tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-212168582024-03-13T07:33:40.936-07:00Flowers and WeedsPlease visit me in my garden, among the flowers and weeds, as I carve out a little patch of heaven in this rainy Pacific Northwest. I hope to share with you some of the joys, the triumphs, the techniques I learn along the way, and maybe some favourite garden recipes and art projects, too.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-4967913225735637552017-11-18T13:41:00.003-08:002017-11-18T13:43:11.622-08:00Putting the Garden to BedIn Vancouver BC, we have such mild winters - except last year! - that one could continue gardening through most of the year. But at this time of year, most plants have slowed right down in their growth, and dropped their leaves, and so it is a time to "put it to bed", do some tidying up, turning off hose bibs, removing garden hoses, and covering up pottery and other items which could be damaged if there were any harsh freezes.<br />
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The weather has been quite wet, so I've not been motivated to do more than the basic cleanup. Not to mention, I am discouraged every time I go out to see the devastation the raccoons have unleashed on the lawn, digging for the juicy white grub of the chafer beetle.<br />
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This is the second year that they have dug up a large patch of lawn, rolling the turf back like carpet. I have carefully replaced and stomped and watered the lawn dozens of times this year, and finally I've given up. Next year I may try applying those nematodes which are supposedly able to reduce the number of chafer grub, at least.<br />
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I've been leaving my ceramic garden totems outdoors these past few winters, just wrapping them in plastic so they don't get too wet. (I can't wait until next year, I have lots of <a href="http://ceramicsitsjustdirt.blogspot.ca/2017/11/more-finished-items-plates-and-totem.html" target="_blank">new totem pieces</a> and hope to build a few more totems, maybe a taller one too.)<br />
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I should do the same with the glass light fixtures (seen in the distance in the above photo). But they are so broken by now, that I have a thought to just pull them out. I don't think I even went out to enjoy them once this past year, so I don't know why I bother with the lights anyhow. But they sure were pretty while they lasted.<br />
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Some of my other pottery, I'll just take a chance on it again, staying out in the weather. This little face planter is actually open-ended at the bottom, so shouldn't build up water or ice, and I don't want to cover it and smother the black mondo grass growing in it anyhow, so it will just stay out.<br />
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This little house will stay out also. After all, it has a good solid roof on it, which should protect it from rain, and snow shouldn't affect it either.<br />
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Here's a closeup of that little house. It looks beautiful among those vibrant red sweetgum leaves.<br />
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I guess I forgot to take a photo of my gunnera. Every year, I fold back the huge leaves, once the frost has softened them, to cover and protect the delicate crown. This year, I have 3 very strong crowns, and there were a good dozen big leaves to fold back. Anyhow, the photo above is the berries from a patch of lily of the valley. I don't remember having so many berries in previous years.<br />
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For my final photo, a seed pod from my tree peony. They don't all develop to have large shiny seeds like this one.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-48614326437061132772017-08-26T13:21:00.002-07:002017-08-26T13:21:41.673-07:00Tough Year for GardeningI love gardening, and harvesting the bounty of fruit, lavender, mint and other beauties from the garden. But I'm always humbled by how unpredictable the outcomes can be, and glad that my livelihood does not depend on the harvest.<br />
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Last year I had such a huge harvest of apples from our regular (not espalier) apple tree, that I was drying apple chips continually for weeks and weeks. This year it had so few that we didn't even pull out the ladder to pick them, I just picked up the apples as they fell, and used them for making juice. Nearly every one had a worm in it.<br />
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<a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2015/07/another-big-haul-of-plums-second-part.html" target="_blank">Two years ago, our Japanese plum tree bore hundreds of pounds of plums</a>, and again, I had to make an effort to give them away to friends and family, and find uses for them. This year, it had maybe 50 or 60 plums, and one ripe one fell, I ate it, and I tested a few others on the tree, and they seemed almost ripe also. So I was planning to go out on the weekend to pick them, but when I arrived, the tree had been stripped clean. Likely our local squirrels, who were also noticing that they were ripe.<br />
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Similarly, we often get a huge haul of grapes (<a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2014/08/premature-portion-of-grape-harvest.html" target="_blank">this post shows only half the 2014 harvest</a>), and I make <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2014/08/the-harvest-of-apples-and-grapes.html" target="_blank">juice, usually a combination of grape (which is quite tangy) and apple (which is mild) - see this post from 2014</a>. Today I discovered the vines quite battered and pulled from the shed, as it seems the squirrels have been climbing the vines, and some of the bunches were already stripped clean. So I picked the remainder today, even though they are not as ripe as I would like :<br />
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That one basket, and not even very full, was the complete harvest. So I've been making juice all morning, combining the grapes, and the apples (from both the upright tree as well as the espaliers, both of which were full of worms) :<br />
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I also went out and picked more blackberries, and added those too, so the juice is coming out quite pink :<br />
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As I'm feeling lazy, and we already have lots of jars of homemade juice in the pantry, I'll only seal into jars the juice which I don't think we can drink in the next week or so.<br />
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I have been canning quite a few times this year already. We had a huge haul of red currants earlier this summer :<br />
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...and we came to the end of our mint syrup (it is great on ice cream, in lemonade, and even just mixed with water to make a minty drink). So I made quite a few batches of mint syrup, as well as the currant juice, and some lavender syrup too:<br />
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On the gardening side, I had too many run-ins with wasps this year. First I discovered the hard way (as I was stung in the hand) an in-ground nest near our Italian plum tree, and managed to kill off that colony, after unleashing a full can of wasp killer into their nest, and then following it up with a few hours of drowning the following day (as the poison alone didn't seem to do the trick).<br />
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Then I was stung in the back as I stood at my Japanese plum, not even doing anything. And chased several times by what seemed to be a black wasp, who buzzed around my head, and didn't hesitate to follow me all the way across the yard, as I ran away. Then I stepped into the crocosmia at the base of our butterfly bush, behind our Japanese plum and cherry trees, and was viciously attacked by a wasp who chased and stung me in the back, the arm, and the back of the head. I waited a few minutes and tried to go back for my tools, and he stung me in the hand and chased me across the yard again.<br />
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This time, I decided not to be a hero, and called a pest control company, and they sent out their expert in wasp suit, who located a nest of the black wasps behind the fence, hidden in some bushes. He neutralized and removed it, and sprayed the area with poison powder, to kill off any lingering wasps.<br />
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About a week later, I was lopping branches from our cherry tree in that same corner, and suddenly was surrounded by black wasps. Then I saw the nest, which was up in a branch of the cherry tree, about 7' off the ground, about the size of coconut (without husk). So I called the same pest control company, and they removed it also. This removal was free, as it was in the same area where I was reported that I was stung.<br />
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Today I noticed lots of yellow wasps hovering over the ground. It is a common practice this time of year. But a few took interest in me as I walked by, so I was cautious and retreated each time. I've been stung far too many times for my comfort.<br />
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Anyhow, such is gardening and life. Unpredictable, and we take the bad with the good, and hope for better next year.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-5007499275605794862017-01-10T22:27:00.004-08:002017-01-10T22:28:26.036-08:00Still Gardening, Mixed with PotteryI may not be blogging much about my garden lately, especially since I started my <a href="http://ceramicsitsjustdirt.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">pottery blog</a>, but I am still gardening (except now while there is snow on the ground). And adding pottery to my garden. And using plants from my garden as inspiration and impressions in my pottery.<br />
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I have two ceramic totems in my garden, and quite a number of pieces waiting for me to create another totem this summer. These two serve dual purpose of decorating the garden, and protecting my dear Davidii involucrata (dove tree) when I drag the hose around the garden :<br />
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This little face planter rests in a shady spot in my garden :<br />
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This lantern was originally planned for the garden, but after so many hours creating it, and a number of people warning me not to take a chance leaving it out in my garden, I still have it inside the kitchen. But I am still considering finding it a place in the garden one day. At least for a party.<br />
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I have made a number of ceramic vessels and plates decorated with leaf imprints. I love the textures. This one is decorated in maple leaves :<br />
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This soda fired jug was also decorated in maple leaves.<br />
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These oakleaf hydrangea leaves were not from my garden, but made a beautiful platter.<br />
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This piece was decorated with leaves from my garden, and eventually will go back out into the garden, as part of a future totem :<br />
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I made two large ceramic masks - "tree men" - who adorn the inside of the post on my back deck. I wish I had photos to share, but am too lazy to download/email them from my phone to my computer. But here is one of the masks.<br />
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I still love gardening. And I am very much enjoying pottery. And where both pottery and gardening collide, it is about as close to heaven as I'll enjoy in this life.</div>
Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-91918265861262157182016-05-29T11:03:00.002-07:002016-05-29T11:03:32.554-07:00Snow Canyon and Bryce Canyon MemoriesEarlier this month, my husband and I enjoyed a trip to Bryce Canyon. On the way (from Vegas), we stopped in for a couple of days in St. George Utah, and enjoyed the Snow Canyon State Park, and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. What a beautiful area. Coming from the rainy and lush Pacific Northwest, I can never get enough of those red rocks, and the blue skies.<br />
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We have been to Bryce Canyon probably 4 times now, and I am always impressed by how spectacular it is. Unfortunately, photos don't do it justice, you need to visit to truly enjoy it. But here is my attempt to share some of the beauty of that amazing place :<br />
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I have also been to Grand Canyon twice, and to me, Bryce Canyon is more beautiful. In terms of its vivid colours and God-created sculptures (hoodoos and arches and other funky rock formations), and Bryce feels so personal and accessible. The U.S. National Park Service has done a great job at making so much of it accessible by paved roads and lookout points. But there are also a number of trails down into the heart of the canyon. In an hour or less, you can be down at the floor of the canyon, with hoodoos surrounding and towering over you.<br />
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You pass through magical archways...<br />
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...and see beauty all around.<br />
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I am fascinated by the trees there, how they survive under what seems to be very harsh conditions:<br />
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I am also amused by the rock formations, some which look to be stone carvings, this one of a large hawk, overlooking the path through the canyon (do you see him, looking to the left?):<br />
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This one looked strikingly like Joseph, holding the Christ Child, being visited by the Wise Men:<br />
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Just in case you haven't spotted them, here they are :<br />
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And there's always cute wildlife to spot along the way :<br />
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I hope to visit Bryce Canyon and that surrounding area many more times in my lifetime.<br />
