In California, where I live, we are in our fourth drought year. When I woke this morning and looked outside at wet surfaces, sparkling vegetation, and droplets on leaves and blossoms, I felt an impulse to capture the memory.
Posts Tagged ‘photography’
Live Forever . . .
November 20, 2014. . . that is the meaning of Sempervivum, more commonly known as hens and chicks. Now, here’s the kicker. The mother hen (or main rosette) lives two to three years, not forever! But she produces so many chicks you’ll always have future generations—thus the reason for naming this succulent Sempervivum.
But don’t be fooled by all the little chicks. This plant is not invasive.
The chicks can be transplanted at any time. When the mother hen dies it is best to divide and replant the chicks close together. This succulent loves to be cozy.
Which one becomes the hen when the chicks are orphaned? I suppose the largest chick, the one that gives birth first!
Click here, to see a photo of the hens and chicks below when I had first planted them.
Chicks
Zones: 3 – 11
Full – part sun
Well-drained soil, drought tolerant, water when soil dries out.
Capturing Summer and Autumn Blooms #5
November 4, 2014
Tis the season for mums. This potted beauty (sorry, I don’t know the variety) sits in my back patio where I can see the bright sunny hue from inside the house. For tips on growing and caring for mums watch Jerry & Autumn Horrocks’ video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Ysv5Y6tYo.
Capturing Summer and Autumn Blooms #3
October 29, 2014
Variegated Lacecap Hydrangea
(Not a summer or fall bloomer but the foliage is as pretty as any flower)
Plant Note:
Partial sun
4 to 6 ft. tall and wide
Spring lacecap blooms
Deciduous
zones: 5 – 9
Hurry!
October 27, 2014Get your camera out and photograph the last of the summer and autumn blooms in your landscape.
Don’t forget to capture textures too.
I’ll share a few of mine over the next few days!
First up is ‘Appleblossom’ Begonia (B sempervirens)
Plant notes:
Full sun to part shade
8 inches high
Annual in high, snow-country elevations. Will come back each spring in warmer regions.
Check out the LARGE number of begonia species at the American Begonia Society.
The Great Pumpkin Debate
October 6, 2014Fruit-Vegetable Gallery #5:
The name “pumpkin” originated from the Greek word “pepon (for large melon). The French changed pepon to “pompon” changed by the English to “pumpion,” changed to “pumpkin” by yours truly, the Americans.
According to Extension Specialist Tim Hartz, UC Davis Plant Science Department, pumpkins can be classified as a melon (fruit) or a squash (vegetable). Hartz says categorizing the pumpkin depends on who is defining the terms. “To a botanist, a pumpkin is a fruit because it is a ripened ovary containing seeds, just like a melon or tomato. To a chef, pumpkins and squash are usually thought of as vegetables because of how they are used in cooking.”
In other words, no one truly knows the proper category for pumpkins. So look at it this way, whether you call a pumpkin a melon or squash, fruit or vegetable, you will be correct every time!
Knucklehead
Specialty
Tiger Baby
Jack-o’-lantern
A Look Into Autumn
September 17, 2014I am thinking about autumn and what it will bring.
The obvious is shorter days, longer nights, gentle breezes, and cool temperatures.
The world will shrink as birds migrate, insects overwinter, and deciduous plants and trees transform from intense hues to bare limbs. Backyard gardeners will plant winter crops or put their beds to rest until spring.
Rest sounds good to me.
This is the time of year that I want to be lazy, but as it happens every fall, I will be raking acorns and oak leaves through December.
So much for rest . . . the work has just begun.
Hidden Blossoms
September 2, 2014Fruit Gallery #4:
The most fascinating feature about fig trees is the blossoms. You’ll never see them because they grow inside the fruit to produce tiny seeds creating a crunchy texture.
Some of you have read the story about my fig tree. After the tree was nearly destroyed three years ago it made a comeback. But it is mostly suckers and produces more foliage than fruit. The figs that do grow are tiny. I’m not sure anything can be done to correct the problem, but it makes a nice deciduous shrub. It appears the squirrels are getting more figs than the birds; the oak stump beside the tree is littered with dried fig skins. For sure, it is the hidden blossom-produced seeds that they love.
For information on growing fig trees go to:
http://www.almanac.com/plant/figs
I have finally completed my author website. Please feel free to browse through the pages and while you are there be sure to subscribe. As time goes by, I hope to post an occasional blog or updates on Ashley’s Gift and the sequel I am writing.
The Alarm of Summer’s End
August 25, 2014
I stood amongst the potted garden
delighted with summer’s hues and scents,
when overhead the sound of honking geese astonished me.
To my surprise, the alarm of summer’s end had arrived.
In the coming weeks, from time to time,
I will watch the crimson sunset with my love,
recall the season’s nights and days,
the work, the play, the rest,
then question which of these had we done the best
and which should we have done the least?
I will most likely sigh, the long slow sigh
that signals it is time to prepare my soul
for the passing of time,
the pulling back of dead blossoms and faded dreams,
the unfinished feats I pledged to self,
to others, and my love.
But I will ponder on these for a moment only,
then praise my love’s encouragement
for booming hues in tubs of clay,
where we will sit next year once again,
delighted in summer’s potted garden.
© 2014 Dianne Marie Andre
In and Around the Garden 