Tropical Effects

Gorgeous Texture

We bought a new banana plant thinking the one we had was dead. It rained. The Musa in the garden was perennial and returned finally  because of the extra water and enough warmth. The Red Leaved Banana we bought, Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii', was actually not hardy in this zone.  So now we have one that is tropical to house in the winter but it is attractive with its red midrib and reddish emerging leaves. Also, it's quite palm-like with a fat trunk.

Hubby is the one fond of banana plants. I think he likes the tropical effects.

The Carolina wren nestlings have their eyes open. Their primary feathers are first to emerge. When I peeked in the nest today they were covered in moss like a blanket. It was a little cooler than usual.

Consider The Lilies

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Matthew 6:28

After rain in the early morning light, the Blue River Hibiscus is open today. I like this one because of its enormous all white flowers. I delight in white where the focus is on form and texture. It blooms profusely. This is the first blossom of the season. While searching for information I found, an Urban Oasis post, from last year about Blue River Hibiscus that has pertinent info. 

Watermelon break time. Yummy!

Classical Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon

I was reading  Steve Snedeker's blog and found in his June posts how he was involved with the construction of the Classical Chinese Garden in Portland.  I

was  surprised to find it was only three years old when I was there in 2003. It looked like an established garden that had been around forever.  

I have always remembered the unusual Buddleia colvilei 'Kewensis', largest of the butterfly bushes capable of forming a small tree. That was five years ago. I wonder what it looks like today. While searching I ran across the Classical Chinese Garden Master Plant List.

Steve is working on a pool project now and you can read about it on Steve Snedeker's Landscape and Gardening Blog.

Classical Chinese Garden Slideshow

Let It Feast or Kill The Beast

If you notice your lovely petunias are looking a bit variegated, it's thrips. So tiny, their damage is what is noticeable. About the time you are thinking what a feast for the eyes, they arrive for a feast. If you can't bear to throw the plant away like me, it is most important to isolate it and let it remain so even after treatment. Avoiding infesting more, especially more valuable plants, is the objective. I used an insecticidal soap to slow the onslaught topically, then a systemic.  A systemic is required because a topical cannot reach the innumerable hiding places. Feed and keep well watered. Though not as robust as originally, it looks pretty good. Mission accomplished. I prefer not to use chemicals, however, an apt treatment used sparingly and safely is sometimes necessary.

Blotanical

created and tended by Stuart Robinson of Busselton, Western Australia,  is a garden in itself filled with experienced and amateur gardeners alike. Stuart is at the garden gate ready to welcome you.  Something is always blooming among this international set of authors, artists, designers,  and photographers who capture and share the natural world from their unique perspectives. A harvest of resources, botanical data, product evaluation, and technical advice from garden gurus abounds. Seeds of appreciation, generosity, admiration, and gratitude are planted daily. Blotanical is a sanctuary fragrant with enthusiasm, dreams, ideals, and wisdom  where you are sure to find your gardener's soul filled to overflowing. 

Nestlings

After hatching, they don't look much better than an ultrasound...pile o bird. It's hard to make heads or tails of it.

But today, they are all beak and eyeball.  Doesn't look like they can see does it? I wonder why the fuzzy topknot.

Pale pink Oriental lily keeps adding to the garden fragrance.

Thomas Newman

What Lies Beneath?

A Carolina Wren has a nest just under the hosta leaves. When you approach the container, she moves off the nest but stays concealed in the leaves. You have to practically be in the nest to spook her from the container. There are three newly hatched and one straggler in the nest. They are no bigger than the end of your thumb.  More later when the last one is born.

Edible Landscapes

Oriental Lily

Can anything be more fragrant? Its intoxicating perfume can lead you right to them in the garden. Be sure to remove the pollen bearing anthers  should you want to  bring them inside. Pollen stains are impossible to remove.

Take from me all earthly raiment and place me deep in my 
Mother Earth; and place me with care upon my mother's breast. 
Cover me with soft earth, and let each handful be mixed 
With seeds of jasmine, lilies and myrtle; and when they 
Grow above me, and thrive on my body's element they will 
Breathe the fragrance of my heart into space; 
And reveal even to the sun the secret of my peace; 
And sail with the breeze and comfort the wayfarer.

Kahlil Gibran

Independence Day

will be celebrated here early because daughter has to work on the fourth.

Happy Fourth of July

Take a little insider tour of the Cottage Gardens of Depot Hill with Phillip.

Dig In

to pancakes with fresh blackberry syrup and whipped cream with a couple of sausage links. Ummm! Good. It's a beautiful thing.

Summertime

I was Garden Hopping and look what happened.

My Wordle is called Summer