Conscious Gardening: Bloom Day

Monday, September 15, 2008

Bloom Day

Every month something has stopped me from participating in Bloom Day...thank goodness I shot these yesterday because this morning...my camera is acting up!

My lovely neighbor Regine gave me this plant that she said smelled "awful" but had an interesting flower...according to tradition I accepted it without a thank-you and said that I could put it out by the compost, and immediately began ignoring it. Who wants a stinky flower? Anyway, I rescued it mid-winter this past year, put it inside and still nothing happened. Two days ago I was doing the watering rounds and noticed that it had 14 buds, so I quickly got my camera. The next day I shot a few more as the buds were larger and turning pink. Yesterday they opened up. I did a search of "stinky flowers" and found "Wayne's World of Stinking Plants" and under carrion flowers was my girl...Stapelia gigantea, from Africa. It said that it attracted green bottle flies so I made a point to watch it throughout the day to see if the flies would show here in Austin and...they did! The flower is a member of the milkweed family and grows from 8-10 inches in diameter, mine was just under 8. Mid-afternoon I took a trip to Whole Foods to do my weekly shopping and right in the front door they were selling Aristolochia fimbriata, or Dutchman's Pipe...a native of Argentina, another carrion flower on the site...ohhhh I wanted one, until I checked the price!

This is a list of other things that are blooming in my garden today, but that I'm unable to capture:

Chocolate Plant
Rock Rose
Garlic Chive
Canna
Greg's Mistflower
Red Yucca
Purple and Yellow Lantana
Bulbine
Plumbego
Trumpet Vine
Crepe Myrtle
Fall Obedient Plant

What's blooming in your garden? Participating in Bloom Day is something that happens each month on the 15th. Garden Bloggers from all over the world leave a comment on Carol's May Dreams Gardens blog and that connects all of us soil lovin' flower fans. Check it out!!

Happy Gardening!

24 comments:

growingagardenindavis said...: So do you agree that it stinks? I've never seen that before and am curious HOW stinky it is?! I like your chains...made from bottle caps?; 15 September, 2008 07:48
Carol Michel said...: I recognized your flower right away, as it is one that Annie in Austin has had bloom and posted about, too. Like yours, hers is a passalong and I was very happy when she passed along a cutting to me this spring when I visited Austin. Mine will remain a house plant, with occasional 'vacations' outside in the summertime, here in Zone 5.

Thanks for joining in for Bloom Day!

Carol, May Dreams Gardens; 15 September, 2008 08:02
ConsciousGardener said...: Leslie, I don't think it stinks that bad, but...it's not hot right now. It's supposed to smell like rotting flesh, or flatulence (so pleasant.)

About the beer caps, my husband is a home brewer and I'm always trying to find fun things to do with the caps...I hate making trash so I also save cool bottles:)

Thanks for dropping by!; 15 September, 2008 10:47
Rock rose said...: I think that is a gorgeous looking flower and something to boast/post about!; 15 September, 2008 11:53
Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...: That is one freaky flower! It's buds are so strange & to have it smell bad too... wow.; 15 September, 2008 14:38
Lee17 said...: That is the coolest. flower. ever. I always wanted a carrion flower of some type. I think their blossoms are alien-looking ;)

And are those bottlecap chains? 'Cause those are really nifty!; 15 September, 2008 15:51
ConsciousGardener said...: Hey Lee, would you like a cutting? Lemme know...

Leslie, The blooms are spent, hanging and closed and they are super stinky! But you have to get really close to smell 'em!; 16 September, 2008 04:06
Annie in Austin said...: Hi Robin,

I recognized our stinky mutual friend right away, too!
My starter Stapelia came from a dear but long-gone aunt more than 20 years ago. Yesterday, a baby that was on the laundry room windowsill popped a flower - too late for bloom day. It's nowhere near as large and showy as yours.

The Dutchman's pipe sounds interesting, too - one of those plants I've read about but not seen in person. Was the one at Whole Foods in bloom?

Annie at the Transplantable Rose; 16 September, 2008 10:01
Annie in Austin said...: Oops - sorry I mistakenly called you Robin, ConsciousGardener.

Should we just call you Connie for short?

Annie; 16 September, 2008 11:13
ConsciousGardener said...: Hi Annie,

The Dutchman's pipe was at the Whole Foods North off 360/183, and yes it was in bloom...otherwise I wouldn't have noticed it:) It's in a hanging basket right in the front door.

Cobbin; 16 September, 2008 13:30
HappyMouffetard said...: What a stunning flower - very interesting & great photos of it.; 17 September, 2008 11:22
Anonymous said...: I have one of these lovely "ladies". I agree the bloom is unique. For the odor-I haven't noticed it, maybe because mine is outside & stays there all yr. It too is a pass along plant from a dear departed friend. I like to watch the bloom open.; 17 September, 2008 20:46
spookydragonfly said...: Thank you for visiting my blog...you were the first on that blog..also have Wishnik Woods on the Blotanical site...I have to say that I just love this flower!!! Reminds me of a starfish!! Great photos!; 18 September, 2008 12:39
ConsciousGardener said...: Thanks spooky dragonfly...I like your name:); 18 September, 2008 14:38
Anonymous said...: I'm also a fan of the bottle-cap chains. What inspired them?

