Thanks.

Two and a half weeks (and some nights) straight through at the office finally over. Ridiculous. 

I guess I should be grateful to have a job. The bird of paradise are growing in, new growth has emerged. Really looking forward to the controlled, tropical structure of the orange bird. The jack fruit threaded through the handrail as a curiosity has become a gaggle of heavy, green arms with short piercing needles down their sides, their very strong growth is cause for alarm. The longest arm is 4' - 5' from the neighbors below. I've been neglecting the orchids, only wet weather keeping them hydrated. My chicken wire orchid tower is a success holding vandas and teretes tight -- the bark filling keeps roots inside hydrated.

 (see below)

The half- ass gardener

I bought a gallon pot of orange bird-of-paradise for 14.95 at Living Color nursery- seems awfully cheap to me.(I hope they don't turn out to be white which would be a VERY inappropriate choice). There were 3 nice plants coming up in the gallon container. I finally got around to planting today, which I did rather sloppily; separate the plants by splitting apart snake-like roots from one another. It hurt me probably more than the plants. 2 birds into large square planters, one per, already crammed with wart fern red bougainvillea and sanchezia. I watered in well. The desire to live is very strong in plants. They will probably out grow the pot in a few years. The 3rd replaced a tall (too) leggy plumeria in a large rectangular planter one half of which is overflowing with burle marx. Below is a 'Pixie' bloomer with small, double magenta bracts. A charming type of boug for a bonsai.. Remember imaginary readers, that beautiful bonsai was purchased at Richard Lyons Nursery.. I think I paid $50, great deal for that thick trunk.

First bloom after getting the bonsai chop-chop. Slow raining Saturday does not get this wizened old boy down. 

Sharp sunlight

The sun is moving toward its southernmost position (12/21/2014). This south facing terrace is more exposed and is getting spanked by stiff, bright sun which can be withering. Watering every two days absolutely necessary. The bonsai bougainvillea suffer. I thought they'd like their new spartan, root-bound homes. Only so much. I should have used more of the water absorbing polymers when mixing the potting soil-- it's tricky down here using that however, as we have 5-6 months of heavy rain for part of the year during which time, the roots need to dry and breathe. Can't overwater in the cool of winter.. I need to retire and just sit in the garden and do the needful.

Candy darlings!

Yes sir, ruby red. 

I've been looking for some dead-on-red bougainvillea for a while. Today, I stumbled onto a few gallons at Living Color Nursery on Griffin Road. $14.95 per. I need to research the specific species from which reds are descendant.

Looking West over the middle handrail. Coral and yellow bougainvillea behind column. Jack Fruit and Bleeding Heart in foreground.  I think I'll throw one of the reds over the center rail. 

Please turn to page 176 of The Golden Age of American Gardens, Mac Griswold and Eleanor Wellor. Addison Mizner's Palm Beach garden for Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Kay takes my breath away. BTW, This is a must have book for every gardener's library. You can pick one up for cheap on Amazon. 406 pages of exquisite gardens-- Joan Didion wrote respectful review in the NY Times, of course Joan got it right-  it is indeed a most beautiful reflection of this period of our country. 

Bougie bower

 a throw of purple bougie over the sliders-- in training for a nice arbor.  I'll post progress.

Several weeks later--weather is cooling the purple bougie is starting to sing

Pretty little nameless orphan $10 from nearby nursery -- supposed to have a pretty red spray of flowers

Likes the sun but what really excites is the growing availability of TREE BRANCHES to hang on

I've been a little surprised with some black soot that's appeared on the Sea Grape. I had to scrub a few leafs off.  Also, aphids (some sort of sucker) LOVE the new born leaves.

The gardenia was absolutely overcome with soot 4 or so weeks ago. I cut back severely trying to clear all signs of soot. A month or so later, she is a ball of shiny green leaves. 

Soot is tricky. It can be washed off though that is a pain in the ass. The leaves will survive if cleaned. Left too long, it will destroy the plant. Probably because photosynthesis becomes impossible? This is one of my famous S.W.A.G.'s (scientific wild ass guesses). Same with the suckers. If sprayed with a little soap, new Sea Grape leaves mature - though sometimes with some puckering. Actually, the Sea Grape is pretty scrappy and can outgrow the suckers. Other types of shrubs on the terrace, e.g., the croton, gardenia need to have the insects removed.. systemic anti pest works well. 

Along came autumn

Celebrating the autumnal equinox today. The temperature, although early in the year to change, has bent lower for the past several days. There is a sweet ocean breeze blowing today.

Oh dear. The price, size and health of these canes made them irresistable. The problem--neither colusia nor seagrapes offer enough shelter for these two quarts. Impulse buying can lead to sorry endings.

