76h3Fc3MH0OMrlEw-m0OKV9qsuystMlw-XbK_nldEKoP/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruq2lPWlRHkoUh-B9sNJ5zf1aDbE9789L1HmthDs-lR-RTjqbxuy9cPfS5i0x40f-CpRlnVE-8mo7fwHSIq8JlQfA76h3Fc3MH0OMrlEw-m0OKV9qsuystMlw-XbK_nldEKoP/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The green air plants are rescues from a trashed tillandsia ball... but the fun red tillandsia is my souvenir from Naples this spring!</td></tr>
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Speaking of my winter plans, has anyone started moving in their plants yet this fall? If so, do you have any space-saving hints on combining and displaying them in your house? I--I mean, a friend of mine--could always use a little help in that department... ;-)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-65736417514524069482013-10-16T00:51:00.000-04:002013-10-16T00:51:01.215-04:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October 2013<div>
Most of what's blooming around here in October... was also blooming in September! I don't think that I got a good picture of my ivy geranium last month, so I decided to lead off with it this GBBD:</div>
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It's been blooming off and on all summer, in spite of my neglect and lack of feeding. The silvery foliage behind it is helichrysum (aka licorice vine) and they're both planted beneath a tree yucca of some kind. All too soon, I'm going to have to figure out what to do with all of them for the winter.</div>
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But for now, I'm enjoying the bright pop of color provided by the last of the honeysuckle vines against the blazingly blue fall skies:</div>
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The berries (above) are definitely something new. The vine is covered with them, and it's kind of fun to see the berries and flowers coexisting. Since the pyracantha (aka Firethorn) blooms just once in the springtime, there's no chance to see blooms and berries together on it. But the berries come in so thickly that there wouldn't be much room for the flowers anyway:</div>
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Their orange color reminds me that my blue-pot cannas are both still going strong. Here are a couple of nicely backlit (in the early morning light) shots of the orange one, blazing above silvery-blue 'Berggarten' sage:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0u8ILNi1EjAusIVkzMCphCDPo3QeclI1ezlFHXuqeLDLX-pjzZ0enfrHR1UsT3iIF9A9AXs5vU1a1zPLUEgmNlUkEkSpwqg3auP-eZajSEM4ZDzilB_OP2bA-Nnq-bBW-qewG/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0u8ILNi1EjAusIVkzMCphCDPo3QeclI1ezlFHXuqeLDLX-pjzZ0enfrHR1UsT3iIF9A9AXs5vU1a1zPLUEgmNlUkEkSpwqg3auP-eZajSEM4ZDzilB_OP2bA-Nnq-bBW-qewG/s400/IMG_0101.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03NhYmD7HDhLO_wafGEMWqJylilEHC4dBBHjE73ad26-oiCWxY9OHQQJ0B3mQiXWmEEuDvXWwy9wAre0SNI2VPv4ZT2fbQy5hcOTr6ATqrzTF6TGb4p0Jgkax-FR-gde7LH0A/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03NhYmD7HDhLO_wafGEMWqJylilEHC4dBBHjE73ad26-oiCWxY9OHQQJ0B3mQiXWmEEuDvXWwy9wAre0SNI2VPv4ZT2fbQy5hcOTr6ATqrzTF6TGb4p0Jgkax-FR-gde7LH0A/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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Last but not least, the waxy bloom cluster of a hoya. It started blooming outside and had to finish up its show indoors:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2I8r7AvY37z2G0_gowlWg99Y5oxc9CFYYJFlu48z_P_MhCwRI9qXuisXIcBb5HZXtkIylnzzieqDziRD2NXXBQKRuney_-SPVRBjOTMLULozVf4W68esvG6qP7axSAeYnRye/s1600/IMG_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2I8r7AvY37z2G0_gowlWg99Y5oxc9CFYYJFlu48z_P_MhCwRI9qXuisXIcBb5HZXtkIylnzzieqDziRD2NXXBQKRuney_-SPVRBjOTMLULozVf4W68esvG6qP7axSAeYnRye/s400/IMG_0078.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pretty soon, indoor blooms are the only ones I'll get to see. But in the meantime, I'm enjoying the last blast of fall!</div>
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<i>For more of what's in bloom around the world, check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/10/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-october-2013.html" target="_blank">Carol's October Garden Bloggers Bloom Day</a> post.</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-62820001741604227092013-09-17T23:32:00.002-04:002013-09-17T23:32:43.055-04:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2013<script type="text/javascript">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhCy6S-vz_cYPjQ_kggCk0q3dSnZ9HdXcNoOma5lDHEKt70x1nQtDDt6rcyrQznJK89g9LlywDCUH-lxoWxveBSzSNu-eKqaGz7uJpNBVQVWRp5eGPDrXmKyXJ6yfnSCXx1z8/s1600/Salvia+Guaranitica+and+Brown+Carex+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhCy6S-vz_cYPjQ_kggCk0q3dSnZ9HdXcNoOma5lDHEKt70x1nQtDDt6rcyrQznJK89g9LlywDCUH-lxoWxveBSzSNu-eKqaGz7uJpNBVQVWRp5eGPDrXmKyXJ6yfnSCXx1z8/s640/Salvia+Guaranitica+and+Brown+Carex+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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This is yet another better-late-than-never edition of Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. I do know that I say that most months. But since I didn't seem to manage to post anything for July and August, I think this is a step in the right direction... no?</div>
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Above you see a one of my few new blooms. It's a generic <i>salvia guaranitica</i> - NOT a named 'Black & Blue' plant like I usually buy. I think that I will try to stick with the unnamed version in the future, as this plant has greatly outperformed B&B in spite of a coolish summer when I would have expected it to do much less.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VllBjXzog7-rSE8twfUac-ZQyfaNhxB7GhyKEpyPQoqukLeJUXkLZYMY2x7wpTop_mVtZUaLWmexIXuM9LeHElqUDe9KvlgW8APjM2zZueEAhJuQp87uVcM3T4WuQ0riL4HY/s1600/Lonicera+Sempervirens+Closeup+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VllBjXzog7-rSE8twfUac-ZQyfaNhxB7GhyKEpyPQoqukLeJUXkLZYMY2x7wpTop_mVtZUaLWmexIXuM9LeHElqUDe9KvlgW8APjM2zZueEAhJuQp87uVcM3T4WuQ0riL4HY/s640/Lonicera+Sempervirens+Closeup+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqwn4OkFauhmlBdYIVkjkYx2gQSXvwb9tDLCDSjdAmBCa8FjTRP8VrqaWXKFmPgxay7cSMQujyfmwi88lijWnvdLpKSDIA3i6nqWsbsi-vqq-7D-WNQyGne-X5s2irjrUIj4z/s1600/Lonicera+Sempervirens+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqwn4OkFauhmlBdYIVkjkYx2gQSXvwb9tDLCDSjdAmBCa8FjTRP8VrqaWXKFmPgxay7cSMQujyfmwi88lijWnvdLpKSDIA3i6nqWsbsi-vqq-7D-WNQyGne-X5s2irjrUIj4z/s640/Lonicera+Sempervirens+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5eHDdVtfnHnH2qThnlO5MU_4Qhtr4v8r_OK4-YCPoL7nB84tsPnnCTYLXbFK3NiJyr54UhrOo-Xj-FZQaTy3u7OUy4aNd5eM95gzkEVqe2gnyA9dZjnfGhcgHR14YMbVBqAR/s1600/Native+Honeysuckle+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf5eHDdVtfnHnH2qThnlO5MU_4Qhtr4v8r_OK4-YCPoL7nB84tsPnnCTYLXbFK3NiJyr54UhrOo-Xj-FZQaTy3u7OUy4aNd5eM95gzkEVqe2gnyA9dZjnfGhcgHR14YMbVBqAR/s640/Native+Honeysuckle+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Yes, I'm still in love with the native (to the U.S., if not to here exactly) honeysuckle, lonicera sempervirens. (I blame the wonderful <a href="http://annieinaustin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Annie in Austin</a> for introducing me to this object of my obsession.) My hubby has been working on propagating it for me, so it can bring a baby of this plant with us whenever we go. </div>
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Instead of propagation, I'm just flat out going to dig up one of my 'Albury Purple' St. John's Wort bushes before we put the house on the market. There are two reasons for that: 1) It's patented, AND 2) The front yard is getting a little crowded anyway. I just love it when the yellow flowers and red berries appear together like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KnNG0wD-BqTq817jVdZt4cjKcFSITrsYX5r4k1qpTm_iLgDKkuqzcLTA48abyUyb2xldMqqhlIWVq1vQywhvuhyphenhyphenWrb60Xdx3gqObicqgBWY4Z002CpJtAT2cv7vaox_XPA83/s1600/Albury+Purple+Hypericum+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KnNG0wD-BqTq817jVdZt4cjKcFSITrsYX5r4k1qpTm_iLgDKkuqzcLTA48abyUyb2xldMqqhlIWVq1vQywhvuhyphenhyphenWrb60Xdx3gqObicqgBWY4Z002CpJtAT2cv7vaox_XPA83/s400/Albury+Purple+Hypericum+Sept2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Speaking of the crowded front yard, there are quite a few things in bloom there right now. Blue caryopteris and 'Hameln' pennisetum are vying for attention:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqDWGbC9TeIO3IhEVX0IBSZYnVHEBEHo788nFcjGQjnQRFgzABFgt0gDFAoe2E4_nbg1qNtLEkWqg9uN3PK4fhB-CpxjfK2v2pZDZkL_ulxMQPlA5Z4pTFw8dWg866-KQzcGS/s1600/Caryopteris+Hameln+Pennisetum+and+Golden+Yucca+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqDWGbC9TeIO3IhEVX0IBSZYnVHEBEHo788nFcjGQjnQRFgzABFgt0gDFAoe2E4_nbg1qNtLEkWqg9uN3PK4fhB-CpxjfK2v2pZDZkL_ulxMQPlA5Z4pTFw8dWg866-KQzcGS/s400/Caryopteris+Hameln+Pennisetum+and+Golden+Yucca+Sept2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR_l274ZfccEbTkjKuZVVgkd3mnIljWCRgHSQiV66qcWkamflsGCK21LlDH6yYu9Msz9vdyXkDyHy1ve1h-SHxCni-gC0SsG1I5v_DtzYGVGgx7bIQBFq_Om7gpN8VWCrVhYo/s1600/Caryopteris+Hameln+Pennisetum+Oakleaf+Hydrangea+and+Golden+Yucca+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR_l274ZfccEbTkjKuZVVgkd3mnIljWCRgHSQiV66qcWkamflsGCK21LlDH6yYu9Msz9vdyXkDyHy1ve1h-SHxCni-gC0SsG1I5v_DtzYGVGgx7bIQBFq_Om7gpN8VWCrVhYo/s640/Caryopteris+Hameln+Pennisetum+Oakleaf+Hydrangea+and+Golden+Yucca+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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And the whole mess of Japanese anemone (mostly hidden by the now-huge Japanese maple and random miscanthus) were almost finished blooming before I even noticed them:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwOjqkC1hWLSF7wJKKYUH9Ay9565NR1_HBI1wJYPidoqdsprrSqRwXfjeZvqnowcE1DRavS33ZsxypgcK5pKWAQLUKB0-YBexhCXeZkBLjZyRE6Zij6a1CABhrzYNt_z4SDjQ/s1600/Japanese+Anemones+and+Japanese+Maple+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwOjqkC1hWLSF7wJKKYUH9Ay9565NR1_HBI1wJYPidoqdsprrSqRwXfjeZvqnowcE1DRavS33ZsxypgcK5pKWAQLUKB0-YBexhCXeZkBLjZyRE6Zij6a1CABhrzYNt_z4SDjQ/s640/Japanese+Anemones+and+Japanese+Maple+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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The bright side of having to go to the neighbor's yard to take their picture? I realized that there IS a good side to this ill-planned hanging basket of fuchsia and philodendron. Check it out now because I am NEVER planting this fuchsia again: (Next year, I'm going back to 'Bonfire' begonias!