Blue Eyed Susan Passion Flower In Bloom!

My brother gifted me with this blue eyed Susan passion flower at some time that eludes me right now. But, this morning I noticed that the bud I had been watching had cracked and I knew it would open today. So here it is a bit later in the morning as it had just unfurled. Isn't it pretty?


And here it is this afternoon in full bloom. The petals have actually folded back towards the stem.


In this photo you can see the entire plant which is on our porch out of the second story bathroom.

CLIVIAS!!!

You heard right! I've got clivia, and now my mother has it too! It was all my fault! I gave it to her for her birthday! It must be communicable! Alert the CDC!

Oh. It is just a flowering plant. Oops.

And quite a pretty one at that. Below is a photo of my Prince of Orange clivia blooming finally after I repotted it. I had worried that it would never bloom. (Click to enlarge.)


You can see the fruits from last year's flowers still on the plant. I know, you are supposed to cut them off, but they add color and I like them. So I left them on. Isn't the Moroccan pot I put it in beautiful? Too bad, it may have to be destroyed when I move the plant to a bigger pot sometime in the future, as the roots really grow tight to the pot. I had to destroy the last pot it was in. The root ball was a solid knot of roots without dirt. They love being pot bound to the max.

Below is my mom's clivia that just bloomed after I gifted her with it.


It is a common orange one. I am jealous because her's is smaller than mine and already has a baby plant on it. Clivia jealousy. Now I've heard of everything.

Spring Walks In My Small Town

I should really count my blessings. I have been happily married for 24 years to a wonderful man and we live in paradise. I am disabled with low stamina, but I try to stay in shape by walking every day. Actually, I am well known around town, since I do all my errands on foot and try never to drive my gas guzzling Jeep Wrangler unless I have to.

Spring is my favorite season. If it is going to be a hot day, I will set out in the morning as I did on the day I took some of these photos.


I surprised this bunny and was no more than 10 feet (3 meters) away when I got this photo. Notice the poison ivy in the background.

We have two public accesses to the river in our town. This one, was designed by Sean gratis for the town almost 20 years ago. His design included the gazebo and a viewing deck, as well as park areas with a free flowing sidewalk, a parking lot and boat loading ramp. This is only 5-10 minutes walk from my house.


The gazebo's initial design had turned wooden balusters under the railing, but vandals kept breaking them. That doesn't keep wedding couples from having their photos taken here though.


Across the river is a State Park and creek for kayaking and some small boats can get through at high tide. You can get there from the landing but you have to cross river traffic which can be daunting in the summer for a lone kayaker when your visibility is nil and boats are heading for you at 30 knots.


These are some roses that I lust for down the street from the landing. I can't tell if they are teas or wild, but I really want to steal them. I'm sure the people wouldn't grudge me some! Aren't they beautiful!


These roses growing on a fence seem to be doing very well. They look large and healthy. We had some pink ones like these growing on a stone wall at our other property that we now rent. We have some dark pink ones like these where we live now. But if you cut them, they don't last.



I also have a thing for columbines. I have not had any luck with them since we left our old property. These are some purple ones that I pass on my walk. I could have just ripped out a whole plant and taken it home and put it into the ground. But the owner was right there. Shucks! Below is a close up of them.



I love how these johnny jump ups have volunteered right at the sidewalk in the shade.


More pretty columbines for me to lust after.


Another well tended garden that I visit and watch as the seasons go by. Great gardeners, like this one, plan for something to bloom each season.


Here is the second public water access in our town. On this side of the stone bridge, opposite side of the road, there is a boat loading ramp into the cove. If you put your kayak, row boat or canoe in, you have to go under the bridge and towards us to go out the cove and into the river. There were some plein air oil painters that I had to push past to get this shot. They were painting the marina at the other end of the cove. I hate marinas. They are an eyesore in my opinion.


Here is the other side looking up the cove. You can see the steam from the scenic railway steamtrain that has just passed. I wasn't fast enough to get the train. Sorry. Tide is up but going out. I took this photo standing on the end of the ramp.

So you might ask me "Sue, it looks like you live in the kayaking center of the world! Why do not go kayaking?" Well, you're right, I do live in the kayaking center of the world. But I'll tell you why I don't go that often.

Because by the time I drag my kayak out of the metal building and heave it into my Jeep, drive my Jeep down to the landing, haul my kayak into the water, park my Jeep and launch the kayak (okay, now I am ready to roll) I might be already exhausted from my disability. And, even if I am not, I still have to haul my kayak out of the water when I get back and into my Jeep and drive home and put it away. Plain and simple I require assistance to kayaking. What can I say, my disability makes me a pussy.

So I stick to walking. I can do right from my front door.

