tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57299294341796499302024-03-02T14:13:39.171-08:001003 GardensOne in Adelphi, Maryland, one in Wildwood, Florida, one at the US National Arboretum with a grandfatherly interest in many more around the DC area (unless noted, pictures are taken the day of post)ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.comBlogger2345125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-340903364017137562023-09-19T08:29:00.000-07:002023-09-19T08:29:05.540-07:00Any Mudflat is Better than None!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2XZg6QzKlG064_GhYQr3zg99dz0Vl044jI6Tj-CmN0Vb5ZG2c1aeR9v_jzjopRUMzpsgn9zjbvgOPnQ_0VC-5emKIlgGYw51uITKB4pJXWqD87PlwiSjmJqjgXVzY7XYGkqugycw3TwiSRXVMeFbe8iX1GMKPNF5kf_TyEbWowC9z6j7uBbAwj4A4ZUq/s1024/PXL_20230919_134440806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="535" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2XZg6QzKlG064_GhYQr3zg99dz0Vl044jI6Tj-CmN0Vb5ZG2c1aeR9v_jzjopRUMzpsgn9zjbvgOPnQ_0VC-5emKIlgGYw51uITKB4pJXWqD87PlwiSjmJqjgXVzY7XYGkqugycw3TwiSRXVMeFbe8iX1GMKPNF5kf_TyEbWowC9z6j7uBbAwj4A4ZUq/s320/PXL_20230919_134440806.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><br /> And this one is more or less west of the road so the sun is behind me viewed from the road. I say as though this was a permanent situation. Unfortunately it'll probably not be here long. This field, that adjoins the ~west side of our community, is now owned by The Villages. Their recent grading produced this birdwatcher's delight. It'll likely soon be reconfigured into a subdivision.<p></p><p>This morning, though, I saw egrets, Great and Snowy, Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, Sandhill Cranes, various herons, Killdeers, both Yellowlegs and a raft of smaller sandpipers I couldn't identify. Plus a kestrel and our resident red-shouldered hawk. And Meadowlands on the wire and bluebirds in the air. I dreamt of this in retirement. </p><p>There are countless ponds, drainage basins, infiltration basins... around us but virtually none of any use to wading birds. We're at the epicenter of The Villages. Their priority for pond management is a clean esthetic; no messy edges. That means steep slopes on the margins to prevent emergent vegetation and definitely no mud. I'll just enjoy this as long as it lasts.🙂</p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-7024567621360026842023-09-14T15:19:00.004-07:002023-09-14T15:19:49.827-07:00Rain at Last!<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6goVH3-J1UpqmVYRRJRWxz1jUZFFRAfkGW4KU7EDIXP_D_Vv8mOgUf2MXvZyxCotrtDdgljifu7QfIv60Xm7ajqkIHZJ9P8QjNeHaw3CMivTsLCEe3jdcWUP7TCk6ujLtGNM6Qa7OZgTA8-hj4zHC12rEbqvePG2z19GlcXxjx1w3uKJjVj3v4WFchT7/s4032/PXL_20230914_215725345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6goVH3-J1UpqmVYRRJRWxz1jUZFFRAfkGW4KU7EDIXP_D_Vv8mOgUf2MXvZyxCotrtDdgljifu7QfIv60Xm7ajqkIHZJ9P8QjNeHaw3CMivTsLCEe3jdcWUP7TCk6ujLtGNM6Qa7OZgTA8-hj4zHC12rEbqvePG2z19GlcXxjx1w3uKJjVj3v4WFchT7/s320/PXL_20230914_215725345.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting on the porch enjoying the rain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>You have to be a gardener to know how wonderful I feel listening to the first rainfall in weeks of mid-90's temperatures. No doubt golfers are disappointed, but we gardeners are ecstatic and will sleep well tonight.</p><p>We water, and that keeps the garden alive but there's nothing like real rain. I've always hand watered my gardens with a goal of keeping the plant alive, not happy. Carrying them through, uninjured, to the next rain. Well we've done it again and I'm feeling really good. Eventually, likely in the next month, the weather will relax and we'll be looking at high temps in the 80's not the mid-90's. That'll make everything easier.</p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-52582016644212756272023-09-12T08:13:00.006-07:002023-09-12T12:53:02.147-07:00Drunken Sailor, Combretium indicum indicum <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxeOXt4hLGDjtkmpy9_dJ5KWRcTOJknAw9VQg5vRywiicLO92leSYFrenzq6LiCHp_gnos8E4HmpaysbLdksyoxvvmbmLMf4cOPiMT0AuFq_X66_qf3kaohPFRu5u-ZbNbw36HqzOpet_WPCYi_gk4Phc4kzcQ1RSsxw1QuvpOhieXgxc3BOnvrvyPZbo/s2236/PXL_20230912_143006522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2236" data-original-width="1446" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxeOXt4hLGDjtkmpy9_dJ5KWRcTOJknAw9VQg5vRywiicLO92leSYFrenzq6LiCHp_gnos8E4HmpaysbLdksyoxvvmbmLMf4cOPiMT0AuFq_X66_qf3kaohPFRu5u-ZbNbw36HqzOpet_WPCYi_gk4Phc4kzcQ1RSsxw1QuvpOhieXgxc3BOnvrvyPZbo/w276-h427/PXL_20230912_143006522.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>Best, and most, common names ever: Burma Creeper, Madhavi lata, Chinese Honeysuckle, Irangun malli, Ishq peccan, <i>et alia</i>. I read at some point after we planted it that this is the most popular/commonest vine in Delhi. I can believe it. It's got so many virtues. It's vigorous (more on that later), it's fragrant, it's pollinator friendly though possibly more so in its native habitat than here (it does attract certain moths in our garden, it flowers for at least 8 months for us in Central Florida, it seems to be pest and disease free, I never water it at any point in our, occasionally 8 month, dry season. Wow it's like a perfect plant. I have read that some people find the fragrance unpleasant, but smells are like that. I enjoyed the scent when I could smell it. I was never diagnosed with Covid, but a couple of years ago, I lost the ability to smell certain flowers and this is one of them. Oh well. Before I forget, the plant is highly regarded by <i>Feng Shui </i>designers being considered indicative of abundance and prosperity.<div><br /></div><div>We have been watchin <i>Good Karma Hospital</i> for a few weeks; it's filmed in Sri Lanka, not Delhi, but there's plenty of Drunken Sailor in the backgrounds. Last night, the plot featured a drunken, maybe he was a sailor... It appears to be native to a wide range of tropical East Asia possibly even stretching around the Indian Ocean to Easter Africa. Undeniably a beautiful plant though its color, white flowers aging to red, and its relentless exuberance may make it more suited to some gardens than others. We love it.</div><div><br /></div><div>As to invasiveness, I can say that in 5 years we've not seen seeds or seedlings but apparently it can, and is, a problem in South Florida. The flowers are hermaphroditic so, barring physiological or timing issues it could be self fertile. After a limited search all I could find on the subject is that there seems to be some level of self-incompatibility. So maybe if you have only one plant you're safe. Of course that's only if your neighbors don't have a compatible individual. It's hardiness is generally listed as 10a or 9b and we are securely 9a. There's a list of plants that are hardy in 9b that we lose regularly. I'd lose to grow Sea Grape, <i>Coccoloba, </i>that is very comfortable in Tampa, but no... Maybe I'm being unduly optimistic about chances of it escaping but I weed relentlessly and identify all seedlings especially new ones. Still, I wouldn't plant it in South Florida so we're going to keep it.