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The Snow Canyon State Park (Utah) and the adjacent Red Cliffs National Conservation Area was also very beautiful, and offered up some surprises, too, such as these dinosaur tracks which we were fortunate to spot along on of the hikes :<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDvNZA6qsAQ/V0ssLfr8YTI/AAAAAAAAJHI/rmg2FqFOCBc-R6_c4m8FRqX2LNf1ey2sQCLcB/s1600/DSC02046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dinosaur Tracks in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Utah." border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rDvNZA6qsAQ/V0ssLfr8YTI/AAAAAAAAJHI/rmg2FqFOCBc-R6_c4m8FRqX2LNf1ey2sQCLcB/s400/DSC02046.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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The scenery there was also very photogenic, and as I am a plant-lover, many of my photos also showcase the beautiful plants surviving and blooming in what is fairly desert-like conditions:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nov-wpdgMC0/V0stAPfP4eI/AAAAAAAAJHU/eIQ56kiLxlYflwHsi3ykBpDeaUkOH1wMgCLcB/s1600/DSC02042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yucca Blooming in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Utah." border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nov-wpdgMC0/V0stAPfP4eI/AAAAAAAAJHU/eIQ56kiLxlYflwHsi3ykBpDeaUkOH1wMgCLcB/s640/DSC02042.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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If you haven't visited this area, it is worth checking out, along with the amazing Arches, Canyonlands, and Zion National Parks, as well as the funky Goblin Valley State Park. Oh, and Grand Canyon, too, while you're in the area.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-13742422286493152842016-04-10T10:31:00.004-07:002016-04-10T10:42:27.970-07:00Long Awaited Blooming of the Dove Tree (Davidii Involucrata)I love how my garden surprises me. Almost every time I go into the yard, I make a new discovery. This morning was no exception. My beloved young dove tree (Davidii involucrata) has started blooming.<br />
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When I bought the small tree (really a twig, when I first bought it) in May 2011 (5 years ago), I was told it could take up to 10 years to bloom. I've read 15 years from seed, and 20 years from seed. From what I had seen of this wonderful tree, it would be worth the wait. See this <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2011/06/garden-mosaic-and-david-tree.html" target="_blank">post of my Davidii tree when first planted</a>.<br />
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Here it is today, under overcast skies :<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhhgDigcwSw/VwqJbVDCBqI/AAAAAAAAI5s/i92FNO1cUlUgvZcOVglCBMFJ0ivqfkgHw/s1600/20160410_090117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Young Davidii involucrata (dove tree or handkerchief tree) in bloom for the first time." border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NhhgDigcwSw/VwqJbVDCBqI/AAAAAAAAI5s/i92FNO1cUlUgvZcOVglCBMFJ0ivqfkgHw/s640/20160410_090117.jpg" title="" width="360" /></a></div>
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And here is a closeup of one of the "doves", which is actually a cluster of flowers surrounded by two long creamy-white bracts (similar in structure to a dogwood flower) :<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4v5VDFLUYSM/VwqKO4TtkKI/AAAAAAAAI50/Cs1N8bvKCEkgwBW1ORuzrfbQh2x72CHJA/s1600/DSC01977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bloom of the dove tree or handkerchief tree (Davidii involucrata)" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4v5VDFLUYSM/VwqKO4TtkKI/AAAAAAAAI50/Cs1N8bvKCEkgwBW1ORuzrfbQh2x72CHJA/s640/DSC01977.JPG" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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For some more background about this remarkable tree, which is described as a "rare tree in the nursery trade and the gardens of North America", read <a href="http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/adams/2009/dove_tree.htm" target="_blank">this post called "The Legend of the Dove Tree"</a>.<br />
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My discovery this morning almost overshadowed all the beautiful blooms out in the garden at this time of year, but I did pause to take a few photos of those also.<br />
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The apple blossoms are at their peak now, in early April. The espalier in particular is noteworthy, as the restriction in its vertical growth translates to loads of flowers and eventually fruit :<br />
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On the non-blooming side, I am very pleased with these new geckos for my fence, which I bought from an artisan market in Costa Rica last month. I sprayed them with several coats of acrylic sealer before taking them outside, since it would be a shame to lose those beautiful colours too soon :<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrNIFgpq35Q/VwqLqyppBNI/AAAAAAAAI6M/_8GF8I_lhSorRl-3l913PX0rh2XdeD_xQ/s1600/20160410_091604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Decorative metal gecko sculptures on the fence." border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrNIFgpq35Q/VwqLqyppBNI/AAAAAAAAI6M/_8GF8I_lhSorRl-3l913PX0rh2XdeD_xQ/s400/20160410_091604.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I hung those, it inspired me to revive this set which had been faded by years of being exposed to the weather. I only had red and orange exterior paint, so I sprayed the top one for now. I was too lazy to remove it, so had my son hold some paper behind it while I just sprayed it directly in place. I'll need to get some green or blue paint, and maybe some black, to revive the other one.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPg_q8Wc0ds/VwqL9P8MYVI/AAAAAAAAI6U/NHegqNgZwLYtWymQ7xobNEOnNIS-Oe2NA/s1600/20160410_091625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Decorative metal gecko sculptures on the fence." border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPg_q8Wc0ds/VwqL9P8MYVI/AAAAAAAAI6U/NHegqNgZwLYtWymQ7xobNEOnNIS-Oe2NA/s400/20160410_091625.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Speaking of needing work, these poor frogs are always losing their eyes. I've bought dollar store marbles a couple of times, and exterior glue, to give them sight again, but they keep falling out and disappearing into the yard. They could use some re-painting also.<br />
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What a wonderful morning. I didn't end up doing much work in the garden, but I sure have been more than rewarded for any work I have put in previously!Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-49522561283644763682015-09-07T15:13:00.001-07:002015-09-07T15:14:53.225-07:00Fall CleanupI've been spending a lot of time in the garden recently, doing some major Fall cleanup. The weather has been wonderful. Relatively clear, but cooler. Perfect for cleaning out weedy and overgrown areas before Winter hits.<br />
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I keep thinking I should have my camera, for some dramatic Before and After photos, but I tend to garden like a butterfly, flitting from place to place, not sure where to land and do some serious work. And by the time I'm into it, I don't want to stop to find a camera, and I've already ruined my Before photo.<br />
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Today I started cleaning the underplanting around my Davidii involucrata tree, and I needed to step inside to flip the laundry, so I brought the camera back for a somewhat Before photo :<br />
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I'd already cleared an area, but you can see to the right and left of it, the succulents planted there had been overtaken by a creeping grass. From my reading, I believe it's a type of creeping fescue. A beautiful grass with a fine blade, and an ability to creep by underground runners to fill all available space. Which is fantastic for lawn, but a disaster when it overtakes my garden areas.<br />
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This particular underplanting, I know I've weeded it diligently several times during the summer, trying to pull the clover and grass and other weeds from between the succulents, but have not been able to get ahead. So today was the day for more decisive action. I removed the grass and succulents and moss, and sorted it out, the moss and weeds into a large garden bag, and the succulents into little piles :<br />
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Then I replanted the succulents, and watered the whole area well:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NlbM2ldddI/Ve4G1PHfBCI/AAAAAAAAIUc/nWa7kWHWbqA/s1600/DSC01463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tree with handmade ceramic totems and succulent underplanting." border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NlbM2ldddI/Ve4G1PHfBCI/AAAAAAAAIUc/nWa7kWHWbqA/s400/DSC01463.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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By Spring, I expect it will be established, and with much less grass growing through. Although I don't think it will ever come back to the <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2011/06/garden-mosaic-and-david-tree.html" target="_blank">original design from 4 years ago</a>. Clearly, some of the plants dominated while others quietly disappeared. Part of the design is covered by small everbearing strawberry plants. But unlike other weeds which spring up unplanted and unwanted, these ones are welcome almost everywhere they chose to spring up, because they supply me with a fresh supply of tiny strawberries all summer and fall. I can always find a small handful of these sweet treats when I visit the garden :<br />
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Here's the tree and underplanting from another angle, showing my ceramic totems :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JhbtXeJ5h8U/Ve4LScV7HdI/AAAAAAAAIVI/_AZyCONUpnQ/s1600/DSC01467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Davidii involucrata (dove) tree with handmade ceramic totems and succulent underplanting." border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JhbtXeJ5h8U/Ve4LScV7HdI/AAAAAAAAIVI/_AZyCONUpnQ/s640/DSC01467.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
...and :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPLicNtr6bU/Ve4LZXT9VOI/AAAAAAAAIVQ/dNLbXF8jm2g/s1600/DSC01466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Davidii involucrata (dove) tree with handmade ceramic totems and succulent underplanting." border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPLicNtr6bU/Ve4LZXT9VOI/AAAAAAAAIVQ/dNLbXF8jm2g/s640/DSC01466.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Speaking of treats, I picked my last apples today, from the top row of my espalier tree :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RILEBKfm2cg/Ve4JmWMbvSI/AAAAAAAAIUo/eiym7XlBU5A/s1600/DSC01479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apple harvest." border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RILEBKfm2cg/Ve4JmWMbvSI/AAAAAAAAIUo/eiym7XlBU5A/s640/DSC01479.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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They are not 100% ripe, the seeds are still a bit light, not dark, but I see too many apples chewed into, and the numbers are dwindling as the squirrels have been carrying them away. Look at this beauty, this is the biggest apple in the bunch :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ69a7DfiZU/Ve4KNp1nOoI/AAAAAAAAIUw/ihGlkSl5lYM/s1600/DSC01476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apple from my espalier apple tree." border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ69a7DfiZU/Ve4KNp1nOoI/AAAAAAAAIUw/ihGlkSl5lYM/s400/DSC01476.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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I did leave one apple for the ants, who looked like they were enjoying it :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VZ0oz2MtMk/Ve4KbVoYaoI/AAAAAAAAIU4/qiU-hZWMbEY/s1600/DSC01473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Espaliered apple being enjoyed by ants." border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VZ0oz2MtMk/Ve4KbVoYaoI/AAAAAAAAIU4/qiU-hZWMbEY/s400/DSC01473.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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No danger of running out of areas to clean up, either, if the good weather continues. Look at the grasses coming through tiles of our giant outdoor chess board :<br />
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But as with everything in the garden, it can wait. I'll be back.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-51141989028438449822015-08-21T14:44:00.000-07:002015-08-21T14:44:37.320-07:00Convergence of PassionsIt's great when one's passions complement each other. Like my current obsessions with <a href="http://ceramicsitsjustdirt.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">creating pottery</a> and gardening. There is nothing better than being able to use a piece of pottery, not just admire it on a shelf.<br />
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Like these Japanese anemone, which I was fighting back in a section of my garden today, where it's spread too far. It looks great in contrast with my handmade ceramic vase :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1XNqu2aU5Y/VdeY1mtKFFI/AAAAAAAAISo/0w6FW5p2560/s1600/DSC01457_square.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1XNqu2aU5Y/VdeY1mtKFFI/AAAAAAAAISo/0w6FW5p2560/s400/DSC01457_square.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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That same vase came in handy for displaying crocosmia which I was also cutting back a few weeks ago :<br />
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This crackled vase (the effect achieved with sodium silicate) looks pretty natural holding back some ribbon grass which I was also fighting back in my garden.<br />
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I have a number of platters which I use to hold fruit on my countertops. This large swirly one is the most practical, and here is holding pears and asian pears from my garden :<br />
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That same platter is also great for floating camelia flowers, which tend to fall off their stems too easily if displayed in a vase :<br />
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<br />Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-62112530540049817502015-07-15T10:25:00.002-07:002015-07-15T10:25:43.597-07:00End of My Mole Problem (Beware : Graphic Photos)I mostly live by the motto "live and let live". So I have mostly tolerated the mounds of soil pushed up by the moles around my yard. But when they moved into the lower (level ball-playing) yard last year, and pushed up gallons and gallons of soil, leaving the ground uneven, I finally bought gas bombs (the kind you light up a fuse, stick into the mole hole, cover up, and it releases a poisonous gas into the tunnels).<br />
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A few weeks ago, mounds started appearing in the lower yard again. One morning I thought I saw one of the mounds moving, so I ran over to check, but no sign of movement. So I dug up the entrance to the tunnel and inserted a gas bomb. A couple of days later, I could see another fresh mound. So my gas bomb has not been effective. Then we were away last week, so I was not able to follow up.<br />
