Never Say Die

My Sago Palm ( that i have had for about 3 years now) was doing quite well thru most of last winter, then ...it decided to die. The fronds turned yellow and dropped off (was i taking care of it correctly? Well... maybe not ...). and the base/ trunk part just sat. i figured i could just water it, and soon the new leaves would start to sprout again. Waited and waited, but no leaves. Oh-oh. At that point, many people would toss it on the compost pile, but not me. i moved it outside in the spring, once again hoping that the warm sun would generate some action. Nope. Did i pitch it? Nope. Well, the trunk wasn't soft or rotten, and also we started to get busy with the garden and art shows and summer life in general, and it was sort of forgotten about until 2 weeks ago - i glanced in its direction and guess what? Here are a bunch of new leaves sprouting! I'm so excited! What happened? i'll give you my best Master Gardener answer: i have no idea! But it's alive and well, and i'm happy...

i also   "lost" my Silver Cloud redbud last winter. The other Redbuds leafed out and bloomed, and that one was all bare trunk and branches. Did i dig it out? (Do you really think i would, after reading the above story?) i WAS awfully sure the Redbud was gone, though. Anyway, i waited some more, and then i spotted it - a tiny sprout off the trunk, very low. i wasn't too optimistic, though. i was thinking the sprout was under the graft (see definition>>>>>>>), which would mean that the growth coming out would be on the rootstock, and therefore would be a plain Redbud, which i didn't need another of. And i was partly right - about 3 sprouts started, one of which was plain green, but the other two came out variegated! This is how it looks now - a lot shorter than it was, but still among the living! So if you have a favorite plant that appears dead, stick by it and baby it for a while, you may still have a chance!

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the tree's growth are manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color. This extraordinary chemical absorbs from sunlight the energy that is used in transforming carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates, such as sugars and starch.

Along with the green pigment are yellow to orange pigments, carotenes and xanthophyll pigments which, for example, give the orange color to a carrot. Most of the year these colors are masked by great amounts of the green coloring.

But in the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.

At the same time, other chemical changes may occur, which form additional colors through the development of red anthocyanin pigments. Some mixtures give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs, while others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange.

The autumn foliage of some trees shows only yellow colors. Others, like many oaks, display mostly browns. All these colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season.

Then they're gone - so enjoy the colors of Fall while you can!

hummies

Okay, so these aren't GREAT photos of hummingbirds, but that's the best i can do at the moment! But isn't she cute? See her by the Trumpet Vine flowers? i am pretty sure it's a "she" - as far as i know, the only hummers in my area are Ruby Throated, and this tiny jewel does not have any red on her,(and i'm not sure i've ever seen red on any of them! Shouldn't there be some boys around?) This one shows up faithfully every evening, her favorite blossoms are the Trumpets and the Red Cypress.

i think the yellow Trumpet Vine is very pretty, and, although Trumpet Vines are almost more trouble than they're worth, when they bloom and the Hummies show up, i'm glad i have 'em!

Happy Fall ! (NOT)

Only a few more hours of Summer - it's the time of year i dread! Yes, the days are cooler (except that the whole summer was cool this year), a lot of the days are very pretty (except that i'm at work 5 days a week and can't enjoy them), the leaves turn beautiful colors (except that it means the leaves are DYING)...See where i'm coming from? Don't think i CAN be satisfied in the Autumn! It would be my favorite time of year IF the next season was Spring - but since we have cold weather- meaning weather plants will not grow in- from October through April (at least), to ME it's sad.

This is also the time of year i start grasping at straws- "Well, at least the trees haven't started changing colors yet." "Well, at least it's still warm." "Well, at least i can still feed the fish in the pond." "Well, the trees are changing, but they still have their leaves." "Well, at least it hasn't snowed yet." "Well, at least the ground is still soft enough to plant bulbs." "Well, at least there's a few more weeks of Daylight Savings time, and i can still have some time outside before dark." "Well, at least it's not REAL cold yet.".... You get the idea.

i have always said that i cry 2 times a year (barring the occasional wedding or funeral). First, on the first beautiful warm Spring day that I can move my houseplants outside - those are tears of happiness! And the other is the day the first frost is supposed to hit, and i have to bring them all back inside, because that day is when i realize that Winter is truly here....After that, i do finally reach the point where i resign myself to the fact that Summer is NOT coming back, and i begin to enjoy the season somewhat. But i'm not very happy about it! ):o/

More Lotus

It's been a cool summer - now it's going into fall and getting even cooler, so the Lotus aren't moving very fast. But here comes my Perry's Giant Sunburst, giving me what will more than likely be her only two blooms this year.

The flowers are very large, though, will last up to 3 days, looking quite different each day, then a little gust of a breeze will hit it, and the petals will all shatter, leaving the distinctive seedpod to develop.

Remembering Sept 11, 2001....

Today is a day of recognition I wish we didn't have - the day the Twin Towers fell.

It's another beautiful late summer day here, just like that day, and while I have a poor memory and can't remember much, I remember THAT! My heart still grieves for all of the families that lost a loved one that day because of some crazy fanatic who believes killing (and dying) is what his god wants him to do! I'm sorry we did not build the Towers right back the way they were, to show these cockroaches of civilization that they did not affect us any more than they had. But, it is not up to me, unfortunately.

BLACK SWAMP ARTS FESTIVAL NEARLY HERE

The countdown has started - all i want now is good weather (usually hard to come by in this area). Although we HAVE been having beautiful weather, seems like every time we plan a show the weather guys always forecast rain, even though it may not be correct!

Anyway, here is the press release for my next event....

Planning is Complete…Donʼt Miss this HUGE Regional Event
Bowling Green, OH--Wood County - The 17th annual Black Swamp Arts Festival will feature a variety
of visual artists from across the country, local and national musical acts, and an interactive youth art area
– all free of charge.
The Festival running from Friday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. thru Sunday, Sept. 13 5 p.m. Juried and Wood County Invitational Art shows will
be open Saturday and Sunday. Festival guests will be entertained with live music and art throughout the weekend.
As music rings through the Downtown on Saturday and Sunday, patrons can enjoy the two fine art and fine craft shows
featuring artists from across the nation as well as from the Wood County community.
The Juried Art Show features more than 100 artists in varied mediums ranging from watercolor, jewelry, sculpture,
photography, multimedia and glass. Along with past festival winners and familiar favorites, many new and exciting artists will
display and sell their work.
Additionally, more than 40 local artists display work in the Wood County Invitational Art Show. All art shows
are open Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
For more information visit www.blackswamparts.org

The Sacred Lotus Blooms Again!

This is my "Perry's Giant Sunburst" that i acquired in a swap last year and almost killed! i wanted large leaves for my castings and darn near vitamined (is that a word? guess it is now!) her to death! Very slow starter this year, but she's recovering and giving me a couple of buds.

This is " Red Scarf" - first year for it, growing in a pot, and i'm looking forward to the bloom, even though i primarily purchased the plant for it's leaves. The folks at the establishment where i found it could not tell me how large it would be, and while i'm disappointed to find out the leaves don't get as big as i wanted, this flower will kind of make up for it! This was actually several days ago so i will be posting pics of the blooms soon!