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVECwzvyqCAXi72RJVNkdNMJlhPWZMRA88NlHX8p7zv-lOlF29tUQZQ3O74COk5kN95yIPgk1SPCX4oJPPloFdK_c7zVgSA5cN6k7XL8dsqrPgSuHlnf5mgMvsqYEWb2tI7VHm/s1600/Never+Again+Fuchsia+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVECwzvyqCAXi72RJVNkdNMJlhPWZMRA88NlHX8p7zv-lOlF29tUQZQ3O74COk5kN95yIPgk1SPCX4oJPPloFdK_c7zVgSA5cN6k7XL8dsqrPgSuHlnf5mgMvsqYEWb2tI7VHm/s640/Never+Again+Fuchsia+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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As I came back around to the front porch, I saw that the 'Sparkling Burgundy' eucomis, which sprawled alarmingly in August at the height of its bloom, had bravely thrown up another smaller bloomstalk:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUO6XkfCtGiAnOQkCh0EQ6NZIl4fpFcEBDRNxUA9384HXiB_C1OsL1vrd29tyMxjgLdmmexgRuthEAbLVXIyrefO8HaDo783Tm2ho_uji6-jdvKgeQhgpzBLKkSP87ta36_mA/s1600/Sparkling+Burgundy+Eucomis+on+the+Sprawl+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUO6XkfCtGiAnOQkCh0EQ6NZIl4fpFcEBDRNxUA9384HXiB_C1OsL1vrd29tyMxjgLdmmexgRuthEAbLVXIyrefO8HaDo783Tm2ho_uji6-jdvKgeQhgpzBLKkSP87ta36_mA/s640/Sparkling+Burgundy+Eucomis+on+the+Sprawl+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Inside, one of Steve's sensitive plants (<i>mimosa pudica</i>) is in bloom. Strangely, the ones that went outside never flowered at all this year. Just the inside plants:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz2AT06xgrZKxexDJSw5JPxrYHSioLtkO_1RWgWYk8fF7qpKJIn2eSWgIMgHeyE9tnA2UzyjToc3ScD8H8eXcbcJCxCUI_GeYefWMXPbb5nWnQhhniFPc2H4BQMT8p86UDHHv/s1600/Mimosa+Flower+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz2AT06xgrZKxexDJSw5JPxrYHSioLtkO_1RWgWYk8fF7qpKJIn2eSWgIMgHeyE9tnA2UzyjToc3ScD8H8eXcbcJCxCUI_GeYefWMXPbb5nWnQhhniFPc2H4BQMT8p86UDHHv/s400/Mimosa+Flower+Sept2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the back yard, the 'Hopi Red Dye' amaranth, recently cut back orange butterfly weed, and Brazilian verbena are all in bloom. But the highlight of the garden right now is this hot dwarf canna at the edge of the blue pot. I picked it out for its purplish leaves (now looking a little worse for the wear) but love these in-your-face blooms next to the silver sage. If you look closely, you can see streaks of orange on the insides of these red flowers:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqNg4clDApmTARp0I8bSViOz-v6Iv-Hi4KpNYWxpjtOvfmDiDqvIudE3ZmCep1bEGNhXozOEV734RO9ECs6TdviTMw4In_2MZT3vbxRkbn2ccJ1oOqiCHpgqKr20pBZu4x0ZM/s1600/NoID+Dwarf+Canna+Sept2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqNg4clDApmTARp0I8bSViOz-v6Iv-Hi4KpNYWxpjtOvfmDiDqvIudE3ZmCep1bEGNhXozOEV734RO9ECs6TdviTMw4In_2MZT3vbxRkbn2ccJ1oOqiCHpgqKr20pBZu4x0ZM/s640/NoID+Dwarf+Canna+Sept2013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Outside of the highlights above, other September bloomers include 'Matrona' sedum, 'Rotstrahlbusch' panicum, 'Sioux Blue' sorghastrum nutens, 'Whiskey' wax begonias, 'Hab Gray' sedum, 'Red Rocks' penstemon, 'Purple Dragon' lamium, and a few hostas that I have yet to hack.</div>
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For more of what's in bloom around the world, check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/09/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-september-2013.html" target="_blank">Carol's September 2013 Bloom Day Post as May Dreams Gardens</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-51641167946277367362013-07-05T00:08:00.005-04:002013-07-05T00:16:11.617-04:00Early July Garden Notes: Weedy Orchids, Burnt Fig Leaves & More<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC1W_P4COpdGDAsZhB_01qNefrgznfBNActpMf4-P3iAtbpOpW-NO5gQ9JzbhJ8E_6Xr25pXz_Zg5VL0iDTfSSuSMGh_7XW3CsS_sil8iMtu1r_amy8WN6LLmjbVLqR6swFCG/s1600/Fourth+of+July+2013+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC1W_P4COpdGDAsZhB_01qNefrgznfBNActpMf4-P3iAtbpOpW-NO5gQ9JzbhJ8E_6Xr25pXz_Zg5VL0iDTfSSuSMGh_7XW3CsS_sil8iMtu1r_amy8WN6LLmjbVLqR6swFCG/s640/Fourth+of+July+2013+015.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourth of July fireworks: Red Asiatic lily (name unknown) blooming among the amaranth.</td></tr>
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Sometimes I long for just one good old childhood summer. Remember those long stretches of sunshine, bike rides, and building "dirtbike" trails in the woods behind the neighbor's house? Now that summers have (d)evolved into 40 hour work weeks, cleaning, grocery shopping and other adult tasks, it feels like it's July before you can even blink.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkNu0UInrz6pji0gvHcO4Y_GQ79QpEDvjkrEDQ6_hHbhmDNAStMe9T8hEvXBINPKJ3GubwepVboVibnVTv1efklxgG9H8Bq9_RtkSwBC-dZt-oS-iK7kXw9h_296r6-p6xCzy/s1600/Fourth+of+July+2013+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkNu0UInrz6pji0gvHcO4Y_GQ79QpEDvjkrEDQ6_hHbhmDNAStMe9T8hEvXBINPKJ3GubwepVboVibnVTv1efklxgG9H8Bq9_RtkSwBC-dZt-oS-iK7kXw9h_296r6-p6xCzy/s400/Fourth+of+July+2013+007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wild (as in, not yet tamed) back garden.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Since the garden has been <strike>feeling</strike> looking pretty neglected, we decided to forego cookouts and play in the yard today. We filled up ELEVEN of those Costco yard bags, so you know we got a lot done. </div>
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<div>
We limbed up the cherry tree, created a proper wood pile, transplanted a couple of tomatoes, and did a TON of weeding. Amongst the casualties? More of the <a href="http://blackswampgirl.blogspot.com/2008/07/weedy-orchid.html" target="_blank">weedy orchid</a> that I first wrote about a few years back:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievAED1VEr-50kbG6Dp44sxJ31vjsl3QrFj_TFiBc3Gc34ca5mziRKW4C0j4egFgT0_QhbtS-CuVXAlIzXqnAskPb8_txBjAdolr1TPcwO56Ty16LKsIb_nGL5QulXUe635EDW/s1600/Fourth+of+July+2013+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievAED1VEr-50kbG6Dp44sxJ31vjsl3QrFj_TFiBc3Gc34ca5mziRKW4C0j4egFgT0_QhbtS-CuVXAlIzXqnAskPb8_txBjAdolr1TPcwO56Ty16LKsIb_nGL5QulXUe635EDW/s640/Fourth+of+July+2013+005.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Epipactis helleborine, naturalized here since the late 1800's.</td></tr>
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<div>
I also finally clipped off a few of the sunburned/wind burned fig leaves that looked the worst. I had thought I was so careful this year when I brought them outside... but the leaves say otherwise:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4THUk-oGk_ylTsz7Jc8o6RJImFofLcyzChhFz7J_WKEyABvqFIi1F9OAfuM2agngbaGPXNScwgT3qeSrMNU_5M77C-RnzHovoV1LOjzR2zi2YetVCieM_oj19NQ5Z4w-_Fsb/s1600/Fourth+of+July+2013+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4THUk-oGk_ylTsz7Jc8o6RJImFofLcyzChhFz7J_WKEyABvqFIi1F9OAfuM2agngbaGPXNScwgT3qeSrMNU_5M77C-RnzHovoV1LOjzR2zi2YetVCieM_oj19NQ5Z4w-_Fsb/s640/Fourth+of+July+2013+009.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is one of the ones I kept... you can imagine how awful the others were!</td></tr>
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<div>
On the bright side, in spite of all the sun damage I somehow still have baby figs. And in spite of not cleaning up the broken-birdbath-turned-succulent-planter yet this year... </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbewRJ0E1KAmINvqYYXIJe_3k4Pqaxxh-KTmzWAOqqgbC1KgkluefwPkBNbMqXBL76HIcQMJLKWDQ11F_mhheud_bRLGpe8_VsWT0mjr5hOPI0r7V4yM-6ORK4LZkmOWtQN32k/s1600/Fourth+of+July+2013+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbewRJ0E1KAmINvqYYXIJe_3k4Pqaxxh-KTmzWAOqqgbC1KgkluefwPkBNbMqXBL76HIcQMJLKWDQ11F_mhheud_bRLGpe8_VsWT0mjr5hOPI0r7V4yM-6ORK4LZkmOWtQN32k/s640/Fourth+of+July+2013+003.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of dead leaves strewn throughout this planter, no?</td></tr>
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<div>
... I'm anticipating a bloom on a succulent that has never flowered for me before!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd73Td_ygKzn0IPE8UF0w5DZZCI1qW7JkwywehfbiGXxjQ4ZpMJcC2-HVOL7qcD4TIp0X8GtxsIuZ79HAQ2HDRt2fldlFNw8UZUb8_iWPSqxmhONl_QVw8TB2xTWIfcbEnWuxy/s1600/Fourth+of+July+2013+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd73Td_ygKzn0IPE8UF0w5DZZCI1qW7JkwywehfbiGXxjQ4ZpMJcC2-HVOL7qcD4TIp0X8GtxsIuZ79HAQ2HDRt2fldlFNw8UZUb8_iWPSqxmhONl_QVw8TB2xTWIfcbEnWuxy/s400/Fourth+of+July+2013+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This future crassula perfoliata bloom looks cute and fuzzy in bud!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
And with that, I'm going to hit a hot shower before I roll into bed... hopefully, that will help keep some of the aches away so I can get up on time! (Yet another thing we never had to worry about as kids... ;-)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">"What a man needs in gardening is a cast-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">iron back, with a hinge</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"> in it."</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">- Charles Dudley Warner</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-42591079338335062022013-06-20T18:29:00.003-04:002013-06-20T18:29:59.398-04:00Good Work If You Can Get It...I was thoroughly amused to find this solicitation taped to my front door today:<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-7916560-1");
pageTracker._trackPageview();
} catch(err) {}</script>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCka58GPoY_0kfI3qlGbCXiEA8HeWkl5OZbj6yt5C1Nt2FSboj51euZQ9jFMUl26zmu6xZ7ONz-ICol4kHPxEzdf-vQGZpnk63TsUzJiooSR2qzE5eQe_UiqjDRrnBAppZ5hg/s1600/Haha+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCka58GPoY_0kfI3qlGbCXiEA8HeWkl5OZbj6yt5C1Nt2FSboj51euZQ9jFMUl26zmu6xZ7ONz-ICol4kHPxEzdf-vQGZpnk63TsUzJiooSR2qzE5eQe_UiqjDRrnBAppZ5hg/s640/Haha+001.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse my finger - it's hiding their contact information.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I have a tiny urban hellstrip (tree lawn) and a little square (around 10 x 20 ft in size) of lawn in the backyard. Steve and I figure that at their quoted price, they would be making around $2.50 per minute!</div>
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<div>
<i>Note: I appreciate that people who are enthusiastic about getting their business name out there. But, really... </i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-31261854442111490322013-06-18T23:58:00.000-04:002013-06-18T23:58:00.376-04:00A Winning Combo: Bloom Day + Foliage Follow-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1pdZ8gMpH6hIm6UcP_tZXeAXuKOgdrrNoHT9f9vORN0xBkWh7HECh2JIlPVwiILHYHQe5sfgiYLAxvIYAzkVu-mXww3j1OQoV2dBRRLaXjEmuNXDKfJQrgnsuLvZi0auG4Qb/s1600/June+GBBD+2013+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1pdZ8gMpH6hIm6UcP_tZXeAXuKOgdrrNoHT9f9vORN0xBkWh7HECh2JIlPVwiILHYHQe5sfgiYLAxvIYAzkVu-mXww3j1OQoV2dBRRLaXjEmuNXDKfJQrgnsuLvZi0auG4Qb/s400/June+GBBD+2013+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /><div>
<div>