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This morning, I looked out on the back deck, and was surprised to see this :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMp5ax0Rj0g/VaaVAIi4C3I/AAAAAAAAIP0/D-CCrt_VcLo/s1600/DSC01356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dead mole on the porch / deck." border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MMp5ax0Rj0g/VaaVAIi4C3I/AAAAAAAAIP0/D-CCrt_VcLo/s400/DSC01356.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Moving in closer for a better look :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYJFCa9h48c/VaaVHKjk03I/AAAAAAAAIP8/zHIG-YgBYik/s1600/DSC01357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dead mole" border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYJFCa9h48c/VaaVHKjk03I/AAAAAAAAIP8/zHIG-YgBYik/s400/DSC01357.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QKdBeeeBIeQ/VaaVOWe-5sI/AAAAAAAAIQE/5TE0VD-gdKI/s1600/DSC01358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dead mole." border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QKdBeeeBIeQ/VaaVOWe-5sI/AAAAAAAAIQE/5TE0VD-gdKI/s400/DSC01358.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Other than one foot which was removed, the mole looked to be rather untouched. Just like a rat I had found on my back deck years ago, also appearing to be more asleep than dead. I am sure it is again an offering from one of the cats which prowl through my yard. I'm surprised, since I have not really seen any cats recently, and I don't imagine why any of them would feel the need to leave an offering for me, but anyhow, I'm glad they may have solved my mole problem.<br />
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In the yard, I can see where they dug up the entrance to the mole tunnel, to find that creature :<br />
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Thank you to my mystery cat, for solving my mole problem, at least for now!Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-61502032498350098782015-07-04T14:09:00.004-07:002015-07-04T14:20:18.199-07:00Another Big Haul of Plums - Second Part of HarvestI thought that since we <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2015/07/big-haul-of-japanese-plum-tree-harvest.html" target="_blank">picked two days ago our first big batch of Japanese plums</a>, that it may be harder to find as many ripe today. But that extreme sun and heat that we've been having lately in Vancouver resulted in quick ripening. So I hauled about the same amount again today :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5B6wVv35uxA/VZhK7UmW7OI/AAAAAAAAIPg/vqM9iytNh_Q/s1600/20150704_140001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Methley Japanese plum harvest." border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5B6wVv35uxA/VZhK7UmW7OI/AAAAAAAAIPg/vqM9iytNh_Q/s640/20150704_140001.jpg" title="" width="360" /></a></div>
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Standing on the bathroom scales, it looks like we got about 37 pounds of plums today. So about 70+ pounds so far. Surprisingly, there are still a lot of plums left in the tree. We've probably picked 2 / 3 of it now. So the total may be about 100+ pounds of plums this year.</div>
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Wow! What a little over-achiever this plum tree is. I hope to treat it well, and this happy relationship can continue for many years. Soon I'll need to start learning some plum recipes. :-)</div>
Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-89274119112833471002015-07-04T08:07:00.002-07:002015-07-04T08:07:50.761-07:00Lavender and Echinops Dried Flower HarvestAfter our big harvest of Japanese plums, it was a nice and fragrant treat to harvest the long stemmed lavender, Lavendula grosso. Although this year, the plants again flopped over, and many of the stems were bent, and only good for harvesting the flowers for potpourri. But I got a few good bunches of the long stems to share with family and friends who enjoy them.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONpqOgAezWI/VZf0TQDNtjI/AAAAAAAAIOk/rNMqQBnhQQM/s1600/DSC01235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long-stemmed lavender, Lavendula grosso, as a dried flower and potpourri." border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ONpqOgAezWI/VZf0TQDNtjI/AAAAAAAAIOk/rNMqQBnhQQM/s400/DSC01235.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
Since the flowers are clean and 100% organic, they could also be used in cooking. In the past, I've made <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2008/08/garden-related-glimpses-mid-aug-2008.html" target="_blank">lavender jellies</a> and even lavender ice cream. But I don't have any plans for that this year.<br />
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I also decided to cut the globe thistle, Echinops bannaticus. It makes a great dried flower, if cut before the little spheres burst into flower, and become a magnet for bumblebees. I cut the ones at the front, next to my driveway, and leave the bit patch in the back yard, where I can enjoy watching the bumblebees.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNOwN-lk7s0/VZf1ZIvMnCI/AAAAAAAAIOs/N10Z-vHpbT0/s1600/DSC01238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Globe thistle (Echinops bannaticus) as a dried flower." border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DNOwN-lk7s0/VZf1ZIvMnCI/AAAAAAAAIOs/N10Z-vHpbT0/s640/DSC01238.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
Although the stems are very sturdy, the stem at the flower head is soft, so they either need to hang upside down, or lay flat on the counter until dried. The little globes in the bottom right of the photo were from the side shoots. Those can be useful for a small dried flower arrangement, too.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-35081375565971748902015-07-02T21:27:00.001-07:002015-07-04T08:08:17.717-07:00Big Haul of Japanese Plums - First Part of HarvestOne of the fruit trees which has overwhelmed me with its success is our young Methley Japanese plum tree. Here is last year's harvest (below), and here are <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2014_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank">my comments from last year</a>, as well as <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2014/07/japanese-plum.html" target="_blank">photos of the inside of the plum, which is sweet and juicy and very blood red</a>. With that rich colour, I'm sure they would make amazing juice.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rk7K_CWzHgE/VZYGx6B5y_I/AAAAAAAAIL0/XDRTDjJP_gE/s1600/2014_plums_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Modest Methley Japanese plum harvest." border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rk7K_CWzHgE/VZYGx6B5y_I/AAAAAAAAIL0/XDRTDjJP_gE/s400/2014_plums_cropped.jpg" title="" width="373" /></a></div>
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This year, I've been munching plums for a couple weeks now, and finally, with my 14-year-old's help, climbed the ladder and picked about half the plums, which were ripe. I don't mind letting the birds and wasps have many of the plums (there were many pecked / partly eaten ones), but it would be a shame to let too many of them drop to the ground. So here we are, with about half of this year's harvest :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZWbu41ptsg/VZYHU6HfbrI/AAAAAAAAIL8/sul7sxHGDDw/s1600/DSC01234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Good harvest from my Methley Japanese plum tree - and this is only half!" border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TZWbu41ptsg/VZYHU6HfbrI/AAAAAAAAIL8/sul7sxHGDDw/s400/DSC01234.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not a bad haul, for a tree we've only had for about 4 years now. Here is the poor tree about 2 weeks ago, with the plums weighing down the branches so they form a weeping shape :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3eT_zzBLQPo/VZYHnwzdDvI/AAAAAAAAIME/shOyTdWjnhM/s1600/DSC01228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Japanese plum tree full of fruit." border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3eT_zzBLQPo/VZYHnwzdDvI/AAAAAAAAIME/shOyTdWjnhM/s400/DSC01228.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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It might be hard to see, but here is a typical branch, from a couple weeks ago :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgstnNMwt_U/VZYHx6oSpJI/AAAAAAAAIMM/x9TYm6r4CWs/s1600/DSC01232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Japanese plum tree loaded with unripe plums." border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xgstnNMwt_U/VZYHx6oSpJI/AAAAAAAAIMM/x9TYm6r4CWs/s640/DSC01232.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
The branches were loaded like that from trunk to tip. Pretty amazing.<br />
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As far as my other fruit trees, not so much success. My italian plum which bore a lot of fruit last year, but had come down with some disease, put out flowers and even had some miniature plums forming in the Spring, but I don't see any now. None!<br />
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My young peach tree gave me so much joy over the past few years. Here is last year's harvest (below), and see my <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2014/08/peach-harvest.html" target="_blank">blog post </a>for more details.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ABbMhwy0Fk/VZYJwtJuewI/AAAAAAAAIMY/2vYmEyzG7sQ/s1600/peach_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Memories of a beautiful little Frost peach tree and harvest." border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ABbMhwy0Fk/VZYJwtJuewI/AAAAAAAAIMY/2vYmEyzG7sQ/s640/peach_2014.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Well, this year it put out a LOT of pink flowers, but then didn't follow up with any leaves. At all. It looked like it had finally given in to a disease which left many of its tender branches broken and oozing. It looked really quite painful. So I continued to water it, and hope, but finally a couple of weeks ago I realized it was not coming back, so chopped it back. I hope to replace it next Spring. So sad.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JajIll_kR9s/VZYKdUgS_qI/AAAAAAAAIMg/bxAKwOQPvxM/s1600/DSC01225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Remains of a dead Frost peach tree and birdhouse (and garden totem)" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JajIll_kR9s/VZYKdUgS_qI/AAAAAAAAIMg/bxAKwOQPvxM/s640/DSC01225.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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My little Morello sour cherry tree was purchased in 2008. Here he is, <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2009/07/berry-season.html" target="_blank">the following year, showing good potential for fruit production</a> :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ92bIjb6dk/VZYLhQwrOaI/AAAAAAAAIMs/YeJeQNbi31s/s1600/sourcherry2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Young Morello sour cherry tree." border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ92bIjb6dk/VZYLhQwrOaI/AAAAAAAAIMs/YeJeQNbi31s/s400/sourcherry2009.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
Funny thing is that he never really grew very much. And he continued to have the same weird pattern, fruit along the branches, and leaves at the tips. Except the branches grew longer, so it looked even weirder. Then last year, something (I suspect a raccoon) broke off the top half of the tree one night, leaving only 1 long branches and a few tiny side branches. I decided to keep him, and see what would happen this year.<br />
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So this year, something again broke the main branch (perhaps crows this time), leaving it pretty much a skinny trunk and some tiny side branches. I don't think he's worth saving now. he looks pretty pathetic, I will probably replace him next Spring also. And will try to dig out the hole and add a lot more good soil, while we're at it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkskeoPAmNg/VZYMdGmZJSI/AAAAAAAAIM0/RsnuUmyo3MU/s1600/DSC01229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Broken sour cherry tree." border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkskeoPAmNg/VZYMdGmZJSI/AAAAAAAAIM0/RsnuUmyo3MU/s400/DSC01229.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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But all is not lost. My Bartlett pear, which was suffering for many years with a disgusting fungus infection, is doing much better this year, and looks like it may even bear a crop of pears. Over this past year, the trees behind us were taken down, opening up more sun, and I spent some while removing the moss and lichens from the branches, and even sprayed it before leaf-out this Spring with a homemade mixture of dishsoap and vegetable oil and water. Any or all of those things seemed to help.<br />
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The espaliers are also doing very well, all 3 of them. And my dear "David" (Davidii involucrata) tree is forming a nice shape :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bbB3h0Xe9g/VZYNaG9BdqI/AAAAAAAAIM8/_vW8FplzzEg/s1600/DSC01226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful young Davidii involucrata tree (dove tree)." border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bbB3h0Xe9g/VZYNaG9BdqI/AAAAAAAAIM8/_vW8FplzzEg/s640/DSC01226.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
