Every once in a while I need to pat myself on the back a bit... Here we see May 2009, six months into life in the new house, and then September 2010. The funny thing is, I think I was pretty pleased with how much I'd done by April 2009, so it just goes to show you.... Sometimes it feels as though the garden is improving soooo slowly, but it IS improving. (Compare the one little tendril of vine creeping up the fence at the bottom of the yard in 2009 with the profusion of Dolichos and Alamo vines now.) Once again exercising patience is the moral here.

When I look out and I see the same garden that I saw the day before, I wonder why the flagstone paths haven't emerged, or the vine-covered arbor, or the stone 'water feature'. Obviously I just need to stop and enjoy it all for a moment. (And then go for my shovel and get back to work.)

Planting Experiment

We decided to try a different sort of planter: this is our 'ah-ha' use for air-conditioning ducts, easily purchased at Home Depot for 7 or 8 dollars depending on the size you get.... I will keep you posted on the success of this experiment as the plants live, grow, thrive, or conversely, pine away and die (but we hope not). My concern at the outset, is that the metal, which conducts heat and cold, will cook the roots of the plants in the summer, and chilled them right down in the winter. But maybe the plants will prove hardy enough for their container. (Too bad I'm not in grade five because then I could be doing this for my science fair project).

I hope it works because I think they look very cool, and deserve to end up in Real Simple in that section on other uses for things...

Happy

I just had to put up these pictures because they create a perfect visual image of the word joy.

Tremella Mesenterica

Oh brother! I am almost sorry I asked, but I found out what my cool fungus is (see post from September 22nd): The latin name is TREMELLA MESENTERICA.... Aren't you glad I looked this up for you?? One common name it has seems to be 'yellow brain fungus', which is disgusting. Another is 'witches butter' which is a little better. But I think I am just going to stick with the names I gave them.

The big picture

Taking a step back from some of the ultra close-ups, it is nice to see it all blending together.

This time of year seems to be the happiest for the garden. The intense heat is done, the sun is sharp and clear, the plants are at their fullest, and don't seem to wilt any more in mid afternoon. The recent gift of rainy days has left the grass a lush and vibrant green which is very easy on the eyes, especially at the close of day.

Studying stamens

I do go on a bit about the rock rose I know, but I couldn't resist posting this shot of the stamens. Like my post about the bulbine, it is when I get really close up that I find myself in such awe of the cleverness of each plant. And I love the fact that you can see both the festive little circle of stamen stems, that look like some kind of Dr. Seuss hairdo, and the shadow they cast down on the flower.

Taking a closer look

I love seeing a mass of colour in the garden: reds, yellows, oranges, different shapes and sizes, but all blending beautifully. Then I get closer and I am constantly amazed by the unbelievably perfect symmetry of each tiny individual flower.

Here is one little flower on a stem of many such flowers of a bulbine plant, and look at the delicate, feathery fluff in the center! How sweet is that.