$15 bucks a quart (2 here). Great deal. 

Beautiful leaves and flowers; canes are elegant begonias

I'm a fool for you baby

Having coffee and rolls with a loved one at the 'Alchemist' coffee shop today. There is a small rather homey nursery adjacent -- which has a good selection of begonias for it's size. There were two b 'Lana' (?) superba type canes, 36" high with some beautiful pink clusters of flowers. I bought one for $15 dollars, the nurseryman 'accidently' rang up two, had to buy both. I'll post a portrait of the pair tomorrow.

Until then;

Of Mere Being

The palm at the end of the mind,
Beyond the last thought, rises
In the bronze distance.

A gold-feathered bird
Sings in the palm, without human meaning,
Without human feeling, a foreign song.

You know then that it is not the reason
That makes us happy or unhappy.
The bird sings. Its feathers shine.

The palm stands on the edge of space.
The wind moves slowly in the branches.
The bird’s fire-fangled feathers dangle down.

~Wallace Stevens, 1954~

Perfection.

Sunday dinner

reckless handfuls of Alaska All Purpose kelp all around to liven up tired soil. Watered in well of course.. by.. my...new..purple WATER RIGHT Extra Light Garden Hose. Fab-u-lous.

Talk to me my love(s)

The vellum kept green this am by 99% humidity

Bending up to face the sun

Only flowers on a drooping bough

Hylocereus undatus

If it's happy and shows it, you better tie her securely to something

I clipped the top at a joint. Planted in rich soil a number of fingers are sprouting.  I'm guessing gravity will pull them -- hopefully to flower and fruit.

10/4/2014- gravity and a gentle nudge sent these stalks hanging low. It seems that once this one gets going she gets going. A little research suggests that pollination (by hand?) is necessary for the fruit to set. 

Morikami Garden (Delray Beach, FL) UPDATE

I posted earlier that I had been disappointed with Morikami garden. Reviewing my pictures of that visit of bonsai and Japanese buildings of the former pineapple landowner certainly warrant a visit.



Cool cover of green for an already hot midday at the end of August

Tree dates from 1930, bonsai'd in '76. 

sweet n' gnarly

 

I am a fool for the windswept romance of an evergreen bonsai however. Well done here.

26.1822° N, 80.1334° W

The past week and a half have been very sunny and humid without cooling (hydrating) rain. Wart fern fronds are getting seared. Creeping fig is getting burned on the wall. I've begun 'double-watering'. Dump a few liters on a large pot as much as possible without flooding the neighbors. Then, come back in 15 or 20 mins and bathe with less water but enough to keep the roots wet and able to absorb a drink. My mornings begin with coffee and the 3 gal orchid sprayer. Vandas, schomburgkia, dendrobes, everybody needs a morning shower. The v. tessellate 'wink' and Ascda John de Blase x V tessellata (ala Dr. Mote) purchased at Fairchild last year are healthy, but no blossoms. Orchids require controlled negligence. They need their space. 

The Intelligent Plant

Have just gotten around to reading  Michael Pollan's essay on the possibilities / examples plant consciousness, in the 12/23/2013 of The New Yorker. Too much information for my small brain to offer a synopsis. I did want to throw my hat in the ring with the other research being done and offer my experience as a non-scientist, conducting anti-rigorous experiments with my custodials. They have an emotional hold over me. I am their puppet, serving up food and water and care daily. I seem to be quite susceptible to this floral heart/mind control. My mind is numbed when I go into the garden, like a hit of some sort of opiate. Happy, joyous and free

I've  been putting one sort of food or another in most of my spraying lately. MiracleGro and / or seaweed tea. Seaweed tea and SuperThrive. Tonight I'm steeping some ass-ugly smelling fish emulsion and seaweed overnight in the hot humid air (to allow bacteria to come to life?) to spray in the morning.

The orchids' growth reflects the heat and humidity of late. I haven't experienced the growing season with many of them and I'm delighted to see new rhizomes, roots and leaves appearing.

Cat on a hot tin roof

I'm coming up on my 4th year anniversary of this blog and I can't say I've ever sat and written a post sitting in the garden. I'll tell you, imaginary reader, the here and now. It's been very hot lately, well into the mid 90s and no rain for the past week(ish). 7:20P EST and we're securely in the upper 80's and are wrapped in 75-85% humidity. I have to stay out of the direct sun, my custodials do not . As long as they have some moisture so they're able to transpire, they're ok. There is a warm, salty breeze coming off of the ocean tonight which makes sitting out pleasant.

Some of my recent efforts at mounting:

Den. Aggregatum 'Green Elf' x Den Aggregatum 'Yellow Velvet' --from home depot

Oncidium Apliatum a central american species-- from home depot