I do love my combinations... but what's "winning" about these is that I can use them for both Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-up! Since I'm late on both counts, these front yard garden pics are definitely a win in my book.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcHikR3-FwQcJt8Q5y9WBfgcxmZhGiWEbtfFM64_YqlB71Egfpy0fsGt8rLJzZvH_WS3se4hBufvcHRXW8yDvsdiiBF49GH0J3IogJvFY7UtSpdA1kuK582ywTaRIBjA1ClSp/s1600/June+GBBD+2013+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcHikR3-FwQcJt8Q5y9WBfgcxmZhGiWEbtfFM64_YqlB71Egfpy0fsGt8rLJzZvH_WS3se4hBufvcHRXW8yDvsdiiBF49GH0J3IogJvFY7UtSpdA1kuK582ywTaRIBjA1ClSp/s640/June+GBBD+2013+005.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearly, I am incapable of taking a straight picture in my front yard. Oops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Above you see my view when I pull into the driveway... now that I usually get the second spot. 'Red Rocks' penstemon, the short but flower-covered lemon thyme, the last fragrant sea kale blooms, and the first white torches of the oakleaf hydrangea. The faded purple ninebark blooms are my favorite of their many stages--a rich crimson pink.<br /><br /> Below, the view from the sidewalk:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTqNxn-gv6a-S8pBoS2AalHTjMZk2ehvI6xJTxXxptyxSySWgua2aQlWkFcWi3tQTuvEL9iWK1so35q1qndFOtt7FEJDriUVZmQ_LtAVIx12dbhnOssVvZyNcI6VkaNY6OWlg/s1600/June+GBBD+2013+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTqNxn-gv6a-S8pBoS2AalHTjMZk2ehvI6xJTxXxptyxSySWgua2aQlWkFcWi3tQTuvEL9iWK1so35q1qndFOtt7FEJDriUVZmQ_LtAVIx12dbhnOssVvZyNcI6VkaNY6OWlg/s640/June+GBBD+2013+007.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oakleaf hydrangea blooms dominate here, but you can also see the first few amsonia blooms in the shade at left. <br />I ADORE the bright spiky yucca leaves... the flowers will be a bonus.</td></tr>
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<div>
A close-up of the penstemon, and the fat hens-and-chicks at its feet:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8oWSqtEeQ3YIsm33SMCPc-5vDG7mViv7pTtKwyboV5y8yY-N2lBfJg5ZUnKCzQxHm-jeOJwjdJSijZIsaDM0VZ6AyOSkKzSwxev7bhlkjNo27w28lFcM9elwyDe5L6UKdtYC/s1600/June+GBBD+2013+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8oWSqtEeQ3YIsm33SMCPc-5vDG7mViv7pTtKwyboV5y8yY-N2lBfJg5ZUnKCzQxHm-jeOJwjdJSijZIsaDM0VZ6AyOSkKzSwxev7bhlkjNo27w28lFcM9elwyDe5L6UKdtYC/s640/June+GBBD+2013+008.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, you got me. I just wanted to show that stipa/nassella tenuissima again. <br />(The beauty and gras of that grass just floors me.)</td></tr>
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Another poorly disguised shot of the stipa--but, really I was trying to show the bright-hot green in the light blue sea kale leaves. These photos look a little burned out, but the colors really do look this bright in real life, so I didn't bother to correct them at all:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOX0PI3GLMEOzya36M6mDDTFaf_ThmQvyvDsPZ27tdNwIEVLq845zZlnNPjAAI_8snfmbKgV-u_eQn00FPaFbIblu_C5FacJ6Y-_tIDd7wVVT0B4nSYY4IrjsEpE_yaeGv7Ke/s1600/June+GBBD+2013+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOX0PI3GLMEOzya36M6mDDTFaf_ThmQvyvDsPZ27tdNwIEVLq845zZlnNPjAAI_8snfmbKgV-u_eQn00FPaFbIblu_C5FacJ6Y-_tIDd7wVVT0B4nSYY4IrjsEpE_yaeGv7Ke/s640/June+GBBD+2013+009.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Shaded from the light, the burgundy eucomis leaves, peachy-wine heuchera leaves and brown carex buchanii add a calming, anchoring effect:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCVl0GQQaYsmj4Pc4lqCFY1eKMqD8uMv6uDqJVOWZ1zHdFgRQmSC3crsYt3hzbgYVvWV8bKmH6dal5cPQZFfyFK7bqeD2ihFTWygvRh6XYIYRqpnMn3cRiMjNBKA8sk4jDmnE/s1600/June+GBBD+2013+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCVl0GQQaYsmj4Pc4lqCFY1eKMqD8uMv6uDqJVOWZ1zHdFgRQmSC3crsYt3hzbgYVvWV8bKmH6dal5cPQZFfyFK7bqeD2ihFTWygvRh6XYIYRqpnMn3cRiMjNBKA8sk4jDmnE/s640/June+GBBD+2013+011.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And that's all I've got for now. For more flowers, visit <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/06/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-june-2013.html" target="_blank">Carol's June 2013 Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day</a> post. For more fantastic foliage, check out <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=22099" target="_blank">Pam's Potted Plants and Stripey Foliage</a> post--and click through the comment links.</div>
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<div>
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<div>
What else is blooming in the garden right now:</div>
<div>
'Vodka' wax begonias, golden creeping jenny, salvia lyrata, 'Caradonna' salvia, verbena bonariensis, lonicera sempervirens, 'Zweiweltenkind' goatsbeard, mom's passalong pink lamium, 'Purple Dragon' lamium, red snapdragons</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-31520597591815188092013-06-11T20:57:00.001-04:002013-06-11T20:57:53.127-04:00Alternative Harvest: When to Cut Your CherriesYes, you read that right. To harvest my first tart cherries of the year, I used a novel tool:<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-7916560-1");
pageTracker._trackPageview();
} catch(err) {}</script>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-Bt6kB8UcXCa9heKEEn9iH9EOB3H7BeIQH7im1oCvuVI4e7qnBNjCn8_q8r0P8CGa_2KnB0k_gCpbUQIE-e-jaDrgwJdS7u8QSHnMll3HiffsjqGlGMVHKTgdHjYbkSSERyL/s1600/June+Cherries+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-Bt6kB8UcXCa9heKEEn9iH9EOB3H7BeIQH7im1oCvuVI4e7qnBNjCn8_q8r0P8CGa_2KnB0k_gCpbUQIE-e-jaDrgwJdS7u8QSHnMll3HiffsjqGlGMVHKTgdHjYbkSSERyL/s400/June+Cherries+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div>
When would you want to use a garden scissors to harvest your cherries? Well, there are actually a few drawbacks to its use, so I would really only recommend it when you have to deal with this: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGymtUfZc_atbSdDJv-WkKrGh0F3BPGk-Y1_ibT6PFZbywQADG_HB5I0k2t6jJwuw5qquU4yi-1NBeu3T4FNgO1rU36SSOLoCWrd2m7JKFZ5g8wu_8W52JnntRYSCM8yZnynHR/s1600/June+Cherries+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGymtUfZc_atbSdDJv-WkKrGh0F3BPGk-Y1_ibT6PFZbywQADG_HB5I0k2t6jJwuw5qquU4yi-1NBeu3T4FNgO1rU36SSOLoCWrd2m7JKFZ5g8wu_8W52JnntRYSCM8yZnynHR/s400/June+Cherries+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<i>Look closely, top center. There's a telltale tangle of twigs...</i></h3>
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</tbody></table>
<div>
Mama Robin (I think) is hanging out in the nest that you can barely see above, while Papa Robin visits intermittently. He will "yell" at me incessantly - usually from the safety of a nearby wire - if I'm hanging out near the tree when he arrives, but she prefers to ignore me as long as I don't get too close. Or shake the tree.</div>
<div>
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<div>
That last thing is the reason for the scissors. When I harvested the first few cherries, she rose up out of the nest and squawked at me in a high-pitched tone that I think made me just as distressed as she seemed to be. I beat a quick and hasty retreat.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today I grabbed the scissors and took them outside with me, thinking that I might be able to at least get a handful or so of cherries before I upset Mama. Surprisingly, she didn't seem to care <i>one bit</i> about my presence, just so long as I was cutting instead of pulling and rustling. So I'm thinking that I will need to continue my harvesting-with-scissors approach for the rest of this season. It seems like a win-win to me!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-18759176310901539792013-05-29T18:37:00.004-04:002013-05-29T18:37:29.076-04:00(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Thai Pink Lipstick Plant<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoPvNiuDt3PjERLlTKlTTm4lSabVRcKgLIGRBsdNj2JZmUZJMfXdlnisk7Kj6x16m2Y1VRhFQAjRTxgoVZnj18t6hnkcHVdujNwzqNW45t-miBBlVEQjQIVk5Qf5iylDWhpPu/s1600/May+29+2013+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoPvNiuDt3PjERLlTKlTTm4lSabVRcKgLIGRBsdNj2JZmUZJMfXdlnisk7Kj6x16m2Y1VRhFQAjRTxgoVZnj18t6hnkcHVdujNwzqNW45t-miBBlVEQjQIVk5Qf5iylDWhpPu/s640/May+29+2013+003.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aeschynanthus 'Thai Pink'</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I managed to capture the bloom (ridiculously outsized compared to the foliage) before it faded, as promised... but only because <a href="http://greenbowgardens.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Greenbow Lisa</a> expressed some faith in me. I couldn't let her down!</div>
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I love my front yard garden. I know that it's not good for house resale to have so much garden, and I also know that when we do finally move the person who buys the house will likely get rid of most if not all of the plants here. But when I come home, seeing this garden makes me happy:</div>
<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHOXbYqistEQslWnVwpgSUk18S32z7BDTK4L2qI5hZgEebc9dU7JDlr0s_Rf7RI7060XtTjUE0XoAK7m6hX08elDQtYkiiTUqu36jo4OgbHKB1aQNIK6zIc8HtMMWvPdgCgng/s1600/May+2013+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHOXbYqistEQslWnVwpgSUk18S32z7BDTK4L2qI5hZgEebc9dU7JDlr0s_Rf7RI7060XtTjUE0XoAK7m6hX08elDQtYkiiTUqu36jo4OgbHKB1aQNIK6zIc8HtMMWvPdgCgng/s640/May+2013+012.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Excuse the slant. I clearly had trouble standing up straight and taking a picture on this day!)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div>
With this front yard garden, I was aiming for 3 things:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Year-round interest through texture, form and color contrasts.</li>
<li>A drought tolerant, low-maintenance garden.</li>
<li>Taking advantage of the backlighting that I would get every evening as the sun set.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
