botanic fanatic

Todd and I drove to Atlanta this past week for our business, but I left him and a few of his friends to "talk shop" on the first day while I went to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  Now, we were frequent visitors to the one in Clemson, and we also took a trip to the Athens, Georgia location.  Very nice.  But the Atlanta one was a real standout. 

COLOR.

(Doesn't the coloration on this canna look like it's been carefully painted on 

with a watercolor brush?)

TEXTURE.

SHAPE.

I was blown away by the orchid conservatory.  I'd read The Orchid Thief last year, but filed the devotion to these sparse, finicky flowers under the same category of non-understanding as the devotion people feel for motorcycle racing, or skydiving, or collecting stamps...hmmm.  Well, I don't see it, but to each his own, I guess.  

Then I spent an hour in the conservatory.  Tiny, delicate works of art, suspended on the thinnest of stems.  Flowers that resembled hummingbirds, spiders, even a proboscis monkey.  

(That last one is just like a proboscis monkey if you're looking upside down, right?)

I hesitate to take on yet ANOTHER hobby, but man, those orchids!  I can see myself picking up a few next year, when I have a little more time to read up on their special needs.

After the orchids, I had just enough time to drool over one of my favorites:  bog plants.  Aren't they amazing?  I can't wait to get a bog garden going next year.

I zipped through the living sculpture installations...huge, made of living, growing plants!

Genius!  An all around impressive place.  Give it a try the next time you're in Atlanta.

Have a great week!

Beautiful Bogs

Recently, the South Carolina Master Gardener Association hosted another plant sale at the Botanical Gardens.  I didn't want to go, because I'd just spent a fortune on live plants and bulbs from Bluestone Perennials.  But somehow, pulled by an unseen force, we found ourselves there last Saturday. 

Once again, I was drawn to the bog plants.  They are just so cool!

Each interior plant surface is covered in little sticky hairs...

...perfect for catching hold of tiny legs.

I believe these plants emit a sweet smell, too.  We saw lots of insects visiting.  Mostly bees, who tested the waters...

...before drifting headlong toward the danger zone.

(Soundtrack available here:)

The bee gets too far in and slips down the long stalk.

Unbelievably, some bees are able to chew their way out before being dissolved:

These bog plants come in lots interesting shapes...

 ...and colors.

Many even flower.

The bog plant I bought in the spring is barely hanging on, mainly because it just didn't get enough sun this summer.  I'm hoping my new bog plant will do better!

The beautyberries around the house have all ripened.

The toad lilies I planted in the spring are blooming.

This 'mystery plant' has bloomed...

...and has proven to be the first camillia of the fall.

We have oak trees, so we have acorns.

I've been collecting them, because I'd like to make an acorn wreath.  I love them at this stage.  Some have started to turn brown...

But most are that lovely Granny Smith apple-green color.

I think I'll have enough soon!

I've been baking again...TWO batches of homemade Oreos...

...and I finished embroidering those pillow cases.

The main thing I've been doing, though, is studying.

That's right - I'm going back to school.  I'm going to apply to the Master's program for Entomology at Clemson University next year.  I've loved insects for years, and I just need a change.  The only problem is that I'm a little lacking in the math department.  I goofed off in high school and never took anything beyond Pre-Algebra.  It took me two semesters in college to pass Algebra, and I muddled through a senior-level Stats class and Finite Math, also as a senior...but I've never taken any other math class.  Ever.  So now I'm teaching myself Algebra (note:  it's not just like riding a bike), and then I'll teach myself Geometry.  Fingers crossed that I'm able to get a decent score on the GRE this winter and move forward!

Hope you're having a good week!

seed 'n feed

Last week, I bought a new bag of bird seed.  Todd left it on our side patio, by the feeders.  It did not take long to become a major attraction.

First came the squirrels, who ripped open the bag...

...and indulged freely.

The chipmunks were next.  Look at those stuffed cheeks!

The birds made off with the leftovers...chickadees and tufted titmice, mostly.

The cats thoroughly enjoyed their undisputed status as mighty hunters from a safe distance!

We bought a patio set this weekend...

After a while, I noticed something lumpy on one of the umbrella supports.

It was a tree frog!

A nice surprise!  We've really enjoyed the patio set and occasionally eating outside.  The wonderful smell of the gardenias wafts up, and the mimosa tree by the pond is in bloom.  It is so beautiful.  The flowers look like tiny flames in the sun.

(Many thanks to Todd's point-and-shoot camera for these pictures...I've had some issues with mine!)

I bought an interesting indoor plant recently.  I'd never heard of bog plants, but these carnivorous pitcher plants looked so different that I couldn't resist.

They need to rest in water at all times, and need full sun (fingers crossed that my greenhouse window will provide enough light).  They catch small gnats and other insects.  I bought two varieties that have official Latin names, but I am not motivated enough to run and check them.

I have the "short, round" variety:

And the "tall" variety:

I always like a little diversity, so I'm really happy to have them!

I haven't been outside as much.  It's been very hot, and the mosquitoes are pretty merciless.  Instead, I've been working inside, on puzzles.  I have one set up at the far end of the dining room table at all times, and I absolutely love taking a spare minute to put a few pieces together.

As soon as I finish one, I start another.

I'm finishing one per week, or even a little more quickly.

I used to do puzzles all the time when I was younger.  I'm so glad to be back in the saddle again!

Have a great week!