New Avenues for Growth

It’s 108 degrees outside and will likely get hotter. And to think that we had night-time temperatures in the 50’s earlier in the week! That’s the great thing about living in the Southern Piedmont region; June almost always holds a “cold snap” (except in last year’s brutal heat). My “rooster plant” is maturing nicely and is sprouting branches along its “trunk”. The red hibiscus not only survived the cut (pruning) but as hoped, is branching out in new directions. More branches equal more flowers!

Doing Instead of Dreading

Ah, it feels good to sit down in the garden! I’ve just finally fertilized my balcony garden-instead of dreading it, I did it. Though the fertilizer is organic, it doesn’t smell as bad this time (a mixture of things I don’t even want to read). I didn’t get around to fertilizing the pots in front; I startled a bird—a mutual feeling, when I opened the front door a few minutes ago and discovered to my dismay that it was building a nest in my hanging basket. The purple sweet potato vine and mini sun coleus were already mashed down and suffering from Mr. & Mrs. Bird’s stash of skeletonized leaves. I hated to undo their hard work but dive-bombing us any time we open or close the door or water the plants won’t do. I’m glad I discovered the plan before it was too late. I carefully placed their building materials where they could find them and start again somewhere else. I also did the dreaded red hibiscus pruning today. Hibiscuses bloom mostly on new growth—the stem ends, so I needed to make more ends to make more blooms. It was getting lanky and the one long branch caught the wind the other night and caused the plant to fall over on several other plants. It was time.

Ever Faithful

I can always count on Sweet William’s brilliant color to be the first to brighten my garden—year after year. I do have to cut back the stragglers and replace some of the plants from time to time but they grow well in my large pot. Their bloom surge is in the spring with another in the fall though they bloom here and there throughout the summer. They make fairly good cut flowers in small vases.

Today is yet another Red Hibiscus Day! I could get spoiled.

Morning Peace

A red hibiscus (flower of peace) greeted me this morning. The buds start as tiny green knobs and seem to take forever to develop but once they achieve a certain level of maturity their growth accelerates. Once the roll of petals emerges, I can tell about what day it will bloom—usually in two to three days.

The hibiscus will need pruning soon. I don’t really like pruning but I would like more flowers. Maybe I can find a bright orange one at a good price this year.

In the photo you can see the pollen-laden pine trees through the window; other areas have pollen-dropping oak trees. Both kinds of pollen have covered everything outside for miles around. Even an aerial photo of one of our lakes shows a huge amount of yellow pollen on its surface. Reportedly, it’s the worst pollen “season” in a long time—maybe ever. I enjoy trees but I will be glad when they finish this cycle so that my eyes and nose can be at peace!

Hothouse Varieties

Another potentially record-breaking high is forecast for today, and still no air conditioning. I know that some people don’t have air conditioning at all but often their dwellings are built for better air flow or they have a cool basement.

I moved the bougainvillea hanging basket outdoors in order to access the fan; it seems happy enough. Unless the night temperatures drop again—they’re currently in the 50’s, I plan to leave it out there until next winter. Bougainvilleas can be pruned in the spring so I hope to do that soon, making way for more blooms.

Meanwhile, the other plants seem to be enjoying the “hothouse” indoors with daytime temperatures in the low 80’s and nights in the 70’s or perhaps 60’s. These temperatures fit very well with the care guidelines for tropical plants. There’s often an upside to life’s inconveniences. And hopefully this inner heat will be temporary.

My computer is working better now. I’m thankful it’s not like the early ones that had to be kept extremely cool!

Pentas A-Plenty

The deep pink penta is in full bloom, probably more than it bloomed outdoors. They do, as it turns out make good indoor plants; I wouldn’t have expected it.

I’ll take them back out to the balcony garden though when the weather warms for more than a day or two. It has worked out really well to have the various plants indoors since we have such good window space but I’ve never had this many indoors before and I’m eager to get some of the them out into fresh air.

This morning I trimmed some straggly branches off the Angelonias and look forward to more fresh new growth.

Reaching

The avocado plant has now lost all of its old leaves and the new branch is reaching for the ceiling—at a slight angle, one of the branches, that is. The second branch, tiny as it is, is still green and may just make it; last time the second branch just turned black and fell off. I read the other day that after a year or two, avocadoes begin branching naturally. Though it’s not been the case with my other avocado, which did respond to pruning, maybe this one will decide that the pass-through window frame is the limit and begin branching—or it might curve. We’ll see.

