tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44830750596166868922024-03-12T22:17:37.356-04:00Still Waters--Notes from a Virginia ShireOffering a moment of tranquilityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger929125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-40555818250355489582014-12-01T19:00:00.000-05:002014-11-30T20:55:37.367-05:00Still Waters: Notes from a Virginia Shire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.</i></div>
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<i> --Lao Tzu</i><br />
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<b>As you can see from my note below, </b><br />
<b>I had planned a short hiatus from daily blogging.</b><br />
<b>My intention was to begin again today, December 1st, 2014;</b><br />
<b>however, my special projects at work won't be finished until January, 2015.</b><br />
<b>So I will begin publishing the blog again then, every Wednesday and Sunday</b><br />
<b>instead of daily. In the meantime, enjoy the archives!</b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJPfgVo0g2c/VAPGxyL8sTI/AAAAAAAAGB8/0lkWE8WjG4E/s1600/DSCN0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJPfgVo0g2c/VAPGxyL8sTI/AAAAAAAAGB8/0lkWE8WjG4E/s1600/DSCN0936.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">The Still Waters: Notes from a Virginia Shire blog</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">is on hiatus from Monday, September 1, 2014</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">through Monday, December 1, 2014.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">The archives contain more than 900 blog posts,</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">so while I'm away, catch up on what you may have missed.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">~</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">Please email me at stillwaters161@gmail.com</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">if there are problems with the archive.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">See you in December!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;"><></span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-13729394235456744042014-08-31T21:00:00.000-04:002014-08-31T21:01:44.772-04:00The Second Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here in the Shire, it's common to start planting in late August and September</div>
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for the second season of gardening.</div>
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Cool weather crops like spinach, lettuce, and other greens are common.</div>
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Lots of people plant ornamental kale and pansies in September.</div>
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The best part of planting pansies </div>
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is that they will bloom from now right through late June.</div>
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This year, I have a plan that will bring those winter flowers a little closer.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5N-1lCrMnOE/VAPEb2U_rPI/AAAAAAAAGBo/yJQgq05bhAw/s1600/pansies%2Bmorguefile%2Bby%2Birish%2Beyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5N-1lCrMnOE/VAPEb2U_rPI/AAAAAAAAGBo/yJQgq05bhAw/s1600/pansies%2Bmorguefile%2Bby%2Birish%2Beyes.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>morguefile.com, uploaded by irish eyes</i></span></div>
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Because we live at sea level and near the river,</div>
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our heating and air conditioning units </div>
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are elevated on a small deck of their own.</div>
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There's an unused space on the deck just outside the breakfast room window, </div>
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and it always seemed like a good place to have some flowers.</div>
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Earlier this summer, I found a wrought iron stand</div>
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to hold a 24-inch planter outside the window.</div>
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So for the "second season," I plan to plant pansies there.</div>
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They should be beautiful.</div>
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And I'm looking forward to opening the window</div>
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and watering them from inside the house!</div>
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<></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Still Waters blog goes on hiatus beginning tomorrow,</span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Monday, September 1, 2014 through Monday, December 1, 2014.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">With nearly 1,000 daily blog posts from the Shire available </span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;"> in the archives, this will be a good time </span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">to catch up on what you might have missed.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">(Please report any problems with the archives</span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">to me at stillwaters161@gmail.com. Thanks!)</span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">I'll check in from time to time between now and December. </span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.631999969482422px;">
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Till then . . .</span></i></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-82670698893001378622014-08-30T19:22:00.000-04:002014-08-30T19:35:55.132-04:00Autumn Leaves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Even though it's not officially autumn for three more weeks,</div>
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a few leaves are already turning colors.</div>
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Here are three I found this morning while I was walking:</div>
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This scarlet leaf is beautiful:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0V1B7LtR6k/VAJbLvazG2I/AAAAAAAAGBI/qsBhqcXAY30/s1600/red%2Bleaf%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0V1B7LtR6k/VAJbLvazG2I/AAAAAAAAGBI/qsBhqcXAY30/s1600/red%2Bleaf%2Bcropped.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I love the orange ones even more</div>
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because orange seems like such a happy, exciting color:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjaQPJOPSug/VAJbbok7-vI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/ZXB7Vxn0A50/s1600/orange%2Bleaf%2B1%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjaQPJOPSug/VAJbbok7-vI/AAAAAAAAGBQ/ZXB7Vxn0A50/s1600/orange%2Bleaf%2B1%2Bcropped.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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But the red and yellow ones are sublime,</div>
