Filled

Even after I added the colorful “designer” coleus to my hanging basket, it still had gaps. I wanted more petunias but they’ve been hard to find this time of the summer since they get too leggy to sell. I was pleased to find a small pot of fragrant deep purple petunias at a big box garden center (yes, I like to “shop local” but the workers at the chains are local too). I turns out that they’re “mounding” petunias so they’ll keep the middle ground filled. I’m pleased. I’m glad I got them transplanted before the rain poured. We and our thirsty ground thank you Lord!

The Last Lily?

Today the last pink daylily of two bud-laden stalks is blooming. It hasn’t bloomed in years but at last, the plant has given quite a show! Maybe it’s not over yet! Maybe fertilizer will boost some new bud stalks from its base. Daylilies are blooming all over town, even on the highway medians and hillsides, so why not? We must have some very clean gullies today since last night we got our gullies washed (“a real gully washer” colloquialism for a hard rain)! The rain was preceded by a wide stripe of deep red sunset light on the horizon. We sat in the garden and watched until the color faded but we didn’t start until 9pm! I love long days!

Free Water

The Lord is so gracious to again give us free plant water—rain! Rain just comes as a free gift “to the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Today I’m remembering that rain is about more than weather; it’s about provision. Some of my plants got watered but I had to add a good bit of my own “rescued” water, water I’ve rescued from going needlessly down the drain. Maybe I can “rescue” some of the rain on the balcony next time. While in today’s cool and rainy weather it’s less of an issue, last night when I found several bug bites around my ankles I resolved to spray my natural bug spray on my socks when I again venture out into my mini-jungle. This morning, I found the culprit that has “ventilated” my yellow-green sweet potato leaves and was intent upon my orange million bells in the same hanging basket—a black worm with a yellow stripe. Look out below! I sent it flying to a different cafeteria, hopefully in the wild growth. So I “throw like a girl” and landed it in the bush below—I am a girl. I suppose the worm could crawl back up but maybe it will enjoy the bush instead.

Soaking Wet

Last night’s hard rain slanted in on my garden without harming it. The plants are wet—most of them, and the air is drenched. This morning the heavy moisture escaped the soil as a misty fog. The sun’s getting through the clouds a bit now but hasn’t made it very far into my home; it’s dark in here! It’s another Red Hibiscus Day and the garden is flowering.

Orange-flowered Bush

The Bells are Blooming

My orange Million Bells are blooming in profusion—amazing, since they stayed outside all winter. Though the winter was milder than usual, we still had some very cold nights in the ‘teens. The “regular” petunias in neighboring hanging baskets are growing fast; though I want them to cascade, I think I’ll need to pinch them back for more blooming since they seem to bloom on the stem ends.

It’s planting time! A garden center I’ve never been to is having a “Spring Opening” on Saturday. I need to put together a list of what I need—and don’t need i.e. already have.

Rain is coming.

While I Wasn’t Looking

As I raised the blinds this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find another red hibiscus opening. I knew that the bud to its left would likely open tomorrow but I hadn’t seen this one coming! What a treat! From its plant stand, the hibiscus bush is taller than I am with this flower at the very top. The nearby shelf is the sixth one up; I had to climb a step stool for this photo.

The oak pollen that I thought was finished is making our walks miserable. We need more rain to wash it away and to ease our moderate drought status. Lord Jesus, please glorify the Father by giving us rain—without trouble (see John 14:13).

Quick Response

The lettuce seeds I planted a short time ago have already sprouted! They obviously like the warm weather too; the warmth seems to be bringing everything out early. I really didn’t plant them that close together; apparently my watering and God’s rain washed them together but that’s okay.

Though the mixed lettuce seed packets always show purple leaves, for some reason none ever emerge in my garden. I would really like to have purple leaves.

We enjoy salads for their nutrition, lightness and no-cook preparation yet it’s amazing how labor-intensive salad-making is in washing so many leaves. It’s worth it though to get really fresh and colorful food and for keeping heat out of the kitchen.

In the Pink

The Hawaiian Ti plant has a lovely new leaf. Overall, the dark green leaves have a hard, shiny appearance—nothing spectacular though they do reflect light. But oh those pink edges! The sun and even today’s pale “liquid sunshine” shines through the pink and lights it up. What a creative touch God, the Master Painter, added to this plant!

I’m ready for him to brighten up my edges—I’m still recovering from a nasty cold. But recovering is the operative word—I am rounding the corner!

