Sunday, August 29, 2010

New Additions to the Garden

My Favorite Hero-Storm
This morning I sit drinking my coffee preparing for another day outside.  I listen to Bear McCreary's music from BSG and think about the ways of the world.  I am surrounded by my furry friends with laundry and dishes getting cleaned.  The birds are emptying the bird feeder at a dizzying speed and life is good.


Last night we had another major storm which was incredible.  The rain came down so hard and the lightening and thunder were incredible.  I left the door open and listened to the storm. I turned off all appliances and TV and just sat in the dark watching the real show happening outside.  It was a half hour without commercials and incredible.  Someone once asked me, "If you could have any power in the world, what would it be?"  The power to control the weather....the wind, rain, snow, lightening....and glide on the wind's back.  As a child growing up, I always imagined that I could control the weather and fly when a wind gust came my way. Sometimes I think about leaving teaching to become a weatherman on TV.

Lantana...a weed here in Tucson

Okay...enough of pretend and back to reality:)  This past week, I've been investigating the possibility of becoming a docent at our local gardens here.  There is a class that begins in September and ends in November.  I really want to do it and it's at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.  I checked into the Master Gardener Program and was absolutely disgusted.....the only people that can really do a program like that are the retired ones.  The program runs during the day and week only.  I am absolutely bummed that I won't be able to do this until later on in life.  So I'll do what I can for now and learn as much as I can....but there is always so much to learn and I think I'll die still trying new plants and combinations.  When I start making my own "tea" for the plants, I know I'll have crossed over to that kind of gardener:)

False Heather...another great plant in Tucson
In the garden this week.  I have to string up and wire the bouganvillea that was pulled off the buildings by the storm.  I also have to look into silicon for my bamboo....it is growing at an incredible rate and I need to keep it off the walking path. I guess you use the silicon to attach to the building where then you can string and attach the bamboo to it lifting it up.   The Buddha's Belly is beautiful but people should be able to walk by it and not thru it:)  Yesterday I trimmed and restaked several jacaranda trees and cleaned off the patio.  The good news is that the castor plants may make it.  I put concrete blocks against them to keep them up and they seem to be doing alright.  So I didn't lose anyone over this past week, and that's a good thing.

Blue Daze Evolvulus...New for me but the leaves are grey/green which equals good here.
I have also planted several new trailing and bushier plants around the property in those wells that I created several weeks ago.  I'll take pics when I have my camera with me the next time.   The pics are listed in this blog.  I have given up on two plants forever....verbena and algerian ivy....I kill them every single time.  However, I don't kill most plants so that's good:) It all comes down to soil and location here in the desert...and sometimes the cold nights.  That's the update to the place....I'll have more as I slowly reclaim the neglected garden spaces of El Presidio one patch at a time:) Until next time, Happy Gardening!!
Dwarf Cup Flower...also new for me

Salvia or Autumn Sage...great plant for Tucson!

11 comments:

  1. I'm like you. I love listening to the rain. It's such a rare treat for us in the desert. I think I know how the desert plants and wildlife feel when the skies open up. You know, you don't need a piece of paper to be a master gardener. You seem to be well on your way!

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  2. You're right about the piece of paper. I guess I want to see if I am missing something important,like little local secrets when I garden plus I am hoping to connect with other gardeners in the community. I've been doing this for many years and I don't feel like I'm connected to the community at all...and I'd love to be. In my small hometown in WI, people chat about their gardens all the time and get excited about planting....here in Tucson, I find the community a bit more elusive:) Do you find that where you are at?

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  3. I love that I'm not the only one that LOVES the BSG soundtracks! I wish Lantana would grow like a weed up here in Vancouver. I planted it and it sat there all summer. The leaves turned purple. Then out of no where *BAM* back to green with new shoots and a tonne of flowers.

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  4. You willl make a wonderful docent and I agree with Tracy you don't need a course to be a master gardener. Your autumn sage looks gorgeous and lush. Mine looks dry, and straggly at the moment. It has been too hot for too long here for it to really thrive. Roll on fall! :)

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  5. I love the simple joys one can get from Nature.

    Lovely pictures of flowers!! So beautiful colours!

    First time here, through Tracy's.
    I love your blog.

    B

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  6. I was wondering where your post was heading when I saw the first two photos. My favorite superhero is 'Storm' because I think it would be so cool to be able to control the weather. For example, how would a dry 80 degrees sound in August ;-)

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  7. Your blog is very interesting and I like your travel pictures.

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  8. I think that sounds like perfection:)

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  9. Beautiful pics! I wish Lantana was a weed here!

    By the way, BSG rocks!

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  10. I think BSG is probably one of the greatest TV shows of all times. Thanks for reading...I think lantana like to be left alone here because I seriously neglect them. When they get weedy, I simply prune them all the way back and they come back bushier and better than ever.

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