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even with a little wear and tear:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UIqFYn2sd8/VAJb7TtS7VI/AAAAAAAAGBY/0NrDyZhgz4c/s1600/red%2Band%2Byellow%2Bleaf%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UIqFYn2sd8/VAJb7TtS7VI/AAAAAAAAGBY/0NrDyZhgz4c/s1600/red%2Band%2Byellow%2Bleaf%2Bcropped.jpg" height="400" width="342" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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Ready or not, autumn is on the horizon.</div>
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<></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red;">Just one more post before the Still Waters blog goes on hiatus from</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red;">Monday, September 1, 2014 through Monday, December 1, 2014.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;">With nearly 1,000 daily blog posts from the Shire available </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;"> in the archives, this will be a good time </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;">to catch up on what you might have missed.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;">(Please report any problems with the archives</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: red;">to me at stillwaters161@gmail.com. Thanks!)</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-45381463022546976172014-08-29T21:02:00.001-04:002014-08-29T21:02:28.776-04:00Vinca Jams and Jellies Blackberry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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About this time of year,</div>
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I start to think about fall flowers.</div>
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Fall flowers here will grow and bloom up until November, generally.</div>
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So it seems like a good idea to plant some flowers </div>
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that will look festive around Halloween.</div>
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Usually people buy orange marigolds and chrysanthemums in autumn colors .</div>
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And if they've planned ahead,</div>
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they will also have planted some of the dark purple-black sweet potato vine.</div>
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<img src="http://www.ballpublishing.com/growertalks/ArticleImage.aspx?imgid=3646" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image from growertalks: </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>http://www.ballpublishing.com/growertalks/ViewArticle.aspx?articleid=19422</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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But I was in the garden center recently </div>
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and ran across a nearly black vinca, a dark purple color I'd never seen before,</div>
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called Jams and Jellies Blackberry.</div>
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That name is so delicious you could practically eat it.</div>
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<.></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-41704172082936121772014-08-28T21:02:00.000-04:002014-08-28T21:03:02.065-04:00Scarlet Runner Beans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Decades ago, we lived in a small townhouse with no backyard. </div>
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It did, however, have a concrete patio with fencing on three sides.</div>
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I decided I would plant flowers in the narrow dirt strips</div>
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where the fence's support posts were anchored.</div>
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I don't know why, </div>
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but I never considered planting anything in a pot or planter.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csYoGqo3ncA/U__M-PcmzUI/AAAAAAAAGAk/UtjAfHhZmks/s1600/marigold%2Bflower%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-csYoGqo3ncA/U__M-PcmzUI/AAAAAAAAGAk/UtjAfHhZmks/s1600/marigold%2Bflower%2B1.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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So on one side I grew marigolds in the few inches of soil available.</div>
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On the other, I planted scarlet runner beans.</div>
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Unfortunately, the runner beans I grew </div>
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looked nothing like the lush, colorful vine pictured on the seed packet.</div>
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The foliage was straggly and pale, leggy at the bottom, weak at the top.</div>
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The only parts of the plant that were beautiful</div>
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were the tiny scarlet blossoms.</div>
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This image is a good facsimile:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhf72iQYQU4/U__O2OSK6MI/AAAAAAAAGA0/UantnV66vrw/s1600/scarlet%2Brunner%2Bbean%2Bflickr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bhf72iQYQU4/U__O2OSK6MI/AAAAAAAAGA0/UantnV66vrw/s1600/scarlet%2Brunner%2Bbean%2Bflickr.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-size: x-small;">photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jason-riedy/2787089684/"></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Jason Riedy</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a></i></span></div>
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I hadn't thought of that gardening adventure for years.</div>
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Only today because I ran across a photo of scarlet runner beans</div>
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in an article about the best flowers for late August/early September.</div>
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The photo showed an incredibly lush vine </div>
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covered in a profusion of vermilion red blossoms.</div>
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My mom used to say, believe none of what you hear</div>
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and only half of what you see.</div>
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Good advice, particularly when looking at incredibly </div>
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beautiful photos of scarlet runner beans.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-73629415182125129592014-08-27T19:45:00.000-04:002014-08-27T19:45:09.012-04:00Vinca<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Annual flowers are supposed to last only one season,</div>
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but I've found that many will re-seed.</div>
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That's what's happened with the vinca we planted last year.</div>
