Stemsational

You know how you walk through your garden time after time...looking to see what's doing well...what's new...or what's blooming, and then one day something different catches your eye and you lean in for a closer look. The next thing you know you're noticing this "something different" all over the garden.

Well, that happened to me the other day when I caught sight of this crimson-colored stem on the abelia. The chartreuse leaves next to the deep red crimson stem highlighted by the sun caught my eye...it was a striking combination.

The next thing I knew, the stems on other plants were jumping out at me wherever I walked...like the fuzzy water-filled stems of this begonia. I just had to reach out and touch it.

And, then there was the burgundy stems on the Japanese painted fern.

Everywhere I turned...more pretty stems!

In this case...a jungle of black elephant ear stems swaying in the breeze.

And, this very unusual spotted stem on and even more unusual plant...the amorphophallus that my neighbor Nancy gave me.

Does this every happen to you?

Something unusual that you rarely notice catches your eye...and then you can't help but notice it all around your garden.

Love is in the Air!

Valentine's Day is almost here, and love is definitely in the air around our house.

An afternoon walk on a gray, overcast day was all the proof we needed...as we watched our neighbors preparing for the big day.

 :-)   :-)   :-)   :-)   :-)

~~ Let's dance~~

Five Years Later

Little did I know that five years ago this month, I was about to get hooked on blogging. Five years, and 235 posts later...I'm still blogging, and enjoying it more than ever.

It all started when I discovered Fragments from Floyd...a blog written by Fred First about life in Floyd County, Virginia. I was so taken with his beautiful photography and heartfelt thoughts, that I decided to give it a whirl. My blog didn't start out as a garden blog...it was more about life's simple pleasures...but it quickly evolved into one.

Blogging has been a positive force for me and my garden. I have enjoyed reading other blogs, making new friends and interacting with them through their blog, as well as meeting some in person. It's tremendous how much I've learned from what others have written. It has made me a better gardener, and my garden has flourished with newfound ideas and knowledge. Gardener's are very warm and generous people by nature, and they love sharing information as well as plants.

From my humble perspective, garden blogs are one example of  "what's right" in this world --kind and passionate people, communicating and generously sharing what they know -- making the world a better place!

To all of you who write such wonderful blogs, and those of you who visit my blog-- I would like to say "thank you!" It has been sooooo much fun, very enjoyable as well as enlightening, and I look forward to the fun continuing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Now for a look back...  

My first post was created from a template of a poem written by George Ella Lyons that Fragments From Floyd posted on his blog. It was a lot of fun to write, and it brought back memories that I hadn't thought about in years. In visiting the past, I realized the profound impact those years have had on who I am today.

Where I'm From


I am from the humid and still heat of the South, from Noxzema and home-cooked German meals.
I am from a simple place, a dirt road, the saving grace of books, and endless summer days.
I am from orange blossoms and palm trees, saturating the air and swaying in the breeze.
I am from memorable holiday celebrations, from sensible German heritage-hearty stock, frugal and stubborn.

I am from an inner world where thoughts and feelings are closely guarded.
From the endless affirmation that a good work ethic is a virtue.
I am from the traditional realm of Martin Luther, idealism, the voice of intuition, fairy tales & happy endings.
I am from the land of Spanish moss and oak trees, from the old world of castles & knights, orangesicles & sauerkraut.

From an optimist and a homebody, from grandparents I barely knew but inherited a love for the soil.
I am from a world neatly saved and cherished, the earthy smell of steamy rainshowers, family walks after dinner, unending thoughts & questions.

Keep blogging everybody as your beautiful photos and your love and care of the earth along with its wild creatures...in the words of Clarissa Pinkola Estes...really do help "Mend the part of the world that is within your reach."

And, don't forget to create your own "Where I'm From" poem - you'll learn a lot about yourself!

Avocado Surprise

My step-dad gave me this avocado from the tree in his yard. I was eager to slice it and enjoy the creamy buttery flavor of it with a salad for dinner that night. When I opened it and saw the seed, I got this "brilliant idea" that I could grow a tree from it and plant it at the new homestead. Then I would have this tree to remind me of him in the future. I called him up and asked if it was possible to grow a good tree from seed. He said I could but it would take about 10 or 12 years to bear a fruit if it didn’t freeze in the meantime. He said I would be better off to buy a grafted one for $10 or $12. So much for that “brilliant idea!" And by the way, I took a bite out of the avocado and almost choked on the bitterness. Yuk! The sharp taste of that bitterness lasted for a good 15 minutes, even after I downed a tall glass of iced tea (southern table wine). Next time I’ll let it fully ripen before I slice it open.

Caught in the Middle

I relish these last days of spring, knowing that the humid days of summer are slowly creeping up on us. The cool freshness of a new day is invigorating. Even the roses love spring, as their blooms are much larger at this time of year. As I wish for spring to hang around as long as possible, my yard is slowly dehydrating from the lack of rain. With a one-day-a-week watering restriction, sun-parched patches of grass and wilting plants are dreaming of a thirst-quenching summer rain shower. So it is with much longing that I cling to spring, but pray summer arrives soon.

I Love a Rainy Day!

These days I am very thankful for even the smallest shower to quench the thirst of my garden, and provide me with a break from my watering routine. A day when the rain pours steadily all day is purely an invitation from Mother Nature to toss my usual routine out the door and relax. When one of these deliciously lazy days comes my way, I treat myself to a cup of cinnamon-flavored coffee, a sweet treat and a good book.

The impending dark clouds, the soft sound of rain falling on the roof and my purring cat curled up next to me create a feeling of warmth and gratitude for this special day spent snuggled up inside my dry cocoon. While others may feel pampered from a day at the spa, I feel rested and recharged from my time spent indoors on a rainy day. You might say, I’m as happy as the ducks splashing in the puddles outside.