The sun warmed the morning; I soaked in some vitamin D while I could, but now clouds are already gathering for tomorrow’s rain. I hope the sun returns today; I need it.

Only Temporary

The recent pruning of the avocado plant has proved to be traumatic since all the remaining leaves have withered and curled up. I feel about like that though I felt immediately better than I was after prayer at church yesterday.

However, at the very top of the plant--on either side of the cut, are two new branches emerging. As W. at church said yesterday this cold, and I would add, the trauma to the avocado plant, are temporary.

Pushing the Envelope

Though a number of leaves have fallen—the pot dries out very quickly, this year’s Persian Shield has done better, longer than previous ones. Here in the U.S. Southern Piedmont the handsome purple plant is sold as an annual. For some reason they’re getting harder to find and can be a little expensive, so it’s good to be able to save money by overwintering it indoors. It looks a bit straggly now but in the spring I’ll prune it back—a little at a time since it tends to be slow to grow new branches and Lord willing, it will be even more handsome than before.


In looking on the internet I’ve found that the Persian Shield isn’t at all from Persia (Iran) but Burma (Myanmar). The common name likely comes instead from the shape of the leaves and maybe the metallic look (though I’ve been unable to locate any information on the internet about such ancient shields).

Apparently I’ve been “pushing the envelope” with these plants since they are classified as “tender perennials” and need to be brought in “when temperatures drop below 60 degrees F”, and I’ve found that they can stand up to a couple of freezes. I also read that I should let them dry out between waterings indoors—not unless I want them to completely wilt (http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/persian-shield.html)! The best thing is to follow the guidelines for plant care to a point, and then sees what works best in your setting.

*That’s an orchid cactus behind the Persian Shield.

Trying Again

I checked one of my favorite garden books, Crockett’s Indoor Garden, to see if there was something I could do better in getting my avocado to branch; last time I cut it, it continued reaching for the ceiling--with only one branch. Alas, Mr. Crockett only said that that’s the way things are with avocadoes—they don’t want to branch and don’t make very good houseplants.

I’m not giving up that easily; I like my avocado plants. Somewhere along the way I’ve seen a huge, bushy avocado growing in a home, so I’m going to keep pruning--not that I’m looking for huge. Sooner or later it just might decide to branch out. Today is the day, as you can see in these “before and after” the haircut shots.

Making Way for the New

Though today’s high temperature is forecast to be 66 degrees, it’s chilly out in the garden. The sun has withdrawn and a wind remains; the wind rarely stirs the large wind chimes so I know it’s strong when they’re ringing—and it’s not because I bumped into them.

Still, it felt good to be outdoors again doing some pruning and cleaning up. It’s easy to fall into considering gardening tasks to be a chore when I’m involved in getting other work accomplished or in a hurry to get out the door but today I’m reminded of why I enjoy gardening. In addition to continually discovering new things, I find that I can pray and think as I garden.

Today, I pruned away more of the leggy, Victoria Blue salvia stems with their sometimes shriveled leaves in order to make way for the new growth pushing up from the roots*.


*When I write about clearing out the old to make way for the new, I sometimes worry that someone will apply such principles to people—those who are “old” or otherwise considered to be “unproductive” but I never mean such things. Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). The other day a person who has traveled the world told me, “Nowhere but in America--and maybe Europe, are ‘old’ people looked down upon—everywhere else in the world they are honored for their wisdom.”

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:21

Nipped in the Bud

A low rumble vibrates the building as tree-trimmers buzz their way through Bradford Pear limbs—the extreme version of “nip it in the bud”. There will be at least one less large branch to blossom in the spring, yet the concern that Bradford Pears’ notoriously brittle branches when laden with ice or snow will fall on a car or person is valid.


Meanwhile we’re barricaded by the branch, fallen across the sidewalk—but yes, I remember there is another outlet…I just went outside to check it, but no, it’s blocked as well. So I’m praying for the safety of the trimmers in their mechanical buckets, and that I don’t have an emergency that requires me to get out quickly--I could though, eventually climb through the branches.

Now the grinding—the pulverizing, begins; branches spew out as “mulch” into the waiting truck.

Appropriate Colors

I met a chameleon this morning as I trimmed frost-damaged yellow green sweet potato vine leaves. Though clinging to the green vine that I was “disturbing” and very near the off-white railing, he or she was a dark taupe color. Perhaps its squinting eyes were an indication that I had awakened it and it hadn’t had a chance to put on its proper colors. I assured it that I would be finished soon and wouldn’t disturb it further.

When I went back just now to see if I could find it to make a portrait, the chameleon had indeed turned green!