</div><div> <p></p></div>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-43113457421365933442023-08-28T07:32:00.005-07:002023-08-28T07:51:56.833-07:00Hurricane Idalia Coming to Wildwood!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzS-rmwnPYtXR2fZb1o7GTDuDIDslyDgS7NFGCNqnteLmzGzpgdshDiy7vM1IV1nOimyIfWmsPmGLXz4lUDnRuEQwfEtnJnjkN5CL54TO-z06II8wU6Ij_H67L1JeqgjmsxicR_h7Xu6cTTrDih1wgg2m2ibbsu-wuSoMSIDKiTd_nMPJaJctQnAGQQfn/s4032/PXL_20230823_132041411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzS-rmwnPYtXR2fZb1o7GTDuDIDslyDgS7NFGCNqnteLmzGzpgdshDiy7vM1IV1nOimyIfWmsPmGLXz4lUDnRuEQwfEtnJnjkN5CL54TO-z06II8wU6Ij_H67L1JeqgjmsxicR_h7Xu6cTTrDih1wgg2m2ibbsu-wuSoMSIDKiTd_nMPJaJctQnAGQQfn/w429-h322/PXL_20230823_132041411.jpg" width="429" /></a></div>Tropical Storm Idalia will break from Cuba, become a hurricane, and race north northeasterly picking up strength till it crosses from the marine Gulf to the terrestrial state of Florida. That'll slow it down considerably and quickly but by then it'll surely be at least a 3. And we're only just under 50 miles inland. Up to the minute forecasts have winds not exceeding 40mph, but hey, twenty four hours ago, the spaghetti models almost all had it pointed far enough west of us to where rain would have been problematic and wind a non-issue. Until it starts to move, who knows?<div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, I'm roaming the garden taking pictures and trying to commit things to memory. At a minimum the bananas will be shredded and likely, some of the elephant ears. And we'll get enough rain to last us a week, which is good. We planted a jacaranda this year and it went from four feet to eight. Should I remove the staking and let it move freely with the wind or leave it loosely staked at 4 feet? <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>/<br /> <p></p></div></div>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-70623522083683579672023-08-15T13:15:00.004-07:002023-08-17T09:12:43.415-07:00Odontonema strictum, Mexican Fire Spike: hot color in the shade <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprAlFim_DHw-MVx07hK6q6A7H7pMWsD8958JWIFBDptZX15L1wL5_yp0RD6SVB2rNfzPHSs7lOCWepjCimFRyq0RlzGOVTkYyQmqbnqQtdun_c-wtAZUcwUbjxbpBAACaQ-95LlhnBAwV4O9M4RqIpBmUHihm-L35FQN5XJfvROBpknnLWUaqNbux37jA/s2415/PXL_20230814_123255243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprAlFim_DHw-MVx07hK6q6A7H7pMWsD8958JWIFBDptZX15L1wL5_yp0RD6SVB2rNfzPHSs7lOCWepjCimFRyq0RlzGOVTkYyQmqbnqQtdun_c-wtAZUcwUbjxbpBAACaQ-95LlhnBAwV4O9M4RqIpBmUHihm-L35FQN5XJfvROBpknnLWUaqNbux37jA/s320/PXL_20230814_123255243.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /> If only I'd known about the shade deal when I planted it! In 2007, I sited it on the se facing back wall of our large shed. It was bleached and miserable for years. For the past few years it's been shaded by an elderberry, an avocado, a volunteer Simpson's Stopper, draped by the natives Coral honeysuckle and Virginia creeper. I finally saw many plants at <a href="https://kanapaha.org/">Kanapaha Botanical Garden</a>, growing in varying degrees of shade but all happier than ours. A lightbulb went off! Anyway, as I used to tell design clients, "shade happens", and it happened to us and the Firespike is happy. <div><br /></div><div>It looks like a hummingbird plant and it is. Once in a while I pull out a chair, sit across from it, and watch them zoom back and forth from the Coral honeysuckle and this plant. Butterflies flit among and between both plants. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are a few families (plant) that seem to be disproportionately represented in our garden. The Ginger family, the Heliconia family, the Pea family, the Acanthus family, I'm sure I've forgotten a few; sorry. Firesticks is in the Acanthaceae, along with Brazilian plume, Ruellia caroliniana, Brazilian mask, and a handful of others. It's a tropical family, and in fact, there are occasional problems with winter burn or even dieback. The pink odontonema burns half of the time. But here's the thing; They are all so wonderfully colorful in bloom, that we put up with an occasional need for season regeneration. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><p></p></div>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-12779258372736887922023-08-13T14:13:00.005-07:002023-08-14T09:08:37.538-07:00Brazilian Plume, Justicia carnea loves the heat<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKKT3zLL-IOxcMkT5qeGLDJCwIkfOKh7Z4VF8DknfBCURPuY-3ixpV31zpvKwfmLjPIL352eNdsTC4dk6UorPpR4Bolzh_0DWYkTe1kubWbR3o5gZD-T-XDIb1acW2eBdXxK0TMn4QMRZyShAQuzool4mj42n3i3LYdUJuPMhuFimar6bAm6hNNWavJbd/s1452/PXL_20230813_202447793.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1087" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKKT3zLL-IOxcMkT5qeGLDJCwIkfOKh7Z4VF8DknfBCURPuY-3ixpV31zpvKwfmLjPIL352eNdsTC4dk6UorPpR4Bolzh_0DWYkTe1kubWbR3o5gZD-T-XDIb1acW2eBdXxK0TMn4QMRZyShAQuzool4mj42n3i3LYdUJuPMhuFimar6bAm6hNNWavJbd/s320/PXL_20230813_202447793.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>It actually is native to Brazil, an evergreen in warmer places than Central Florida. For us, in USDA zone 9a, it gets very unhappy in the winter, enjoying neither cold (lows occasionally at or a bit below freezing) nor drought. It barely rains from November to June. When the rains return though, and temperatures push into the 80's and 90's, new leaves cover the plant and it flowers. Ours flowers, usually three times a year. </p><p>I read that it's an evergreen that it reaches five feet tall with large leaves. In four years, ours is staying about two feet tall, mostly defoliates every winter, and has never had leaves more than two inches long. That size works for us as it stays nicely below the screen porch windows. </p><p>Despite preferring ideally warmer temperatures than ours, I grew it successfully in zone 7a just north of the Washington DC. It died to the ground in winter but came back in late spring until finally succumbing to a severe cold spell.