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But I didn't realize it had re-seeded until I noticed a bright green plant</div>
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growing up through a crack between the bricks in our front walk.</div>
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This week, it bloomed:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POL2iHmTV6U/U_5q2xl95RI/AAAAAAAAGAE/EqprpyN-A98/s1600/vinca%2Bvolunteer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POL2iHmTV6U/U_5q2xl95RI/AAAAAAAAGAE/EqprpyN-A98/s1600/vinca%2Bvolunteer.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</span></a></i></div>
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At first glance, it didn't look particularly spectacular,</div>
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but up close it was flawless:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7qZYNWeu48/U_5rREtEE5I/AAAAAAAAGAM/_r0_IfHl1PQ/s1600/vinca%2Bvolunteer%2B2%2Bwhite%2Bwith%2Bpink%2Bcenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7qZYNWeu48/U_5rREtEE5I/AAAAAAAAGAM/_r0_IfHl1PQ/s1600/vinca%2Bvolunteer%2B2%2Bwhite%2Bwith%2Bpink%2Bcenter.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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And then I found another vinca volunteer, and yet another one.</div>
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They were easy to miss there among the impatiens, </div>
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but on closer examination, so pristine and beautiful:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okzBPNCX1nI/U_5rlqi3EWI/AAAAAAAAGAU/D2y0-o4fUQ8/s1600/vinca%2Bvolunteer%2B1%2Bwhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okzBPNCX1nI/U_5rlqi3EWI/AAAAAAAAGAU/D2y0-o4fUQ8/s1600/vinca%2Bvolunteer%2B1%2Bwhite.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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To find that beautiful flowers have volunteered to grow in your garden</div>
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makes a lovely late summer surprise.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-49104757286297758442014-08-26T19:30:00.000-04:002014-08-26T19:30:01.163-04:00Gladiolus, the Flower for August<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before the last sands of August slip through the hourglass,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted to mention the symbolic flower for August.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's the gladiolus.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The gladiolus is a long-stalked plant with large opened trumpet flowers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that sport a ruffled edge and an assortment of vibrant colors.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They are beautiful and delicate, given to falling over when their blossoms are full--</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
kind of like a Victorian lady on a fainting couch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Purple_Gladioli.jpg" width="213" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Gladiolus#mediaviewer/File:Purple_Gladioli.jpg</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image uploaded by: twdragon 2008</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So to me, glads just don't seem like an appropriate choice for August.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They seem like more of a late May, early June kind of flower.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gladioli are just too refined and frilly to symbolize </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the rough and tumble, the grit and sweat of hot August days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="File:Indian blanket, gaillardia pulchella (8472085600).jpg" height="300" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Indian_blanket%2C_gaillardia_pulchella_%288472085600%29.jpg/800px-Indian_blanket%2C_gaillardia_pulchella_%288472085600%29.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i> [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
August needs a flower that's bold. Something orange or golden yellow,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
something that defies the heat of the season and the scorching summer sun.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe a sunflower that grows straight and upright along fields awaiting harvest.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or coneflowers, with their crew-cut seed heads </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and petals down around their prickly necks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perhaps even an Indian Blanket flower.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've seen them co-mingling with sand burrs near the beach</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and growing out of the burning hot sand along a Florida sidewalk.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now that's a rugged flower.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-47696864595418222842014-08-25T19:40:00.001-04:002014-08-25T19:40:59.150-04:00August 25th<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another cool, windy day today.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have to remind myself this is August and not October.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It feels at least like late September.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even so, it's too early for the colorful flowers of fall: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
asters, chrysanthemums, and goldenrod.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The flowers of summer appear less robust than they were,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with fewer blooms and more seed heads.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Right now, things are primarily green.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fWBWtnxJaos/U_vIzg3MYvI/AAAAAAAAF_o/XCO15KFzmqE/s1600/green%2Bswamp%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fWBWtnxJaos/U_vIzg3MYvI/AAAAAAAAF_o/XCO15KFzmqE/s1600/green%2Bswamp%2B1.jpg" height="361" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I was walking this evening, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I noticed the thorny greenbrier vine</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thick all along the edge of the wood.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the pine needles are still green, as are the maple saplings,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
