Here’s a great quote by Eleanor Roosevelt:
I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.
If I was a rose, I’d be a yellow climber with the description - Needs a lot of space, gets thorny when contained.
If you read this blog, then you know how much I love butterflies. I’m starting to think they love me back. They’ve finally turned my garden into a hang-out, and I was introduced to a number of new faces last week in New York.
Cabbage Butterfly
Tiger Swallowtail
Silver-spotted Skipper
Painted Lady
Great Spangled Fritillary
I hardly posted last week because I was in my home town of Patterson, New York visiting family. I know I could’ve moblogged or done a number of things to keep up-to-date, but what kind of vacation would that have been? Instead, I enjoyed my time off and took 373 pictures along the way, most of which feature butterflies, flowers and very cute children. Our first day-trip was to Wave Hill, a beautiful 28-acre public garden in the Bronx.
Parking is $8 and admission is $6 – a steal for NYC. If I lived nearby, I’d be tempted to carve my initials in a tree to mark my hammock. Oh yes, there are handmade hammocks in the shade and 6 ft. Black-eyed Susans! Maybe these things don’t ordinarily shout excitement, but my yard doesn’t have two trees within 50 ft. of one another, and Wave Hill’s Susans dwarf mine.
I was reminded of how many variations of plants there are. My hydrangea horizon, in particular, was expanded. The common variations in this area are Mopheads. To me, they look more like popcorn balls – one big ball, substitute kernels for flowers. They’re great to have around because each bloom is an instant bouquet. Wave Hill’s were no different by that account. On the left is a Hydrangea paniculata; its huge conical bloom caught my eye immediately. On the right is a Maple leaf variation named after the shape of its leaves. I’ve never had much luck with hydrangeas; every place I put them, there’s always too much sun. Although the Maple leaf hydrangeas were all planted in the shade garden, it was thrilling to see the Hydrangea paniculatas in full sun. Just when I gave up, there’s new hope!
You can check out the rest of my Wave Hill pictures on Flickr.
What does an ϋbermommy do when an economic crisis hits? She packs up her husband and three kids and moves to a biodynamic farm in Ireland for a year. That’s right. An ϋbermommy doesn’t boohoo; she rallies – just one of the countless reasons to live in awe of all her ϋberness. She may on occasion sit in a meeting and wonder if she had time to brush her hair that morning, but I’m telling you she did. Always perfectly put together but never so perfect that she makes you sick, she’s simply ϋber. Read all about her adventures on her blog, Family Hiatus.
Before she was Übermommy, she was Überbigsister. I miss you already!
The only thing you need to grow a pineapple is patience. It’s been two years since this plant’s first fruit was ravaged in the middle of the night by a lucky opossum, raccoon, big squirrel maybe??? Whatever it was, it made me paranoid. I started checking the pineapple before brushing my teeth in the morning. I shared my pain with some gardener friends and picked up a good tip: smell the pineapple regularly. When it smells sweet, it’s ready to eat. That’s how the animals do it, so of course, I was down on all fours smelling that pineapple daily. Finally, the nice sweet whiff I was waiting for.
The picture on the left is from June 23rd. The angles are deceiving – only the crown grew bigger even though the color changed dramatically. It’s a pint-sized gold variety. The Fiji apple from the fridge is about the same size!
The original pineapple was bigger, but also fertilized. Cooper gave it to me for my birthday, and it wasn’t an organic plant. I’m not very picky when it comes to things like that. I prefer to eat organic, but never make myself crazy over it. However, once the plant went into the garden, it was never fertilized again. It didn’t seem to need anything other than water, even the bugs stayed away.
Small in size, big in flavor! It could have been the excruciating wait, but this may just be the most delicious pineapple ever!
I don’t remember a snake in Charlotte’s Web, but of course my twisted version has to include one. This guy’s been lurking in the bushes for three days now, and he’s freaking me out! I’m looking over my shoulder every time a lizard hops over a leaf. He’s a Black Racer, a common visitor to any Florida garden. He probably stopped by to see Templeton – better watch out little fella! This one’s a biggie – about 3′. And his name is indicative of his speed; he was too fast for me to get a decent picture. That and I obviously spook easy. The last time I was surprised by a snake in the yard, I lost both sandals during my frantic dash back to the house. But this time I was prepared. The minute Luke started barking at the bushes, I went straight for my boots. They almost reach my knees and are entirely inappropriate for Florida in August, but the simple fact that the snake couldn’t slither across my toes made me much braver!
Stacy posted a comment to my August 3rd post, How low can I mow? She said, “Your blog is turning into a twisted Charlotte’s Web with spiders and fruit rats. Dress Luke up in a pig costume and you’re all set!” Your wish is my command, Stacy. Charlotte and Templeton have made their appearances; here is the missing pig of the menagerie - Wilbur (as played by Luke).
I’d like to say that no animals were harmed in the recreation of this classic children’s story, but judging from these outtakes, Luke would certainly disagree.
Tropicana, you amaze me! Who would’ve thought? Less than a month ago, John lit you on fire, and I left you for dead. But here you are sprouting up from the ashes. You’ve just been promoted to my new favorite rose. I promise to take much better care of you from here on out.
Beauty is everlasting and dust is for a time…
-Marianne Moore, American Poet
In case your new to my blog, the picture on the left is from July 14th’s post, Fire in the Hole!