</p><br /> <p></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-40393348410250698922023-08-09T07:56:00.002-07:002023-08-09T08:03:58.163-07:00Osprey with Fish (no plants today)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUp81zML6EfqstnSYSlcvvA0k5GywFduWXEtOg65uBAQ82uTKwyB2y8oXeOruQkrg7lAzufgsH72x3aFPBWSGLnJzEBrPgxT_GUT6vZhxst_VlQ5Cvqw71ii1XO3EQowwcXXuzB1MBWPiIugb8kp4JID8PtvD8MBZCkilw0QS2koujglTuBCCCKCf-imC/s1953/Osprey%20with%20fish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1953" data-original-width="929" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUp81zML6EfqstnSYSlcvvA0k5GywFduWXEtOg65uBAQ82uTKwyB2y8oXeOruQkrg7lAzufgsH72x3aFPBWSGLnJzEBrPgxT_GUT6vZhxst_VlQ5Cvqw71ii1XO3EQowwcXXuzB1MBWPiIugb8kp4JID8PtvD8MBZCkilw0QS2koujglTuBCCCKCf-imC/w289-h608/Osprey%20with%20fish.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've got this little pond out back; many years ago the initial owner/developer dubbed it "Mirror Lake". It does reflect nicely sunrises, trees, clouds, etc. but it seems a stretch to call it a lake. Ten houses, a vacant lot, and 150 feet of road circumscribe it. It's a steep pond dropping off rapidly from the shoreline. Ponds are like that in Florida or the vegetation would rapidly encroach until eventually there wouldn't be a pond. Herons and egrets wade from the side catching typically minnows or small bluegills, sunfish, ... . Bald eagles occasionally fish from the air. Our next door neighbor Nick has great video of them. We have alligators occasionally; they usually don't stay long. If they're too big we've always had them removed.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There've always been fish. Karen's brother Blake caught a 24" bass soon after we bought this house. Other family members caught similarly large fish, always returning them to the pond. The osprey ate his, as does the resident anhinga. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During a transition of the ownership of our community, the pond maintenance company wasn't paid and stopped maintaining the pond. I wince a little to think how they maintained it, chemically, I'm sure. Anyway, without the management, submerged and floating vegetation exploded, which combined with a hot dry summer to produce a massive fish kill. It was sad but interesting. We had dozens of large birds scavenging the corpses; raptors, herons, egrets, crows, and more. When all was said and done, fish came back but until the oxygen levels are righted, our fish populations are limited in number and size. Our grungy pond is more fun than the pristine version. More species and more individuals of frogs. Plus a family of Gallinules, parents and 6 small ones. I'm hoping for an ecologically based management program that'll balance vegetation and oxygen levels. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-25363375050784795082023-08-08T07:14:00.005-07:002023-08-09T04:51:57.365-07:00Loot from Brigitta Sandu who is no longer Eldon Tropicals <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLE2NfOOncoP3sSUPt9faS2sePHIt-1iZnyklNAnWatyYZ12hsc-p7KDKCOgDFG_fCrf116ZeTsIIO-NiH2lq1eqdldSQbP2S6QBbeVgoj3ym081PbAt8IvqTGvvPW9CZt5uCeYG119bSVKVBW2UHEqCAbxnGGkLtn5KPi2cbRn1Rc-5Gu-qlN1ncWYae/s4032/PXL_20230727_191440556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLE2NfOOncoP3sSUPt9faS2sePHIt-1iZnyklNAnWatyYZ12hsc-p7KDKCOgDFG_fCrf116ZeTsIIO-NiH2lq1eqdldSQbP2S6QBbeVgoj3ym081PbAt8IvqTGvvPW9CZt5uCeYG119bSVKVBW2UHEqCAbxnGGkLtn5KPi2cbRn1Rc-5Gu-qlN1ncWYae/s320/PXL_20230727_191440556.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brigitta Sandu is no longer Eldon Tropicals. She sold the mail order nursery that shipped rare, beautiful, and uncommon tropical plants around the world. The nursery, still exists under the same name, and received almost all of the stock. Brigitta will be moving back to Austria where she's already purchased a property with a greenhouse. Like a botanical Noah, she plans on taking two of each plant with her. That is, if they can survive bare-rooting and quarantine and if they're small enough to be movable. That still left a lot of plants; Karen and I went over to poach and bought the individuals in the picture below. There are some good ones: <i>Dioscorea discolor, Milletia reticulata, Cornukaemphaeria aurantiflora, Musella lasiocarpa, Passiflora coriaceae, Anihurium superbum, Dichorisandra thyrsiflora,</i> and a few more!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ES7lhfGlhyDK8dgesNCATlvJDhIYVXy4nuKW8pIs3Mtrl7VZ6pyM2VWjncDD6TvQk5yDYVbzAJFB99g79FKlcgpc87KvlNZzxdrQTuLaJGYcaQQoR5YFdQhFQ8nW4i-lFPP6moVo4grqZ39p0KPg4Vza_6qhsLmoqBMfkIRToGYu9rkm7HM6oC1-Kmkp/s4032/PXL_20230727_145222203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2360" data-original-width="4032" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ES7lhfGlhyDK8dgesNCATlvJDhIYVXy4nuKW8pIs3Mtrl7VZ6pyM2VWjncDD6TvQk5yDYVbzAJFB99g79FKlcgpc87KvlNZzxdrQTuLaJGYcaQQoR5YFdQhFQ8nW4i-lFPP6moVo4grqZ39p0KPg4Vza_6qhsLmoqBMfkIRToGYu9rkm7HM6oC1-Kmkp/s320/PXL_20230727_145222203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeTZS87o7EeqrzYcanj5-CI6t6EkzNtio7qSaWIwHL2ugRQD7NtIM6c34m4FX3M82KSy0ESEs-T31eKY9-pSoofthTMnkeXLE6mtGKYzOwnLdXA-CYL3OHT6y3nep4wvCY59YnhtOjag6hHi_X2CPGYLNNB5uwXdEl0JU3gAl3YZwTVa1CHdXHgk71VGg/s4032/PXL_20230727_141118183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeTZS87o7EeqrzYcanj5-CI6t6EkzNtio7qSaWIwHL2ugRQD7NtIM6c34m4FX3M82KSy0ESEs-T31eKY9-pSoofthTMnkeXLE6mtGKYzOwnLdXA-CYL3OHT6y3nep4wvCY59YnhtOjag6hHi_X2CPGYLNNB5uwXdEl0JU3gAl3YZwTVa1CHdXHgk71VGg/s320/PXL_20230727_141118183.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We first met Brigitta in 2019 though I'd been watching her site's availability for a few years before that. After all, she was located less than 30 miles from our Florida home. The space hasn't changed much on the inside except that there are many fewer plants in the greenhouse. Outside it's a bit more overgrown but I love the feel of the place. It's clearly the province of a plant lover. I worry that 50 years from now there won't be any, or at least many, places like this. I've loved plants my whole life and stumbling across small nurseries was a joy. I love Plant Delights and Cistus and their ilk but there was just something about these little nurseries that thrilled me. You knew there'd be a plant you'd never seen before. And you'd be able to buy it! And talk about it to the people who'd grown it. And grow it yourself. I cherish the connections that arose from these personal provenances. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP_NlxklNCt2bjmmJFl43P9pn33gekJlTv6HHDE463FW4qlx2LnfbuSBoZnq7rM1URuQv3ZRurBF7OTk9vsYrefcssWsx7Baz11u2g1gv_eywRJ40r9wDfXADZobPVDwe_Y8Jyc3Gd6Re5wJIjxai1ZbOjk-sIiiqIW5m6m6_ghA4d0gi17j3esNxvyGR/s3455/PXL_20230727_142515807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3455" data-original-width="1733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP_NlxklNCt2bjmmJFl43P9pn33gekJlTv6HHDE463FW4qlx2LnfbuSBoZnq7rM1URuQv3ZRurBF7OTk9vsYrefcssWsx7Baz11u2g1gv_eywRJ40r9wDfXADZobPVDwe_Y8Jyc3Gd6Re5wJIjxai1ZbOjk-sIiiqIW5m6m6_ghA4d0gi17j3esNxvyGR/s320/PXL_20230727_142515807.jpg" width="161" /></a></div> Brigitta with one we didn't get: purple-leafed globba.