Exhilarating

Have I just gotten so silly over a minor project finished? Does this mean I have a Potter Potted Area? Or could it be that putting the finishing touches on a project are exhilarating? Sometimes hard work and the remains of an acking back makes one silly… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Playing in the Dirt AGAIN

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This Plant name made me chuckle… Crocus speciosus 'Albus' Remember Albus Dumbledore? Then the word speciosus, tee hee. Reminded me of one of the SPELLS used by Hermione Granger to find out more of Harry's Advanced Potion-Making book in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Pronunciation: speh-see-AHLIS reh-VEL-ee-oh Specialis Revelio

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Ok OK close but no Cigar.

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On a more serious note. We need rain………………………………………

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First a new garden tool that I am finding handier than a Hip Pocket on a shirt. ~~~~~~~~~ ROTO Planter by Yard Butler

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yard Butler's garden augers fit any cordless drill 3/8" or larger, digging holes with the ease of a power tool. Garden augers are useful for planting bulbs, aerating trees and shrubs, weeding, fertilizing, drilling under sidewalks, putting in fence posts and dozens of other applications.

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These were the bulbs that were planted.

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1. Lycoris aurea is the golden spider lily and originates from limestone areas of China. The spidery flowers face upwards and are a orange-cadmium yellow. It can often be a difficult species to get into flower. It requires a hot dry resting period during summer to promote flowering. Dressings of potash and lime are also helpful. Lycoris are splendid autumn-flowering bulbs when their requirements are met, and make excellent garden subjects and provide a good supply of cut flowers. Photo by Bill Dijk.

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2. Lycoris radiata var. pumila is the red spider lily, and has much reflexed, recurved red flowers, wavy on the margins, with long, exerted filaments on tall, naked stems in late summer. Long-lasting and popular with the ladies in their floral art arrangements. Photo by Bill Dijk.

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3. Leucojum aestivumCommon Names: summer snowflake, giant snowflakeFamily: Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis Family)

Site Here

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4. speciosus 'Conqueror' - very large, deep, sky blue flowers; 5"-6"; early-mid fall; zones 4-9.

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5. CROCUS Kotschyanus - Fall Blooming Crocus are similar to their spring cousins and flower when not much else is blooming. Best in a sunny location; naturalizes well. The leaves turn a golden yellow. Flowers are large rose-pink with yellow centers. 10 bulbs size 9+cm. zones 5-9.

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6. Crocus speciosus Albus; Crocus speciosus 'Albus' is more than just a white form of the species. This charmer won an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Its blooms are borne on yellowish green stalks and open to reveal a yellow heart inside. Common Name: Fall-blooming Crocus Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8 S / 4 - 9 W

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The source of my mirth!

next on the identification list

Is this possibly a Variegated 5 Leaf Aralia. It is happy in full sun to full shade, not choosy about clay soil and is easy to grow. It takes to pruning very well so you can have it sized just the way you want.

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Eleutherococcus sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’

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zones 5 to 8

Worldwide tree planting campaign.

Blog Action Day: One issue, thousands of voices Thousands of voices will speak out for the environment for the first-ever Blog Action Day on 15 October. This non-profit event, partnered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is an unprecedented call for bloggers around the planet to write about environmental issues on the same day.

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign.

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We planted

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Scientific Name ~~~~~~~~~Chionanthus virginicus

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Common Name ~~~~~~~~~~Fringe tree; Old man's beard

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One of the finest of these spring bloomers is the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), a small tree considered by many to be one of our most beautiful native plants. But, beautiful as it is, it remains uncommon in gardens. Fringe tree, also called Grancy Gray-beard and Old-man's beard, is native throughout the southeastern states but is nowhere abundant. In Arkansas, it occurs in all but the Delta region but is most commonly met in the Ouachitas and southern counties. It blooms as the dogwoods finish and after the trees have leafed out, so it's easy to miss in its wild habitat.