Here he is flanked by two garden totems, made from my ceramic pieces. If you want an amusing story of how the first totem became an apartment, read <a href="http://ceramicsitsjustdirt.blogspot.ca/2015/05/garden-totem-surprise-residents.html" target="_blank">this post from May 2015</a>. When I went out there a couple of weeks ago to install the second totem, the ants and soil had made it all the way up to the top piece. Pretty weird and amazing. I wonder how long it take for them to full inhabit the second garden totem?Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-19996220421169543992015-05-17T18:47:00.002-07:002015-07-04T08:08:32.518-07:00Garter Snake in My GardenI was ecstatic to see a small garter snake in my garden yesterday. I couldn't have snapped a photo if I tried, since I only saw him as he was darting from my gravel walkway (where he presumably was sunning himself) into the greenery. So this photo by Dr. Tom Titus of a Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) from <a href="http://pages.uoregon.edu/titus/herp/ordinoides.html" target="_blank">this University of Oregon page</a>, is probably the closest to what my snaked looked like. He was brown with bright yellow stripes down his body, and no sign of the checkered pattern that some garter snakes seem to have.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWx63gSXPdQ/VVj6eI7TIyI/AAAAAAAAIAk/Lx8PLBYRdCE/s1600/northwesterngartersnake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gWx63gSXPdQ/VVj6eI7TIyI/AAAAAAAAIAk/Lx8PLBYRdCE/s400/northwesterngartersnake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have been musing whether this could be the same snake as I spotted in my garden quite a few years ago now. Or maybe an offspring of that snake, since the colors look the same as I remember them. I guess I'll never know, the the <a href="http://www.simplywildcanada.com/wild-species/reptiles-of-canada/garter-snakes-of-canada/" target="_blank">Garter Snakes of Canada page by Simply Wild Canada</a> seems to indicate that in various species, their lifespan is long enough that this could be the same snake. However, it also mentions that they may travel long distances, so this would tell me that it is not likely the case. Either way, it was fun to discover a snake in my garden, and I hope it won't be the last time.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-86436398869062967542015-04-25T20:29:00.003-07:002015-04-25T20:31:11.477-07:00Prettier in Pink, and More Spring Flower PhotosThat <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2015/04/pretty-in-pink.html" target="_blank">tree peony bloom</a> is still getting bigger and fuller and more beautiful. Here it is today :<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4lRQ_uYLRI/VTxSSDvyaxI/AAAAAAAAH6w/niaIBON7CuQ/s1600/DSC00740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful pink tree peony." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4lRQ_uYLRI/VTxSSDvyaxI/AAAAAAAAH6w/niaIBON7CuQ/s1600/DSC00740.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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It's not the largest tree peony bloom I've seen, but then again, I haven't needed to prop the branches to support the blooms either, so I'm really happy with the size of it, and the colour.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dP0fgJKXlEY/VTxShK7A8EI/AAAAAAAAH64/hG3Imc6Mu8Q/s1600/DSC00742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful pink tree peony flower in the garden." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dP0fgJKXlEY/VTxShK7A8EI/AAAAAAAAH64/hG3Imc6Mu8Q/s1600/DSC00742.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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I like this pale helleborus flower, it has faded from pink, and is developing a seed pod.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdwpGcQVm88/VTxSqxNzkdI/AAAAAAAAH7A/SdES92vD380/s1600/DSC00751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful helleborus flower in the garden." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HdwpGcQVm88/VTxSqxNzkdI/AAAAAAAAH7A/SdES92vD380/s1600/DSC00751.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Pretty heart shaped leaves and cheery yellow flowers of my Epimedium.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYs3Gjk2puU/VTxaD-E77jI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/0gWXPMQcr-0/s1600/DSC00758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful heart shaped leaves and yellow blooms of epimedium in the garden." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYs3Gjk2puU/VTxaD-E77jI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/0gWXPMQcr-0/s1600/DSC00758.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
...complete with a monster lurking underneath.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtS-S0uoIWM/VTxaioTqoiI/AAAAAAAAH7Y/7g0WI-XTwQo/s1600/DSC00755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Epimedium with yellow flowers and a rock painting lurking in the heart shaped leaves." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtS-S0uoIWM/VTxaioTqoiI/AAAAAAAAH7Y/7g0WI-XTwQo/s1600/DSC00755.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
I am really impressed how these painted rocks have held up, we must have painted those about 8 years ago. Then sealed them with several layers of clear acrylic sealer.<br />
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These fern fronds look like they're having a conference. I wonder what they are discussing?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YC-enKGaizA/VTxaxO6hb7I/AAAAAAAAH7g/pRrOgOeTeR8/s1600/DSC00770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fern fronds emerging in Spring." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YC-enKGaizA/VTxaxO6hb7I/AAAAAAAAH7g/pRrOgOeTeR8/s1600/DSC00770.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Finally, one of my favourites in my garden, my little Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ote85EhxVqY/VTxbDS7RjkI/AAAAAAAAH7o/O4qcCMbfSHA/s1600/DSC00761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cornus canadensis or bunchberry in the garden in spring." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ote85EhxVqY/VTxbDS7RjkI/AAAAAAAAH7o/O4qcCMbfSHA/s1600/DSC00761.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-61269874832548828742015-04-21T19:49:00.000-07:002015-04-21T19:49:00.534-07:00Pretty in PinkI love this time of year, when something new is blooming every time I visit the garden. I am fortunate to be able to view my pink tree peony (I am too lazy to look up the name, which I have recorded somewhere) from my kitchen window. A few days ago, a bud began to swell, and was quite large when I left for work yesterday. When I returned home, the flower was open.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aH2-g4GsEWU/VTcKr78czTI/AAAAAAAAH5I/6whdeUVXkQ0/s1600/DSC00730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful pink tree peony in the garden." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aH2-g4GsEWU/VTcKr78czTI/AAAAAAAAH5I/6whdeUVXkQ0/s1600/DSC00730.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
How gorgeous is that?<br />
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I have another tree peony, with pure white blooms, but I managed to plant it so that it is hiding behind a bush, and not visible from the kitchen window. So I'll need to visit it often, to make sure I don't miss the blooms.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mswZTr0QSe4/VTcLKhCXCYI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/iupenBxn35g/s1600/DSC00736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful pink bleeding hearts." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mswZTr0QSe4/VTcLKhCXCYI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/iupenBxn35g/s1600/DSC00736.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
I love my bleeding heart, which after a number of years, is finally taking hold, and produced a lot of blooms this year. I like this branch. It made me think of hearts, and love, and how it can be up and down sometimes.<br />
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Today it suddenly turned to rain, after a long (more than a week) stretch of dry warm weather in Vancouver. So now it feels more like Spring again. I'm glad for the garden, I think it needed a bit of watering.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-57665607950684752015-04-10T17:49:00.005-07:002015-04-25T20:31:49.058-07:00Sidewalk Slime Art - Why Not?Today I thought I would be planting my new <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2015/04/surprise-rhodo-purchase-and-dreams-of.html" target="_blank">Cherry Cheesecake Rhodo</a>, and applying moss killer to the lawn (so I don't sink into wetness up to my ankles when walking through it). But instead, I ended up connecting up the hose, and pressure washing the side walkway and driveway.<br />
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I say "pressure wash", but I don't really have a pressure washer. But our builder did provide us with a high pressure hose bib, which is almost as good. It doesn't clean as thoroughly or effectively, but then again I don't need to fear losing control and losing toes either. So every 5 years or so I hire a professional, and the other years I just spray down the concrete myself, mostly to remove the sand and dirt, but also to remove the build up of slime.<br />
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I know my family doesn't care or appreciate the work I do in the yard, but every so often I wish they would at least notice. So today I had a thought that I could leave a small section of slime, so they could at least see the "before and after". Then I had a more creative thought, to leave it in the form of our company logo, so when we have our summer BBQ and invite everyone from our company, they would also be able to see it. Next thing I knew, I was blasting the company logo on our sidewalk, just inside the gate, so not visible except to real visitors.<br />
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That went so well, that I followed it by a flower :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-o5S8DGYSo/VShso7g4QbI/AAAAAAAAH28/5TxwspoSwcM/s1600/DSC00711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sidewalk slime art - design by pressure washing." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-o5S8DGYSo/VShso7g4QbI/AAAAAAAAH28/5TxwspoSwcM/s1600/DSC00711.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...then another flower :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iepkcpl1gio/VShsvcpxH8I/AAAAAAAAH3E/eCAZ4CjISLQ/s1600/DSC00712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sidewalk slime art - design by pressure washing." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Iepkcpl1gio/VShsvcpxH8I/AAAAAAAAH3E/eCAZ4CjISLQ/s1600/DSC00712.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...then some paw prints, so people wouldn't think I can only do flowers :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UAF2hZ-rhRQ/VShs44BhlLI/AAAAAAAAH3M/OimwiED1fSk/s1600/DSC00713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sidewalk slime art - design by pressure washing." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UAF2hZ-rhRQ/VShs44BhlLI/AAAAAAAAH3M/OimwiED1fSk/s1600/DSC00713.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...then some more flowers :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmcAOmzLvf4/VShs_dEcGII/AAAAAAAAH3U/X_QblfCeWH4/s1600/DSC00714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sidewalk slime art - design by pressure washing." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmcAOmzLvf4/VShs_dEcGII/AAAAAAAAH3U/X_QblfCeWH4/s1600/DSC00714.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...and finally a question mark :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-toDe1H7E7kU/VShtKCFyiGI/AAAAAAAAH3c/DSC0lrvGt_k/s1600/DSC00715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sidewalk slime art - design by pressure washing." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-toDe1H7E7kU/VShtKCFyiGI/AAAAAAAAH3c/DSC0lrvGt_k/s1600/DSC00715.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...since I'm sure when people see this, this will prompt the question "Why?"<br />
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The answer, of course, is "Why not?" Why can't I have a little fun with this? After all, if we ever get tired of the designs, we can just blast them off with the hose. So no harm done.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDzYQBojSkY/VShtfMuwAjI/AAAAAAAAH3k/U6_FsGuIY-w/s1600/DSC00719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sidewalk slime art exhibit - slime on concrete - design by pressure washing." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDzYQBojSkY/VShtfMuwAjI/AAAAAAAAH3k/U6_FsGuIY-w/s1600/DSC00719.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
I'm naming the whole sidewalk decoration "Why the HE77 Not?" Since after all, isn't life meant to be enjoyed, not taken so seriously?<br />
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I then proceeded to clean off the driveway. But I found that the new hose sprayer gave me such a precise spray line, I ended up with lots of visible lines all over the driveway (as in the photo just above also). So I suspect I may be criticized for my poor cleaning, if anyone notices at all.<br />
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When I got to the city sidewalk, I was planning to just wash down some of the dirt, but accidentally sprayed a white line through the grime. Oops, now I had to follow it up some real cleaning, but as with my ceramics, I decided that perhaps where I lack in skill, I can make up in creativity. After all, my kids are still teens, and the family next door (who will walk on that bit of sidewalk more than we will) has 3 girls, all school aged, so maybe somewhere in the whole group, there will be at least one of them who notices and smiles. Or maybe I'm just fooling myself, and I will be the only one smiling, but at least it's visible from my livingroom window, where I can enjoy it.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cj_K0UokmCw/VShu3ZkjxbI/AAAAAAAAH3w/FnpYJj7j658/s1600/DSC00724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sidewalk slime art exhibit - slime on concrete - design by pressure washing." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cj_K0UokmCw/VShu3ZkjxbI/AAAAAAAAH3w/FnpYJj7j658/s1600/DSC00724.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
I've named this sidewalk slime art exhibit "I Was Here". I think it fits nicely with the neighbourhood, since we are close to a greenbelt, and have lots of wildlife (coyotes, skunks, raccoons and more) walking through our yards and even on our sidewalks.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-20397117081088899712015-04-07T22:27:00.000-07:002015-04-21T19:50:23.916-07:00Photos from Palermo, SicilyWorking my way through the vacation photos, these are some of favorites from our day in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The two things which stood out from the day were the beautiful stonework and sculptural features almost everywhere, and the crazy driving. Here are a few photos of the driving.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DaOfXLcXWPM/VSSx9h6yu8I/AAAAAAAAHzw/aPkNIK86DgU/s1600/20150317_130522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Driving in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DaOfXLcXWPM/VSSx9h6yu8I/AAAAAAAAHzw/aPkNIK86DgU/s1600/20150317_130522.jpg" height="225" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
From inside the taxi, you get a bit of a sense of the lack of driving lanes, it seemed that cars were just cramming in wherever they fit, along with quite a few horse drawn carriages. A bit like China, except in Palermo the roads were narrower, and there were no bicycles mixed in with the vehicle traffic.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZEcQdkYuSI/VSSyghbLPgI/AAAAAAAAHz4/5dDIvkULav4/s1600/DSC00150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Traffic in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZEcQdkYuSI/VSSyghbLPgI/AAAAAAAAHz4/5dDIvkULav4/s1600/DSC00150.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
I wouldn't enjoy driving in a place like this. It was more enjoyable to walk, where we could find sidewalks to stay out of the traffic ourselves.<br />