I am very happy to say that I mostly managed to hit on all three counts. Here are some detail shots:</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RCvjPPw1GpjeM0lphXXdqe9DsvMHrMcJWeo7Bw4pcAEsKCwoFvjXIOYAsedosRB2rKZk3M91TCHrJnj2hZoYuSxhiQsQ51fbWCJg3HctLmCIoXyHU8rTUisXF0dOIjoMl17E/s1600/May+2013+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RCvjPPw1GpjeM0lphXXdqe9DsvMHrMcJWeo7Bw4pcAEsKCwoFvjXIOYAsedosRB2rKZk3M91TCHrJnj2hZoYuSxhiQsQ51fbWCJg3HctLmCIoXyHU8rTUisXF0dOIjoMl17E/s400/May+2013+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese maple. Its fiery burn eludes the camera, unfortunately.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6d712leoF2_6Vm3DX37O6_LUQtK0nD3WYfynljv7ijfV1yq5XQsGzFls0ZWpVcsGRXK5kIFold9eRVQH141EVOFL2LDREZIWL7w3IWN4151uF5bnMkpPwvGNEuukmWKdVqU5/s1600/May+2013+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6d712leoF2_6Vm3DX37O6_LUQtK0nD3WYfynljv7ijfV1yq5XQsGzFls0ZWpVcsGRXK5kIFold9eRVQH141EVOFL2LDREZIWL7w3IWN4151uF5bnMkpPwvGNEuukmWKdVqU5/s640/May+2013+010.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexican feathergrass and sea kale is a favorite frothy combo.<br />I like to think that the oakleaf hydrangea grounds them a little.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkBNsh9X1pSCgtyshK7QWMCTVBpb5GWPXRJjniy8fa2IGoaCwgPkfMYIdPF4rK9ilMIeULpz_kvFLDXUV3E56JmLQMRYjRNSJJHiM8RpHUn81qGwddzA9-ckqHnEn1rzWg1D2/s1600/May+2013+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkBNsh9X1pSCgtyshK7QWMCTVBpb5GWPXRJjniy8fa2IGoaCwgPkfMYIdPF4rK9ilMIeULpz_kvFLDXUV3E56JmLQMRYjRNSJJHiM8RpHUn81qGwddzA9-ckqHnEn1rzWg1D2/s640/May+2013+011.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma's variegated iris, brown carex, 'Bressignham Ruby' bergenia, heucheras, sage and grasses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nUf8yml0sJ10qUC9x8cQGRTtvhaXLO1dhQ_MvKjpw_uyQvpcSvP9H-SjsJJX63d8bKp0ka5pNzgjfBjxpdbRWhT88vBN2QTz-Zmm-xnkineq6GS8Qeu9q1f_WTnRu73qXjUd/s1600/May+2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nUf8yml0sJ10qUC9x8cQGRTtvhaXLO1dhQ_MvKjpw_uyQvpcSvP9H-SjsJJX63d8bKp0ka5pNzgjfBjxpdbRWhT88vBN2QTz-Zmm-xnkineq6GS8Qeu9q1f_WTnRu73qXjUd/s400/May+2013+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view as I exit my car.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The front yard isn't the only place with good foliage interest, though. Here are a few shots from the backyard:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGe11PdXLPEEDsy2-gR2hy6dBPwzgU8ien22y8xLB7HTKvNV70U4TvduWNLlrXHSV5ebVa5O9fWc1MMzOAeLbLbdXmIiOH4d8MSv0FsnUoW2raaSiKdvU0aEMI2Vg93n-Eol4/s1600/May+2013+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGe11PdXLPEEDsy2-gR2hy6dBPwzgU8ien22y8xLB7HTKvNV70U4TvduWNLlrXHSV5ebVa5O9fWc1MMzOAeLbLbdXmIiOH4d8MSv0FsnUoW2raaSiKdvU0aEMI2Vg93n-Eol4/s640/May+2013+024.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heucheras might be my favorite plant to view backlit.<br />I thought the little-leaf-shadow inside the blazing bigger leaf was cool here..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfEP1AQq5MpejhPiPGRGI2A7qcOAQQnWoUclfLaWQXtZeJVHURk1-SFW25V1MoS2HisOny8Q-8CF_mw9Dbtimu36zUboGduHIciwjUt0ByHSlDrbbdRyU6YGYV-Qr_b2l6ZcK/s1600/May+2013+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfEP1AQq5MpejhPiPGRGI2A7qcOAQQnWoUclfLaWQXtZeJVHURk1-SFW25V1MoS2HisOny8Q-8CF_mw9Dbtimu36zUboGduHIciwjUt0ByHSlDrbbdRyU6YGYV-Qr_b2l6ZcK/s640/May+2013+025.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another heuchera, this one nestled at the foot of a just-emerged chocolate eupatorium.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D1g8G83V_hvNRZlrIQZdnok013oQiB09i2x4EOOU_HjvNBcltCO-RWN3-L1LqyTbFejgFazdqPCRW5h94IEmWttRprkEwQrRI5DTgeghJpZHGafJ6hiISqKmn3MJc7HDb94b/s1600/May+2013+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D1g8G83V_hvNRZlrIQZdnok013oQiB09i2x4EOOU_HjvNBcltCO-RWN3-L1LqyTbFejgFazdqPCRW5h94IEmWttRprkEwQrRI5DTgeghJpZHGafJ6hiISqKmn3MJc7HDb94b/s640/May+2013+027.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My newly planted urn, featuring a softleaf yucca in the center. (You can see it hanging down from the top of the frame.)<br />Ivy geraniums, heucheras (dug up from the garden), and white licorice plant ring the outside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That's probably enough for this month's foliage post! For more foliage links, visit <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=21753" target="_blank">Pam's May Foliage Follow Up</a> post and check out the comments. :-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfBGVLzJnBrhBW7FEe2IrhtIEpfoSDyR2d8JYeKtZ0zkCT4cNsexATQxvRtgmq9OYahMUELoghexqbWmYRL1aVZficw_62Wlr8dP-fgrNACLuQjEnzAcqrljcQ2WAKU5W-Kcy/s1600/May+2013+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfBGVLzJnBrhBW7FEe2IrhtIEpfoSDyR2d8JYeKtZ0zkCT4cNsexATQxvRtgmq9OYahMUELoghexqbWmYRL1aVZficw_62Wlr8dP-fgrNACLuQjEnzAcqrljcQ2WAKU5W-Kcy/s400/May+2013+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div>
Aaaarrrrgh. :-( I just logged in to write a late May GBBD post and realized that there were 12 legitimate comments waiting to be approved--and even more good comments sitting on my April post with no response from me. (There was also a bunch of pending comments that needed to be sent to spam, which explains my reason for having a time limit on comments.)</div>
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I suck. Please accept the "bouquet" of pretty purple alliums above as an apology.</div>
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Moving on, I'll try to be better about watching out for comments. (Maybe even about posting, too--but no promises there.) Here are some actual photos that I took on May 15th to showcase the blooms on this month's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveqvyHtyx9JtmFLWR3XyXOz_pOhyphenhyphenBOhETIu3vAnjAYTkc7qQeH-9xwmaW2tl-fjhsqdyB-oSIEMDLDo-h_CGzHmERfnyHi1SKwg5t6YeeBnSPKfgSgz-Ty4koXLsUNMF1RcvI/s1600/May+2013+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveqvyHtyx9JtmFLWR3XyXOz_pOhyphenhyphenBOhETIu3vAnjAYTkc7qQeH-9xwmaW2tl-fjhsqdyB-oSIEMDLDo-h_CGzHmERfnyHi1SKwg5t6YeeBnSPKfgSgz-Ty4koXLsUNMF1RcvI/s400/May+2013+004.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuu0Kmaf44tNM8JgG98gx3lxSwFb0f_DAeV4-xH-ekyEmoWUoHo8LLHUekXJN5hB6lb-Znllhtxr7FIQUtLZ51cIyVeC5PZD2JfFbXIT_9X3wL6TZfV9C-kb_3_1zoTJaw2Ma/s1600/May+2013+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuu0Kmaf44tNM8JgG98gx3lxSwFb0f_DAeV4-xH-ekyEmoWUoHo8LLHUekXJN5hB6lb-Znllhtxr7FIQUtLZ51cIyVeC5PZD2JfFbXIT_9X3wL6TZfV9C-kb_3_1zoTJaw2Ma/s400/May+2013+006.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uYoG9T4xXl5g6orBRLocB4V8_7gbrDY-tSyUy9-XLkK03pivI5CyQN3nxgedX-wa5GjtB6hO_mPK6QAgSRfuqT8t60oSWzN2rmGOUg66xt7tg1Eqz0GKC4F3ULNjOFCUyBRe/s1600/May+2013+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uYoG9T4xXl5g6orBRLocB4V8_7gbrDY-tSyUy9-XLkK03pivI5CyQN3nxgedX-wa5GjtB6hO_mPK6QAgSRfuqT8t60oSWzN2rmGOUg66xt7tg1Eqz0GKC4F3ULNjOFCUyBRe/s400/May+2013+029.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrHjIFAz_XaPlUIlEAHei-UJrbMeG-k7FAxZsKu74xVaG1Vjd7k_Ua6Dp-L9FuBrfJnBvGFC_prCQzj_-yvlF21tPbld7RAV8pA4ugWdrLimOd4PzMMWhipyD5wfUzrQa8STz/s1600/May+2013+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrHjIFAz_XaPlUIlEAHei-UJrbMeG-k7FAxZsKu74xVaG1Vjd7k_Ua6Dp-L9FuBrfJnBvGFC_prCQzj_-yvlF21tPbld7RAV8pA4ugWdrLimOd4PzMMWhipyD5wfUzrQa8STz/s400/May+2013+001.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div>
From top to bottom, you see a clump of NOID crimson tulips in my front yard, one of the dozen or so 'Black Hero' tulips that wave in the wind (hence the blurry pic) above my lamium and carex bed, my deep red (newly planted) ivy geraniums, and the dangling bells of a fuchsia hanging basket.</div>
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Also blooming this week are my brunnera ('Looking Glass' and 'Jack Frost'), bergenia, 2 kinds of lamium, my hoya, alpine strawberries and a random lipstick plant. I really should take a picture of the last, because it's comical. The diminutive little thing is in a 3 inch pot and has 3 small strands of leaves that each might measure 3/4 of an inch at the longest. And yet, it has this ridiculously large--no exaggeration, it might be as big as the pot!--bright pink flower that looks completely out of place!</div>
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While you're waiting for that pic, please go check out blooms from around the world, courtesy of the <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/05/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-2013.html" target="_blank">May 2013 Garden Bloggers Bloom Day</a> post over at May Dreams Gardens.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoSkiC9CsaetiGupFEuvuXdyUx3hSeDl26i_zA3WjsmmZ5cx-fY3mywS_jqydmF2ciTGHxKJGcod7fMQzb8i1HufB0aNki6z-UL0NRUL1TZ6p4KPKx0UfRmQlWtKTqQxWkbVv/s1600/April+2013+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoSkiC9CsaetiGupFEuvuXdyUx3hSeDl26i_zA3WjsmmZ5cx-fY3mywS_jqydmF2ciTGHxKJGcod7fMQzb8i1HufB0aNki6z-UL0NRUL1TZ6p4KPKx0UfRmQlWtKTqQxWkbVv/s640/April+2013+007.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The snow drops have come and gone, but all the hellebores have started their show - along with the little Fox's Grape frittilary, and very earliest of the species tulips!</div>
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And the hellebores are certainly putting on a show. I didn't get great pictures of the Lenten Roses that are in the backyard, because they're so shaded in the evenings, but you can still tell that this single plant is covered in blooms:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVV6hn-k6hqV6wJcdGR-3T99mpmxA0L-L1ZVoEzBtDdnkfRxLcnnWTyt877fjieuHVyLrAFjK3FMtfeQ4JzAAGsPFPsRgmAHmWtQXi105pnv12ZNa-stJoBgdjn-oKqHpESHe/s1600/April+2013+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVV6hn-k6hqV6wJcdGR-3T99mpmxA0L-L1ZVoEzBtDdnkfRxLcnnWTyt877fjieuHVyLrAFjK3FMtfeQ4JzAAGsPFPsRgmAHmWtQXi105pnv12ZNa-stJoBgdjn-oKqHpESHe/s400/April+2013+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Inside the house, the last flower stalk on <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Miltassia Charles M Fitch</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 'Izumi'</span> is just finishing its show. I brought it outside for a photo op in the fading evening sun, to show off its last blooms:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vR8Ujl3Va0cD4hgEvqfp8QB5r-ydCwiDpN_Oy1R-E3onoWGV6xW1zIFeR_3ah-89QSYRZBp3FlX1U4fuNLCNB-1xoGO91ug4QFugHt5zEuw3f0SKJ6G0xizEtdqiX9JORPgZ/s1600/April+2013+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vR8Ujl3Va0cD4hgEvqfp8QB5r-ydCwiDpN_Oy1R-E3onoWGV6xW1zIFeR_3ah-89QSYRZBp3FlX1U4fuNLCNB-1xoGO91ug4QFugHt5zEuw3f0SKJ6G0xizEtdqiX9JORPgZ/s400/April+2013+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, the only other things in bloom around here are the weeds! But I have a couple of cool foliage pics from the cleaned-up areas of the front yard for tomorrow, so stay tuned for those tomorrow.<br />