<br /> <p></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-82093154362591466552023-08-07T07:10:00.002-07:002023-08-07T08:07:01.633-07:00Hummingbirds Love Aloe maculata...and so do I<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC8hqvrBUFQFYDchD7lS1sDPMoejgoA2zLz_IPwesrWPc_sWreZ8kxjmQbmG__WMnfzQeQv0soakMzxi8oxECY-wWl75iFE5FC3ogIGQQE4RXaOZMQeXCp5RwGnprVz2-G0i_CIuotyLH4xZ8BFZjf2zspRYjMYjDdOwmMcK1VOgBC-y11QZwKPgl9ov2/s2834/original_7c58ddb6-1648-49fc-8837-76e651ecbbd2_PXL_20230807_135859743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2834" data-original-width="1310" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC8hqvrBUFQFYDchD7lS1sDPMoejgoA2zLz_IPwesrWPc_sWreZ8kxjmQbmG__WMnfzQeQv0soakMzxi8oxECY-wWl75iFE5FC3ogIGQQE4RXaOZMQeXCp5RwGnprVz2-G0i_CIuotyLH4xZ8BFZjf2zspRYjMYjDdOwmMcK1VOgBC-y11QZwKPgl9ov2/w242-h523/original_7c58ddb6-1648-49fc-8837-76e651ecbbd2_PXL_20230807_135859743.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Along with a few large oaks, some cabbage palms of varying size, a coral honeysuckle, a variegated <i>Agave angustifolia, </i>and a crinum, this species was one of the plants that was here when we arrived/bought in 2006. Back then it was <i>Aloe saponaria</i>; it's still called the soap aloe. Don't hate the taxonomists; they only go where the science leads them. (and the nomenclatural protocols) We discovered early on that these flowers are amongst the favorites of hummingbirds. Since we started to garden here, we've planted dozens of "hummingbird magnets". There are a handful of nectar plants that truly do attract hummingbirds. Most of the rest are visited occasionally or even never.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are the easiest plants in the world to move. Just slide a shovel under them, pry up, and pick up the plant with however many roots you got. You don't need any. Now you can plop it down anywhere and it'll eventually root. Even bare sand in full sun in the middle of summer. It may look a bit sad before it grows roots and experiences enough rain to rehydrate it but it will survive 100% of the time and start sending out runners within a year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the beginning the garden was empty and this was a great cheap source of a lot of plants. I created 5 colonies around the space thinking that, when the flowers came, it would be a wonderful design element to pull your eyes through space. Alas, while the plants in any one clump bloom together, different clumps, in different spaces, don't. And as the years passed and growth happened, some clumps got so shaded they barely flowered at all. A few diminished to a point where, out of mercy, I moved them back to better sites. Oh well. they're still beautiful plants even if there's only two colonies left.</div><br /> <p></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-75437442076173571212023-08-06T13:04:00.004-07:002023-08-06T14:15:28.027-07:00Plants from the Plantsman of Marion Fleamarket<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Desert Rose was Beautiful Today </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jmIcdqBW3wxyYvwSaGzzvQRKHF2F__k210zf12-gTbO_j1JM5OvhAQ1J4tyfaclAjVFpylEZj7rqB3vuGaGbleYvjIX34Q9gkV6TSI2vWBOIpIWjLzB8KZ_B37clwFSitG3_Gp2z5Yu0FhQFEDhp4gcy7-BXBTyPnU_PoFQMlMjGAgw0dl5X-FRjuAiW/s1709/original_b98657f4-b8e3-49d2-8b4f-66c159cd010f_PXL_20230806_142430875.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="1031" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jmIcdqBW3wxyYvwSaGzzvQRKHF2F__k210zf12-gTbO_j1JM5OvhAQ1J4tyfaclAjVFpylEZj7rqB3vuGaGbleYvjIX34Q9gkV6TSI2vWBOIpIWjLzB8KZ_B37clwFSitG3_Gp2z5Yu0FhQFEDhp4gcy7-BXBTyPnU_PoFQMlMjGAgw0dl5X-FRjuAiW/s320/original_b98657f4-b8e3-49d2-8b4f-66c159cd010f_PXL_20230806_142430875.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><br />Karen and I have been buying plants from Richard Toth for, going on twenty years. When we first met him, he had a small inside stall. Now he's expanded to the large outdoor space near the back of the market. We've always liked his mix of showy dependable bloomers and unusual or uncommon curiosities. Today he had Cieba, silk floss tree, which I haven't ever seen in retail. It's a spectacular plant and I'd have snatched it up in a second but we have no room. Though, I can't believe it knowing what to do with a plant actually stopped me!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gP3W1nAnVpElJHn57I1OhzqEUWWEQW3rdh_5mGFN2ORWU3RbvGxOUh5JEFURJLlweS_np1kpWFVCbO9G8-7h2l9usT-Zw5j0zMWYvZZYaHYtd4J1rSLT8pIMI8ZRyEp3UXnfwyPyZ_8f9Nkj3NztVfHrSR6Lh3rDoELJ6jhjVPesXSRP0mdtCSXnbugg/s3242/PXL_20230806_142326111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3242" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gP3W1nAnVpElJHn57I1OhzqEUWWEQW3rdh_5mGFN2ORWU3RbvGxOUh5JEFURJLlweS_np1kpWFVCbO9G8-7h2l9usT-Zw5j0zMWYvZZYaHYtd4J1rSLT8pIMI8ZRyEp3UXnfwyPyZ_8f9Nkj3NztVfHrSR6Lh3rDoELJ6jhjVPesXSRP0mdtCSXnbugg/s320/PXL_20230806_142326111.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other choice plants we've got here include Brazilian Cloak, Calatropis, and Jacaranda, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's butterfly season here; there was a good selection of pollinator plants that were being swarmed by a variety of butterflies and other pollinators. On the larval host plants, we spotted a handful of females laying eggs. The passionflowers were particularly popular.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-19044356184671807772023-08-04T06:31:00.005-07:002023-08-04T07:08:40.156-07:00Long-tailed Skippers appeared this week <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAcWuU8_n9-GXFMH_h8r0ni1Yl1EBAGkrV_7ymc_cLLWxylB2e0UdLkbHX0pmlYE-1u_uNjW4b7kd2XlMTozxTNXX7urZYMgKTWhpsBYst_B-IJVzQjy7YQyhWLi0gf03QvHdiFqNxTYLnar2kzDWC3777VL1utZ9b0X4N1AkM7aMy72BdPWNU7vePDGF/s473/PXL_20230804_123908422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAcWuU8_n9-GXFMH_h8r0ni1Yl1EBAGkrV_7ymc_cLLWxylB2e0UdLkbHX0pmlYE-1u_uNjW4b7kd2XlMTozxTNXX7urZYMgKTWhpsBYst_B-IJVzQjy7YQyhWLi0gf03QvHdiFqNxTYLnar2kzDWC3777VL1utZ9b0X4N1AkM7aMy72BdPWNU7vePDGF/s320/PXL_20230804_123908422.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I don't know where they come from, whether they just hatched from cocoons or whether they've been living somewhere else. They show up every year about this time. They like this dwarf firebush, also porteranthus. They seem to prefer full sun.