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It grows as a multi-stemmed tree or large shrub, usually reaching 15 to 20 feet in height and spread in cultivation. It can reach 30 feet in the wild with a main trunk sometimes 10 inches through, though such specimens are rare.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ Fringe tree is considered one our finest native trees in England. It was first sent there by John Bartram (1699 - 1777), the intrepid naturalist from Philadelphia responsible for introducing so many New World plants to England. Bartram farmed on the banks of the Schuylkill River and was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin. The home he built is now a city park and many of his plants still grow in the garden.

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But then we plant lost of trees here, because we are concerned about the environment

Is History Important?

My Sweetie and I enjoyed the movie was incredible as was the first Elizabeth movie. Of course the company was the BEST.

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While we were walking to the car my Sweetie pondered about a scene on the movie: Contemplating if it was indeed Sir Walter Raleigh that set fire to the British ships and unleashing them towards the anchored ships of the Armada in order to scatter the Spanish fleet.

###################### It is called Hollywood: So who was that fearless pirate who inspired Elizabeth: The Golden Age’s director Shekhar Kapur and who was instrumental in the film as defeating the Spanish Armada? His name was Sir Francis Drake, an infamous pirate and slave-trader whom the Spanish called "El Draque" (the Dragon).

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There is a climactic scene in Elizabeth: The Golden Age where Clive Owen’s character, supposedly Sir Walter Raleigh, has the brilliant idea of setting British ships on fire and unleashing them towards the anchored ships of the Armada in order to scatter the Spanish fleet. Historians credit Sir Francis Drake with that exploit. However, Shakhar Kapur unabashedly usurps that episode from Sir Francis Drake’s life and puts it in the hands of Sir Walter Raleigh in his film; while in actual fact Sir Raleigh was safe on land-

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– just in case history is of any significance here.

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########## Laura Sydell, NPR interviews the films Director. 'Elizabeth' Director Brings Indian Sensibility to Work

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Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr at 37 degrees

Yikes my toes are chilled. My Sweetie and I had fun yesterday looking for STUFF to finish up some projects. I even got a planted re potted and found it had secretly propagated due most in part to the hectic summer here. Now instead of one plant I have four.

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Now for the AH HA! For Kalanchoe to flower again, cut the flowers off when they start to die back and let the plant rest for a month in a dark place. During the resting period you don’t have to water the plant or maybe less water. When you’ll notice new buds, bring Kalanchoe back in its appropriate place, restarting the regular watering.

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but...

They can reproduce asexually through a process called fragmentation. The adult plant drops leaves, which eventually sprout new miniplants. Each miniplant grows into an adult plant.

more about that later

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The agenda for this day is to plants some bulbs, which I will describe later, and the Tree/ Shrub I got in DC, getting the bird feeders out and re cleaned along with the food. It is not quite time yet to feed them, there are still many plants, berries and the like for them to forage upon.

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When my Sweetie and I have completed the MOST of our list we will settle back and go out for a HOT DATE…that means a movie and dinner. Whoooo Hooooooooooooo!

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Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) We enjoyed the first movie,[Elizabeth] and now Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush return for a gripping historical thriller laced with treachery and romance-- ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~

Synopsis!

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Then

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Dinner!

Eastern Market

Fun neighborhoods:

Eastern Market: www.easternmarket.net

Union Station: www.unionstationdc.com

Georgetown: www.georgetowndc.com

I really have always enjoyed this city, Possibly one of my favorite haunts in DC the new building at the market is OPEN! This building fully replaces the damaged South hall and until the building is reconstructed, this will be the home of all the food vendors that have been so loved for 134 years! Eastern Market.

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When we were here in late May of this year they were still working on resurface the entire adjacent Hine School Playground, which is also used by the weekend flea market. It is complete and looks great. We had little time to scout out the food area but I feel sure the next time we are there. I hope I can try the wonderful Blueberry pancakes and luscious crab cake sandwiches.

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Meanwhile a few shots of this really neat place…

Experience It All in Washington, DC

Second Identification a HIT

Sorry I took so long to follow up on your suggestion but WOW and Thanks to you Entangled. Wow you made my day!

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Now to ask Daughter and Son in law what color the blooms were!