Breathing

Outdoor plants benefit from rain washing their leaves of dust and pollen; have you ever noticed how intensely green and clean the “world” looks after a rain? Indoor plants don’t have that benefit so gardeners have to fill in. Houseplants benefit from an occasional washing of their leaves with a warm, wet paper towel (or cloth) since they breathe through their leaves; they also benefit from the humidity. And, anything that’s cleaner is usually brighter as well—that means brighter color and that’s almost always good!

My smaller croton plant pictured here has spread out as it has dropped some leaves; new leaves are coming!

My breathing isn’t so good this week—probably a cold, but I don’t think that a wet paper towel will do it for me. I’m resting and praying for healing—quickly and completely.

Singing in the Rain

A young mockingbird either sang despite the rain or fussed because of it; I don’t know which since it didn’t tell me. By the time I, camera in hand, realized that maybe I could actually photograph a bird it had flown. Nevertheless, the raindrops on the branches are beautiful.

In winter it can be a little harder to get green in one’s meals but parsley though small is stalwart. This flat-leaf variety I grew from seed has survived temperatures in the upper “teens”! It’s nice to have some fresh herbs for seasoning. And as a bonus—parsley contains several vital nutrients including the vitamin C I’ve been looking for!

Room to Grow

About a year ago, I decided that I needed some of God’s creation in my studio to inspire my creativity so plants were the obvious solution since I have neither the room nor necessary commitment for an aquarium. The trouble is, and this makes for many difficulties, though my studio window faces south, the deep overhang makes for little natural light. Since I’m very fond of palms and I knew that Areca Palms were fairly easy to grow, I bought a tiny one for my worktable. My friend G. who has a deep green thumb started has with a tiny one and has grown it as tall as I am (average height)! Despite the low light and my latent discovery that they like “high light”, my little palm has at least doubled in size over the past year or so.


Between its increasing size and occasional dried out branches, I decided that it’s time to move the Areca out of its flimsy three inch plastic pot to a nicely designed red-violet non-porous five and one half inch pot. The extra two and one half inches suit it well and the red-violet color will look a lot better in my studio.

The Areca palm is also known as “Yellow Palm” and needs to be kept “thoroughly moist at all times”*, which is why a non-porous pot will work the best for it in the dry indoor air. The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Houseplants also says that it’s a slow grower, adding only eight inches per year even in the best circumstances—a plus in indoor close-quarters. Slow growth also keeps the cost of repotting to a minimum as well as the weight of carrying it when it comes to moving time.

It rained so hard this morning that the rain uncharacteristically drenched my newspapered potting set up—but fortunately I got it done without my getting wet. And now the sun is peeking through.

Falling from the Sky

Clumps of matted and molted leaves woven through with pine needles and who knows what else fell from the sky accompanied by loud machine buzzing. A large shadow loomed above, just behind the cascade. We had been warned that the gutter cleaners were coming (at last), warned to move our cars and cover our patio furniture to protect them from “falling debris.” But “Chicken Little” need not have worried; the overhang edged by the non-functioning gutters extends well past my garden. As for cars under gutters—highly unlikely.

Not only were these gutter cleaners neat, their timing was impeccable since rain has been falling from the sky since; rain is forecast to be falling every remaining day of the week—even Christmas. But we can make it cozy indoors.

Oskar’s number one bud has burst forth in bloom! Since it’s cool and rainy, the flowers will last longer. If it were sunny, I would put an amaryllis in a cool spot away from direct sun to keep the flowers fresh. The same would be the need for any cut flower; never put cut flowers on top of the TV or any other hot spot if you want them to last.

Snap, Crackle, Pop, & Stripes

Last night’s cold front brought more rain and much cooler temperatures. We prepared for heavy winds by taking the hanging baskets and wind chimes down but thankfully had no problems; sadly, others in the wider area had great damage.

After an initial snap, crackle and pop of rain hitting crisp autumn leaves, this morning’s rain poured at a rare angle, completely saturating the garden.

Tonight a hard freeze is forecast so it’s time to find an indoor spot for the Tropicana Canna. They crave lots of light, humidity and water so wintering this one indoors will be a challenge. A location where the sun back-lights the leaves would be ideal to show off their colorfully striped beauty. It will also need elbow room to unfurl. I will however, wait to bring it in until the rain has had a chance to evaporate so it won’t drip off the leaves onto the carpet—and me.