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And to check out what else is blooming all over the world, as always... visit <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/04/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-april-2013.html" target="_blank">Carol's April 2013 GBBD Post at May Dreams Gardens</a>!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-52925983106919123252013-03-16T16:35:00.001-04:002013-03-16T16:35:10.541-04:00March Foliage Follow Up: Monstrous Monstera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcfJsK7XfJS2LCIaYBVOmdvNfwbNYxxTq-sPtuuYF_QoaJGnrOcL8LCAi9ePCNwAPb1CT3HXzWuTaSH8lvUBeMoWoKDI7ZSQzht3GsgOX6Dz_Ki3M0GUU6Gzj0xM1JWSO80XV/s1600/Monstera+Closeup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcfJsK7XfJS2LCIaYBVOmdvNfwbNYxxTq-sPtuuYF_QoaJGnrOcL8LCAi9ePCNwAPb1CT3HXzWuTaSH8lvUBeMoWoKDI7ZSQzht3GsgOX6Dz_Ki3M0GUU6Gzj0xM1JWSO80XV/s400/Monstera+Closeup.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A few years back, in the summer of 2009, I was working part-time at a local garden center when a fun surprise came in our tropical order from Florida: 8 inch pots of variegated <i>monstera deliciosa</i>! In the 3-1/2 years I've had this plant, it's grown to the point that I'm not sure where I'm going to overwinter it next year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hyd6PTll7W-sIQkeK760pd8MyScODWhFb21ecZMel4ZoOJdL6g87CaTgLw7Z5DxrynP8gD3kLgQ_Fv7Q9z5BooYVnztfSAby9yOg8WMjbSjqdh5AlkTf5OVJp3xV_DqMTofj/s1600/Monstera+Full.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hyd6PTll7W-sIQkeK760pd8MyScODWhFb21ecZMel4ZoOJdL6g87CaTgLw7Z5DxrynP8gD3kLgQ_Fv7Q9z5BooYVnztfSAby9yOg8WMjbSjqdh5AlkTf5OVJp3xV_DqMTofj/s640/Monstera+Full.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Mind you, I KNEW how big these guys eventually would get. There are a couple in the rainforest biome at the garden center, and at least one of them has climbed up into the 2nd story canopy. Still, I couldn't resist. In the photo below, I included the couch arm and 3ft wide bookshelf as a reference... and then realized that two of the biggest leaves were cut out of the picture on the right!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqm2ruRD93da9J8TtPn3gYIDJvxyz8I3B61uRnHaY0jB_9aIvF28tXIKM7ojDv0nSIBxVpe3l8bppC9Hpv9V7KDhUi6YVsbn_557H_SVYxAGvk9onNmcruAZY03JVTRWdsrrnn/s1600/Variegated+Monstera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqm2ruRD93da9J8TtPn3gYIDJvxyz8I3B61uRnHaY0jB_9aIvF28tXIKM7ojDv0nSIBxVpe3l8bppC9Hpv9V7KDhUi6YVsbn_557H_SVYxAGvk9onNmcruAZY03JVTRWdsrrnn/s640/Variegated+Monstera.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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On the smaller end of the foliage scale, one of my favorite succulents is Drunkard's Dream, <i>hatiora salicornioides. </i>At certain times of the year, its segments look like beer bottles, and it also shows off sweet little yellow flowers. Mine seems to be more upright than most, but there's still a lot of foliage spilling over the side of my broken birdbath. And it looks cool when backlit:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4gACmkTH8mYZ-ZmAfBcIKkVKIoc5sfJScWvfxbOIbUCGnXUcsjoBjFDgbQTrMoksdnsDgoJTpYTc7WgEUkGwWOwsMV-U2p3yWvGie82ZIjPN9a4I2vFlUTlk-eTO0P0f0poK/s1600/Hatiora+salicornioides+-+Drunkards+Dream+Cactus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4gACmkTH8mYZ-ZmAfBcIKkVKIoc5sfJScWvfxbOIbUCGnXUcsjoBjFDgbQTrMoksdnsDgoJTpYTc7WgEUkGwWOwsMV-U2p3yWvGie82ZIjPN9a4I2vFlUTlk-eTO0P0f0poK/s640/Hatiora+salicornioides+-+Drunkards+Dream+Cactus.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Last but not least, here's the real reason that I couldn't resist buying oncidium mendenhall 'Hildos' at the orchid sale: It has cool leaves that are mottled with deep red!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ko6EOxi6Nkeo89maVmN4F75Ltur5Uz_qWmqh6R0cCJtZFo2iAm-ovFk6K_bnbXnxXu7o9tZmSEL-B66LHpEk0o-lfz3pLBa7AfutGm8cVREPs3NkN_rVb0jQBhqbB3RtqY4y/s1600/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos-Foliage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ko6EOxi6Nkeo89maVmN4F75Ltur5Uz_qWmqh6R0cCJtZFo2iAm-ovFk6K_bnbXnxXu7o9tZmSEL-B66LHpEk0o-lfz3pLBa7AfutGm8cVREPs3NkN_rVb0jQBhqbB3RtqY4y/s640/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos-Foliage.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And, like most colorful foliage, they look awesome backlit, too:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhSfd9tYd2PpfszPpbXas0mAg7FJTXWMnqEyD8KulTzkZbE5Okxv6oW9ZG_JYgfaVXgKK1uGj1CM4dxMNI88XrR4f2sGI2SkgI21HMX-M1qZi7sQQexAIPT-BupCjujYj1ZV8/s1600/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos-Foliage+Backlit2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhSfd9tYd2PpfszPpbXas0mAg7FJTXWMnqEyD8KulTzkZbE5Okxv6oW9ZG_JYgfaVXgKK1uGj1CM4dxMNI88XrR4f2sGI2SkgI21HMX-M1qZi7sQQexAIPT-BupCjujYj1ZV8/s640/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos-Foliage+Backlit2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And those are the foliage highlights from around these parts today. To see more foliage from around the blogosphere, check out the comments on <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=20748" target="_blank">Pam's March Foliage Follow-Up</a> post!</div>
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Since I've been more than challenged in terms of posting ANYTHING this year, I hope that you'll forgive me for this uncharacteristically brief Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post. At least it's a post--and on the 15th, even! <br />
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First, An orchid I picked up at the botanical garden's post-show plant sale: <i>Oncidium Mendenhall</i> 'Hildos':</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XPMUp59J3ntbTkRyyBDUUsBBd0ZJrlLO5fX1n1-2JuPAMsMNMQsKPAGSbPZuTjpA2mJVypCcg3DVEnwFV2KeDD0o-cj0PSmSncoyG8nU8I4H4dkre5eUrHuHGI3ZEmDK70bM/s1600/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XPMUp59J3ntbTkRyyBDUUsBBd0ZJrlLO5fX1n1-2JuPAMsMNMQsKPAGSbPZuTjpA2mJVypCcg3DVEnwFV2KeDD0o-cj0PSmSncoyG8nU8I4H4dkre5eUrHuHGI3ZEmDK70bM/s640/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos+1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I like that these flowers seem otherworldly, but the foliage is the real reason I bought it. And it doesn't hurt that it looks like a botanical transformer badass in close ups:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3p6uJxlswGFfXwI15wSMaecZx3Gaz-BQVKIVaMeRRKaVlYcFtLI8hq-UE3kLM06CvqDaU5SyVHIRyD3J8i281e11btrWb8jNyMo9jhyphenhyphenwwthSAYaA9mP8atVOJ9kgr8AD5vyb/s1600/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3p6uJxlswGFfXwI15wSMaecZx3Gaz-BQVKIVaMeRRKaVlYcFtLI8hq-UE3kLM06CvqDaU5SyVHIRyD3J8i281e11btrWb8jNyMo9jhyphenhyphenwwthSAYaA9mP8atVOJ9kgr8AD5vyb/s640/Oncidium+Mendenhall-Hildos2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Another orchid from the same sale, this is <i>Miltassia Charles M Fitch</i> 'Izumi' which came with two blooming stalks and a third stalk full of promising buds:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYhz-KXAgqX8ODW2rFzDA4HF4ApnpKES7zZOiewBO-Kr-JQIMJhQZnVpzcuL8wACn-vRZwAES6w00EQm5U2n42xkJyNFj1oj3Yym9eEVdRcr0XWxjHxxKjDAoGOHuPfaJssIX/s1600/Miltassia+Charles+M+Fitch-Izumi+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYhz-KXAgqX8ODW2rFzDA4HF4ApnpKES7zZOiewBO-Kr-JQIMJhQZnVpzcuL8wACn-vRZwAES6w00EQm5U2n42xkJyNFj1oj3Yym9eEVdRcr0XWxjHxxKjDAoGOHuPfaJssIX/s640/Miltassia+Charles+M+Fitch-Izumi+1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FTsPuRI0A_ZER75SV8ZD2H4ZQ113NaK2X4xhyphenhyphenNOawRhGF0z-Ttd-qwFOxCJ2g2kXEmcbm5HIaZ94v21vjExx-d31GGrAsLJIZAnBoIU-lAQVtxWDkseFwixQmxvBaJ73WQ0G/s1600/Miltassia+Charles+M+Fitch-Izumi+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FTsPuRI0A_ZER75SV8ZD2H4ZQ113NaK2X4xhyphenhyphenNOawRhGF0z-Ttd-qwFOxCJ2g2kXEmcbm5HIaZ94v21vjExx-d31GGrAsLJIZAnBoIU-lAQVtxWDkseFwixQmxvBaJ73WQ0G/s640/Miltassia+Charles+M+Fitch-Izumi+2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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My third and last purchase from the show was an orchid that I've killed once already, but couldn't resist trying again. This is the last fading bloom on the "Coconut Pie Orchid," <i>Maxillaria tenuifolia</i>:<br />
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Other indoor blooms include Steve's poinsettia (a gift from his old office complex about 4 years ago), which I affectionately refer to as Charlie Brown:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldv9xx4wPA18RNyKlpRLKw2pGL0U4WpGV2jc9U_X6WCfTzXfWjnoYRk3C_f5W_A9hWDzHaJiJ-QpUsM1-i2WBhHGoq9EiNfDJUdT8sMj5cVdgmCEDl08ZkwbV0-etOGd9YCbh/s1600/Poinsettia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldv9xx4wPA18RNyKlpRLKw2pGL0U4WpGV2jc9U_X6WCfTzXfWjnoYRk3C_f5W_A9hWDzHaJiJ-QpUsM1-i2WBhHGoq9EiNfDJUdT8sMj5cVdgmCEDl08ZkwbV0-etOGd9YCbh/s400/Poinsettia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I zoomed way in to make it look good...</i><br />
<i>but this IS the Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree of old poinsettias!</i></td></tr>
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And this crazy purple heart, which has been blooming intermittently in a dark corner of the bathroom:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAwWG22BCj4Iz1lsaC0KRnRortJmWZOuusk6Vwuegvh545zuI70NF37dq6fqGpWk-DbGlAOt9ZGW_UXNBmgKJ68OmBYxaUWNbak49HwbHImPfnfzpaImx5Z8Wd7yYviW2tm0l/s1600/March+2013+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAwWG22BCj4Iz1lsaC0KRnRortJmWZOuusk6Vwuegvh545zuI70NF37dq6fqGpWk-DbGlAOt9ZGW_UXNBmgKJ68OmBYxaUWNbak49HwbHImPfnfzpaImx5Z8Wd7yYviW2tm0l/s640/March+2013+005.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Outside, I can see the hellebores again now that the snow is gone. This one, with its dark petals and light, sanded-looking edges, is my current fave:</div>
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While I'm not a fan of white flowers, this one gets extra props for being in bloom in early January. The long bloom time and snowy winter is the reason for the wear and tear you can see in on the flowers in the background:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6KDyX0iJIlLO8YTLDBgTMXgmuPWML4RDgS6oMDXsrBfiQIDAhUWEDADTUSOXOL_Tema46BZ31EL5-jtaqdweyBCasr3MK6S31edpZxqvPeWkCXpbkt5_k3phg_BtumiceFvq/s1600/March+2013+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6KDyX0iJIlLO8YTLDBgTMXgmuPWML4RDgS6oMDXsrBfiQIDAhUWEDADTUSOXOL_Tema46BZ31EL5-jtaqdweyBCasr3MK6S31edpZxqvPeWkCXpbkt5_k3phg_BtumiceFvq/s400/March+2013+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And my lone little clump of snowdrops, which live under the peach tree. I left the pits from last summer's fallen fruit in the picture so you could get a size comparison:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaVPU3vxC5upd92jfBT8wQMWSh7KMj-eOgK01Ftv162thyKkSWbK4cvgifYQiu83Jma9VBwW4wi5r45_crIz1K282bPzGt-SCyTSMWJnixNiHmYp4gnnmPb4TAL4yB5R67aR2/s1600/March+2013+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaVPU3vxC5upd92jfBT8wQMWSh7KMj-eOgK01Ftv162thyKkSWbK4cvgifYQiu83Jma9VBwW4wi5r45_crIz1K282bPzGt-SCyTSMWJnixNiHmYp4gnnmPb4TAL4yB5R67aR2/s640/March+2013+019.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And that's all I've got to show off this month in terms of blooms. For more of what's blooming around the country - and even around the world - check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2013/03/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-march-2013.html" target="_blank">Carol's post at May Dreams Gardens</a>! </div>