leafy oaks, and the star-shaped gum tree leaves. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even the water in the ponds is collecting green moss.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One last dance in an emerald gown</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before the autumn gala begins.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-68396246607590915322014-08-24T19:30:00.000-04:002014-08-24T19:30:01.574-04:00Summer Wind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The summer wind came blowin' in from across the sea ...</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>--Johnny Mercer</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This August in the Shire has been unusual </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in that there have been few days with temperatures in the 90s and 100s.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The milder temperatures have made it easier to take care of my flowers,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it seems odd that we've had fewer "dog days" than normal.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tdQfVvU9vV0/U_pe3CifgHI/AAAAAAAAF_Y/caGFecF_Tgg/s1600/DSCN0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tdQfVvU9vV0/U_pe3CifgHI/AAAAAAAAF_Y/caGFecF_Tgg/s1600/DSCN0154.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And today, the wind has blown and blown.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Leaves and pine needles have been hastened from the trees</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and scattered to the four corners.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Summer wind, bringing with it what may come.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-10194712658184642762014-08-23T20:22:00.003-04:002014-08-23T20:23:12.316-04:00What the Trees Know<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even though it's still summer, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there are signs that autumn is stirring.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It starts one leaf at a time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDwRHYzZYNk/U_ku5_yrHjI/AAAAAAAAF_I/ng2_Jsg3PV8/s1600/yellow%2Bleaf%2Baug%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDwRHYzZYNk/U_ku5_yrHjI/AAAAAAAAF_I/ng2_Jsg3PV8/s1600/yellow%2Bleaf%2Baug%2B2014.jpg" height="337" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as the light grows softer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-23406391270520867132014-08-22T20:29:00.001-04:002014-08-22T20:30:56.668-04:00Robins in Late Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
This morning there was a small commotion</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the tall Chindo viburnum shrubs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This time of year they get beautiful red berries,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and apparently those berries attracted a few robins</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who were feeding with a lot of unrestrained enthusiasm.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They left only a few:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2Wc9t7ugmE/U_feh3CCmFI/AAAAAAAAF-k/wUjYeO1hoqU/s1600/viburnum%2Bberries%2Bfall%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2Wc9t7ugmE/U_feh3CCmFI/AAAAAAAAF-k/wUjYeO1hoqU/s1600/viburnum%2Bberries%2Bfall%2B14.jpg" height="343" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While the robins this morning indulged in a happy frenzy of eating,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the ones I saw yesterday were more subdued--</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so much so, I wondered what they were up to.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The entrance to our part of the neighborhood has a median full of crape myrtle trees.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Very shady, very pretty.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And it's the place where I've seen lurking vultures </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
evenly spaced along the sidewalks on each side of the street.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday, a dozen robins were doing the same thing:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
lined up, evenly spaced looking out into the street.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Must be something about the air currents there; </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on the other hand, they could know something we don't.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-24253365336300015172014-08-21T21:31:00.002-04:002014-08-21T21:32:42.863-04:00Pachysandra<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pachysandra, commonly known as Japanese Spurge,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is a great ground cover for shady areas,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so we had planted it at our first little house in Virginia</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and then again our current home here.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's supposed to be an aggressive spreader,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but we had never seen that kind of behavior from it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If anything, it's been a slow grower for us--painfully slow.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/k/kevinrosseel/preview/fldr_2008_11_28/file000960498710.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>morguefile.com, image uploaded by krosseel</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, this summer, after a few years of it just sitting there,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's started to show its true colors.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's spreading, but from my perspective,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it's spreading in the wrong direction--right across my moss path, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
not in the little bed I've cultivated for it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I guess it's true what they say, be careful what you ask for.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-51625643718756307372014-08-20T20:02:00.000-04:002014-08-20T20:03:50.915-04:00Picking Fruit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
My dad once remarked that there was nothing better</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
than coming home from school, climbing an apple tree,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and eating a juicy apple from his perch in the branches.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It always seemed like a charming memory to me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But today I think I found out why the simple act of picking fruit</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was such a primal, spiritual experience for him.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Our little fig tree before it set fruit:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_27JnoLxKU/U_U2lhsBvuI/AAAAAAAAF-M/XXKHZG5Flkw/s1600/fig%2Bleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G_27JnoLxKU/U_U2lhsBvuI/AAAAAAAAF-M/XXKHZG5Flkw/s1600/fig%2Bleaves.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've had a stressful few days, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