<br /> <p></p><p>We have one plant of this non-native, dwarf firebush that we grow at a distance from our native <i>Hamelia patens. </i>I love the native; its presence guarantees an abundance of zebra longwings, my favorite butterfly. other butterflies and hummingbirds also frequent it. I worry about cross-pollination diluting the genetic purity of the native species. Wow, I sound like a Nazi! The problem is that our native species has coevolved with our native insects, including butterflies, over time. They work together. I haven't done scientific studies, hey I'm a gardener, but it seems apparent to me that the native pollinators greatly prefer the native species to the non-native. I've seen hybrids both in my garden, which I remove, and in nurseries. Indeed, some native plant nurseries sell the non-natives. Furthermore, they all, including the hybrids, produce red fruit. Birds eat them and distribute seeds. One of the red flags for an invasive plant.</p><p>I greatly fear the ship has sailed on this one. Still, it seems wrong for me to grow this plant. It's hard to rip it out when it does attract bees and butterflies.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-19873823145762386582023-08-02T09:37:00.000-07:002023-08-02T09:37:37.019-07:00'Tropical Weather for Tropical Plants<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfn5i6cuJgu4HAPsE7dNCMuKLKjaKkgHd8z0T1bXLF6_lA4AlrEfnoPe0rcMZ7-Z0D_DJOgAOFcbomiIaYcAjz-hRumCssruTa8RIAGGf3nV3nIn-sRNdUtVxittpJHmW4FfVKKtBOGUsj8IN6rOz2cEAP1koJxsKHN6xR7BWKihK9QOC2nNTwtc3Pjqp/s2235/Augusty%201%202023%20rainfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="1680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfn5i6cuJgu4HAPsE7dNCMuKLKjaKkgHd8z0T1bXLF6_lA4AlrEfnoPe0rcMZ7-Z0D_DJOgAOFcbomiIaYcAjz-hRumCssruTa8RIAGGf3nV3nIn-sRNdUtVxittpJHmW4FfVKKtBOGUsj8IN6rOz2cEAP1koJxsKHN6xR7BWKihK9QOC2nNTwtc3Pjqp/s320/Augusty%201%202023%20rainfall.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /> It's been a hot summer in Central Florida (like everywhere else) and we've had plenty of rain. Yesterday, we got two inches of this in about 20 minutes. Driving west, we hit the rain about three miles east on our way home. By the time we got home, coaxed the dogs out of the car and into the house, and got dried off enough to check the total, we were already a smidge over two inches. Damn! No wonder Karen had to carry the dogs the 20' from the driveway into the house. There haven't been a lot of rains over two inches but it's rained at least 4 days out of 7 for the last two months. <p></p><p>We grow a lot of plants on ~quarter acre: Florida natives, scrub natives, southwestern plants, xerics from around the world (we have 7 month without any significant rain), and in spite of those parenthetical dry months, we grow lots of jungle tropicals because we both love them. Bananas, heliconias, gingers, random epiphytes, and a gaggle of one-offs. They love this weather, that is, steamy with regular rain. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlzBWZ7hPp_11E2vW4Zq_Mf-UIpGMfRTdhaXnx8szbQLzAUHgNGyxE0CcjIpsAeORYTjA7AUotX9tiCtaTFb34mWipx5evWS3gO1374Kipm1DuCwLqkZ12rYgO-pa6CkuYpMqkuIc_NaX6PtzInmKu93BjkBZlwGUqqdczb3TDYbECwWbXnGEGSD82CXC/s2651/ice%20cream%20banana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2651" data-original-width="1136" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlzBWZ7hPp_11E2vW4Zq_Mf-UIpGMfRTdhaXnx8szbQLzAUHgNGyxE0CcjIpsAeORYTjA7AUotX9tiCtaTFb34mWipx5evWS3gO1374Kipm1DuCwLqkZ12rYgO-pa6CkuYpMqkuIc_NaX6PtzInmKu93BjkBZlwGUqqdczb3TDYbECwWbXnGEGSD82CXC/w209-h359/ice%20cream%20banana.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">This Blue Java banana is ecstatic. The clump is 5 years old and we haven't had this wet a summer since it was planted</span></span></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-15482174074019524002020-12-24T13:03:00.001-08:002020-12-24T13:03:29.818-08:00Crazy Rare Houseplants in Ocala<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVjNPp178wjaOVhg8838d7XtpxdqgKVlprJDQ9-nu_PK4wU5wX1SWU_DUOf4bT2Pydr4r87St94KAxFP0rp_Savqgin-LvwO-zptUkfJB0xcoyGWAmcEa4p1s7T4U2uVhQ5dQj16aTd_K/s2048/pants+from+peacock+cottage+christmas+ever+2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVjNPp178wjaOVhg8838d7XtpxdqgKVlprJDQ9-nu_PK4wU5wX1SWU_DUOf4bT2Pydr4r87St94KAxFP0rp_Savqgin-LvwO-zptUkfJB0xcoyGWAmcEa4p1s7T4U2uVhQ5dQj16aTd_K/s320/pants+from+peacock+cottage+christmas+ever+2020.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">77F and the wind is steady from the south at 15mph gusting near 30. The wind will turn and the temperature is expected to drop to 40 tonight and under 30 Christmas night. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So of course Karen and I went out and bought a raft of houseplants! Something on Facebook caught Karen's eye and she noticed that <a href="https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk03rqVBUsqJ4z6qlhkFa7XtWOd1DeA%3A1608842544763&source=hp&ei=MP3kX82PLKeA5wL69rrwAg&q=the+peacock+cottage&gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TM7JycqtMM82YLRSNaiwsEg1M0pOMTC1SDIxNDS3tDKoSEmxTEsyTLZITUs2NTe1MPcSLslIVShITUzOT85WSM4vKUlMTwUAPncW_A&oq=the+peacock+cottage&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgAMg4ILhDHARCvARDJAxCTAjIGCAAQFhAeMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjICCCY6BAgjECc6CwguEMcBEK8BEJECOgUILhCRAjoOCC4QsQMQgwEQxwEQowI6CAgAELEDEIMBOggILhCxAxCDAToFCAAQkQI6BAgAEEM6AggAOgUIABCxAzoOCC4QxwEQrwEQyQMQkQI6BAguEEM6EQguEMcBEK8BEMkDEJECEJMCOggILhDHARCvAToFCC4QsQM6CgguEMcBEK8BEEM6CAguEMkDEJMCOgIILjoLCC4QsQMQxwEQowI6CwguELEDEMcBEK8BOggIABCxAxDJA1CmC1jKkgNgnKsDaAJwAHgBgAGLBYgB5RWSAQgwLjE4LjUtMZgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab" target="_blank">The Peacock Cottage</a> is just up the road in Ocala. Since Christmas isn't the massive involved endeavor this year that it often has been we ended up with everything done this morning and decided to visit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This shop is truly a plant geek's dream. They have a wide variety of species, genera, and families plus many many succulents and terrarium plants. Many of the plants are rare or uncommon and all are choice. You can see what we chose: <i>Philodendron</i> 'Birkin', <i>Calathea </i>'White Fursion' (they had many calathea including others I wasn't familiar with), pothos 'Pearls 'n Jade', <i>Sansieveria </i>'Samurai', those two colorful tillandsias, several African Violets, and some begonias. We won't go back for a while, but I've already started a list Right now I've got to be sure that these, and our other tender tropicals are inside by tomorrow night.