It’s another sunny though wet and breezy morning, the kind to bask in and the chameleon, despite the parade of noisy trucks passing through, seems to relish it. But I have many things to accomplish though the sunlight and breeze definitely make my tasks more pleasant.

To Grow Again

My “revived” avocado has sprouted two new sets of shiny bronzed leaves to replace the spindly top I pruned a month or so ago. Making the cut was a little scary but the plant will be bushier and more vigorous. It won’t reach as great a height but in a small garden that’s a plus.

Yesterday evening the full moon rose over a row of tables crammed with home-cooked foods as my husband and I and dozens of her other friends filled my friend B’s huge backyard. It was good to get out in the country in such beautiful weather. We tree-top dwellers are often limited to parks in order to spend much time with our feet in creation, so it’s especially nice when someone shares their yard. Thanks B!

I had some great art conversations, which sometimes turned to the subject of God’s speaking through his creation—the complexities, variety and sheer beauty of the things he has made. That’s why I’m so drawn to spending time outdoors and in my garden, why I’m refreshed there. God isn’t a part of creation but is revealed through it.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” Romans 1:20

Branching Out

I’m trying to be positive about this. When I was a teen, I grew my first avocado from a pit leftover from dinner; I had probably seen a magazine ad by the California Avocado Council, which heavily marketed the green marvels in those days. I punctured the pit with toothpicks (no easy feat) and balanced it in a jar of water rather like a hippo on a tightrope. I was thrilled when it grew taller and taller; I knew I should prune it so it would branch but I couldn’t bear it.



Somewhere along the way I ordered Richard W. Langer’s The After-Dinner Gardening Book from the garden book club, which gave more incentive to prune. This morning I reread his account of letting his first avocado, Arthur, grow unfettered to the nine foot ceiling of his New York City apartment. Their solution was to take it to live in Pennsylvania with family. But how to get it there? He and his wife put Arthur on a skateboard and hailed several cabs to take the “three of them” to Penn Station, finally convincing a driver to allow them to shoehorn in the avocado tree. Langer wrote, “The ride down was uneventful, except that the [train] conductor looked somewhat askance at me as I stood beneath the shade of my tree in the passageway, observing the passing, avocadoless landscape.”



I had forgotten my current avocado planting; stacking another pot on top of one that seemed unoccupied. In rearranging one day, I remembered the pit. I gently dug below to see whether it had rooted or rotted. It had rooted! In time it sprouted up and made some healthy leaves. But I had to cut it. I’m over my reticence to cut avocado plants. Mostly. But prune it I did. It’s a little sad looking but I know it will be better for it. Now it will branch out.

The other day as I read the Biblical book of Zechariah I came across a man who was to be prophetic of Jesus, ”Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place”. (Zechariah 6:12) We Christians talk a lot about Jesus being the vine and we the branches (John 15:5) but tend to forget that branches branch out.

Time for a Haircut

My yellow-green sweet potato vine is thriving—all over the place. I’ve taken cuttings before to root in clear vases of water indoors but it’s time for more. I’ve enjoyed the beauty of the cuttings indoors so much that I’ve been reluctant to pot them outdoors. Encouraged by new cuttings on the way, I finally moved one to a large pot out front. By the look of the long loop of roots, I waited longer than is ideal. (The roots are pink!) It takes a little while for a plant with water roots to adapt to soil but with care, a plant this vigorous has no problem. In fact they’re so vigorous that they need a big pot since they grow a good-sized tuber or sweet potato (non-edible) underground. The pot therefore gets heavier as the tuber and its vine grows.

The best time to see the hummingbird, I’ve discovered, is morning but today as the temperature climbed I came face to face with him or her over the geranium.

Last night our gullies were again washed—this time with a bang!

A Possible First

What a pleasant surprise to find not one or even two red hibiscus flowers this morning—but three! I’m not sure my bush has ever had that many flowers at once! It's tending toward being leggy though I’ve wanted the height in order to block some of the intense sun. However, I read in a houseplant book I found at the library that they can be pruned in the spring—maybe I’ll do that next year and make more blossoms possible. Maybe I can even grow some new ones with the stem cuttings.

A week ago, I saw some small hibiscus plants for an unheard of $4.99. But, I thought, I’m not sure if some are orange so I’ll wait ‘til they’ve bloomed out a bit by next Saturday when we’re here again. Too late, they were gone. The store plant lady said, “Oh but they were an opportunity buy so they’re all gone!” Well, I missed that opportunity but surely there will be another one…somewhere.