trying to get some things ready in time to meet an impending deadline.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But this evening I picked figs for a crostata I plan to make.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was then I understood the profound attraction that plucking</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one perfect apple had for my dad.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inside the cloak of the fig tree, I felt the supple bending of the branches,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the massive fig leaves brushing against me,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my fingers touching the soft fruit,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the fig's golden skins glistening with sticky sugar.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Arms reaching up as high as I could make them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seems like heaven to me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-31748672139809404732014-08-19T18:44:00.000-04:002014-08-19T18:44:55.990-04:00Arnica Montana<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I saw a flower bed full of what I thought was <i>calendula officinalis</i>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or pot marigold. But as I was looking for photos of it,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I realized the flowers I saw aren't actually calendula,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which looks like this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Calendula_officinalis_03-09-2005_15.21.56.JPG/800px-Calendula_officinalis_03-09-2005_15.21.56.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>by TeunSpaans. </i></span><i style="font-size: x-small;">Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calendula_officinalis_</i></span><i style="font-size: x-small;">03-09-2005_15.21.56.JPG#mediaviewer</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started hunting for what those yellow-orange flowers might be</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and ran across references to <i>arnica montana</i>,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a little-known flowering herb that I've been familiar with</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and occasionally used as an ointment a couple of decades now.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
According to Wikimedia Commons, arnica has many names: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
leopard's bane, wolf's bane, mountain tobacco, and my favorite:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Celtic nard (<i>narde</i> being an archaic term for ointment </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
prepared from a plant rhizome).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've never seen arnica growing anywhere, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but this is what it looks like in bloom:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Arnica_montana_180605.jpg/640px-Arnica_montana_180605.jpg" width="295" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>"Arnica montana 180605" by Bernd Haynold - Own work. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arnica_montana</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>_180605.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Arnica_montana_180605.jpg</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The cream or gel prepared from arnica </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
has been used for centuries to alleviate the discomfort of muscle sprains, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
aches, pains and bruising. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All that and pretty flowers too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-67208635482053189032014-08-18T20:19:00.004-04:002014-08-18T20:23:17.665-04:00Redbud Trees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Irresistible Nature of Redbud Trees in Late Summer</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I discovered something new about redbud trees.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The two redbuds we planted outside the garage</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are in full leaf and hundreds of thin brown seed pods </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are hanging from the branches.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I have been anticipating their dropping</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and eventually showing up as tiny green seedlings in my flower beds--</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which is how these two trees started out eleven years ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="299" src="http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/p/pippalou/01/l/13896404958lkyo.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>morguefile.com image uploaded by pippalou</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But today I heard a flutter of titmice in the branches.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I thought maybe they were fledglings with a parent,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but after I watched them awhile, I realized they were adults.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And they were pecking at the slender seedpods, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cracking the seeds, and eating them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Soon they departed and a few chickadees flew in and did the same thing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I guess you just can't keep a good thing quiet.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-34569313110550841952014-08-17T22:51:00.001-04:002014-08-17T22:51:22.812-04:00Dragonflies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
This summer, dragonflies have been very prevalent.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They fly all around the house, above the flowers, along the edge of the woods.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One spot they seem to like the best</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is the very tip of some forged iron hitching posts </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we have placed among the flowers and by the fig tree.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45Fg-SZxdk4/U_FpRLhJQaI/AAAAAAAAF98/7HU7ZrXfDh8/s1600/dragonfly%2Bcropped%2Baug%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45Fg-SZxdk4/U_FpRLhJQaI/AAAAAAAAF98/7HU7ZrXfDh8/s1600/dragonfly%2Bcropped%2Baug%2B2014.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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I don't know why they favor that spot,</div>
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and though I ordinarily try to unravel such mysteries,</div>
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this one I won't.</div>
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Sometimes you just need to preserve the wonder of it all.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-46376198210922016532014-08-16T20:00:00.000-04:002014-08-16T20:00:03.634-04:00Cosmos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Walking through the Cosmos</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Actually, we walk by the cosmos at our house.</div>
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Most cosmos flowers grow quite tall,</div>