Firecracker Surprise

As I sat in the sunroom earlier this week reading the Bible and enjoying my surroundings, I glimpsed a spot of color behind one of my Christmas cacti. Was it a bud? I still have my sense of wonder and was delighted to discover two scarlet buds! Hmm, if this one is budding, maybe the other one is as well. Yes, it had a fully opened pink blossom with another close behind!

My Christmas cacti bloom sporadically and always on the side closest to the window; their firecracker blooms can burst open before I know it. The flowers don’t last very long so I have to enjoy them right away. I turned the pots so that the flowers face me; today I brought the scarlet one off its shelf into full view so I can enjoy its full glory.

Last night as I looked through a houseplant book I was reminded that many of my plants like high humidity. They’re getting plenty today with temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s and lots of rain coming!

The pink and scarlet “firecrackers” and a red hibiscus brighten the gray day.

Sky Symphony

Pouring rain doesn’t deter the chickadees, cardinals and blue jays from chirruping and rushing from tree to tree. Another crowd of pilots are in no hurry at all but are taking a bug break on the lawn.

Now that the rain has stopped, sky water gurgles through the gutters sounding like a mountain brook.

Though the temperatures aren’t expected to climb out of the fifties today, the air is fresh…washed.

The pineapple sage blossom has developed a beautiful arch as it opened; another is beginning.

Warm & Cozy

It’s a cool blustery day! I didn’t cover the garden against last night’s 43 degrees and most seemed no worse for the wear since it had rained most of the day yesterday. However, since the Angel Face Angelonia tends to droop in the cold (the other variety has no trouble), I made a place for it last night in front of a window. I had to move a couple other plants around but it worked out fine. The Angel Face seems to be happy in its sunny spot that will get brighter as the pear tree outside drops its leaves. I'm happier in the sunlight too.

I don’t think the new neighbors will be gardeners, but you never know.

Mini Water Towers

A few years ago, I was given some glass water globes for my garden. They’re advertised as able to water your garden for up to two weeks while you’re away. Everyone who sees my garden asks me if they work. “Kinda sorta.” Somehow, they work better on some plants than others but I’ve never seen one dispense water for two weeks.

It’s really important to make a hole in the soil with a pencil or small diameter dowel first before sticking the tube end in the soil though or the sharp-ended tube will take in a dirt clod that will block the water flow. A skewer will dislodge the dirt but as soon as you turn the tube down to push it into the soil; the dirt blocks the flow again. Experience is not the best teacher.

A few months ago, I bought several more glass globes of various sizes when I needed to be away for a bit. After a week, some still had water and some were empty. I had saturated all the plants before situating the globes and leaving; a few plants were worse for the wear but most did fine.

The globes help a bit with plant watering but the real reason I like them is the beauty of sunlight shining through their colorful blown glass. I have lots of blue ones, a couple green and some with blue, white and orange or magenta—all on one globe. They’re sturdy enough to hold up to the ravages of summer and winter in the Piedmont and will add some color to my otherwise barren winter garden (though I’m dreaming up what seeds I can grow for winter color—stay tuned).

Lots of rain today. I’m told that the new neighbors are moving in today; moving is difficult anytime but heavy rain definitely makes it worse!

True Colors

It’s another rainy day though the sun shone for about five minutes—I’m grateful for every ray. We seem to have been in a pattern for a while now of two weeks of rain, a week and a half of sun, a week of rain.

On my walk yesterday, I noticed that more of the local leaves are showing their true colors. The reds, oranges and golds that autumn leaves display are the color they really are. The wonderful greens we see in the spring and summer are chlorophyll, the trees’ food; my botany instructor was adamant—“fertilizer is not plant food, chlorophyll is!” Since it’s produced by the sun, as the days shorten the chlorophyll recedes, displaying the leaves' gorgeous true colors.

The Tropicana Canna’s red and green stripes are especially gorgeous today. Though it hasn’t bloomed its anticipated orange flower, the colorfully striped leaves are a beautiful addition to my garden. If all goes well, it will survive the winter outdoors to grow again in the spring. The key to overwintering such plants outdoors is to keep watering them.

Raining, Cats, Dogs, Bees

Though it’s been raining again, the giant “bee” is back doing some loud and serious cutting. Its handlers are chopping bushes that obscure the view between our homes and their business. Hello goldfish bowl.

Something has agitated some unseen dogs—“Good Sam” cats perhaps (cats that make their home on the grounds and are fed by “Good Samaritans”)?

The rain has thankfully washed the ragweed pollen from the air. Even when it isn’t raining, the garden needs much less water since the sun isn’t as harsh and the days are shorter.

A nearby maple is painting a few of its leaves red.