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Our first attraction was the Palazzo Reale o dei Normanni. It was a beautiful palace which turned out to also be the home of the legislature / parliament, so we were restricted in how much we could visit.<br />
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I loved this huge entranceway to the Palazzo, which looked like an enormous door. You can see the real door (dwarfed in comparison) at the bottom right.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zyv2fepzXc/VSSzaAbCAxI/AAAAAAAAH0E/fbO77I2RH-s/s1600/DSC00142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grand door at the Palazzo Reale o dei Normanni in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zyv2fepzXc/VSSzaAbCAxI/AAAAAAAAH0E/fbO77I2RH-s/s1600/DSC00142.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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There were lots of motorcycles parked at the Palazzo. It seemed these were the vehicles of choice of the government representatives.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6fMvd5yK2mI/VSS0IuIu9iI/AAAAAAAAH0M/BLKLQAA_xGw/s1600/DSC00145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Motorcycles parked at the Palazzo Reale o dei Normanni in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6fMvd5yK2mI/VSS0IuIu9iI/AAAAAAAAH0M/BLKLQAA_xGw/s1600/DSC00145.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Inside the Palazzo, we found the Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel), which was another attraction we had on our list. It was very gold inside.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqxBIO7yrKc/VSS0el0p07I/AAAAAAAAH0U/Tv5yemzbtbs/s1600/DSC00167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SqxBIO7yrKc/VSS0el0p07I/AAAAAAAAH0U/Tv5yemzbtbs/s1600/DSC00167.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqb3C50Z7-Y/VSS0i00n1AI/AAAAAAAAH0c/tPD2ZmPvQQw/s1600/DSC00168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqb3C50Z7-Y/VSS0i00n1AI/AAAAAAAAH0c/tPD2ZmPvQQw/s1600/DSC00168.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Around the inside perimeter, it had the most illustrative summary of the book of Genesis which I've ever seen...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5j2VeRtVflk/VSS07h0SMwI/AAAAAAAAH0k/N3OkZUVeY7E/s1600/DSC00158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5j2VeRtVflk/VSS07h0SMwI/AAAAAAAAH0k/N3OkZUVeY7E/s1600/DSC00158.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...starting from the story of creation, Adam and Eve's fall into sin...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4GefCb--OM/VSS1M5-QO4I/AAAAAAAAH0s/0hqwWqd7THE/s1600/DSC00159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h4GefCb--OM/VSS1M5-QO4I/AAAAAAAAH0s/0hqwWqd7THE/s1600/DSC00159.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...Cain and Abel...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lT9Px3AWowE/VSS1STkUbkI/AAAAAAAAH00/8tzFXc7poaQ/s1600/DSC00160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lT9Px3AWowE/VSS1STkUbkI/AAAAAAAAH00/8tzFXc7poaQ/s1600/DSC00160.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...Jacob who was to become Israel...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--X7s1micZkg/VSS1ZAVfXLI/AAAAAAAAH08/hjCbpJE7lEM/s1600/DSC00161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--X7s1micZkg/VSS1ZAVfXLI/AAAAAAAAH08/hjCbpJE7lEM/s1600/DSC00161.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...Noah's Ark...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EH6ytjwdo5s/VSS1jK5y_xI/AAAAAAAAH1E/QJV7QwlWFhc/s1600/DSC00162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EH6ytjwdo5s/VSS1jK5y_xI/AAAAAAAAH1E/QJV7QwlWFhc/s1600/DSC00162.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...the Tower of Babel...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiFjMA71EV0/VSS1oQv_WiI/AAAAAAAAH1M/BFfQdxBzbqk/s1600/DSC00163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiFjMA71EV0/VSS1oQv_WiI/AAAAAAAAH1M/BFfQdxBzbqk/s1600/DSC00163.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...Abraham entertaining angels, and all sorts of other good stories which one could identify if they spent enough time studying the photos.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vop7todSW4s/VSS3Tf3E5jI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/A9ogLhpAuEA/s1600/DSC00171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vop7todSW4s/VSS3Tf3E5jI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/A9ogLhpAuEA/s1600/DSC00171.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
I'm not sure who this represents, but I liked this funky carved stone post. I just cann't get enough of all the carved stonework in Europe. We have nothing like that here in Vancouver.<br />
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I noticed this rat carving on the door, for AJ. It's an animal which is not often featured in carvings.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P01yUiuLA28/VSS3ykUieWI/AAAAAAAAH1g/GfWyEmWbaZo/s1600/DSC00156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rat carving on the door to the beautiful Cappella Palatina in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P01yUiuLA28/VSS3ykUieWI/AAAAAAAAH1g/GfWyEmWbaZo/s1600/DSC00156.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5D0s_eyjdY/VSS39mGZJpI/AAAAAAAAH1o/3MtuyIwa2t0/s1600/DSC00179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Intriguing thorny Ceiba tree near the Palazzo Reale o dei Normanni in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5D0s_eyjdY/VSS39mGZJpI/AAAAAAAAH1o/3MtuyIwa2t0/s1600/DSC00179.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
Just outside the Palazzo, I was intrigued by this tree with a very spiny trunk, and dried fruits hanging in the branches:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4di_pKs80E/VSS4O6n_-1I/AAAAAAAAH1w/iypzTnZJzKs/s1600/DSC00181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Intriguing thorny Ceiba Speciosa or Ceiba Pentandra tree near the Palazzo Reale o dei Normanni in Palermo Sicility Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a4di_pKs80E/VSS4O6n_-1I/AAAAAAAAH1w/iypzTnZJzKs/s1600/DSC00181.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
From my Google search, it seems it is a <span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ceiba tree, but I'm not sure if Ceiba Speciosa or Ceiba Pentandra. And now I realize that <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2015/03/sample-photos-of-mediterranean-cruise.html" target="_blank">I already posted these photos</a>, but now I am enjoying them again.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff3db; font-size: 13px;">There was another cathedral just a block or so further, so we went inside, and I took a few more photos:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMw7KeOOqeg/VSS5Fngi2JI/AAAAAAAAH14/G5JHtQHesss/s1600/DSC00195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful cathedral in Palermo Sicily Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMw7KeOOqeg/VSS5Fngi2JI/AAAAAAAAH14/G5JHtQHesss/s1600/DSC00195.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsYYFHWHfl0/VSS5YNmc5SI/AAAAAAAAH2A/lm4qMZXfEBY/s1600/DSC00196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful cathedral in Palermo Sicily Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GsYYFHWHfl0/VSS5YNmc5SI/AAAAAAAAH2A/lm4qMZXfEBY/s1600/DSC00196.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suDYpC9ufaA/VSS5eKRC8GI/AAAAAAAAH2I/5l679DMZFEE/s1600/DSC00193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful cathedral in Palermo Sicily Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suDYpC9ufaA/VSS5eKRC8GI/AAAAAAAAH2I/5l679DMZFEE/s1600/DSC00193.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We really have nothing like this in Vancouver.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0aeDfiS9Pc/VSS5tbUcO8I/AAAAAAAAH2Q/sYMN8UAUgXg/s1600/DSC00202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stone statues outside a beautiful cathedral in Palermo Sicily Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0aeDfiS9Pc/VSS5tbUcO8I/AAAAAAAAH2Q/sYMN8UAUgXg/s1600/DSC00202.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good thing we retreated to our ship every evening, so my neck had a chance to recover from all the looking up. Just so much to see in every direction.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml2xrhCIBTQ/VSS58WZEy9I/AAAAAAAAH2Y/0B0Ve2k5Ko0/s1600/DSC00209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful stonework statues on a building in Palermo Sicily Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml2xrhCIBTQ/VSS58WZEy9I/AAAAAAAAH2Y/0B0Ve2k5Ko0/s1600/DSC00209.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There were some ordinary buildings too, like this one.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhD2YIimUoA/VSS6GmrtneI/AAAAAAAAH2g/6xI6YwjyRrY/s1600/DSC00216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Typical building in Palermo Sicily Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhD2YIimUoA/VSS6GmrtneI/AAAAAAAAH2g/6xI6YwjyRrY/s1600/DSC00216.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">...and some familiar faces, too. Fun.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cqALioTLpfk/VSS6XgG1vGI/AAAAAAAAH2o/imOir0WqHXo/s1600/DSC00217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinocchio theatre advertisement in Palermo Sicily Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cqALioTLpfk/VSS6XgG1vGI/AAAAAAAAH2o/imOir0WqHXo/s1600/DSC00217.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Overall, a very enjoyable day.</span>Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-72094944847686183512015-04-06T21:28:00.000-07:002015-04-21T19:49:37.490-07:00Photos from RomeThe day we were in Rome, it poured rain all day. Funny thing, the port of Civitavecchia is nowhere near Rome. So we had a choice of shuttle, taxi, or train to make our way into Rome. I had read that the fastest and cheapest was the train. But by the time we took the bus to the train station, waited for the train (which was about 20 minutes late), and then the train and a couple of metro stops to the Colosseum, 2 hours were gone already, which meant we had just over 4 hours there, before making the 2 hour return trip! So we had to hustle.<br />
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We didn't even have time for lunch, we just grabbed sandwiches from a small shop at the metro, and ate as we travelled.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nYZH-LkUj8/VSNiwL8vM8I/AAAAAAAAHzA/LY2VS_9-tS8/s1600/20150316_123045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quick lunch at the Metro in Rome." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nYZH-LkUj8/VSNiwL8vM8I/AAAAAAAAHzA/LY2VS_9-tS8/s1600/20150316_123045.jpg" height="225" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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First stop was the Roman Colosseum. It was still an impressive structure, even after all these years.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2nQfuSbQsI/VSNc46M1ElI/AAAAAAAAHww/TR-3WXlzSA8/s1600/DSC00006_Colloseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Colosseum in Rome from the outside." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2nQfuSbQsI/VSNc46M1ElI/AAAAAAAAHww/TR-3WXlzSA8/s1600/DSC00006_Colloseum.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6spE7733ISU/VSNdC-xyn8I/AAAAAAAAHw4/EhAaPTQsx_g/s1600/DSC00011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Colosseum in Rome from the inside." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6spE7733ISU/VSNdC-xyn8I/AAAAAAAAHw4/EhAaPTQsx_g/s1600/DSC00011.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AUoocWBT0Z0/VSNdHOeQp7I/AAAAAAAAHxA/FY4Lx_q8hHU/s1600/DSC00028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Colosseum in Rome from the inside." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AUoocWBT0Z0/VSNdHOeQp7I/AAAAAAAAHxA/FY4Lx_q8hHU/s1600/DSC00028.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was interesting to see all the passageways underneath the Colloseum, and a bit sobering to imagine the many men and beasts being led into the arena, many of them to their death.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5qz6xGHt28/VSNdgn8uSSI/AAAAAAAAHxI/sEC36Dq-GVE/s1600/DSC00020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Another view of the Colosseum in Rome, showing the underground passageways." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5qz6xGHt28/VSNdgn8uSSI/AAAAAAAAHxI/sEC36Dq-GVE/s1600/DSC00020.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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There was so history in such a small area. In various directions there were other historic buildings and ruins.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9hFyrIHpG0/VSNd1G2yaNI/AAAAAAAAHxQ/Hw1wXNi_B0k/s1600/DSC00029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="View from the Colosseum in Rome, Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9hFyrIHpG0/VSNd1G2yaNI/AAAAAAAAHxQ/Hw1wXNi_B0k/s1600/DSC00029.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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There was this impressive arch next to the Colosseum.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--naFBUI9m_E/VSNfK_ls6VI/AAAAAAAAHxw/bhYeUpCdEo0/s1600/DSC00025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Arch / arc next to the Roman Colosseum." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--naFBUI9m_E/VSNfK_ls6VI/AAAAAAAAHxw/bhYeUpCdEo0/s1600/DSC00025.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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We headed down the road to the Roman Forum, or what remains of it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nt5-YKl2Idk/VSNeWTumsBI/AAAAAAAAHxY/-Vz3j7E0XNQ/s1600/DSC00066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roman Forum" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nt5-YKl2Idk/VSNeWTumsBI/AAAAAAAAHxY/-Vz3j7E0XNQ/s1600/DSC00066.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
I appreciated that seagull posing in the shot. I waited for him to turn his head to get a nice profile.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grFCO5-aC-8/VSNln2b_vcI/AAAAAAAAHzY/GER8Mwt1Ens/s1600/DSC00138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roman Forum with Colosseum in background, Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-grFCO5-aC-8/VSNln2b_vcI/AAAAAAAAHzY/GER8Mwt1Ens/s1600/DSC00138.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
Another angle, with no visible seagulls, but with the Colosseum in the background.<br />