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forming a colorful cloud of blossoms atop feathery foliage.</div>
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Our cosmos are much more delicate and low to the ground.</div>
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Probably because they are intermingling with the impatiens.</div>
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Impatiens easily outgrow most of their companions--</div>
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they've completely consumed our lime hosta for example--</div>
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and the cosmos are no exception.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BmUJTXN3iOU/U-_d2pIeSRI/AAAAAAAAF9s/LKzj61Yx1NY/s1600/cosmos%2Bcropped%2Baug%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BmUJTXN3iOU/U-_d2pIeSRI/AAAAAAAAF9s/LKzj61Yx1NY/s1600/cosmos%2Bcropped%2Baug%2B2014.jpg" height="341" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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But I like the way it looks with them all nestled together.</div>
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Cozy and pretty too.</div>
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<></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-79271896501986108182014-08-15T20:00:00.000-04:002014-08-15T20:00:02.423-04:00Wild Violets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes while hiking, I have come upon small wood violets</div>
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nestled in the detritus of the forest floor. </div>
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Full of charm, they look lovely.</div>
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So one day when I was at my mom and dad's house,</div>
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I took a start of the violets</div>
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they had growing in a small bed near the back door.</div>
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I brought the violets home, planted them,</div>
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and spent a couple of seasons nurturing them</div>
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until they were lush and full enough to shelter the nesting wrens.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QU2ujqqa7Pw/U-6LUQpDABI/AAAAAAAAF9I/EADg2IuDnVk/s1600/violets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QU2ujqqa7Pw/U-6LUQpDABI/AAAAAAAAF9I/EADg2IuDnVk/s1600/violets.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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I knew violets could be invasive, </div>
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and I was aware some propagate by springing their seeds out into the air. </div>
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Even so, I was pretty confident </div>
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they would not be able to throw them very far</div>
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from the window box on our wood deck.</div>
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Wrong.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HzejPT_gtPk/U-6MErCmBBI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/_hCHJRjDBqU/s1600/violets%2B2%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HzejPT_gtPk/U-6MErCmBBI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/_hCHJRjDBqU/s1600/violets%2B2%2Bcropped.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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The violets are coming up everywhere.</div>
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Yards away in our moss path,</div>
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yards the other way in a flower bed around the corner of the house.</div>
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Violets with a mind of their own.</div>
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It's a good thing I like them.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-24361733940769995092014-08-14T20:00:00.000-04:002014-08-14T20:00:02.571-04:00Blue Geraniums<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I really like blue flowers;</div>
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they are great for cooling your view on a hot August day.</div>
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And they offer a kind of tranquility </div>
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that bright red, yellow, or orange flowers just don't attain.</div>
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There aren't many blue flowers in comparison</div>
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when it comes time for spring or fall planting though.</div>
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I seek them out each year, but ultimately I kill blue lobelia every spring, </div>
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and ruin the summer's blue ageratum a few weeks later.</div>
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But when I was reading about geraniums this week,</div>
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I discovered there are hybrid blue geraniums that will tolerate partial shade.</div>
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The most popular is the Johnson's blue although it seems a little like a fake geranium.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's a Johnson's blue geranium:</div>
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<img height="341" src="http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/j/jusben/preview/fldr_2009_06_10/file9371244616482.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>morguefile.com, image credit: Jusben</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's an image of blue geraniums in the garden:</div>
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<img alt="File:Geranium 'Johnson's Blue' 01.jpg" height="300" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Geranium_%27Johnson%27s_Blue%27_01.jpg/800px-Geranium_%27Johnson%27s_Blue%27_01.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>By Kor!An (Андрей Корзун) (Own work) </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>[CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>via Wikimedia Commons</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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They remind me a little of bachelor's buttons.</div>
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I've read that what most Americans call geraniums are not true <i>pelargoniums,</i></div>
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and surprisingly, the only true pelargonium has blue flowers. </div>
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The red geranium is the imposter.</div>
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I guess that means the blue geranium is really "true blue" after all.</div>
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<></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-28239324177407803012014-08-13T19:35:00.002-04:002014-08-13T19:36:49.052-04:00Scented Geranium<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's not summer without a few fragrant herbs growing nearby.</div>