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We traded a few retail plant stories with the owners and found out they've been there for 5 years and started by focusing on African Violets. I found them to be charming and knowledgeable which is a good combination. Plus the plant geek thing! I should say that I'm not being paid for this. Never have been on this blog. My compliments are completely uncolicited<br /></span></p>ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-55709393466521626842020-04-12T06:21:00.000-07:002020-04-12T06:21:12.992-07:00Watering on Easter Morning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Karen and I bought this property, in Central Florida, in 2006 both with an eye to having a place to downsize/retire to and so that we could have a sub-tropical garden. We met in 1982 in the houseplants department of Behnke's Nurseries in Beltsville Maryland. We both love plants and have a soft spot for tropicals. We've been planting since 2006 but since we were only here a few times a year for a few weeks at a time we were limited to plants that could establish themselves. Last year we moved here permanently and we've been adding plants ever since. This is zone 9a so we can't grow most of the true tropicals but there's a lot we can grow: a few epiphytic orchids, a few heliconias, many bromeliads, more tropical aroids than I imagined, and a host of wonderful sub-tropicals. </div>
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Spring is funny here. It falls towards the end of the dry season and it's usual to receive essentially no rain from late fall to sometime in May. Over the last 8 weeks, we have received about an inch of rain. Still, spring happens somehow: the maples flower, the azaleas too, turf greens up, wildflowers come alive... Nurseries and garden centers overflow with plants. We want them all! The beds keep growing in size and number but the space is finite alas... Anyway, acclimating plants requires watering them all individually. I'm running the sprinkler because most of the plants in this bed have been in long enough to not require individual attention. Plus there's a 30+ foot longleaf pine, <i>Pinus palustris</i>, my favorite pine in the world and one I feel is sadly overlooked by designers, that seems to want more water than the site provides naturally. Plus it's Easter and seeing the water makes me feel good! </div>
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ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-61133169489340653872017-10-21T09:16:00.000-07:002017-10-21T09:16:06.248-07:00 Burbidgea, finally have a plant I've wanted for years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I love this smallish orange ginger. We bought this plant last December at a flea market in Central Florida with those others in the top picture: the salvias, Camellia 'Professor Charles
Sargent', the red buddleia, the burbidgea, and the shrimp plant for, as I
remember, for just under 40$. It flowered for a month or two, went out of bloom, and has been flowering since mid-September. (the bottom picture) I've lusted after it since I saw it for sale in<a href="https://www.logees.com/new-7.html"> Logee's</a> catalogue about a zillion years ago and didn't buy it.<br />
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Logee's is a wonderful institution; they've provided a wide selection of uncommon and wonderful tropical plants for my entire lifetime...and I'm not young! They regularly introduce or reintroduce rare and unusual tropicals that, until recently, you'd otherwise not have had access to. Of course nowadays you can track anything down online. That's such a sea change for those of us who, 20,30,40 years ago coveted plants without any hope of actually obtaining them. It's hard to explain how exciting it was to come upon one of those plants you'd lusted after for years. What a feeling! It is easy to track things down now, but Logee's is still a place where you can see an incredible selection of incredible plants in one place. <br />
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ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-88329841974825375462017-09-13T13:32:00.001-07:002017-09-13T13:32:20.599-07:00Misty Wednesday in the Asian Collections US National Arboretum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom' </div>
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ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-66309274543429673992017-09-10T04:56:00.000-07:002017-09-10T06:35:55.620-07:00Hurricane Irma weighs in on our retirement plans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Or at least the time frame. I'm at the computer, in Maryland, alternating between
looking at pictures of the Florida garden and house, and following
Irma's progress. She moves powerfully, slowly, and seemingly now, inexorably, towards our Florida oasis. <br />
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So the question now is, "will the retirement house be standing two days from now. It'll really throw a kink in our plans to move to the Florida house if there isn't a Florida house. Of course we can repair, rebuild, replace..., but I'm thinking contractors will be in short supply for a long time as tens of thousands of others will be in our same condition. Actually, I feel guilty comparing our situations; we have a perfectly fine house here in Maryland. We're safe and dry.<br />
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Of course the garden will be okay, maybe minus a tree or two, or three. And that would be okay. Sun is good. More sun means more flowers. Plus, things grow fast in Florida. We can plant a few live oaks and maybe a couple more interesting trees and 10 years from now, the shade is back.<br />
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Rebuilding isn't a totally bad thing either. We could add that bedroom we want, modernize the kitchen, hey, I'm been wondering if a bidet wouldn't be a good addition as I enter my dotage. Though I don't suppose we needed to destroy the house to add one. And, I'm sure the building codes would assure that anything we build would be able to survive this type of storm with zero or minimal damage. All good things. A rule of thumb used to be 100-110$/square foot to build in Central Florida. I'm thinking that just jumped 50%. Plus, "where do all these contractors come from?" I guess we'll find out.<br />
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ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-82477621358192207562017-09-06T14:29:00.001-07:002017-09-06T14:38:19.026-07:00US National Arboretum Rain Gardens in the Administration Building Parking Lot: They planted it this morning and then the rain started!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bradley Evans along with gardeners and interns planted the last of the five rain gardens in the main parking lot. The gardens came as part of the contract for the Springhouse Run Stream Restoration and will cut down the amount of runoff that we send into the storm sewer.<br />