Sleepless in Florida

It happens every year at this time. I wake up at 3:00 am. I can't go back to sleep. I toss and turn. I can't shut off the stream of plant names that continuously run through my brain. I can't stop thinking about my yard. I dream about plant combinations and flowers to plant.

The diagnosis - SPRING FEVER!

As the warm breath of spring arrives I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for the outdoors. Even pollen allergies cannot keep me inside. I MUST be out in the garden sprucing up, mulching and of course, planting. Some people clean their homes and rearrange the furniture but I rearrange the plants. My husband jokes that I should give the plants a break this year. I tell him that it's all trial and error - fine tuning! A gardener is always in search of finding the right place for a specific plant. It's all part of the fun and I love it!

A Sight to Behold!

This barren piece of landscape may not look like much to the ordinary eye, but to the eye of a gardener it is a sight to behold. A blank canvas that holds so many possibilities. A chance to start fresh - to build anew. The mind races with ideas of what to plant. Should it be a mix of varying shades of foliage woven together to create a living tapestry, or a kaleidoscope of brightly colored flowers all jumbled together?????

Half the fun is in the dreaming. The design changes from moment to moment until the frazzled mind needs a rest. Such a small piece of land and so many possibilities. The debate goes on...

A Final Word for 2005

I feel myself beginning to relax as life returns to its familiar routine. Another Christmas has come and gone, and as the sun sets on 2005 I wonder what the new year will bring. The dawning of a new year always fills me with expectations and plans. I don't know why I can't seem to conjure up the same feelings of renewal at any other time during the year. I seem to be locked into the cyclical nature of a new year - a new beginning in January to the end in December.

Soon I'll get the urge to purge the house of unneeded items and then spring will bring sleepless nights as I dream about changes for the garden. I'll look forward to vacation and cook-outs in summer, and then as fall brings shorter days and cooler temperatures, I'll enjoy the warmth and coziness of my home. The new year will bring familiar favorites, unexpected surprises, joy, sadness and new memories that will be permanently etched in the pages of my life.

Happy Winter Solstice Day

Today is the winter solstice or the first day of winter. And while winter is not one of my favorite seasons, I do like the idea of acknowledging and welcoming the onset of a new season. Since you never hear much mentioned about the official days when the seasons change, and even less about the winter solstice I decided to do a little reading up on it. The meaning of the word solstice is "sun stands still." I found some fascinating tidbits at the Candle Grove website. For instance, Newgrange, a megalithic stone structure in Ireland was built in an exact position to receive a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber at dawn on the winter solstice. This structure is estimated to be over 5,000 years old. Can you imagine how they ever figured this out? Hundreds of buildings and churches in Europe were oriented to the solstices and equinoxes. I wonder if there are any structures built today for this purpose. Our ancestors were definitely more adapt at living in tandem with the cycles and rhythms of nature. Many ancient cultures observed and celebrated the winter solstice with traditional rituals. According to this website it seems as though modern man has transplanted Christmas onto winter solstice. And now the meaning of the celebration of Christmas is changing to the tune of our modern material world! Happy Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year! It is after all a turning point in the seasons. The day which officially marks the return of the sun!

The Silence of Dawn

It is dawn as I sit on the back porch, blanketed by the silence - complete silence - of a new day. It is the squirrel who first disturbs the stillness as he navigates the maze of interconnecting tree branches. To the left of me a lizard, in search of breakfast, darts after an unsuspecting bug.

Again, there is silence until a large water bird announces his arrival at the top of a tree with a loud squawk. The air, pleasantly cool, is completely still with the exception of some frayed palm leaves softly swaying in the gentlest of breezes. It is so quiet that you can hear the sound of dew dropping out of the trees and landing on the ground with a soft thud.

Then one by one, very quietly, I can hear the sound of birds as they begin to welcome the new day. A low hum of chatter is slowing growing louder as the day grows brighter. All of the neighborhood inhabitants are waking up and assuming their daily routine. The air is filled with the sound of busyness once again.

Soulful Living

At the end of a week when your body is dragging and your soul feels depleted, you can find a well of sustenance at SoulfulLiving.com. No matter what your spiritual or religious belief is, there is something there for everyone.

They have a vast library of uplifting articles on every topic imaginable. It is a great online place to visit (one of my favorites) to recharge your batteries and get you on your way again.

Where I'm From

I am from the humid and still heat of the South, from Noxzema and home-cooked German meals.
I am from a simple place, a dirt road, the saving grace of books, and endless summer days.
I am from orange blossoms and palm trees, saturating the air and swaying in the breeze.
I am from memorable holiday celebrations, from sensible German heritage-hearty stock, frugal and stubborn.

I am from an inner world where thoughts and feelings are closely guarded.
From the endless affirmation that a good work ethic is a virtue.
I am from the traditional realm of Martin Luther, idealism, the voice of intuition, fairy tales & happy endings.
I am from the land of Spanish moss and oak trees, from the old world of castles & knights, orangesicles & sauerkraut.

From an optimist and a homebody, from grandparents I barely knew but inherited a love for the soil.
I am from a world neatly saved and cherished, the earthy smell of steamy rainshowers, family walks after dinner, unending thoughts & questions.

This poem about where I'm from originated from a poem written by George Ella Lyons. I used the Where I'm From template provided on the Fragments From Floyd blog to create my own. It was a lot of fun and it brought back memories that I hadn't thought about in years. In visiting the past, I realized the profound impact those years have had on who I am today.

Do yourself a favor and create your own Where I'm From poem!