Lonicera 'Winter Beauty', I love this winter blooming Honeysuckle. It started blooming in January but this month it is covered in flowers and bees. The fragrance is intoxicating.

A New Resident at Menagerie Manor

While attending a bird show I shot this photo of a Waterslager Canary and sent it to Mema for her approval. I purchased him and four Parakeets. Mema named him Ray, he fills the Sunroom with song. And the Keet's are outside in the aviary.

Gunnera Manicata, this shot was taken last summer. I am very proud of this plant and the fact that I have been able to get this beauty to survive for the last three years. Every winter after it dies down to the ground I wonder if it will return in the spring. As of this posting it is a withered pile of debris just waiting for Spring to work its magic. I have had two others that did not make it through the year, either losing them to winter cold or summer heat. This one however seems to thrive. When I brought it home I first dug a hole two times the depth of the root ball and at the bottom of the whole I laid a sheet of pond liner in a bowl shape and then punched two smallish holes in the fabric. Then I filled in with enough soil to bring the plant to the desired height and finished planting it. After that I let water run slowly until the ground was a pool of water. The fabric at the bottom seemed to work well allowing the water to drain but kept enough moisture bellow the root ball.....Success!

Also I should mention it gets full afternoon sun. It is hugging the Keet's aviary, I am hoping that some day it will dwarf the aviary.

February 1, 2010

Last week after the care center sent GPa J. to Providence Hospital we went over to see him, he was completely Manic and laid there repeating "one" over and over until we just couldn't take it anymore. As we got ready to leave the nurse gave Mema a paper sack with the soiled cloths that he wore over and asked if she could wash them for when and if he goes back to the care center. Saturday while I was getting us some coffee and breakfast ready for the two of us I heard her say "oh no not my new dryer". I went down to the laundry to see what the problem was and found her sitting in front of the dryer crying. Evidently GPa J. loaded a bunch of crayons in his pockets before leaving the care center. They are now all melted and covering the wall of the dryer drum not to mention all over the pants and other clothes that were in the dryer.
Yesterday we went out and purchased some "Soft Scrub" and with some elbow grease it seems to take it off pretty well, it is just going to take some time to remove it all.
We stopped at the kids house to visit them and the "Little Terrorist #1" and see the pretty new pink cast she got on her leg after she fell at Day Care and broke her leg. That happened on the same day that GPa J. was taken to the Hospital. We ate lunch with them and then headed to Providence to check on GPa J. He is now unable to feed himself but at least he is not ranting anymore and seems pretty calm. I fed him his lunch for about an hour before we had to leave. We returned to Menagerie Manor and made Taco's for supper because N and G came over bringing Little Terrorist #2 with. They stayed long enough for supper and bath for the Terrorist. After they left I made Mema and I a couple of drinks and we retired to the theatre to watch some recording that we never got to see before we were both asleep in our chairs.

January 30, 2010 Cymbidium "Kenny Takaki"

This is the first time this Cymbidium has bloomed for me, and bloom it did, there are three flower spikes on this plant. Daughter-in-law Jill's mother gave it to me at least four years ago, that greenhouse really is doing great things for my orchids.

While listening to the "Garden Dr." we heard him talk about a new Blueberry plant that just came available "Pink Lemonade", So we hurried down the corner to the nursery and purchased one. Dave told us we were the first customers to buy one, pays to have a nursery bordering your back yard. Dave said they have pink berries and taste wonderful.