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I'm really psyched for the gardens. I sat in on a few of the initial meetings with the<a href="https://ncagardenclubs.org/"> National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc</a>., sponsors of the gardens. They proposed that we do themed gardens to show visitors various options for rain gardens. There's a Butterfly Garden, a Low-maintenance Garden, a Formal/Traditional, a Xeric, and finally a Coastal Plain that I lobbied for. Brad developed the planting schemes and sourced the plants. He's been planting them for a few months now. The top, Xeric garden was just planted this morning. The bottom Traditional garden was the first planted.<br />
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The plant choices are what's got me excited about the gardens. I'm old enough to have been around for the beginnings of the "rain garden" phenomenon. Plus I live in Prince Georges County Maryland the home of the "original" rain garden. I've been around for the experience to date. The first rain gardens focused on "rain" when selecting plant material. I remember cardinal flowers were popular along with a litany of "wet meadow" species. Well, it turns out that raingardens, with their perfectly draining engineered soil, tend more towards the xeric end of the spectrum than the hydric. Designers have recognized that but their palettes are, maybe not unimaginative, but typically pretty limited. Brad has a lot of cool plants in here, selections I've not seen in rain gardens before: <i>Salvia lyrata, Bouteloua gracilis, Ilex vomitoria, </i>various sedums, <i>Nasella tenuissima, Salvia azurea, </i>and on and on and on.</div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-72861503286889249882017-09-05T14:50:00.002-07:002017-09-06T01:26:53.354-07:00Introduction Garden at the United States National Arboretum...introductory because we feature our plant introductions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is not your grandperson's introductory garden!<br />
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When I returned to the Arboretum in 2004, the area around the Administration Building was pleasantly planted and cleanly maintained. It wasn't however, exciting. It is now.. Color, texture, architecture, geometry, and whimsy manifest themselves throughout these gardens.<br />
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Bradley Evans has been in charge of these planting for years and they have grown under him. We started at the Arboretum on the same day in November 2004. Brad, in the Asian Collections, and I went to Fern Valley. Within a few years we'd both agreed to move, Brad shifted to the Intro Garden while I went to the Asian Collections. Angela Treadwell Palmer, a well known horticulturist/designer, began the redesign of the Intro Garden. She moved on in the spring of 2008, and Brad has been running with it ever since.<br />
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National Arboretum introductions form a framework for a mosaic of bold tropicals, curious succulents,the occasional rarity, and uncommon or new annuals and perennials. Brad has been refining designs for succulent planters for almost his entire tenure in this garden. See the top and bottom pictures especially.</div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-11176174530014994962017-09-04T07:34:00.001-07:002017-09-04T07:34:27.641-07:00Favorite Seasons Evolve<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Who'd have ever thought late summer would become my favorite season?! Of course summer was my favorite as a child; hey, schools out. Not late summer though; schools coming. As I began to garden fifty odd years ago of course I loved spring. The return of green from the bleak dreariness of a mid-Atlantic winter.We don't do snow that much but we do clouds and rain. Rebirth, spring bulbs, all the flowers. Wow! At some point, I deserted spring, though we stayed friends, and transferred my affections to fall, where they stayed until the intellectual apprehension that fall inevitably led to winter soured my passion.<br />
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For those of us who grow bananas, cannas, giant aroids, palms, the new coleus, ... late August and early September which used to be a miserably hot, interminably long, prelude to fall became something to look forward to. I still love the garden in spring, and I'm looking forward to fall, but this is as good as it gets. Go figure! </div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-51609498371886825642017-09-04T07:07:00.002-07:002017-09-04T07:07:48.387-07:00Thoughts from an Aging Gardener<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I began this
blog in 2008, posting almost daily for about five years. Then something
happened. Actually, a lot of things happened and, I posted occasionally until
two years ago, when I completely stopped. The stoppage was long overdue;
quality of writing and photography fell to embarrassing lows. Concepts and
themes were weak or lacking altogether. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While some
of my issues were physical: arthritis in my hip, loss of hearing in one ear,
and a tremendous deterioration in my vision; there was a bit of burnout. Over
~45 years of gardening, I’d saved up many things I wanted to say but eventually
I ran dry, a realization that generated even greater admiration for the many
wonderful bloggers that are able to go year after year and remain fresh. To
this day I continue to read many of the same blogs that predated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1003</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gardens</i>.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well, in the
interim, I’ve had some surgeries: a hip-replacement, two cataract operations,
and a cornea transplant. I’ve learned to accept diminished hearing. I’m
beginning to be able to accept the fact that, at 65 post hip surgery, though
far from feeble, I am not the physical force I once was. I’m adjusting, I’m
afraid rather gracelessly, to the fact that younger gardeners are better suited
to the heavy manual labor I used to relish both at the Arboretum, and even in
our personal garden. I realize now though, that I do have things to say, so I’m
going to take another shot at it! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My intent,
though we all know starting in one direction doesn’t guarantee anything, is to
weave three threads together. Karen and I have had a house in central Florida
for the past 11?! Years. I’ll be retiring there at the end of next year. Karen
may go a bit sooner. So, I’ll be talking about letting go of gardens, both my
personal garden, and the Asian Collections at the US National Arboretum where I