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There was a building marked as the Temple of Romolo. Quite different than the other cathedrals we had seen on the trip.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eF_Kr9TzWAc/VSNeokAUnYI/AAAAAAAAHxg/w6jfsmIZ7-E/s1600/DSC00050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Temple of Romolo (Tempio Di Romolo) in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eF_Kr9TzWAc/VSNeokAUnYI/AAAAAAAAHxg/w6jfsmIZ7-E/s1600/DSC00050.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--sdF1sYH_bA/VSNe5fkLeNI/AAAAAAAAHxo/aVZMvXNXN9I/s1600/DSC00056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Temple of Romolo (Tempio Di Romolo) in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--sdF1sYH_bA/VSNe5fkLeNI/AAAAAAAAHxo/aVZMvXNXN9I/s1600/DSC00056.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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In that same area, there was this Roman bath, still fairly well preserved, it seems.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsqY5GcQzU8/VSNfVizgXII/AAAAAAAAHx4/K8Qd7EvR9-g/s1600/DSC00071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roman bath in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsqY5GcQzU8/VSNfVizgXII/AAAAAAAAHx4/K8Qd7EvR9-g/s1600/DSC00071.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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If we had a few more days, we would have liked to see more in the area, and also would have visited the Vatican and especially the Sistine Chapel. But we had just enough time to wander a bit further, to this impressive building, which housed a museum...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbtozkcxskk/VSNfj8dtJKI/AAAAAAAAHyA/wCIEJmim-ks/s1600/DSC00095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful museum in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbtozkcxskk/VSNfj8dtJKI/AAAAAAAAHyA/wCIEJmim-ks/s1600/DSC00095.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...complete with guards outside standing in their ponchos in the rain.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTFKZG6XPCs/VSNf8okxeiI/AAAAAAAAHyI/60MGcAKWmt0/s1600/DSC00102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful museum in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTFKZG6XPCs/VSNf8okxeiI/AAAAAAAAHyI/60MGcAKWmt0/s1600/DSC00102.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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So many beautiful architectural details, I didn't know what to focus on...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q71NwMAMl3I/VSNgQCASBdI/AAAAAAAAHyQ/67LWD_uHNa0/s1600/DSC00109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful museum in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q71NwMAMl3I/VSNgQCASBdI/AAAAAAAAHyQ/67LWD_uHNa0/s1600/DSC00109.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
...but I knew this shot with another posing seagull was a must.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94wJlfYtDQ4/VSNgc_KNAqI/AAAAAAAAHyY/41d5BZvL6w8/s1600/DSC00105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statuary outside beautiful museum in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94wJlfYtDQ4/VSNgc_KNAqI/AAAAAAAAHyY/41d5BZvL6w8/s1600/DSC00105.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Inside was also very beautiful. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Olg8A3rwKB4/VSNgpyecdXI/AAAAAAAAHyg/r4WXrbRLV-g/s1600/DSC00112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inside a beautiful museum in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Olg8A3rwKB4/VSNgpyecdXI/AAAAAAAAHyg/r4WXrbRLV-g/s1600/DSC00112.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
This looked very Roman to me, with the horses and chariot.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwCcy1SZt9c/VSNiEASLiwI/AAAAAAAAHy4/ukmshnd7kEU/s1600/DSC00111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chariot with horses inside a beautiful museum in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SwCcy1SZt9c/VSNiEASLiwI/AAAAAAAAHy4/ukmshnd7kEU/s1600/DSC00111.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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There was also a cathedral next to this building, so we stepped inside. Beautiful.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WK61VsWzeRI/VSNg9Mi4wdI/AAAAAAAAHyo/a3AjIfWg9MY/s1600/DSC00123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful cathedral in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WK61VsWzeRI/VSNg9Mi4wdI/AAAAAAAAHyo/a3AjIfWg9MY/s1600/DSC00123.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xk0nLW9_Vqs/VSNhC5zuyQI/AAAAAAAAHyw/6ViKRMbR1GU/s1600/DSC00124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful cathedral in Rome Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xk0nLW9_Vqs/VSNhC5zuyQI/AAAAAAAAHyw/6ViKRMbR1GU/s1600/DSC00124.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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It's funny, outside the cathedral was a big sign indicating that the entrance was free, and that anyone charging an entrance fee was not legitimate. But there was also a beggar at the door holding out a dish, saying Grazie to each person entering the church, collecting coins. I suppose that's what the sign was all about. We saw this at two different locations, so it seemed that the beggar at the door of the church was a typical fixture of a Roman cathedral.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N3vt9q7MeyA/VSNj3WcwzZI/AAAAAAAAHzM/jt2wWi6P3BM/s1600/LilyPhone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N3vt9q7MeyA/VSNj3WcwzZI/AAAAAAAAHzM/jt2wWi6P3BM/s1600/LilyPhone.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
On the way back, we were all pretty exhausted. I had the joy of seeing my teenagers sleeping. It is something I don't get to see very often anymore. (They'll shoot me when the found out I posted these photos of them.)<br />
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So other than the rain and the short timeframe, it was a successful visit to Rome, but we definitely left enough to warrant another visit in future.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-91271990104806730702015-04-06T19:59:00.000-07:002015-07-04T08:10:15.957-07:00Surprise Rhodo Purchase and Dreams of Cherry CheesecakeA landscaper knows what type of spot (size, orientation, sun, etc) needs filling, and finds a plant suitable for it.<br />
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A gardener has various spots available, and watches for plants suitable for them, and sometimes moves them about to find better spots for them.<br />
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A plant collector has no garden space available, but buys a plant because he/she must have it, even though 5 minutes before he/she didn't know about this plant, and then proceeds to find a space for it, whether it means lawn must be removed, or other plants need to be hacked back to make room.<br />
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I am definitely a plant collector.<br />
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Tonight I walked into a Canadian Tire store, looking for a moss killer for my lawn. After 10 years, it has built up to being more moss than grass in many areas. I don't care about the look of it, I quite like the look of moss. However, it gets to be very wet and squishy, and takes a LONG time to dry out, so is not so good for enjoying the yard. So finally after 10 years of letting the moss grow, I am planning to fight it back, and restore the lawn, at least somewhat.<br />
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I found a moss killer, although it wasn't the format I was looking for. I still had extra time, so I bought a cheap pair of $10 bypass pruners, since they felt reasonably good in my hands, and my current pruners are pretty much at end of life. I still had a bit more time, so I went outside to look at the plants. Canadian Tire never carries anything very exotic, it is basic landscaping plants and basket stuffers, for the most part. For curiosity, I looked at the tags of a few rhododendrons. I was surprised to see a rhodo with the name Hachmann's something-or-other. Since I fell in love with a rhodo "Hachmann's Charmant" a couple of years ago at a specialty rhododendron farm, but only took photos, and tried to think about where I would plant it, and then never returned to buy it. (Probably because it was information overload at the time, and I decided to study their rhodo list a bit more before deciding.)<br />
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Anyhow, here is the photo I've been carrying around (on my phone) of Hachmann's Charmant :<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgh4Bys_kkE/VSNF8XJhQ6I/AAAAAAAAHwY/uklFt5Oafzc/s1600/171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful Hachmann's Charmant Rhododendron" border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgh4Bys_kkE/VSNF8XJhQ6I/AAAAAAAAHwY/uklFt5Oafzc/s1600/171.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
Isn't it pretty?<br />
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Anyhow, I flipped the tag on a small rhodo today, and the photo was just as pretty. The name was "Cherry Cheesecake". I love cheesecake! The description indicated that it was just like Hachmann's Charmant, but a more compact shape. OMG. It was true love on the spot!<br />
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So I brought home the small plant (it is probably only 8" tall), and will find him a cherished spot. I think in the front yard, where others can adore him also.<br />
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Here is a photo of my beloved Cherry Cheesecake, from a <a href="http://www.osberton.co.uk/plant/102/cherry+cheesecake/30/" target="_blank">UK based plant nursery's web page</a> :<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzDbNHnX7WY/VSNG4CQTyWI/AAAAAAAAHwg/51oLlZL65lg/s1600/cherrycheesecakerhodo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful Cherry Cheesecake Rhododendron (not my photo)" border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzDbNHnX7WY/VSNG4CQTyWI/AAAAAAAAHwg/51oLlZL65lg/s1600/cherrycheesecakerhodo.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
I can't wait until I have the chance to plant him in. I'm so excited.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-20327534488724931602015-04-01T22:45:00.000-07:002015-04-21T19:49:50.380-07:00Photos from Genoa ItalyI've already posted <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2015/03/sample-photos-of-mediterranean-cruise.html" target="_blank">some photos from the beautiful Staglieno Cemetery</a>. But I took many more. It was so dramatic, and so beautiful, I could have stayed even longer if the family had allowed.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZAfacuA2cM/VRzRMYpsRdI/AAAAAAAAHts/Z80xsf1GA8s/s1600/DSC09845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statues from the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZAfacuA2cM/VRzRMYpsRdI/AAAAAAAAHts/Z80xsf1GA8s/s1600/DSC09845.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4JS-yergXk/VRzRRlqLaFI/AAAAAAAAHt0/OCL9PIbVtTc/s1600/DSC09856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statues from the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L4JS-yergXk/VRzRRlqLaFI/AAAAAAAAHt0/OCL9PIbVtTc/s1600/DSC09856.jpg" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Txr4NKgKylI/VRzRajDoiaI/AAAAAAAAHt8/dFmCMbTj1-g/s1600/DSC09842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statues from the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Txr4NKgKylI/VRzRajDoiaI/AAAAAAAAHt8/dFmCMbTj1-g/s1600/DSC09842.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UM1Iw38TODw/VRzRhp469TI/AAAAAAAAHuE/nB2A87wgKO4/s1600/DSC09852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statues from the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UM1Iw38TODw/VRzRhp469TI/AAAAAAAAHuE/nB2A87wgKO4/s1600/DSC09852.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN6xg19opJ8/VRzRnTYH_iI/AAAAAAAAHuM/E8EgvCGzrxc/s1600/DSC09839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statues from the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN6xg19opJ8/VRzRnTYH_iI/AAAAAAAAHuM/E8EgvCGzrxc/s1600/DSC09839.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOTCV3gZanA/VRzR2-D2l1I/AAAAAAAAHuU/R6UVur8_nFQ/s1600/DSC09878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statues from the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOTCV3gZanA/VRzR2-D2l1I/AAAAAAAAHuU/R6UVur8_nFQ/s1600/DSC09878.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aNqiRgqrl4g/VRzR8MiEcVI/AAAAAAAAHuc/gAWRdLrItyY/s1600/DSC09867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Monument within the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aNqiRgqrl4g/VRzR8MiEcVI/AAAAAAAAHuc/gAWRdLrItyY/s1600/DSC09867.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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At the entrance to the cemetery, there was a flower shop with beautiful silk flowers.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_gdb0sjADw/VRzSPDt6SeI/AAAAAAAAHuk/6Jz8UhbIUrI/s1600/DSC09917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful silk flowers outside the Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_gdb0sjADw/VRzSPDt6SeI/AAAAAAAAHuk/6Jz8UhbIUrI/s1600/DSC09917.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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The other location we enjoyed in Genoa was the Castell d'Albertis (Albertis Castle). It was the beautiful home of a sea captain, built on the remains of an old fortress.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IuNAF72-4xU/VRzUaF0_PpI/AAAAAAAAHu0/VFZkXZZ7a-s/s1600/DSC09930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Albertis Castle (Castell d'Albertis) in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IuNAF72-4xU/VRzUaF0_PpI/AAAAAAAAHu0/VFZkXZZ7a-s/s1600/DSC09930.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jz7u9M55N20/VRzUaDKqOKI/AAAAAAAAHuw/EZ_xqQ48rtc/s1600/DSC09934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Albertis Castle (Castell d'Albertis) in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jz7u9M55N20/VRzUaDKqOKI/AAAAAAAAHuw/EZ_xqQ48rtc/s1600/DSC09934.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Some parts of the castle were still decorated as his beautiful home, with artifacts collected by the owner from his travels around the world.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1c5nj8MB5g/VRzUpSBQrzI/AAAAAAAAHvA/5RAuUr6KKWM/s1600/DSC09942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Albertis Castle (Castell d'Albertis) in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1c5nj8MB5g/VRzUpSBQrzI/AAAAAAAAHvA/5RAuUr6KKWM/s1600/DSC09942.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7MtcypR3YIU/VRzUp9bMGXI/AAAAAAAAHvI/_y72TnwgpzQ/s1600/DSC09948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Albertis Castle (Castell d'Albertis) in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7MtcypR3YIU/VRzUp9bMGXI/AAAAAAAAHvI/_y72TnwgpzQ/s1600/DSC09948.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JUbTTaGRBJI/VRzUpizXqoI/AAAAAAAAHvE/S3INT9AL5v4/s1600/DSC09953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Albertis Castle (Castell d'Albertis) in Genoa Italy." border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JUbTTaGRBJI/VRzUpizXqoI/AAAAAAAAHvE/S3INT9AL5v4/s1600/DSC09953.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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I really liked this beauty on the balcony.<br />
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The remainder of the castle was converted into a museum of world culture. I was amused that the first exhibit was a totem pole...<br />