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I have a small sage plant, rosemary plant, basil, thyme, and mint.</div>
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But my recent post on the standard scarlet geranium</div>
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got me thinking about the other kinds of geraniums:</div>
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different colors (salmon, pink); different habits (trailing, upright);</div>
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and scented.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Scented Geranium (Pelargonium odoratissimum)</span></div>
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<img alt="File:Pelargonium odoratissimum (14559814110).jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Pelargonium_odoratissimum_%2814559814110%29.jpg/558px-Pelargonium_odoratissimum_%2814559814110%29.jpg" height="400" width="372" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">By Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(Pelargonium odoratissimum) </i><i>[CC-BY-2.0</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i> (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], </i><i>via Wikimedia Commons</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love scented geraniums.</div>
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They have such a deep, aromatic perfume,</div>
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one that is supposed to deter mosquitoes.</div>
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I've never had them work in that regard,</div>
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but scented geraniums smell so wonderful, </div>
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it's hard to be disappointed in them.</div>
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If you've never had one,</div>
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they are a delightful cross between an herb and a flower.</div>
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<></div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-4349762394285519252014-08-12T19:42:00.000-04:002014-08-12T19:48:37.310-04:00Happiness is ... In the Shire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Happiness is found in little things ...</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's what's been going on in the Shire the last couple of days:</div>
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<br />An Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly </div>
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floated through the air and lit gently on the parsley that has regrown</div>
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since the hungry caterpillars cut it down to a few stalks.</div>
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Another settled on a fence and open and closed its wings </div>
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in the morning sun.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<img height="299" src="http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/p/pippalou/08/l/1406954600qjz9m.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>morguefile.com Image credit: pippalou</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two hummingbirds had a gentle, but determined, disagreement</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
over which of them was entitled to the nectar </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the impatiens and pale violet hosta blossoms.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Two juvenile doves hopped and then flew</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when I approached their resting spot while I was riding my bike.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<img alt="Black-and-white Warbler Photo" src="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/black_and_white_warbler_glamor.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image credit: John McKean, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">allaboutbirds.org</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A black and white striped warbler trekked up and down </div>
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one of our oak trees.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The figs ripened enough for us to pick about a quart and a half tonight.</div>
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Fig jam is coming!</div>
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<></div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-77869913958766017062014-08-11T20:14:00.002-04:002014-08-11T20:19:11.659-04:00Dew on Grass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>For in the dew of little things, </i></div>
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<i>the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.</i></div>
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<i>--Kahlil Gibran</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's not surprising to see dew on the morning grass,</div>
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but early this evening while we were walking,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we came upon a small circle of dew drops</div>
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resting on a spider web in the grass.</div>
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</div>
<br />
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uBo_gSJtCXA/U-lbPHnDLTI/AAAAAAAAF8I/CkslxuUWyq4/s1600/spider+web+with+water+droplets+dew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uBo_gSJtCXA/U-lbPHnDLTI/AAAAAAAAF8I/CkslxuUWyq4/s1600/spider+web+with+water+droplets+dew.jpg" height="283" width="640" /></a></div>
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avirginiashire.blogspot.com</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you look closely, in the lower right quarter the spider rests.</div>
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He looks pretty refreshed to me.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-53581782509966980702014-08-10T20:37:00.002-04:002014-08-10T20:40:20.315-04:00Geraniums<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
One flower that is emblematic of summer is the red geranium.</div>
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Red geraniums are eye-catching and colorful and I love them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, for some reason, the classic red geranium doesn't do well under my care.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like petunias, classic geraniums are generally antagonistic</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to all my attempts to nurture them.</div>
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I do better with ivy geranium and scented geranium,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but, alas, my heart belongs to the standard.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Who could resist this kind of perfection?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="300" src="http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/p/peeperman/preview/fldr_2009_10_15/file5221255658437.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>morguefile.com image credit: peeperman</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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Or this?</div>