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(And check back tomorrow, too. I managed to get a Foliage Follow Up post into the queue this month, too!)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-1734831714100892552012-12-31T14:55:00.001-05:002012-12-31T14:55:23.951-05:00Who's Confused: Me... or Bengal Orange?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6dkySa3hSuPNRxIzsm1DM1TVtzLBvjdKHxtePGr2p2IDIKKUsA2vN_aXKVAtIGLVIg05DAQ0tVSGfcpkYgHqkiL4VhoX0O7GH4k2ZHw5bxaR9uI9MXE8Qzq1BL20Nc1g7OjW/s1600/December+29+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6dkySa3hSuPNRxIzsm1DM1TVtzLBvjdKHxtePGr2p2IDIKKUsA2vN_aXKVAtIGLVIg05DAQ0tVSGfcpkYgHqkiL4VhoX0O7GH4k2ZHw5bxaR9uI9MXE8Qzq1BL20Nc1g7OjW/s640/December+29+007.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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This will be the second winter that I brought 'Bengal Orange' bougainvillea into the house. Last year, I put it on a prominent spot on the plant bench... and it quickly dropped all of its leaves and looked like a cluster of dead sticks attached to a trellis. Its "play dead" act lasted until June, when it grudgingly put out new leaves after a couple of weeks outside. In spite of its sunny summer spot, though, it never did bloom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5V_MJ3Durr9q1Z8X_S5zKVnDEbNMwxNWjKL-UDucn1l2l0Q6U6dVlMoqcAtYEHMYEJnBNzsb-g9Jb_Z4UBOT9EjdllAx2rdFn7C9tTcGrbAAejsNa4wZdFuTE2M_BI3PLpCs/s1600/December+2012+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5V_MJ3Durr9q1Z8X_S5zKVnDEbNMwxNWjKL-UDucn1l2l0Q6U6dVlMoqcAtYEHMYEJnBNzsb-g9Jb_Z4UBOT9EjdllAx2rdFn7C9tTcGrbAAejsNa4wZdFuTE2M_BI3PLpCs/s640/December+2012+002.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Since it looked so uninspiring last year, this year it got tucked into a corner where it would be mostly hidden behind a large-leaf hoya on a stand, and a dark leaf rubber tree. It promptly dropped all of its leaves as expected. Imagine my surprise when it decided to throw out (tiny) leaves a month ago... and then started to bloom!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gcODy5YEjAcE_hi0Im4LgpJSP5Mcv3hysx5oKipI5n8J4gRifxQtbpeohMCIl1d1OoIj5NokwNLSP_stgM0eocmd4BBBL3dq0JDc0MXPyNiOJ-rWKkQrrq7GB46JNzWHUgKy/s1600/December+29+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gcODy5YEjAcE_hi0Im4LgpJSP5Mcv3hysx5oKipI5n8J4gRifxQtbpeohMCIl1d1OoIj5NokwNLSP_stgM0eocmd4BBBL3dq0JDc0MXPyNiOJ-rWKkQrrq7GB46JNzWHUgKy/s640/December+29+008.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-2XSjSO0bfNnoXwA2sHpFvIbrTbx6XwKTtjdv3XNV4SkC76ARazYNcIwJWU2eaqiufc8Idq9BtBlEWhIo1LkUzYMCd7nuHCTXmDyf-sacZp7_yyKEbtQCh4tilU2_EifGyeF/s1600/December+29+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-2XSjSO0bfNnoXwA2sHpFvIbrTbx6XwKTtjdv3XNV4SkC76ARazYNcIwJWU2eaqiufc8Idq9BtBlEWhIo1LkUzYMCd7nuHCTXmDyf-sacZp7_yyKEbtQCh4tilU2_EifGyeF/s400/December+29+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xVUgAPTcxfPttF8vKaR8eeeZyVjIXd5J7-c91DN1GjWpHndQoln_N67WIo1pbb7obnLM7U97Qt7GN0R6vulChg3w1TWppK1xrgqZJ5sD86iXXB-7vjVZt4bCYGZkjkH5ff_G/s1600/December+29+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xVUgAPTcxfPttF8vKaR8eeeZyVjIXd5J7-c91DN1GjWpHndQoln_N67WIo1pbb7obnLM7U97Qt7GN0R6vulChg3w1TWppK1xrgqZJ5sD86iXXB-7vjVZt4bCYGZkjkH5ff_G/s640/December+29+013.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Granted, I'm using the term "bloom" lightly here. With bougainvillea, the brightly colored "flowers" are actually the bracts around the flowers, not the flowers themselves. But they do add a nice touch of color, and were a big surprise since this plant didn't bloom at all this summer.</div>
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I'm guessing that the south-facing window next to its current winter home has helped to encourage it to re-leaf and bloom, but I'm a little worried about it now. I don't want to have it go through another leaf drop and really get stressed, to the point where I lose it! It's used to having a cool, dry season in its native home, so I hope that bodes well for me being able to keep it in leaf and happy until spring.</div>
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Fingers crossed!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByCL9MudElkEazt38OfzawIlov8q8_7PiFAasTGUE4_g2PgJ9ZSrcmuLr6rN6LTshti2rXEozUC0P71TJZ1Rtrz9NI3HiTjGLMTfrdHJnKZ7HGIWp2_1xhWh8j5uFG_9mi0v_/s1600/Nov+2012+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByCL9MudElkEazt38OfzawIlov8q8_7PiFAasTGUE4_g2PgJ9ZSrcmuLr6rN6LTshti2rXEozUC0P71TJZ1Rtrz9NI3HiTjGLMTfrdHJnKZ7HGIWp2_1xhWh8j5uFG_9mi0v_/s640/Nov+2012+042.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KBUBFyY53kxRIeVSC4ZqNvOCJthWAxrjQWZJrMj86zlneqORaWE7H6dIJaezjCwLbvQZ6KNAtgucgeOJbTJIvtYC_vs46zNmVpV6DM8gtupYCuEI9TmmsKIxIO122Oh8Halr/s1600/Nov+2012+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KBUBFyY53kxRIeVSC4ZqNvOCJthWAxrjQWZJrMj86zlneqORaWE7H6dIJaezjCwLbvQZ6KNAtgucgeOJbTJIvtYC_vs46zNmVpV6DM8gtupYCuEI9TmmsKIxIO122Oh8Halr/s640/Nov+2012+038.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebUqRVfvYJCYgXaFtSYFwTULBlFqSvMWn1Ct4ybyzJd5bQel54XjeFpW1ju7IMYuEEA8SeGUV-RLDBS-S0FSFLPJh7PFGAwvdKPZ7pfpifv02qmloUnUwI4bbq0a-2WGULAT0/s1600/Nov+2012+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebUqRVfvYJCYgXaFtSYFwTULBlFqSvMWn1Ct4ybyzJd5bQel54XjeFpW1ju7IMYuEEA8SeGUV-RLDBS-S0FSFLPJh7PFGAwvdKPZ7pfpifv02qmloUnUwI4bbq0a-2WGULAT0/s640/Nov+2012+037.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Some grasses, like this miscanthus:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo8M5uY2E3VmyGEGhqNSkyAz3He3tb0gqGwwi8xCkJ51bGfhchZBLa-LxfM1nQgG-pAxXRc0eOi1o5UVC6A9HboNqZzruede9SSunIHUk1eqX_AH3XA3z0Pua_MtLolvbA6Es/s1600/Nov+2012+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo8M5uY2E3VmyGEGhqNSkyAz3He3tb0gqGwwi8xCkJ51bGfhchZBLa-LxfM1nQgG-pAxXRc0eOi1o5UVC6A9HboNqZzruede9SSunIHUk1eqX_AH3XA3z0Pua_MtLolvbA6Es/s640/Nov+2012+033.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And a couple of lamium, like this patch of 'Purple Dragon':</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC2SvaH-Edrx4_S4O3mYy67VJ-emTTVydpiyJbmhhyphenhyphens6XyVHx6zLsQVrbDQ_KwGanbat1o9fOXSvxgZ-LRtYn66y9DQ0339aNMvzzVEQe8pgEDB4nY0SSuOVA8j2nEzlqGngq/s1600/Nov+2012+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRC2SvaH-Edrx4_S4O3mYy67VJ-emTTVydpiyJbmhhyphenhyphens6XyVHx6zLsQVrbDQ_KwGanbat1o9fOXSvxgZ-LRtYn66y9DQ0339aNMvzzVEQe8pgEDB4nY0SSuOVA8j2nEzlqGngq/s640/Nov+2012+034.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Inside, the 'Blue Daze' convolvulus in a container of 'Bengal Tiger' bougainvillea decided to throw out another flush of blooms:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP52diVy4y69TmJoQLsmp2vfQ7WR_yNJ1ObE4oT5zV-12JiJI4WEy4GSRp2_Qcbp4eQCefLZ-uu-0yUqKDkmG9slJuIM8l6freVJJE9yl3rtHeCsd-8nNFYw0B13NCqD-Km_nx/s1600/Nov+2012+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP52diVy4y69TmJoQLsmp2vfQ7WR_yNJ1ObE4oT5zV-12JiJI4WEy4GSRp2_Qcbp4eQCefLZ-uu-0yUqKDkmG9slJuIM8l6freVJJE9yl3rtHeCsd-8nNFYw0B13NCqD-Km_nx/s400/Nov+2012+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And one Thanksgiving cactus has decided not to wait for the holiday to put on a show:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o-CQk9Fk7E9Bnn9SuASHwr4QCkg8mEE2Z5soNIewebxBeNGhKpWoPBYKbWaurQtCyzb82h-85fidB1e6il4ZFb5WZhyphenhyphenAm_X5kWoxK_NesvRWCdXWGUfMqNwdAh1Wxpj-U8IP/s1600/Nov+2012+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o-CQk9Fk7E9Bnn9SuASHwr4QCkg8mEE2Z5soNIewebxBeNGhKpWoPBYKbWaurQtCyzb82h-85fidB1e6il4ZFb5WZhyphenhyphenAm_X5kWoxK_NesvRWCdXWGUfMqNwdAh1Wxpj-U8IP/s640/Nov+2012+022.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I doubt that I will find any blooms inside in December, so this is probably it for the outside garden this season. To find out what's blooming around the world this month, check out Carol's <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2012/11/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-novmber-2012.html" target="_blank">November Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day</a> post!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-27327652652578961482012-10-15T00:11:00.001-04:002012-10-15T00:11:23.736-04:00Fading Fall Flowers: GBBD October 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb7I9B26RoOPS68CX6dWMJJNRgbtLH6n8lwBz_ThEq4SKV7m8a54qFs2mNece6blvj10D8CYMbN23fZ3GgsHZ2k7YWfS-iR20IYvmSajhHARD2rfG0Iq619j-VTsZFRVHY5vy/s1600/october+2012+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivb7I9B26RoOPS68CX6dWMJJNRgbtLH6n8lwBz_ThEq4SKV7m8a54qFs2mNece6blvj10D8CYMbN23fZ3GgsHZ2k7YWfS-iR20IYvmSajhHARD2rfG0Iq619j-VTsZFRVHY5vy/s400/october+2012+010.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Amidst the fading fall flowers this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, the freshness of this blue globe thistle seems a little out of place. That this seedling even bloomed at all this year is a tribute to the long growing season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNu_JNABbUXh8scoqHDax6RVrkaHWke5WLG9AAGurUhjU81eEWjJviujNWzVZ63r7RVcmr29x96DlZNPgMXs1-u3FAgp3lAOgfB7y5BtNuLInEuUA1Tx9NdTUPrYW_LwXMuImC/s1600/october+2012+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNu_JNABbUXh8scoqHDax6RVrkaHWke5WLG9AAGurUhjU81eEWjJviujNWzVZ63r7RVcmr29x96DlZNPgMXs1-u3FAgp3lAOgfB7y5BtNuLInEuUA1Tx9NdTUPrYW_LwXMuImC/s400/october+2012+025.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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All of my other flower pictures show either slightly bedraggled blooms, like this dahlia...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg-hCgLZk1D975hJsoXJQUiiA3sFFZHnn1Zn9NauV3o2nGZLdoHB94U3l8BOrNUX4s6Z7gh3beb7DdJgv4tPIGGaf0FRh1j0_-W3wGaXKoU87Ne_36miyFIHDBkvoscunLBs4/s1600/october+2012+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg-hCgLZk1D975hJsoXJQUiiA3sFFZHnn1Zn9NauV3o2nGZLdoHB94U3l8BOrNUX4s6Z7gh3beb7DdJgv4tPIGGaf0FRh1j0_-W3wGaXKoU87Ne_36miyFIHDBkvoscunLBs4/s400/october+2012+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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...or vivid flowers against the fading foliage of fall:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVC2haSIKmXZxHNoNZx4q-wnvCmiEo6gCnDVldYVENEeLkk7V02WQRDXDv9fICjjOGEj3Ud4qC9ozjV6EcQGJDP_K09Btij1TMrzneR9xATl1VJDF7t9kSf1YDkMoP_gu_iIl/s1600/october+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVC2haSIKmXZxHNoNZx4q-wnvCmiEo6gCnDVldYVENEeLkk7V02WQRDXDv9fICjjOGEj3Ud4qC9ozjV6EcQGJDP_K09Btij1TMrzneR9xATl1VJDF7t9kSf1YDkMoP_gu_iIl/s400/october+2012+003.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LY-EI7Ek41qR6u7rvz1UsyoZnU3H67S2xMhYzQuMgMLG8YHVJGkXUOjtby7wfauRBe5fYWZDmxsOb6lUxytPs6EX9G1F1NjQ9yn7KjeX7pxWYbns3FbDciIGroJmbla3BJeF/s1600/october+2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LY-EI7Ek41qR6u7rvz1UsyoZnU3H67S2xMhYzQuMgMLG8YHVJGkXUOjtby7wfauRBe5fYWZDmxsOb6lUxytPs6EX9G1F1NjQ9yn7KjeX7pxWYbns3FbDciIGroJmbla3BJeF/s400/october+2012+008.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIm8SWeapkIlRsffsPWpar3yPPaABJWUKN_N_F1n02UnGadj_oVrwnivPIW1XotJkeRNE2w04ry27pMLH9t5O2CdTQR_Ir2CfjMIm94PKEFqIdti44LfK3f2jTH8x8OoMA1Dfu/s1600/october+2012+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIm8SWeapkIlRsffsPWpar3yPPaABJWUKN_N_F1n02UnGadj_oVrwnivPIW1XotJkeRNE2w04ry27pMLH9t5O2CdTQR_Ir2CfjMIm94PKEFqIdti44LfK3f2jTH8x8OoMA1Dfu/s400/october+2012+012.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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From top to bottom, this post featured: 'Fresh Look Red' celosia, echinops ritro, 'Lady in Red' salvia seedling, blue angelonia and an unnamed lantana, verbena bonariensis, variegated sedum, chocolate eupatorium, caryopteris, and 'Hameln' pennisetum.</div>