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...which looked very familiar to me, coming from the west coast of Canada. Sure enough, the first exhibit area was of the Indians of the northwest of Canada and the United States :<br />
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The museum then covered south america, and continued to Australia, China, India, and various other parts of the world. Lots of pottery and other hand crafts.<br />
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From the castle, we could again look down and see our cruise ship in port.<br />
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Love those palm trees also. I think I would have liked a couple more days to explore more of Genoa.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-56167113532379168032015-04-01T22:11:00.001-07:002015-04-21T19:50:12.455-07:00Photos from MarseilleLooking through my photos now, I have the enjoyment of remembering special sights and moments from our trip. At the time, it felt like I was taking too many photos, but now I wish I had more to look through. Today I'm sharing some of my favourites from our day in Marseille, France.<br />
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We started at the Old Port, where I was intrigued by the eels being sold fresh off the dock.</div>
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We had planned to visit Chateau d'If, which is like a mini Alcatraz. The military fortress was a prison for 10 years, and the setting for the famous Alexandre Dumas "Count of Monte Cristo" novel. Unfortunately, even though the seas did not look rough, they were apparently too rough for the ferry to dock at the island, so we were unable to visit. But we were able to view it from Notre Dame de la Garde (literally, "our lady of the guard"). See the photo below, the island of If is in the center, with the larger islands in behind.</div>
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We had our workout visiting Notre Dame de la Garde, since the Catholic basilica was built on a fortress at the highest point in Marseille. Here we are, walking up. We had told ourselves that we would walk up, and take a taxi to the next site, but the only taxis at the top were ones waiting on tourists for the return trip. So we ended up walking all the way back down the hill also.</div>
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It is hard to see in the photo without clicking to enlarge, but there is a ferris wheel at the bottom of the hill, and that is at the waterfront where we started.</div>
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Almost the whole way up, we continued to see the church, but it remained elusive - always just a little further.</div>
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Finally we were there.</div>
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I loved this stone statuary of the sufferings of Christ just outside. Such agony.</div>
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In one direction, there was the Chateau d'If. Looking down to the port, we could see our cruise ship in the distance. Also, this beautiful (must be turf!) soccer field just down the hill.</div>
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Outside, the basilica was already beautiful.</div>
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I love this detail on the door.</div>
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Inside, the basilica was very beautiful. </div>
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The church also had a lot of artwork on display. For some reason, I was drawn to this painting.</div>
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After our big walk, we had planned to visit the Palais Longchamp, but perhaps were discouraged by not seeing any taxis until we got back almost all the way to the waterfront, so we decided just to walk along and see what we could see. The architecture everywhere was beautiful, anyhow.</div>
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As you can see, the weather was quite beautiful, cooperating with our visit.</div>
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We ended up at this building, some sort of museum. It also had a good view, and a really cool sculpture of a shipwreck. I tried hard, but couldn't get an angle which captured it fully, only shots from various sides.</div>
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I was amused by this sculpture of a deer / elk upside down.</div>
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Finally, here are a few more architectural shots.</div>
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Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-18392841563653059342015-03-24T22:11:00.000-07:002015-04-21T19:50:38.156-07:00More Photos from BarcelonaAfter laundry and waiting for suitcases Sunday, we jumped back into work Monday. I finally have a day off tomorrow, so hope to get a lot of errands done, and feel settled back, and caught up with things in my life. At least mostly caught up.<br />
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So tonight I can relax and post a few more photos from Barcelona.</div>
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We saw a few of these people on Las Ramblas, who looked like statues, and posed for photos with passers-by. Pretty cool, isn't she?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4vKVkgj3Zc/VRI4478cnJI/AAAAAAAAHmo/IaxmBj4USI0/s1600/DSC09442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="La Senyera Catalonian / Catalan flag at the Montjuic Castle, Barcelona Spain." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4vKVkgj3Zc/VRI4478cnJI/AAAAAAAAHmo/IaxmBj4USI0/s1600/DSC09442.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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I took this funky photo near the top of the Montjuic castle. I liked the purple-blue grape hyacinths, in contrast with the red-yellow Catalan flag. According to my quick google-research, the flag is named "La Senyera", and "La Senyera is the official flag of the Spanish Autonomous Communities of Catalonia, Aragón, the Balearic Islands, Valencia and the historically Catalan-speaking city of Alghero in Sardinia. It is also included on the flags or coats of arms of Pyrénées-Orientales, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the flag of Roussillon, Capcir, Vallespir and Provence in France and is a quarter of the coat of arms of Andorra." </div>
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There is also another Catalan flag, called "L'Estelada", which looks similar but has a white star on a blue triangle added to it. "The full name of the Estelada is La Senyera Estelada, which means starred flag, and is normally a Senyera with a white star superimposed on a blue triangle at the top although a red star on a yellow background is also common. It is an unofficial flag and is generally waved by supporters of Catalonia's independence from Spain, which is why you see so many of them hanging from balconies in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia at the moment. Inspired by the stars on the Puerto Rican and Cuban flags, who gained independence from Spain in 1898 and 1902 respectively, Catalan independentists began including stars on their symbols from the early 20th century onwards."</div>
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If I had known any of this earlier, I would have paid more attention to which flags I saw hanging in Barcelona.</div>
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I was drawn to this statue of a beautiful lady at Montjuic Castle....</div>
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... while the boys were attracted to the big guns.</div>
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This was a fun and joyful grouping of statues on the way down the hill from Montjuic Castle.</div>
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The Gaudi-designed Sagrada Familia (sacred family) cathedral, which is still under construction after more than 100 years, was so grand and awe-inspiring, that photos really don't do it any justice. But here is a shot anyhow of the interior.</div>
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I was fascinated to read a little note in a kids' book about Antoni Gaudi, the famous Spanish Catalan architect whose works are all around the city of Barcelona. At the age of 73, he was out for a walk and was hit by a tram, and died in hospital three days later. Apparently, he used to dress so shabbily that he was initially mistaken for a beggar, and given only rudimentary care. By the time he was recognized, his condition had deteriorated so much that he was unable to recover from his injuries. A sad ending to his life. Although by 1926, he would have had the satisfaction of seeing a fair amount of the Sagrada Familia taking shape.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eZtFEpuquUA/VRJADrhJ3BI/AAAAAAAAHnc/WP51mLKCStk/s1600/DSC09480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Sagrada Familia sacred family detail on the exterior." border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eZtFEpuquUA/VRJADrhJ3BI/AAAAAAAAHnc/WP51mLKCStk/s1600/DSC09480.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Here's a closeup of the sacred family, on the exterior of the building. I love the detail, it is so intricate. Such beautiful stone work.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vne0dglNCQ/VRJAysWncjI/AAAAAAAAHnk/2MA7oR_CsTM/s1600/DSC09527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful light from stained glass windows in Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vne0dglNCQ/VRJAysWncjI/AAAAAAAAHnk/2MA7oR_CsTM/s1600/DSC09527.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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One final photo from Sagrada Familia, this one of the light streaming in through some of the many stained glass windows, and casting glowing shadows on the ceilings and walls inside.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7x2nhW4kmxk/VRJBeU4y6WI/AAAAAAAAHnw/22NR3sUH1KE/s1600/DSC09698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Funky floral fashion clothing in Barcelona storefront, Spain." border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7x2nhW4kmxk/VRJBeU4y6WI/AAAAAAAAHnw/22NR3sUH1KE/s1600/DSC09698.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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Finally for tonight, on a totally different topic, I was amused by this floral fashion for Spring/Summer. (The pattern is not only on the clothes, but also on the storefront window, which is why the photo is so funky to look at.) This one was in Barcelona, but I saw some similar floral prints in one of the other cities (in Italy, I believe) which we visited also, so maybe this is a fashion trend to be noticed.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs5kcengqKg/VRJB-2srHgI/AAAAAAAAHn4/XIQbrMGD-tY/s1600/DSC09697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Funky floral fashion clothing in Barcelona storefront, Spain." border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gs5kcengqKg/VRJB-2srHgI/AAAAAAAAHn4/XIQbrMGD-tY/s1600/DSC09697.jpg" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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I took photos of both window displays, and even stepped into the store to look at the clothing. But even if I could have been tempted, they were all in too small of sizes for me.</div>
Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-37818118954786768422015-03-22T21:45:00.001-07:002015-04-21T19:49:24.808-07:00Sample Photos of Mediterranean Cruise VacationWe just returned - and our luggage finally returned also - from our Spring Break vacation with the kids in Barcelona and then on a Mediterranean cruise. I spent most of the day today doing laundry and transferring photos from my camera, so here is a small sampling of my photos, which feature a lot of statues and other architectural decorations.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjbI3jqPbVk/VQ-LHkebL8I/AAAAAAAAHkc/CGxue4S67P8/s1600/DSC00607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sculptural detail of Saint George in the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjbI3jqPbVk/VQ-LHkebL8I/AAAAAAAAHkc/CGxue4S67P8/s1600/DSC00607.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
I assume this sculptural detail in the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain is Saint George, since he is shown conquering a dragon.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cjqokmhZH6M/VQ-MpV5bl_I/AAAAAAAAHko/syyVJhllWBc/s1600/DSC00595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stained glass window from the Sagrat Cor cathedral in the Tibidabo area" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cjqokmhZH6M/VQ-MpV5bl_I/AAAAAAAAHko/syyVJhllWBc/s1600/DSC00595.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
This beautiful stained glass window is from the Sagrat Cor cathedral in the Tibidabo area of Barcelona Spain. It looks to be the story where the devil is tempting Jesus, and Jesus is saying "Away from me Satan!" (Matthew 4:10 - No, I don't have this memorized, I just know how to look it up.) This very decorative church also features a beautiful statue of Jesus at the very top, with outstretched arms, something similar to the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIGXfM9WF7Y/VQ-OdTfk8XI/AAAAAAAAHk0/rfQXqP53FQU/s1600/DSC00573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Statue from the cathedral overlooking the Tibidabo amusement park and Barcelona Spain" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIGXfM9WF7Y/VQ-OdTfk8XI/AAAAAAAAHk0/rfQXqP53FQU/s1600/DSC00573.JPG" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
This is another view from that same cathedral, looking out from the terraza (terrace), with this statue (I don't recognize, but I assume he is one of the saints) looking onto the amusement park of Tibidabo, and into the city of Barcelona beyond. The ocean in the distance is faded out, since it was a bit overcast that day, and rained later that evening.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYslODMlRLY/VQ-PbawsP0I/AAAAAAAAHk8/teUJntGxvL0/s1600/DSC00491_HikeToTibidabo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yucca desert plant with graffiti carved names" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYslODMlRLY/VQ-PbawsP0I/AAAAAAAAHk8/teUJntGxvL0/s1600/DSC00491_HikeToTibidabo.JPG" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
Since this is a gardening blog, I have to include a photo of this plant (some sort of yucca?), in which people have carved their names along with those of their "true love". There were many such graffiti'd plants along the very long pathway which ascended to Tibidabo.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjrVErS-yBY/VQ-QqAPoaUI/AAAAAAAAHlE/sBCtnMoibr8/s1600/DSC00490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grasshopper / locust gargoyle in Barcelona Spain" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YjrVErS-yBY/VQ-QqAPoaUI/AAAAAAAAHlE/sBCtnMoibr8/s1600/DSC00490.JPG" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
