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You are here: Home / Archives for morning glory

Stella, Plants, & Morning Glories

November 1, 2017 at 10:48 am by Claudia

I seem to be a little slow in posting lately. Sorry! But I have things to do first thing in the morning, not the least of which is waking up, and now that Don’s away, we tend to FaceTime in the morning. Anyway, better late then never!

Don and some of the cast are going on a tour of NASA today. I’m jealous.

Hard to believe, but there are times now where I take our Stella for granted. I don’t even think how wondrous it is that she is here. I guess that’s because she looks as if she belongs in this kitchen.

But she’s awfully pretty, isn’t she?

I rescued another plant – this time from our local grocery store.

This is a rubber plant, specifically the Black Prince, because the leaves are almost black. Rubber plants are members of the Ficus family. Anyway, it’s not in terrible shape, but it is  overcrowded in that pot and needs to be repotted, STAT.

I only have so much space in this house for plants, so I had better cool it, especially since a couple are coming in from the porch for the winter.

I’ve been watching the World Series, off and on, but you can be sure I’ll be watching the entire game tonight. Nothing better or more exciting (to me) than a 7th game in the World Series. I have no favorite this time, so may the best team – at that moment in time – win.

It was supposed to go down to 31 degrees last night, so I covered up the porch plants, but look what I saw right outside the kitchen door this morning:

The temp must have stayed above freezing. We caught another break. The rest of the week should be a bit warmer, though I am fully aware that after I leave next week, all bets are off. In fact, I think we’re supposed to have some snow showers next week. It is November, after all. It’s also my birthday month – and it’s a big one – so I’ll be celebrating it in Chicago with Don.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, morning glory, Stella 27 Comments

Much to Do

October 18, 2017 at 9:12 am by Claudia

We may be at the end of the road for my beloved morning glories. I say ‘may’ because I was absolutely sure when I returned home last night that they were gone. It 9 pm and dark when I pulled in the driveway. As I walked to the door, I stopped to see if they had made it. All the leaves were wilted, so I figured they had died during the day.

The moonflower, which grew so slowly this year that I never even got a flower, is definitely gone.

But this morning, as I look outside, I see some of the big buds trying to open. Maybe there’s a last hurrah yet in store? I’ll keep you posted.

As I was mourning them last night, I thought about the big fat bumblebees who love them. Like this one, who spent Monday night tucked in the center of a flower and at just about the time I left for the city, was finally waking up and backing out of his temporary lodging. I snapped this picture right before I left.

I’ve seen this more than once this year. As Don says, it’s like a scene from a Disney movie. Big fat bumble bee flies around, chooses a flower, flies into the center, drinks his fill of pollen, then falls asleep. I am absolutely charmed by this bee-havior. I kept thinking about this guy off and on throughout the day yesterday.

I have much to do today – the list seems endless – before I leave tomorrow morning. Because I had to work in the city yesterday, and I’m grateful for the work, I lost a day of prep. After I post this, I’ll make a list.

I was thinking about the many plants I had in my bedroom in the early seventies. It was a jungle in there, with hanging plants, plants on stands, plants on tables – they were everywhere. Anyway, one of the plants that I had forgotten about was the dieffenbachia or dumb cane (because it can numb your tongue if ingested.) I really loved that plant. It’s the kind of plant that was very popular then but one that I don’t see much anymore.

So there I was in Lowes, looking for another Zz plant (there were none) and I saw this dieffenbachia jammed into the rear area of a shelf, looking – frankly – like a lot of plants I see at home centers; root bound, not watered enough, big brown spots on the leaves, as well as yellowing leaves. It was only $5.98, so I told it I was coming to its rescue.

I brought it home, repotted it, and removed the yellow leaves.

One good sign – there are new leaves unfurling.

I remember the one I had back in the day being quite large. This baby is rather modest in size. Let’s see what happens.

Okay. Have to get a move on. Much to be done today and I was up too late last night because I couldn’t have my dinner until 9:30 – so I had to give it time to digest. Unfortunately, my internal alarm clock woke me at the usual time, so there we are.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: bees, flowers, houseplants, morning glory 27 Comments

Moments of Respite

October 13, 2017 at 9:19 am by Claudia

The other day, I counted 53 morning glory blossoms (including the ones in the chicken wire fence garden.)

Yesterday, there were 50. Today? I’m not sure yet because it got colder overnight and they’re slow to open when the morning is cold. I can’t tell you how much pleasure they give me; watching the bumble bees crawl in the blossoms, seeing their beauty as I go in and out the side door or walk to my car. Thank you, morning glories.

Morning glories, zinnias, and lots of leaves. I raked again yesterday and I’ll rake again today. I don’t mess with the leaves in the back forty – they can stay there. But the front lawn and the corral get raked. I’m not a perfectionist about it, not by a long shot. Today I’ll mow part of the lawn, which will shred some of them. The rest stay on my garden beds because they work as protective mulch.

Thank you so much for the anniversary wishes yesterday! Don had a long day of tech, but we managed to snatch some phone/face time. He’s feeling a bit better, by the way, so things are looking up.

Next year: 20!!

I finished Jan Karon’s book. Just as when I read the last page of a Louise Penny, I sat here and didn’t want it to end. Both Karon and Penny have managed to create towns that live and breathe and are just as much a part of the story as the characters. I’d live in Mitford or Three Pines. Easily. Anyway, if you like her books, I highly recommend it.

I think of my mom every time I read one of her Mitford novels. Mom loved them and we sometimes traded them back and forth. Maybe she was reading along with me. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Now, I’m on to the newest in the Lisbeth Salander series, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye.

I’ve been taking a break from the news and Rachel Maddow because, as I said to Don, I feel like I’ll go insane with rage otherwise. I know what’s going on, but I’m not lingering there right now. I can’t. I think we all have to do this when it gets to be too much. Give yourself a break. I have realized that I can’t live at this level of anger and rage for extended periods of time. It isn’t healthy. Reading helps. Chores help. Projects help. Looking at nature’s beauty helps. Cocooning helps.

Sigh.

I’ve been repotting some plants that had become root bound. Yesterday, it was time for this Chinese Evergreen to be repotted. I really love this plant. Add to the list above: tending to houseplants helps.

Happy Friday.

 

Filed Under: books, flowers, garden, houseplants, morning glory 39 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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