Winter Storm Diego
What was supposed to be a dusting, they said on Wednesday, turned out to drop 12″ (30cm) of the white stuff on us in about 12 hours. I’ll be digging out today for sure. Continue reading Winter Storm Diego
First snow of the season
Yesterday saw this come in very quick and leave a little slower, but all was gone by this morning, leaving only temps in the mid 20s and a very heavy frost. “They” say more is on the way this weekend. Continue reading First snow of the season
Solemnity unbound
Time to get serious. Time for everything to simplify. Time for everything to hibernate. Life is shutting down for the next three or so months, taking a much-needed rest. We’ve had some very cold rains as of late, making the mood in the garden a solemn one along with a few mornings in the upper 20s, which has sped up the transition from autumn … Continue reading Solemnity unbound
Autumnal feelings
‘Tis the time once again where everything must die or go dormant. The bursts of color are in some ways pleasing and others, sad. The bright colors signal the end of the growing season and are a joy to witness. On the other hand, for those of us that enjoy working in the yard, growing things from seed, bringing things to life, it is rather sad. … Continue reading Autumnal feelings
Season of the Soul
“Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.” Friedrich Nietzsche The anxiety one feels when someone or something is late is palpable. Autumn this year seems infuriatingly slow to rear its head. As of October 31, only a few of the leaves here have changed into their fleeting array of autumnal colors. Most leaves on the trees are still green, albeit tattered and worn from … Continue reading Season of the Soul
The best starter orchid?
Most people start out with Phalaenopsis orchids, or Moth orchids. These are found at most grocery stores, hardware stores and flower shops. Sometimes they come in unreal colors like blue or bright pink or even green. These are actually white Phalaenopsis that have been injected with a dye. If you are able to keep it alive and able to get it to re-bloom, they will … Continue reading The best starter orchid?
Ahhh, the Virginia climate…
Virginia. We never know what is coming next. Weather-wise, that is. One minute it is hot, the next it’s cold. One minute you are having the most rain ever recorded, the next you are living through what seems like the visit to the surface of Mercury. We just made it out of our second Hurricane of the season, Hurricane Michael. While, if I really had … Continue reading Ahhh, the Virginia climate…
Ode to a Swallowtail
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough” Rabindranath Tagore I caught a glimpse of this Swallowtail caterpillar on the Cypress vine the other evening. They will be back next year to lay their own eggs. Copyright 2018 Michael Roseberry. Photos taken with Nikon D3300. Thank you to our new sponsor! Continue reading Ode to a Swallowtail
Blooming Vanda #2 in the tree
My second Vanda is in bloom! The color is darker, more purple than the photo shows, but I still like it. We’ve had great weather this year for outdoor orchids. Very wet, very humid and hot. These hang in the trees, getting dappled sunlight, and the overhead canopy keeps the humid air from escaping, great for them and the understory plants like the ferns I … Continue reading Blooming Vanda #2 in the tree
The delicate Cypress Vine
Thomas Jefferson is the first person to cite this plant in America. The Ipomeoa quamoclit, better known as the Cypress vine. And while it is fairly new to my me and my wife (a few years), this is the first white version we’ve had. My wife bought the seeds online. We have had some of the red version for a few years now, having become … Continue reading The delicate Cypress Vine