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</div>
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<img height="299" src="http://cdn.morguefile.com/imageData/public/files/c/cohdra/preview/fldr_2005_05_11/file000583052331.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>morguefile.com image credit: cohdra</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The symbolism of the geranium is rather peculiar. </div>
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Some sources say it reflects grace, respect, value.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Other say stupidity. </div>
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I guess you can take your pick.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But to choose stupidity seems rather--you know.</div>
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<></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-41936797137589738682014-08-09T20:18:00.000-04:002014-08-09T20:19:24.082-04:00Giving a Fig<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last year, a friend of mine gifted us with a bag of figs.</div>
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I made fig jam and it was delicious:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Cr_Fqsy8wY/U-a2FtsLHkI/AAAAAAAAF7U/ltxI4vux8ZI/s1600/refrigerator+fig+jam+aug+31+2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Cr_Fqsy8wY/U-a2FtsLHkI/AAAAAAAAF7U/ltxI4vux8ZI/s1600/refrigerator+fig+jam+aug+31+2013.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I just noticed that the figs on our over-shaded fig tree are just beginning to ripen.</div>
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I'm excited about that because we like to pluck them and eat them right under the tree.</div>
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We don't get many, just enough. </div>
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Here's last year's crop, all that was left after the birds and squirrels got their share:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VXoK_JfOA4w/U-a2tYk7K5I/AAAAAAAAF7c/6juGgEavANw/s1600/Aug+2013+fig+harvest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VXoK_JfOA4w/U-a2tYk7K5I/AAAAAAAAF7c/6juGgEavANw/s1600/Aug+2013+fig+harvest.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Faced with an impending fig harvest of minor proportions, </div>
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I started thinking about the expression "give a fig,"</div>
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as in "I don't give a fig."</div>
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According to the Oxford English Dictionary,</div>
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fig in this expression is <i>not</i> a euphemism for the f-word in English.</div>
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The expression dates back to Shakespeare's time</div>
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when a Spanish insult was to display one's thumb </div>
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tucked between the index and middle finger.</div>
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This gesture, called <i>fico</i>, was referred to as the Fig of Spain.</div>
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Displaying the Spanish <i>fico</i> meant something or someone </div>
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was inconsequential, without value, or contemptible.</div>
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As often happens, the meaning takes on different nuances over time.</div>
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So the newer meaning of not giving a fig means you don't care</div>
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because it's beneath your contempt.</div>
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Even so, I have to say I do give a fig-- </div>
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about sweet ripe figs on a summer day. ;-)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4483075059616686892.post-80198208920128293612014-08-08T20:59:00.001-04:002014-08-08T21:00:37.042-04:00Marigolds as Meditation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As most gardeners know, </div>
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the best way to keep marigolds growing thick and full of blossoms</div>
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is to dead head the flowers that have finished blooming.</div>
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Sometimes I do this early in the morning,</div>
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but more often I enjoy dead heading them in the late afternoon,</div>
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after the heat of the day has gone.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEnBYPiILbc/U-VwQNS9o9I/AAAAAAAAF68/6PS6xIDpD2k/s1600/marigolds+and+asian+jasmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEnBYPiILbc/U-VwQNS9o9I/AAAAAAAAF68/6PS6xIDpD2k/s1600/marigolds+and+asian+jasmine.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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There are some good reasons not to enjoy dead heading marigolds:</div>
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the strong odor, yellowed fingers, the multitudes of tiny "no-see-ums,"</div>
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little flying insects lighter than air and quicker than your ability to swat them away</div>
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as they rise from the flowers.</div>
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But this evening I could hear bees buzzing,</div>
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cardinals chirping, and the low whirring sound of cicadas in the woods.</div>
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Dead heading marigolds becomes meditation.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AyyuDv4d5To/U-Vwf5k05PI/AAAAAAAAF7E/56s3jcrqThY/s1600/dead+headed+marigolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AyyuDv4d5To/U-Vwf5k05PI/AAAAAAAAF7E/56s3jcrqThY/s1600/dead+headed+marigolds.jpg" height="322" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://avirginiashire.blogspot.com/">avirginiashire.blogspot.com</a></i></span></div>
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I collect the spent flower heads in a bucket</div>
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and then toss them into the woods where I can see them from my kitchen window.<br />A beautiful golden swath of yellow and golden orange blossoms</div>
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brighten the otherwise dull tan and brown forest floor.</div>
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Marigolds as meditation--and as art.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0