This little gargoyle (I haven't seen a grasshopper gargoyle before!) was also in Barcelona, in the upper part of the city (where there were a number of beautiful embassy buildings), where we started hiking up toward Tibidabo.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cqeNVrCCZBE/VQ-RRG1Rk1I/AAAAAAAAHlM/WgxJO2mn4IU/s1600/DSC00179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ceiba speciosa or Ceiba pentandra tree with thorny trunk / bark" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cqeNVrCCZBE/VQ-RRG1Rk1I/AAAAAAAAHlM/WgxJO2mn4IU/s1600/DSC00179.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
I discovered this very large thorny tree in Palermo Silicily. It seems to be a Ceiba tree, but I'm not sure if Ceiba Speciosa or Ceiba Pentandra. It had some dried up fruits hanging in its bare branches also, which is what first caught my attention :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhG24coJnkA/VQ-R51OUJ6I/AAAAAAAAHlU/mb36f-67kOY/s1600/DSC00178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Same Ceiba speciosa or Ceiba pentandra tree with dried fruits in early spring" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhG24coJnkA/VQ-R51OUJ6I/AAAAAAAAHlU/mb36f-67kOY/s1600/DSC00178.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hrlrXIFf5pg/VQ-SgcXr22I/AAAAAAAAHlc/4a1LylQjIys/s1600/DSC09910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful stone statuary in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa Italy" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hrlrXIFf5pg/VQ-SgcXr22I/AAAAAAAAHlc/4a1LylQjIys/s1600/DSC09910.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
It will sound funny, but I took quite a lot of photos of the statuary in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa Italy. Although I was careful to avoid taking photos of names, and also tried not to look too much like a tourist to the people visiting the cemetery to pay respects to their departed relatives. Here are a few more photos from Staglieno :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ogdXU-5iFs/VQ-Us_x8_ZI/AAAAAAAAHlo/o1uv3al7GlA/s1600/DSC09874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful stone statuary in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa Italy" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ogdXU-5iFs/VQ-Us_x8_ZI/AAAAAAAAHlo/o1uv3al7GlA/s1600/DSC09874.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
...and...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rxKiY66NDto/VQ-VoTTnudI/AAAAAAAAHl4/A3MjrLRcfac/s1600/DSC09886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful stone statuary in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa Italy - lady with skull and cross" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rxKiY66NDto/VQ-VoTTnudI/AAAAAAAAHl4/A3MjrLRcfac/s1600/DSC09886.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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...and...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XE6N3qQyYI/VQ-VM-zf86I/AAAAAAAAHlw/p_f6lbeaxVQ/s1600/DSC09903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful stone statuary in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa Italy - beautiful girl with cross" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XE6N3qQyYI/VQ-VM-zf86I/AAAAAAAAHlw/p_f6lbeaxVQ/s1600/DSC09903.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qr4C6jsVWUk/VQ-WA9KBGpI/AAAAAAAAHmA/mynlS0qodI0/s1600/DSC00320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cathedral in Tunis Tunisia" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qr4C6jsVWUk/VQ-WA9KBGpI/AAAAAAAAHmA/mynlS0qodI0/s1600/DSC00320.JPG" height="640" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
And my final photo for tonight, a photo from inside a beautiful Christian church in Tunis, Tunisia. By God's grace we had convinced our taxi driver to start on the other side of town at Carthage, and not in Medina and the Bardo Museum, which was the site of a terrible terrorist attack that morning, resulting in 23 dead : the 2 perpetrators and 21 victims, most of them from our cruise ship and the other ship in harbour that day. Very tragic for all involved, and a sad day also for our taxi driver and others whose livelihood depends on tourism, as I believe both cruise lines have already changed their route to bypass Tunis.<br />
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No, the final photo will end on a fun note. I never expected I would actually have an opportunity in my lifetime to ride on a camel, but I was very happy to be welcomed from our ship with that opportunity. What fun! Here I am, looking rather awkward, but enjoying my ride along with my 16-year-old (what lucky kids I have!) :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FI95zzt8iXU/VQ-ZXPq5N4I/AAAAAAAAHmM/8rL_p2bklOg/s1600/DSC00226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Riding a camel in Tunis Tunisia" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FI95zzt8iXU/VQ-ZXPq5N4I/AAAAAAAAHmM/8rL_p2bklOg/s1600/DSC00226.JPG" height="265" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-12746921434704342382015-02-21T16:55:00.004-08:002015-07-04T08:09:39.388-07:00Garden AwakeningI realize it's been a long time since I posted photos of my garden. And part of me feels guilty for boasting about my spring blossoms, a good part of the continent is still under snow. But it has been such wonderful blue-sky weather lately, I had to break away from my computer and homework (work has followed me home this weekend) to walk around the back yard and take a few snapshots.<br />
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There are all the usual signs of Spring out there...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BgLM3x7rr4k/VOkfJaefsDI/AAAAAAAAHdM/RVxJRnL1l7U/s1600/2015-feb-garden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="spring blossoms and blooms" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BgLM3x7rr4k/VOkfJaefsDI/AAAAAAAAHdM/RVxJRnL1l7U/s1600/2015-feb-garden1.jpg" title="" width="512" /></a></div>
... mini daffs, galanthus (snowdrops), and a Japanese plum in bloom.<br />
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My Mom always asks me about my young Hellebores plants. I have a few scattered around the yard, and at least 3 different colors/varieties...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHLr7vUggyM/VOkfnDTH3iI/AAAAAAAAHdU/VD8vBgyXQP8/s1600/2015-feb-garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hellebores blooms" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHLr7vUggyM/VOkfnDTH3iI/AAAAAAAAHdU/VD8vBgyXQP8/s1600/2015-feb-garden.jpg" title="" width="512" /></a></div>
It's funny that the plant with most blooms (top right) is the one in my underutilized kitchen/herb garden. It has thrived since it has lots of space there, and sun. Many of my other plants are squeezed among other plants (that is my gardening style), so don't produce as many flowers.<br />
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But speaking of Hellebores with lots of blooms, I was walking about Century Gardens (Shadbolt Center) in Burnaby BC today, and they have some mature Hellebores plants with LOADS of blooms. Look at this one :<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M0VlB1wVCdI/VOkh13Vrl8I/AAAAAAAAHdo/BlhVhrAT81c/s1600/20150221_150522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="beautiful mature full blossomed hellebore" border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M0VlB1wVCdI/VOkh13Vrl8I/AAAAAAAAHdo/BlhVhrAT81c/s1600/20150221_150522.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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And a look down a path lined in Hellebores :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kPopuuwqmYI/VOkhI99Do1I/AAAAAAAAHdg/z2F1bJT8PxQ/s1600/20150221_150544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="path with hellebores / helleborus" border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kPopuuwqmYI/VOkhI99Do1I/AAAAAAAAHdg/z2F1bJT8PxQ/s1600/20150221_150544.jpg" title="" width="360" /></a></div>
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Here's another look at the Century Gardens, looking back at the Burnaby Art Gallery :<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOngL38I1M4/VOkneYwPYwI/AAAAAAAAHeM/nI9skBdG5WQ/s1600/20150221_150613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Burnaby Art Gallery and spring blooms" border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OOngL38I1M4/VOkneYwPYwI/AAAAAAAAHeM/nI9skBdG5WQ/s1600/20150221_150613.jpg" title="" width="360" /></a></div>
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I can't remember if this rhododendron has bloomed before (it's tucked away in my "secret garden" near my exotic Korean lilac), but it is pretty :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1g3AbxrzKY/VOkmKG2dpcI/AAAAAAAAHd0/tvK_dhuN03Q/s1600/DSC09265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pretty light pink rhododendron" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a1g3AbxrzKY/VOkmKG2dpcI/AAAAAAAAHd0/tvK_dhuN03Q/s1600/DSC09265.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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And funny enough, there always seems to be a single yellow crocus which emerges near the base of the sleeping monster Gunnera (see <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.ca/2009/03/spring-is-finally-starting-to-spring.html" target="_blank">similar photo from back in 2009</a>) :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WtoGZKDbWb4/VOkmwaadxpI/AAAAAAAAHd8/45EeauOkmfw/s1600/DSC09286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="single yellow crocus emerging beneath sleeping gunnera" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WtoGZKDbWb4/VOkmwaadxpI/AAAAAAAAHd8/45EeauOkmfw/s1600/DSC09286.jpg" title="" width="424" /></a></div>
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And speaking of sleeping monsters, I'm pleased but surprised to see that some of our rock creations from almost 10 years ago are still holding up fairly well (I must have really sprayed them well with acrylic coating, since I haven't even touched up the paint since, and these rocks stay in the garden year-round) :<br />
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Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-16392851627392935982014-11-24T19:14:00.000-08:002015-07-04T08:09:54.484-07:00Sunflower Seed Color VariationMy mom gave me some sunflower plants earlier in the year, and the ones I planted outside my kitchen window, on the South side of the house, did quite well. I got three large flowers, and amazingly, this is the first year the squirrel didn't completely strip the seeds while they were still white. So I just picked them about a week or so ago, since we had some frosty nights already in Vancouver.<br />
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Here are the flowers :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GinRuZEnwRw/VHPzJ9eqj7I/AAAAAAAAHRo/awL3slUpJEs/s1600/20141114_135257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sunflower dried seedheads with sunflower seeds" border="0" height="347" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GinRuZEnwRw/VHPzJ9eqj7I/AAAAAAAAHRo/awL3slUpJEs/s1600/20141114_135257.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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I found it very amusing that the color of the seeds from each of the flowers was very distinctive. The one almost reddish, the second one very pale, and the other with the more characteristic black and white markings (except a bit pale since they were not fully developed) :<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysXw9zO4ifg/VHPzi2H-r0I/AAAAAAAAHRw/gYxXm40l9yI/s1600/20141114_161630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dried sunflower seeds harvested from the garden showing color variation" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ysXw9zO4ifg/VHPzi2H-r0I/AAAAAAAAHRw/gYxXm40l9yI/s1600/20141114_161630.jpg" title="" width="360" /></a></div>
I would think my Mom got all the seeds from the same source, so I was amused to find such variation.Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21216858.post-47241383000329132802014-11-06T19:56:00.000-08:002014-11-06T19:56:21.356-08:00Beautiful and Deadly Amanita Muscaria MushroomsI was delighted to discover a large number of Amanita muscaria mushrooms (the classic fairytale "toadstool") growing in the small islands in the parking lot at work, when I went for a walk today at lunchtime. They are so incredibly photogenic, so I took a lot of photos.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8whx5xeY1Y/VFxB0BZm2NI/AAAAAAAAHJ0/Pvd4nqsuE84/s1600/20141106_130340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8whx5xeY1Y/VFxB0BZm2NI/AAAAAAAAHJ0/Pvd4nqsuE84/s1600/20141106_130340.jpg" height="371" title="Red amanita muscaria (spotted poisonous toadstool)" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvqGsDv5Bxs/VFxBzgWxAHI/AAAAAAAAHJw/P7-fye7TlvM/s1600/20141106_131450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jvqGsDv5Bxs/VFxBzgWxAHI/AAAAAAAAHJw/P7-fye7TlvM/s1600/20141106_131450.jpg" height="287" title="Amanita muscaria emerging (red spotted mushroom)" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-exsfPsw2bnk/VFxB0YvF67I/AAAAAAAAHJ8/wniwiShI8uI/s1600/20141106_131525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-exsfPsw2bnk/VFxB0YvF67I/AAAAAAAAHJ8/wniwiShI8uI/s1600/20141106_131525.jpg" height="640" title="Amanita muscaria (beautiful red spotted poisonous mushroom)" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okxW2BO2XSU/VFxB9iYwp2I/AAAAAAAAHKI/nrZKdCVUdOs/s1600/20141106_130446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-okxW2BO2XSU/VFxB9iYwp2I/AAAAAAAAHKI/nrZKdCVUdOs/s1600/20141106_130446.jpg" height="640" title="Amanita muscaria (red spotted fairytale mushroom)" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXSaDDT9cgw/VFxB9yPSKBI/AAAAAAAAHKM/XWHtROOaSsA/s1600/20141106_130615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXSaDDT9cgw/VFxB9yPSKBI/AAAAAAAAHKM/XWHtROOaSsA/s1600/20141106_130615.jpg" height="640" title="Amanita muscaria (red spotted toadstool)" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zz9K-lR_lsc/VFxB-MfWBoI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/ymKE54bPonA/s1600/20141106_130622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zz9K-lR_lsc/VFxB-MfWBoI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/ymKE54bPonA/s1600/20141106_130622.jpg" height="640" title="Amanita muscaria (red and white spotted mushroom)" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lchFy4snlAY/VFxB-ij-_xI/AAAAAAAAHKU/dGUClUJ4c_E/s1600/20141106_130637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lchFy4snlAY/VFxB-ij-_xI/AAAAAAAAHKU/dGUClUJ4c_E/s1600/20141106_130637.jpg" height="400" title="Amanita muscaria (poisonous mushroom)" width="350" /></a></div>
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What do you think? Aren't they delightful?Garden Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07555471590488138155noreply@blogger.com3