started in 1991 and where I’ve been for the last 10 years or so. I’d also like
to address the issues of aging gardens and aging gardeners. I guess there’s a
question as to whether my immersion in these circumstances will allow me enough
perspective to be helpful, but I’m gonna try. Finally, I realize that, immodest
as it may sound, I’m a very good gardener and a more than adequate designer so
I’d like to pass on some acquired insights related to interaction of those two disciplines.</span></div>
</div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-79443960190664500292015-07-31T12:28:00.000-07:002015-08-05T02:34:01.933-07:00Gomphrena x 'Pink Zazzle' This is not your grandmother's gomphrena.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSvOq39Yce9sej_yNSOGAJgEbqFLKhKprdlMA0l7_AUkFm1vUwHkSaITJ_fG65rFuLpWIb53I2m0ftXGg2-HcugFO91LlZZUjdXrUpLiywqihNxukhDPtFHg_Tkp9pPEZI96QDvKCX0ju/s1600/IMGP0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSvOq39Yce9sej_yNSOGAJgEbqFLKhKprdlMA0l7_AUkFm1vUwHkSaITJ_fG65rFuLpWIb53I2m0ftXGg2-HcugFO91LlZZUjdXrUpLiywqihNxukhDPtFHg_Tkp9pPEZI96QDvKCX0ju/s400/IMGP0395.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
And I do think of gomphrena as a grandmother's plant. But not this one! Many of my favorite plants are gray leafed, xeric, small, with pink flowers. Pink isn't my favorite color but I love this combination. And look at those hairs; Spiro would say it was hirsute. Plus the leaves are stiff and the plant is nicely branched, almost a symmetrical mound when grown in its own pot. </div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-6909331100401048402015-07-18T14:15:00.001-07:002015-07-18T14:15:30.176-07:00Subtlety is not an important element in summer gardens in DC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3nJnyW9cFi3NlrQYJ86Cu7grufMbsSmI_uKooQg79GiaPEjwP8saVZ5kjz4UM00ueThf_vktriOTmiZOCWwriGz3-eVnVHbk6HU3LGfuov_y7vRrBKnGbEZB4ylx1P5_OjnLLd16BBvw/s1600/IMGP0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3nJnyW9cFi3NlrQYJ86Cu7grufMbsSmI_uKooQg79GiaPEjwP8saVZ5kjz4UM00ueThf_vktriOTmiZOCWwriGz3-eVnVHbk6HU3LGfuov_y7vRrBKnGbEZB4ylx1P5_OjnLLd16BBvw/s640/IMGP0368.JPG" width="420" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJgMJgU-7BOQY2WY_GEetHwcIljyxEJa-gUaI92f0mS17vCz4Lu1fMjkOASdMJ5Uo3JQ7RxX9JIVtlmAYVszLsBsaXz7vgVDVYbepqEmzzHkVRWfG8F-0GVH8E9h8m1ex5XxDqda0BBas/s1600/IMGP0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJgMJgU-7BOQY2WY_GEetHwcIljyxEJa-gUaI92f0mS17vCz4Lu1fMjkOASdMJ5Uo3JQ7RxX9JIVtlmAYVszLsBsaXz7vgVDVYbepqEmzzHkVRWfG8F-0GVH8E9h8m1ex5XxDqda0BBas/s400/IMGP0363.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib72Vos2jsqXT4zuuF4dmmsX-sURdhReieX5TH1b7ykVWrJeBJQ_uJQ6FE144_m_0h6EuSgEJuAslwodI0gAZORdN_IQs4QAbhgw2CtSEjQ_2RbYUezWjNvwIhiVXtsL5h0aDsLFhc_CxJ/s1600/IMGP0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib72Vos2jsqXT4zuuF4dmmsX-sURdhReieX5TH1b7ykVWrJeBJQ_uJQ6FE144_m_0h6EuSgEJuAslwodI0gAZORdN_IQs4QAbhgw2CtSEjQ_2RbYUezWjNvwIhiVXtsL5h0aDsLFhc_CxJ/s400/IMGP0361.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Crape myrtles from the top: 'Centennial Spirit', 'Catawba', 'Cheyenne'</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Crape myrtles are part of the reason!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's pretty easy to find 'Catawba' in nurseries. As much as I love the others, they aren't as easy to come by. I planted 'Centennial Spirit' about 25 years ago. It was advertised as reaching 3-5 feet. It's a good bit taller but is easily kept to 10-12 feet and has a useful upright form. 'Cheyenne' is a better red, to my mind, but spreads out more. Again, it is easily kept in bounds. 'Osage', the crayola purple in the middle, spreads with age. It's another nice medium sized variety.</div>
</div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-71144955669876916922015-07-17T13:20:00.002-07:002015-07-17T14:47:59.089-07:00Emmenopterys henryi in bloom at the US National Arboretum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ_SPCPD8DCZGcRJbT8S6pSdw1-AkmDHCPHajCCE-tt0Epl2hbu-LJyZ5JlK1rhoNsG6bV8UnZx7jPBGbfFbjDnYaB7OgwHTFRZ19Lh4YM8fgerMOFQhvI7J1BhDYXsBWejGZL8FjQYLW/s1600/IMGP0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ_SPCPD8DCZGcRJbT8S6pSdw1-AkmDHCPHajCCE-tt0Epl2hbu-LJyZ5JlK1rhoNsG6bV8UnZx7jPBGbfFbjDnYaB7OgwHTFRZ19Lh4YM8fgerMOFQhvI7J1BhDYXsBWejGZL8FjQYLW/s400/IMGP0357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Emmenopterys henryi USNA</strong> <em>60687 H</em></div>
<br />
This plant and its siblings took tremendous hits from the abnormally cold winters of 2013-14 and 2014-15. They looked doomed. much terminal dieback, leaves thin, sickly with both dead and chlorotic areas making up much of the leaf surfaces. The trees honestly looked as though they were dying from severe root or vascular damage. It didn't look like they would survive. Their death seemed a foregone conclusion. We took cuttings and waited. Well, what a difference a year can make! I've never seen the leaves or branches with such vigor and I've known them almost all their lives. The large dead terminal shoots (some >10 feet long) appear oddly out of place on such clearly healthy trees!<br />
<br />
It was grown from seed wild collected in 1988 on Huangshan Mountain, Anhui Province, China. While the flowers are attractive and fragrant, I like it almost as much for its richly green deeply veined leaves on red petioles.</div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5729929434179649930.post-76318882940582356612015-06-30T06:31:00.000-07:002015-06-30T06:31:38.223-07:00Very Impressive Rocks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrreTtLGeoUyB1feW9hpAc6HgiQ_2Xzhq7uv64aUSGHDhisvKtK3pW0V9QvB6nGjeXlyPFZxcPHnaXhceSCD5GZj6VHR4_tATLVWLcEk7Ry5-quqMHqOaBdeIQhqKtGh8-er8xJsxQ_A2/s1600/IMGP0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrreTtLGeoUyB1feW9hpAc6HgiQ_2Xzhq7uv64aUSGHDhisvKtK3pW0V9QvB6nGjeXlyPFZxcPHnaXhceSCD5GZj6VHR4_tATLVWLcEk7Ry5-quqMHqOaBdeIQhqKtGh8-er8xJsxQ_A2/s400/IMGP0308.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YPK3TN94bkNDCAHOpQRiWmsFuVXUAnI9Abwcyo5H70NvRv3fYgLqqx8DGkoQYAu1ro8bYA8ZafbBmt4rwUu_FzdBoQMMOyYN1IvsUl7xtLzzvSuaFQXVp0cgNmbQQRTenrsc7K1DB7ju/s1600/IMGP0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YPK3TN94bkNDCAHOpQRiWmsFuVXUAnI9Abwcyo5H70NvRv3fYgLqqx8DGkoQYAu1ro8bYA8ZafbBmt4rwUu_FzdBoQMMOyYN1IvsUl7xtLzzvSuaFQXVp0cgNmbQQRTenrsc7K1DB7ju/s400/IMGP0310.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
These came in last week so I'm a bit remiss in this post. They're headed for the renovation of the Japanese Pavilion at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. They will be plinths upon which trees will be displayed. Sure are big!</div>
ChrisUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18058297328565374089noreply@blogger.com0