But let us not neglect to praise your pictures (and the actual growing) of Stapelia, something I'd seen only in catalogues before this. Amazing! Inspiring!; 18 September, 2008 14:50
ConsciousGardener said...: I wish I could claim some sort of horticultural know how but I just hit it with the hose now and again. It's a super tough plant. The bottle cap folk art stuff is inspired by not wanting to create waste...I collect lots of "junque" and try to come up with unique and fun ways of playing with them in the garden:) Thanks!; 18 September, 2008 14:54
Anonymous said...: I'm also a fan of the bottle-cap chains. What inspired them?

But let us not neglect to praise your pictures (and the actual growing) of Stapelia, something I'd seen only in catalogues before this. Amazing! Inspiring!

Forgive me if this posted twice, I'm not sure if I got this right the first time.; 18 September, 2008 14:55
Sue Swift said...: Really interesting plant. It looks wonderful.

Nice blog. Found you on Blotanical.
Sue; 19 September, 2008 06:53
? said...: This is beautiful. I'm glad I found this blog. I am currently reading one of your favourite books, master and margarita and liking it! Did you enjoy it?; 19 September, 2008 13:49
ConsciousGardener said...: I love M&Marg...the second half is magical, the history of the book is fascinating! Thanks for dropping by!; 19 September, 2008 17:29
Linda Lunda said...: What a flower! Beautiful!
And the bottletopps.. that was a werry funny idea!
Please come and se me .... you have a great site here!
I do love the photo of the dog in your last post! It´s so sweet!
Linda; 24 September, 2008 22:25
ConsciousGardener said...: Thanks Linda, I love your site to. The dog is Romeo "Bud" Floyd and he is a total garden dog...it's my other little wild thing Dorothy that keeps escaping...; 25 September, 2008 06:10
Horselip's Horse Sense said...: I finally read all the posts and am all caught up on your blog. You've inspired me to kill my television and get my butt out in the garden. I've got so much to do; 19 October, 2008 20:41
ConsciousGardener said...: Thanks for making me laugh first thing in the morning! My mom would be proud...she always said I was like a drill sargent! Now get out there! hahaha; 20 October, 2008 04:31

Wordy Wednesday! Solstice 2012!

CBC Update

I wrote to the CBC on April 26th letting them know that I'd had an arborist come out to confirm the fire blight on their giant Barlet Pear tree and had a quote for them. They have yet to have it removed. I've had to let go of any hope or fear about what it will do to my garden, and our neighbors's gardens. Here is a shot of the hell strip across the street. I've continued to plant things there and try to go over at least once a month to pull weeds and keep it somewhat tidy. The rocket myrtle is looking lovely!

Wordy Wednesday 3.21.2012

At 7:30 this morning I went out to snap a few shots of the garden and discovered the owl. I sat with her the entire day...until 3:30, when the American Elm she and her babies called home had been taken down around her, she dropped down into her box. Had I known that my Mr. Owl had started a family, I'd have waited on the tree. As it was, we didn't realize it was "mama owl" until several hours later...when she refused to leave, and then finally at sunset, when Mr. Owl arrived...I hope the babies make it and that we have a family...come May!

Wordy Wednesday 2-29-2012

I walked into the kitchen just in time to see mama redwinged black bird strike the window just inches away from the supposedly "safety sticker" purchased from Audubon specifically for preventing bird strikes. She was in shock and we were terrified that one of our furry monsters would get her...so we carefully placed her in a little nest I made in a wire basket. Her beak was split up the middle and she sat still with her mouth open and her head at a strange cocked angle for a good 5 minutes. I ran and got the camera and when I came out she had closed her mouth...which was bleeding at the tip and her breathing had calmed. I went inside to give her some peace, when I opened the door 20 minutes later...she took off!

"Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi

Chicas Verdes

I went to lunch today with a host of lovely Green Ladies who meet at various locations on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss all things Green in Austin and beyond. The speaker was Niyanta Spelman, executive director of a fairly new NGO, Rainforest Partnership~Linking People to People for a Sustainable Future. It's a worthy cause and I wanted to give a shout out to her group and invite folks to check out their site if this tugs your heartstrings.

Her presentation was engaging and she is available for presentations and networking.

www.rainforestpartnership.org

Rose Garden Planting at CBC Valentines Day 2009

We are going to be putting in a rose garden tomorrow morning at the Baptist Church on Dartmouth Ave. Anyone in the neighborhood is welcome to join us. We'll meet at the coffeeshop at 10am for cookies and a brief talk, then we'll be planting 9 Martha Gonzales roses, leaving space for an upcoming pergola to house two Lady Banksia's. Both roses are featured in the new Grow Green guide that will be released to the public on February 22nd, next Sunday at Zilker Botanical Gardens for the 5th annual Grow Green Festival. The festival begins at 12 noon and is free. Please help us keep Austin Green!