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Also in bloom in my yard today: Alpine strawberries, various coleus, wax begonias, 'Victoria Blue' salvia, 'Black and Blue' salvia, pineapple sage, hardy plumbago, various peppers, 'The Blues' little bluestem, 'Hopi Red Dye' amaranth, various pink Japanese anemones, various miscanthus, and 'Purple Dragon' lamium.</div>
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To see what's blooming around the world in various gardens today, visit <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2012/10/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-october-2012.html" target="_blank">Carol's October Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post</a>!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-32655903762364542932012-10-07T23:55:00.000-04:002012-10-07T23:55:04.283-04:00The Invasion Has Begun<div>
I think that my houseplants are WAY too happy after a long summer outside. This nepenthes was almost touching the porch rail by the end of this week... and is currently grazing the living room floor in its temporary home on a plant stand:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHFaixqMVjrITZCdw04Pn-HlUBUIgnD8JDfnJ__Ik0iY9sfpSEGtWUPmqaJ4bwl8DOtXVXs1_g-XKISfQeEMsvoPnab8UJt_T6eP3bp7HIVK7HMgVCSmrB3YI-9Llded2FlMV/s1600/Nepenthes+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHFaixqMVjrITZCdw04Pn-HlUBUIgnD8JDfnJ__Ik0iY9sfpSEGtWUPmqaJ4bwl8DOtXVXs1_g-XKISfQeEMsvoPnab8UJt_T6eP3bp7HIVK7HMgVCSmrB3YI-9Llded2FlMV/s640/Nepenthes+003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I say temporary home because all of my houseplants are scattered around in random places, hastily brought in when the forecast for tonight dropped into the upper 30's. </div>
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I have no idea where all of these things are going to be able to overwinter...but I just cleared a path through the <strike>jungle</strike> kitchen and I think that means it's time to call it a night. Finding better winter homes for everything will just have to wait until tomorrow!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-56697187478528961572012-09-19T00:50:00.002-04:002012-09-19T00:50:09.419-04:00September Foliage Follow Up: Hot Fall Hues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's not just the blooms who are sporting a hot color palette this fall. Foliage is following suit, starting with this interesting new "Thai" Chinese evergreen that I couldn't resist at my local garden center:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOr-gW8YXFhcktpl9ubvRtXGXmrEyBDCSBFavNWfX2KtoDDbg0SrftGorl58V4xuC80NriTS9IjWTKcmXonWyYScrlgIC2Hq5eEC_F-wxvoCFyUqlA69XCJY8EmZ9fvxfDTGH/s1600/September+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOr-gW8YXFhcktpl9ubvRtXGXmrEyBDCSBFavNWfX2KtoDDbg0SrftGorl58V4xuC80NriTS9IjWTKcmXonWyYScrlgIC2Hq5eEC_F-wxvoCFyUqlA69XCJY8EmZ9fvxfDTGH/s640/September+2012+004.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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He's currently hanging out on the front porch with a few exotic friends, like a fat-leaf hoya and feathery dracaena:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyytrxgKCwEMMRF3HIM4-2IhF3RBGfdHXFDwpSGuZw8nlVauglTqVkf53TChoK6ous0BibBWLykChfU5Yu6clPCDL7Fzyk0tbB0f28WI0UsF2CX5LzNlX208JlKJkGIUN1IwnL/s1600/September+2012+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyytrxgKCwEMMRF3HIM4-2IhF3RBGfdHXFDwpSGuZw8nlVauglTqVkf53TChoK6ous0BibBWLykChfU5Yu6clPCDL7Fzyk0tbB0f28WI0UsF2CX5LzNlX208JlKJkGIUN1IwnL/s640/September+2012+040.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Now that he's in place, I just love looking down at the progression of fun foliage on this side of the steps:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Hhwrtj03oXhn0PNkVvZPRpIuOAwKWSngNRU7p9mkNdQ50_fhPRO33Rmthrs2KFeTM58i6xOGxH54auvRoour_JXF60OzoqOL0oc5HG1D4Bgpe8WRTTa_5r0q-n-QLISFLpL/s1600/September+2012+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Hhwrtj03oXhn0PNkVvZPRpIuOAwKWSngNRU7p9mkNdQ50_fhPRO33Rmthrs2KFeTM58i6xOGxH54auvRoour_JXF60OzoqOL0oc5HG1D4Bgpe8WRTTa_5r0q-n-QLISFLpL/s640/September+2012+041.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Speaking of that side of the front yard, the Japanese maple endlessly intrigues me. For most of the day, it looks deep and cool and mysterious (as above)... but when the sun goes down, it sets the maple ablaze:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil5FsxZGmNIqC-wkaesv6U5Md1nKhfGPW54taYfqXfOPaBxNjIgdmEtoiePafxXjoiH-gK6psc3DIc7_E7N-2svNByl0SRU917G-BruWn1u549ioDu0pF9-FkUyReJAUnu2z3/s1600/September+2012+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil5FsxZGmNIqC-wkaesv6U5Md1nKhfGPW54taYfqXfOPaBxNjIgdmEtoiePafxXjoiH-gK6psc3DIc7_E7N-2svNByl0SRU917G-BruWn1u549ioDu0pF9-FkUyReJAUnu2z3/s640/September+2012+001.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's a close up view of the leaves, with their tips tinged red:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZy-xaA86CegtuvEaSZXJvyyEdMfF5vTbTkTKGdB_yMVvH_cHaDZluBwIdjc1fDmD6Uzc-zT-pq5VSD2TFrIhh_kuGcX2Kd3lMx2VgVxjn4Cu2fLY-z0uQL1lmTyHL5qyd8K_/s1600/September+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZy-xaA86CegtuvEaSZXJvyyEdMfF5vTbTkTKGdB_yMVvH_cHaDZluBwIdjc1fDmD6Uzc-zT-pq5VSD2TFrIhh_kuGcX2Kd3lMx2VgVxjn4Cu2fLY-z0uQL1lmTyHL5qyd8K_/s640/September+2012+003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZy-xaA86CegtuvEaSZXJvyyEdMfF5vTbTkTKGdB_yMVvH_cHaDZluBwIdjc1fDmD6Uzc-zT-pq5VSD2TFrIhh_kuGcX2Kd3lMx2VgVxjn4Cu2fLY-z0uQL1lmTyHL5qyd8K_/s1600/September+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZy-xaA86CegtuvEaSZXJvyyEdMfF5vTbTkTKGdB_yMVvH_cHaDZluBwIdjc1fDmD6Uzc-zT-pq5VSD2TFrIhh_kuGcX2Kd3lMx2VgVxjn4Cu2fLY-z0uQL1lmTyHL5qyd8K_/s1600/September+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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Sunlight does the same thing for the carex buchannii. Except that when it's not backlit and glowing, it appears more neutral than cool-toned. This may have something to do with its planting companions, however:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFCaGFbXzIX3VnmqE7rIX70gGohp3Nl3FMauoRr4qA5ZiicyTYIcPsnvf1ZiNFKXJp6c7ly4JgKyHhCAWenO8BBfuj4kj0xSzw3XfAnDRudgaopfADDNcwF-RlahJYb27H_FT/s1600/September+2012+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFCaGFbXzIX3VnmqE7rIX70gGohp3Nl3FMauoRr4qA5ZiicyTYIcPsnvf1ZiNFKXJp6c7ly4JgKyHhCAWenO8BBfuj4kj0xSzw3XfAnDRudgaopfADDNcwF-RlahJYb27H_FT/s640/September+2012+005.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Other times, cool-toned planting companions only serve to highlight the foliage heat... as shown by this dusty miller foliage against the molten backlit leaves of 'Purple Dragon' coleus:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l8pVAi9TaoC24DMDMinCBRHeZ_yDESKs4BptHjXjZnaP_jaNxOg1owielhe443rV8Q3l3QLKYtup46fxPsuecIiix-V1mumVtScBXLU4I64139r0SRmTPaVYaYSL_YcSs8au/s1600/September+2012+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l8pVAi9TaoC24DMDMinCBRHeZ_yDESKs4BptHjXjZnaP_jaNxOg1owielhe443rV8Q3l3QLKYtup46fxPsuecIiix-V1mumVtScBXLU4I64139r0SRmTPaVYaYSL_YcSs8au/s640/September+2012+028.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And that pretty much covers all of the hot September foliage highlights here in my garden. For more leaf love, check out Pam's <a href="http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=17683" target="_blank">September Foliage Follow-Up</a> Post over at Digging.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-32736889796700878382012-09-17T23:49:00.006-04:002012-09-17T23:49:59.001-04:00A Hot Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo0G0pKOVa7Xq743E4ld-6gbHJoWJaXd4s-wTBYmLHTXj8lzGEaJ1TJlhLovGult6C9Wk5TY5ti6o7_nSdN9l7DAcQeYPZOatBqNn_iGECQ4GPtzJKZqT5SbgUO_3orDE4iUw/s1600/September+2012+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifo0G0pKOVa7Xq743E4ld-6gbHJoWJaXd4s-wTBYmLHTXj8lzGEaJ1TJlhLovGult6C9Wk5TY5ti6o7_nSdN9l7DAcQeYPZOatBqNn_iGECQ4GPtzJKZqT5SbgUO_3orDE4iUw/s640/September+2012+026.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I wasn't quite sure where the summer went... and I'm not sure where fall is going, either! At this rate, I might be caught up on everything by the end of the year. (Might.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOk0Sy2_nqXMTYLS7hhYoZ5xe618wPymc2c9vLHvTWkL5HrxfgnV2eYDBV2Ow0G2dGCFY0FAPky6OaF0JZybYZpFVqf6SAoFHJLfPQhQPmglCqakiKFMtx8nAZmQXl1TvSarI/s1600/September+2012+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOk0Sy2_nqXMTYLS7hhYoZ5xe618wPymc2c9vLHvTWkL5HrxfgnV2eYDBV2Ow0G2dGCFY0FAPky6OaF0JZybYZpFVqf6SAoFHJLfPQhQPmglCqakiKFMtx8nAZmQXl1TvSarI/s640/September+2012+032.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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But these hot-colored late summer blooms aren't going to wait for me to finish anything, so I'd better enjoy them while I can! And maybe stop to appreciate this crazy pitcher plant, too:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYOSfS24jVOg_G6L7jxkuuP4GgN5CDxJq8XGfgrV543J5kW9bOKvjSGtBtbBAP23d8IeQS4IJOHiY7y73EhzEgBnCQPMoQdfBT5UZcMzfFjie6K_7MwUZ3k387eJK9_LShSnl/s1600/September+2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYOSfS24jVOg_G6L7jxkuuP4GgN5CDxJq8XGfgrV543J5kW9bOKvjSGtBtbBAP23d8IeQS4IJOHiY7y73EhzEgBnCQPMoQdfBT5UZcMzfFjie6K_7MwUZ3k387eJK9_LShSnl/s640/September+2012+013.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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From the top: 'New Look Red' celosia, with red pennisetum in the background. "No Tag" lantana above a cascade of 'Silver Falls' dichondra. The nepenthes that I planted in a self-watering hanging basket this spring--one of the best things I did in the garden this year!</div>
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Also blooming in my garden: 'Black & Blue' salvia guaranitica, multiple Japanese anemones, two types of caryopteris, 'Hameln' pennisetum, 'Red Rocks' penstemon, 'Acapulco Orange' agastache, 'Hopi Red Dye' amaranth, tomatillos, 'Strawberry Margarita' portulaca, 'African Blue' basil, burgundy annual salvia, 'Rotstrahlbusch' panicum, 'Sioux Blue' sorghastrum nutens, perennial plumbago, 'Victoria Blue' salvia, 'Dragonwing' begonia, Mexican heather, lonicera sempervirens, and 'Blue Daze' convolvulus.</div>