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I discovered in my minimal research that: Crape Myrtle was introduced in 1747; the Crapemyrtle is native to China and Korea. It is hardy from Zones 7 to 9 and can be found in the South, Southwest, and West Coast. Crapemyrtles are found as far north as Baltimore, Maryland, but they are better suited for warmer regions of the country.

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Also I found: Lagerstroemia indica originated in China and was named after Magnus von Lagerstroem Quote from site! (somehow I don't see a crape or a myrtle in that name, but maybe Magnus's nickname was Myrtle). Crapes can be trained into shrubs or, if allowed to grow, will become small trees.

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Pruning… Great information at this site plus a perfect picture of the trunk. Since my Crape Myrtle is only Just a year old I had no idea what it would look like as it grew. This is all very exciting.

MUMS the WORD!

Fall house cleaning

********* Have not had a chance for any further investigation on the second identification… Will attended to that tomorrow ;)

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BUT the house is getting in order…

**************************** Some MUMS ~~~~~~~~ ever so lovely from the most amazing Garden center in the DC area…got my Fringe Tree ~ more about that later!

*************************** Behnke Nurseries Co. In 1930 Albert and Rose Behnke opened Behnke Nurseries in Beltsville, Maryland. Over the years, the nursery and its reputation for honesty and true value have steadily grown. Today, Behnke Nurseries has three locations in Maryland, and each one reflects the same old-fashioned values set forth by Albert and Rose Behnke - they offer the widest practical selection of top-quality plants, with knowledgeable staff to assist in plant choices and to help educate their customers in plant care. Behnke Nurseries enjoys a nationwide reputation as Washington's premiere garden center

One down more to go

Next tree assignment ;) @@@@@@@@@ I appreciate the help you all! I will be letting daughter know what we find out. She can then take the tree book and zone in on the finer aspects of each of these. I feel sure this will be quite helpful.

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This tree has a most interesting trunk, rusty colored, rather smooth and delicate. The Berries have me stymied. The quality of the pictures rather lack as the morning light was overcast.

Perchance it is a Camellia

Ki I looked at several sites and I feel sure you have hit upon the identification.

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http://perennial-plants.suite101.com/article.cfm/plant_profile_camellia

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http://camellia-ics.org/_ics/ackerm1.htm

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http://www.npr.org/programs/talkingplants/profiles/camellia.html

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Here is another view ~~~~~~~~~~~

Flip that Dirt

Compost Happens… ^^ Compost Site Selection

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Check the Chart useful information I thought. The three primary nutrients used by plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; their soil had NONE of these.

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Yes we did the soil tests! ;( Needless to say our trip to DC to see our daughters and Son In Law was fabulous. Helping the newly weds was neat. The Garden Center we went to was totally amazing as well. Seeing the results of JUST the Beginning of a yard makeover breath taking. Then just sitting in their back yard and admiring the Blood [holly branch in the upper lip] Sweat and tears [of laughter] was astonishing.

^^^^^^ Now I am going to need some help in identifying some trees/shrubs for them, I hope you all can help me in this one!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I will do one picture per tree/ Shrub so I do not get confused! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Looks like this MIGHT be a Magnolia Compost Recipe! Recipe Ingredients · Air · Water · Brown stuff Green stuff

Leaving on a jet plane~~~

John Denver And I lost a Bet

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Leaving On A Jet Plane by Peter, Paul and Mary Album: Album 1700 Date: 1969

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"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written by John Denver in 1967 during a layover at an airport in Washington and recorded by the Mitchell Trio that year. The original title of the song was "Oh Babe I Hate To Go" but Denver's then producer, Milt Okun, convinced him to change the title. Others covered the song in 1967, including Spanky & Our Gang and Peter, Paul and Mary on Album 1700. It did not become a hit until Peter, Paul and Mary released it as a single in 1969. It turned out to be their biggest (and final) hit.

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Be back in a few

Dehydration of the garden

Using it all up! Dehydrating is the best way to preserve the essence of a raw apple, as well as other fruits and vegetables. ~~~~~~~ First some neat information I found with a recipe or two.