What is your Signature Plant?

This is in response to Tina's question (In The Garden) about signature plants. It came to me right away as I was reading...mine is a Sunflower...for many reasons. They are a weed, the Kansas State Flower, where I was born, they are super sensitive to sunlight...that's why I live in Texas...to keep warm, I'm a sun-lover, yellow is the most cheery color, there are so many different kinds of Sunflowers...one for every mood it seems. Also, almost every part of the flower is useful: petals for dye, stalk for fiber art, seeds...well that's obvious. They bloom where planted. I feel strong and diverse, like a sunflower...When I took the "what flower are you?" test on
Gardening While Intoxicated blog, I came up Sunflower and last but not least...I have a two flower tattoos...one of them is a Sunflower:)

Tree Planting November 1st!

We are just one week away from the scheduled planting date at the CBC on East Dartmouth Ave, south side of the street.
I'm encouraging everyone to show up at 10am for coffee at the Connection Cafe and to pick a tree. Please bring your garden gloves, shovel and wheel barrel if you have one. Davey Trees is delivering mulch! There are 17 trees to be planted along the sidewalk and around the corner on Woodrow Ave. This project is to help replace the 5 trees that have died over the past decade, beautify and also to address the heat island effect.
Please join your neighbors in this project! It's a great opportunity to introduce your kids to gardening and get involved. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to call me @ 459.7314

Happy Gardening!

CBC Update!

The time is drawing near for the CBC/Dartmouth Av. Beautification Project to happen. Paul from TreeFolks came by last week to verify the space and trees for our November 1st plant date. We will be putting 17 trees into the ground along both Woodrow and Dartmouth Av. At the Neighbors Night Out I will have a map of the tree locations and familys can choose which tree to plant. My daughter has designed a T-shirt logo that you can check out and we will order shirts for participants who want to share the joy. Remember to bring your own shovel for digging and hauling mulch. This spring we will add flowers and hopefully some benches! Please join us
in the transformation of our street!

Hard Core Gardening...

CBC Update!

We are having a meeting with Tree Folks September 12th just to verify the space and trees. Some of the grass has grown back but we're dedicated to getting the good stuff in right! Our current planting date is still set for November 1st, 10am and we can use all the help we can get...if you'd like to know how just e-mail me at greengardener@grandecom.net
The Crestview Baptist Church has really taken going green quite serious. This morning I was speaking to their Minister of Community Connection and he informed me that the entire staff were now taking Monday's off to save energy...Right On!

CBC Plan Approved!

Chicken Heaven

One of the joys of gardening is the evolution of crap, or composting. I love turning the pile...it's hard work for sure
but it's just so rewarding. The top is always dry and airy but when you dig down to that super rich level...full of bugs and worms and wet delicious smelling fresh soil, you know you're doing the right thing. No one loves helping out more than the chickens. They are usually a bit jumpy due to their teeny weeny bird-brains but when they have their sight on dozens, maybe hundreds of plump critters their excitement and need for protein overwhelm their fear of the shovel and they literally dive in face first. I'm going to have to catch it on film sometime...they love compost almost as much as my dog loves Kitty-Rocha. Nasty, nasty stuff.

Old Fashioned Family Fun

Taking photos at dawn is the best. Staging photos is an art form. Dealing with pre-teens and full on teenaged girls can be a nightmare. We were down visiting my neighbor's horses a few weeks ago and stumbled upon a blackberry forest...literally! So we decided to arrange a morning of bliss. The following weekend we took my two girls out to pick blackberries, ride horses and do a photo shoot. A morning like this has the potential of going sour, not everyone rises like the sun, shiny and full of energy...not to mention typical teenaged attitude and the borage of petty complaints. Throw in a camera however and suddenly eyes sparkle, hair flies, dimples emerge and between handling the animals, the reflection on the water, arranging the props and making sure your models don't have blue lips and are not tearing each others hair out for "that shirt" the potential for magic emerges. The girls were so funny, they couldn't believe how many blackberries there were..."how many can we eat? As much as you want, but let's take enough home for a cobbler." (Rare sound of giddy squealing) The second location was in the hayloft. The texture of the hay and soft lighting were perfect. I was expecting wining about how it itched or the bugs etc...but it all seemed fine, we just made sure that the same amount of attention was paid each model. Then off to the horses, who would be fed after their work. Now working with horses is a bit more of a challenge. Taking a picture of a flower is one thing...composition, lighting, background...mostly nature takes care of the beauty but the horses have to be directed along with the girls, and of course there is the safety issue and only one of the girls is comfortable and "into" horses. Once again though, the camera seemed to erase all fear and the inner model arose. The entire shoot lasted about 4 hours, which included feeding and tending 4 horses, 5 changes of clothes, staging photos at 3 locations and picking several containers of berries and one prairie-girl sized basket. The great thing is that the morning goes down in history, beautifully. In a few years we won't even remember the hassle...
Blackberry slideshow under construction.

Conscious Gardening

Monday, September 15, 2008

Bloom Day

24 comments:

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