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<i>To see more of what's in bloom around the world this week, visit the <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2012/09/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-september-2012.html" target="_blank">May Garden Bloggers Bloom Day</a> post at May Dreams Gardens.</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-19815727992255166482012-08-15T09:00:00.000-04:002012-08-15T09:00:03.860-04:00A Swirl of Activity: August Garden Bloggers Bloom Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPlC7h1epgLb3-4YAeTW7YuOPSPk06xLjhzgZ-vIN93_vFxp7Vq028gYmv4b5wI7wjpIIuvjNnvUENpmkL1GaNp3wxkl1vHVeCe-0g35TlWUlKEVY_e-7alvGn8bU8u8S4va3/s1600/august+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPlC7h1epgLb3-4YAeTW7YuOPSPk06xLjhzgZ-vIN93_vFxp7Vq028gYmv4b5wI7wjpIIuvjNnvUENpmkL1GaNp3wxkl1vHVeCe-0g35TlWUlKEVY_e-7alvGn8bU8u8S4va3/s640/august+2012+003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>'Sparkling Burgundy' eucomis, surrounded by a swirl of foliage.</i></div>
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With the wedding just past, and the honeymoon--plus an all day volleyball tournament--looming on the horizon... the eucomis isn't the only thing surrounded by a swirl of activity! I'm writing this GBBD post on Saturday the 11th, and setting it to auto-post on the 15th... so if anyone has questions about the plants in the picture above, I'll answer them next week. :-)</div>
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What's in bloom in my garden today:</div>
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Lonicera sempervirens, the native honeysuckle - 'Black and Blue' salvia - 'Paprika' yarrow - 'Rotstrahlbusch' panicum virgatum - New Guinea impatiens - Dragonwing begonia - Russian sage - red snapdragons - 'Hameln' pennisetum - red pennisetum - lantana - 'Blue Daze' convolvulus - burgundy salvia - all three dahlias - plumeria - Brazilian verbena - various hosta</div>
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<i>To see what's blooming around the world today, check out the GBBD post from Carol at <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/" target="_blank">May Dreams Gardens</a>!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiD1pPy9YQHRnhF00KKsbBDNNx2hErLCd9AfhA1cEdM7xXHaw9q99PzrXVZ5tv-pIY8dt9SpY9T0NprN7uWk62clIly1XT7hd8RtuhHc5reerpABCXmH0s9_sp_crdRe0MJ_Nw/s1600/august+2012+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiD1pPy9YQHRnhF00KKsbBDNNx2hErLCd9AfhA1cEdM7xXHaw9q99PzrXVZ5tv-pIY8dt9SpY9T0NprN7uWk62clIly1XT7hd8RtuhHc5reerpABCXmH0s9_sp_crdRe0MJ_Nw/s400/august+2012+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The second pair is going to be much longer lasting. :-)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mf2A-8C79RHSMlTcPxWK8DLkPWqUIJkRM9HJrWcI8iZ7wSzsTRmpRLQAaSA28mznjTGVdQ6IvFgHEpeGuhyphenhyphen-_JEzRe-0keOiQ0PbncLf-LuJORJSVWgMvA4ABQS9Tu3BdMmp/s1600/TheMattinglys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mf2A-8C79RHSMlTcPxWK8DLkPWqUIJkRM9HJrWcI8iZ7wSzsTRmpRLQAaSA28mznjTGVdQ6IvFgHEpeGuhyphenhyphen-_JEzRe-0keOiQ0PbncLf-LuJORJSVWgMvA4ABQS9Tu3BdMmp/s640/TheMattinglys.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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This is just a friend's cell phone pic taken off the back deck of our reception venue, so it isn't the clearest shot... but I like our smiles in this one, and we don't have our official pictures yet! Steve had ditched his suit jacket immediately after pictures because it was about 95 degrees outside. That amazing necklace and matching pearl earrings belonged to Steve's grandma. My brooch bouquet is mostly made up of vintage brooches and earrings that belonged to all of our grandmas, plus gift brooches from my Mom and my boss, and a couple of special Etsy finds that have personal meaning--like a black dog to represent my gardening assistant.</div>
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It was a wonderful day all around... and we felt very lucky to have so many close family and friends join us in celebration. :-)</div>
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<i>Note: I'll be back to my regular (irregular) blogging in a week or so... Steve and I are going to take a little honeymoon of sorts. It involves sleeping in, staying offline, and spending lots of quality time together doing things like hiking and biking. See you all again afterward!</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29062337.post-12269099793990244202012-07-16T00:08:00.001-04:002012-07-16T00:08:10.655-04:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - July 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think I'm in denial about this month's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Because if it's REALLY July 15th, then it's really less than 3 weeks until my wedding day... and I feel like there's so much to be done between now and then!</div>
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But I like to keep the GBBD records each month for my own knowledge, so here's a quickie post to show what's in bloom in my yard:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_TrTlKjgK6kzgdluA4hyphenhyphenARvA92fHx3mduEF6lqa20KdTBm-zVGR71_S7FcsK78wBbcRrFK0Jg7THj1qfVg9X2SIX6B3a7k99ARstaogjvXXQdNoSgUeTqj4TT2_OqI3DIF52/s1600/July+Garden+2012+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_TrTlKjgK6kzgdluA4hyphenhyphenARvA92fHx3mduEF6lqa20KdTBm-zVGR71_S7FcsK78wBbcRrFK0Jg7THj1qfVg9X2SIX6B3a7k99ARstaogjvXXQdNoSgUeTqj4TT2_OqI3DIF52/s640/July+Garden+2012+001.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new celosia. It's too hard to resist a full, lush, 6 inch annual like this, especially when it's on clearance for $2!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VAR5hZH7id9VGcOn3nac11vpFgC5byqTb9LoGVRLDOSvKUXTY4bFm1Y7C1VjnTAgJdw6vKm8SvJP4-6TlbqHkFrXK1UB4opW8SNSkKdbWB2kSQNcedqtI36DHRa7hLcJL96E/s1600/July+Garden+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VAR5hZH7id9VGcOn3nac11vpFgC5byqTb9LoGVRLDOSvKUXTY4bFm1Y7C1VjnTAgJdw6vKm8SvJP4-6TlbqHkFrXK1UB4opW8SNSkKdbWB2kSQNcedqtI36DHRa7hLcJL96E/s400/July+Garden+2012+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the dahlias I hope to use in the girls' bouquets... if it's still in bloom in a few weeks!<br />(Note: that's my wrist on the left. Just to give you an idea of how huge this beauty is.)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOuDG0_HAEDGspNXZ9_73oPKsNBnyJBXMWV6bWyD2vEE6UsIENMs-7vIVTHk_WaZV9AUeuKgsva0LLeSZOx-G9Cw-0t0cMH4zxqhJT6Bn65mCa6vXJ25_zDVv72cUYx7zte6j/s1600/July+Garden+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOuDG0_HAEDGspNXZ9_73oPKsNBnyJBXMWV6bWyD2vEE6UsIENMs-7vIVTHk_WaZV9AUeuKgsva0LLeSZOx-G9Cw-0t0cMH4zxqhJT6Bn65mCa6vXJ25_zDVv72cUYx7zte6j/s640/July+Garden+2012+004.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a great photo, but I'm really excited about the first blooms on my passalong plumeria!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzamOAjbucKl7GhLGTqmCe_7PdewXD9tohqOILGt9UJFglbqvfzA0UQrXAaaru9Lw6PUyn8fSqnv2I4e08xd5cSIgar1_WJznDiXSS2C5q8vsRKPdfsOsen7VcWNV8AxPpsWME/s1600/July+Garden+2012+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzamOAjbucKl7GhLGTqmCe_7PdewXD9tohqOILGt9UJFglbqvfzA0UQrXAaaru9Lw6PUyn8fSqnv2I4e08xd5cSIgar1_WJznDiXSS2C5q8vsRKPdfsOsen7VcWNV8AxPpsWME/s640/July+Garden+2012+005.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red snapdragons... which are one of the flowers I used on my wedding invitation design.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9l3YxV9x7zZhkpZGSYUDLmhGl-KTLRg1FUZS_VBuxR7Mcn06ObPkZ6QOm-LZLYhnK1Z5vhFmeE7a2nC4fMiwphzMLGsXOJjZ3qROAL-1TsPP-GCgzdDgcmvwIMNXOsrzUstz/s1600/July+Garden+2012+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9l3YxV9x7zZhkpZGSYUDLmhGl-KTLRg1FUZS_VBuxR7Mcn06ObPkZ6QOm-LZLYhnK1Z5vhFmeE7a2nC4fMiwphzMLGsXOJjZ3qROAL-1TsPP-GCgzdDgcmvwIMNXOsrzUstz/s640/July+Garden+2012+007.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lantana has been growing strangely. Instead of branching up and out, it's spreading and staying low--almost as low as the silver dichondra! At least it's blooming...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oon1VUXhQfynbIKtvN4bBYNCa5bZr28Y7mEjmZD1FI2eVN6hGEvhBf4Uh6y99dK1IQvZgKrop3Ppb7ABRelDBY37prNgA612Wzh1oZG1YexHLwa3TzHcMlUCVdKUGXxxsbuX/s1600/July+Garden+2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oon1VUXhQfynbIKtvN4bBYNCa5bZr28Y7mEjmZD1FI2eVN6hGEvhBf4Uh6y99dK1IQvZgKrop3Ppb7ABRelDBY37prNgA612Wzh1oZG1YexHLwa3TzHcMlUCVdKUGXxxsbuX/s640/July+Garden+2012+008.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe that when I was bragging about my accidentally overwintered bay laurel this spring, I mentioned being surprised that 'Black and Blue' salvia had disappeared. Well... sort of. Really, it was just hiding under the ever-encroaching oakleaf hydrangea. I cut the hydrangea back a little bit, and B&B has responded accordingly!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS2r4CrDXAzKcJziqmE1alysH9VEypwWnNoyDhxstm2vlvFXHR0eTVRUjzVT0TD5Vuz5Xj9utWsx9TU59JuOxImWn33GbpFq23v4ULEF5UsrGzR2DvhN1PvKlii3ccblsKIMp/s1600/July+Garden+2012+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS2r4CrDXAzKcJziqmE1alysH9VEypwWnNoyDhxstm2vlvFXHR0eTVRUjzVT0TD5Vuz5Xj9utWsx9TU59JuOxImWn33GbpFq23v4ULEF5UsrGzR2DvhN1PvKlii3ccblsKIMp/s640/July+Garden+2012+010.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THREE emerging bloom stalks this year on my pineapple lily!!!<br />I also have three bridesmaids bouquets to make. Coincidence? Hmm...</td></tr>
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Other things that are in bloom - July 2012</div>
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Annuals: 'Bonfire' begonia, 'Vista Burgundy' salvia, unnamed coral/orange portulaca, 2 different red New Guinea impatiens, red begonias, 'Hopi Red Dye' amaranth, ruby orach, red pennisetum, orange snapdragons, verbena bonariensis, stephanotis, 'Black and Blue' salvia gauranitica</div>
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(Holy RED, Batman! I didn't realize I had planted so much hot-colored stuff this year!)</div>
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Perennials & Shrubs: Blue globe thistle, 'Caradonna' salvia, the deep wine yarrow whose name I can never remember, the red sedums, blue shrub clematis, Russian sage, 'Purple Dragon' lamium, catmint, 'Albury Purple' St John's wort, bronze fennel, 'Grosso' lavender</div>
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Herbs and Veggies: All of the tomatoes, 'African Blue' basil, Thai basil, lemon verbena, all of the peppers. Noticeably absent: No flowers yet at all on my tomatillo!</div>
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As always... For more of what's in bloom around the world, check out <a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/2012/07/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-july-2012.html" target="_blank">Carol's July Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post</a> over at May Dreams Gardens. :-)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14395380166485303934noreply@blogger.com14