Peonies

Here are some peonies that I just cut from my garden. Aren't they beautiful?

HIghlights of My Trip to Mom's

[All photos in this post were taken by me, you may click to enlarge them.]

Sean and I drove to the wedding of Dr. L’s second daughter in Brooklyn on Saturday at Steiner Studio’s Stage 6, which overlooks Manhattan across the East River. The wedding began very late at 7:30 PM and the main course was not served until 10:00 PM.

The photos above were taken by Sean, my husband.

We left at midnight, just as the wedding cake was served. But, the bride was beautiful in a simple white sheath dress and I am sure that this is a marriage that will work out really well, as the couple are very committed to each other. Some of my old work colleagues were there, since I worked for Dr. L many moons ago and we talked of old times. They played music mostly from the 60’s and many of us cut the rug. The food was fabulous.

We got to mother’s house a 1:00 AM on Sunday morning. She was up and let us in. I washed off my make up and went to bed. Sean left the next morning as per plan, as he had an architectural project to finish at home for a presentation on Tuesday.

Mom and I enjoyed a breakfast visit from one of her ex-colleague’s who will celebrate her 100^th birthday next year. The ex-colleague had brought Irish soda bread from Gemellis’ Bakery and it was delightful. Although at an advanced age, this woman is mentally together and sprightly. She uses a cane, but only because she does not trust her footing in unfamiliar turf. At home she runs around like there is no tomorrow. She still plays bridge. She does not drive, however. I have known her since my childhood, so it is always a treat to see her. I intend to go to her 100^th birthday celebration, because, how many of those does one get to go to??? That night we watched Big Love.

Monday at noon – during my nap, Vasco, mom’s Portuguese water dog, worked his first day as a companion dog at an adult center for learning disabled people. He and mom met 20 people there who go for classes. Plus, they met the staff. Vasco was a big hit and was asked to come back again. He is such a good boy! Then Mom and I went out bargain shopping. For dinner we went out to the Cheesecake Factory, but were not served by Penny. We were ably served by Kinesha, who took very good care of us. I had a cheddar cheese burger on whole wheat with onion rings and mom had a cheese burger with bacon on it on a bun and fries. For desert we shared an original and vanilla bean cheesecake. Then we watched the Big Bang Theory and Saving Grace.

Tuesday took it easy we went out for Indian food. We wanted to go to the all vegetarian Dhosa Diner, but they had had a kitchen fire and were closed. So we went to mom’s favorite Indian restaurant which I have eaten at before. We were so early and I told her that it was when the peasants eat, and she replied indignantly “I am a peasant.” We had the whole place to ourselves and the server flirtatiously said “Would you like the ocean view or the mountain view?” We took the view of the Himalayas. The food was the best I have ever had there. The nan was flaky and to die for. We took home leftovers and had another dinners worth and a lunch for me. We watched Law & Order SVU that night.

Wednesday we went to the Planting Fields Arboretum State Park in Oyster Bay to see the camellia houses and the orchid houses. We went with a former Docent of the Arboretum and she was very informative. First we went to the Synoptic Garden where the species specimens are in alphabetic order. It is interesting to go to this garden in all of the seasons to see what each species looks like in each season. For example, in winter what does the bark of a Stewartia look like? We saw snow drops in the hundreds if not thousands dotting the landscape everywhere!

Plus we saw a Daphne literally covered in buds and ready to bloom.

Then we approached the mansion and I took a photograph. We were taking a shortcut across the main lawn from the Synoptic Garden to the mansion. The greenhouses are to the left and behind the house; the main entrance is on the left.

Here is the main entrance. Notice the sinking ship on the top of the doorway which signifies the family’s main income from maritime insurance.

Next, we entered the camellia houses. Here, grow camellias planted directly in the soil and also potted. The plants range in size from small, like you might buy in your local greenhouse, to huge, as in taller than a man. The flowers come in all colors, from white to red, varieties and sizes.

The houses are not heated, but airy and fragrant. It was like a breath of spring being in there. There were also water features and the camellias were augmented with hanging vines, like jasmine and roses.

Reluctantly we moved on. We visited the succulent houses, but I only took a photo of this jade vine, because it looks so extraterrestrial.

Then we went through a color room that had oranges, bananas, palm trees, bromeliads, orchids, crotons and all sorts of tropical plants. I had to wait until some photographers left to get this photo.

Then it was onto the orchid houses. Sigh. It was so beautiful there! I instantly began taking photos of the lady’s slipper orchids, because I have a Ralph Glory that is a lady’s slipper at home and I prefer them possibly because of that. I think they are damn sexy orchids (well, at least to the Hymenoptera that pollinate them)!

Above is a photo of a bee pollinating an orchid that I found on the web.