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Celery Greek: Σέλινο Celery First Used as a Medicine

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Celery (Apium graveolens) is believed to be the same plant as selinon, mentioned in Homer's Odyssey about 850 B.C. Our word "celery" comes from the French celeri, which is derived from the ancient Greek word. The old Roman names, as well as those in many modern languages, are derived from the same root word and sound remarkably similar. This indicates a rather recent wide distribution and use of celery.

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Apium graveolens is plant species in the family Apiaceae, and yields two important vegetables known as celery and celeriac. is used as a seasoning, in cocktails (notably to enhance the flavour of Bloody Mary cocktails), on the Chicago-style hot dog, and in Old Bay Seasoning. Celery is one of three vegetables considered the holy trinity (along with onions and bell peppers) of Louisiana Creole and Cajun cuisine. It is also one of the three vegetables (together with onions and carrots) that constitute the French mirepoix, which is often used as a base for sauces and soups.

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Did you ever wonder how a paper towel can soak up a spill, or how water gets from a plant's roots to its leaves? The name for this is "capillary action."

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Millefeuille de Célerie and Pommes Fruits Celery Root and Apple Napoleon French Vegetable Recipe

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Ingredients: 2 medium sized celery roots (celeriac)4 apples, any tart variety 4 spices - "Quatre épices," a French mix of red pepper, paprika, curry and coriander1/2 lemon

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Directions: 1. Peel the celery root and rub with lemon juice.2. Slice celery root into rounds 1/2" thick.3. Blanch in heavily salted water. Drain.4. Peel and slice apples 1/2" thick.5. Blanch apple slices in water seasoned with spice mixture. Drain.6. Trim celery rounds to match apple rounds.)7. Stack slices, alternating between the two8. Reheat before serving as accompaniment to meat or fowl dishes Serves 4

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Now for the Peppers: Purple Beauty, a sweet Bell[Capsicum annuum], Golden Bell and Carmen Pepper, Sweet Italian Capsicum annuum [‘Carmen’ pepper] This is a sweet, Italian-type pepper. It produces horn-shaped peppers about a week earlier than others in its group. This plant is a good selection for those who want a sweet-tasting pepper that produces well.

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Bell Peppers with Summer Vegetables (Originally from Country Living)

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While vegetable dishes usually take second billing, these side-dish casseroles can easily assume star status when served alongside simple grilled meats or fish.

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Ingredients

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4 red bell peppers, halved lengthwise and seeds removed

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 1/2 cups fresh corn (about 3 ears)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 cups red and golden cherry tomatoes

2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped

1 teaspoon lemon zest

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Directions Preheat oven to 400° F. Toss the peppers in 2 tablespoons olive oil and place in a large baking dish and set aside. Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the onion and garlic, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the corn, salt, and pepper and cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, oregano, and lemon zest and divide the mixture evenly among the 4 pepper halves; set aside. Mix the goat cheese and cream cheese together and distribute in heaping teaspoonfuls among the peppers. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese begins to brown -- 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese begins to brown -- 5 to 10

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Cooking Information Yields 8 servings --------------------------------------- Nutritional Information (per serving) Calories 186 Total Fat 12 g Cholesterol 15 mg Sodium 480 mg Carbohydrates 15.7 g Fiber 2.4 g Protein 6.3 g

Ah the ONTH of October

Soon to be Turkey dessert?

A piece of bark draped over a tree limb looking like a deer face.

Late yesterday afternoon, after I had toiled in the garden on and off most of the day, I took a slow and leisurely walk about. Later I sat; totally content listening to the turkeys calling, the deer scampering across the creek, the walnuts hitting the roof of the garage and listening to the birds.

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Sometime in the middle of the night the Moon awoke me as it shone down through the skylight…

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‘Tis moonlight, summer moonlight, All soft and still and fair; The solemn hour of midnight Breathes sweet thoughts everywhere … Extract from ‘Tis moonlight, summer moonlight By Emily Jane Brontë [1818-48]

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