The Phalaenopsis orchids seem very ordinary to me. But this shot, that my mother took, finds one that has random spots. I love that!

Here is a look down the orchid house, just to give you a perspective on how it looks.

So refreshing to see an entire greenhouse filled with orchids in bloom! Of course on the other side were the lady’s slipper orchids. And finally, as a tribute to Cristiano, here is a photo of green orchids that we saw a large arrangement of at the Asian Art Festival that we attended together.

Then we went out again and saw a small fish pond with bright orange red comets in it. No koi, how disappointing!

Dinner Wednesday was with mom’s dinner group and we journeyed to Fisherman’s Catch on Lido Beach for fresh seafood. We had a view of the bay side and I wished I had my camera with me. We had fried calamari for an appetizer and it absolutely delicious! Most of us ordered the scallops, which are a house specialty, and that is what I had. They were lightly breaded and not oily at all. Tender inside and truly perfect, these sea scallops left nothing to be desired. That night we watched Law & Order.

Mom cooked dinner on Thursday. She made fettuccine with prosciutto, peas and Swiss chard in a roux. It was fabulous! Thursday night we watched Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy. Of course we watched Jon Stewart's Daily Show on our computers all week.

The last photo I took was from the Sea Jet as I was departing of the beach on Orient Point. Bye Mommy! Thanks for having me! I had a great time!

Most Exciting News!

I have the most exciting news! I was out in the yard with Sean, and I spied something in our meadow that didn't quite belong. I went out to investigate and look what I found!

Click to enlarge

A lupine had volunteered in our meadow! When I was a kid, Verne and I used to ride our bikes to a meadow a mile or so away that was filled with lupines because they drew butterflies and we used to catch them. My hope is that this plant will go forth and multiply and become many plants filling my meadow with lupines. It is so exciting! (Can you tell how dull my life is?)

Siblings Converge at Logee's

103 year old Ponderosa Lemon Tree at Logee's open since 1892

Brugmansia: Verne and I will get cuttings from Evie this Spring

During President’s week, my sister Evie, my brother Verne, and I met up at Logee’s Greenhouses in Danielson, Connecticut. They specialize in Begonias, Passion Flowers, Brugmansia, and other tropical plants. I was so excited because it is rare that the three of us kids get together all at once and plants are the one thing we all love and share.

Evie picked me up at my house and got there before Verne. We couldn’t wait to indulge in the warm humid air of the greenhouses; it is currently cold and dry outside, so we ran into the greenhouse complex. Evie said that she wanted to move in and stay. I looked at their little pond with tiny waterfall and said that I could keep my koi right there! We could feel our dry skin re-moisturize as we stood there. I used the loo and remembered fondly the ivy that grew on the ceiling. We never wanted to leave.

Verne showed up and we began to explore. We looked at begonia house first. Evie had promised a neighbor to get a spiral one, but I have never had luck with begonias and find them kind of boring. Evie loves them and bought four.

Next we looked at passion flowers. I have two purple ones and wanted one that was red and ever blooming. They were sold out of the one I wanted but I got Evie’s favorite, pura vida. Pura vida is hardy to 50˚ F, which is good because we don’t heat our house very much in the winter, the flower is all red and blooms in spring and summer. I set aside a 2 inch pot for $8 that has no buds but lots of sprouts.

Then we moved on to the next house that had citrus trees and orchids. I have never had luck with citrus, though Evie has. I love the sweet smell of the blooms. They also had a callandria tree in this house, and I just fell in love with these red pom-pom flowers, as they reminded me of mimosa trees that we had when I was a child. I asked Verne if I could grow them and he said sure I could. But the little pots of these for sale were the begonia house, so I decided to look for them later.

There were so many orchids to look at we didn’t know where to start. Evie and I ended up getting the same thing, a Phalaenopsis Harlequin type, or Monkface Orchid. There was no flower stalk on either of our plants, but lots of leaves and the plants are supposed to bloom twice a year on two stalks. Orchids are more expensive at $25 a pot.

Next we went to the dry and cool house. Here we looked at cactus, and Evie bought two tiny flowering ones for a neighbor who was dog sitting, but I think she ended up giving the neighbor a begonia. You can see her cactus here.

I wanted to get a winter blooming jasmine and did. I put it into a small clay window box I have that is decorated with bas relief. It should be beautiful in a year or so. It cost $9 for a 2.5 inch pot and is loaded with buds and shoots.

I kind of lost track of Evie’s plant buying. We visited the herb and succulent houses and then finally we made it back to the begonia house. I looked for my callandria pots, but only the white ones were in stock. Sigh.

The three of us had a great time together and I got some really neat plants. The Logee’s staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. You ought to stop by at Logee's if you get the chance.