From The Garden History Book

In the Spring of 1978 my twin brother and his partner were up from Houston Texas visiting and wanted to take in some sights while on Holiday. Mema and I suggested The Historical home known as Bishop's Close. It was built in 1914 designed by D.E. Lawrence to resemble a Scottish manor house. Owned by Mr. Peter Kerr who built its beautiful landscape known as Elk Rock. Upon his death in 1957 at the age of 95 the house and 16 acre gardens were given by his daughters to the Episcopal Bishop of Oregon together with an endowment for the care and maintenance of the garden, with the stipulation that the garden be opened to visitors. My brother an avid photographer distracted everyone in our party with loud excitement every time he found another "Kodak moment", and during one of these distractions I found a lovely clump of Japanese Iris, Iris ensata "Hegira" that caught my eye. Mema called for me to join the group for another picture when a nice healthy stem and chunk of root appeared in my hand. I soon joined the group for the picture. As we drove on out of the grounds Mema discovered the Iris booty in her purse. There are times when the look on her face can really scare me. I assured her that I would have met bale for her had she been caught which met with a racious laughter from the two in the back seat. Today it is a large clump loaded with flowers, and the only Iris in the garden.

Happy Anniversary Love

Thirty eight years ago I was a kid applying for employment at a large Veterinary Hospital that specialised in bone surgery. I was just fresh here in the States after growing up in England and Europe, and was excited to have been hired almost straight away. One of the younger Doctors was taking me around and introducing me to all the staff. While we were standing in the minor surgery room the door to the next surgery was suddenly kicked open and a beautiful young nurse about my age came bursting through carying an unconscious and exceedingly fat Schnauzer. The good Doctor introduced the burdened beauty and as she gave forth the most amazing smile the dogs bladder emptied down the front of her light blue surgical smock. I stammered out "cccan I hhhhhelp" to which she answered "nope, you will get plenty of your own". And off she disappeared through another set of doors. I knew at that time this lovely women would some day be my wife. We are celebrating our thirty sixth Anniversary today. Life has been very good to us and we have our health and wonderful children and grandchildren. So love, the first thirty six were great, lets go another round?

Lets leave rockets for NASA

Of all the seasons and Holidays that we decorate for I have always enjoyed the fourth of July. Unfortunately along with all the banners and flags one must put up with .....yuk....fireworks! I despise them or should I say I despise the stupidity of the people who set them off. In our state the large rockets are illegal but Oregon resident just cross state lines into Washington State and purchase them. There arent enough Police to monitor those who choose to ignore the law and fire them off. At around eight in the evening Mema and I retire to the theater room which is in the bowels of the Manor and with us are our dogs, our younger sons two Chihuahua's and our eldest son's Boston Bull. We make an endless supply of popcorn and watch movie after movie with the volume turned up so loud that one would assume very deaf people lived here. Early in the afternoon we make sure all guests have had sufficient "walkies" and eliminated as much as possible as when the evening comes there will not be any intermissions, if you know what I mean. I found a lovely little spray bottle of "calming" elixir at our local Pet supply store. It is all natural and simply helps calm them without creating a room full of snoring canine. Every hour or so I alone venture out to the garden to pick up debris from the illegal rockets. I turn on the floodlights grab a dip net and scoop more debris from the fish pond. We have water pressure here at Menagerie Manor that the fire department would be envious of so I set hoses around various parts of the garden in case stupidity results in a structure or tree fire. During all the revelry the air is so thick with sulfur and smoke I should be sporting a face mask. After all is over we spend the first few early  hours of the next day filling one of my fifty gallon yard barrels with debris left strewn about the street. Regardless of the thoughtlessness of others my patriotism to the freedom this beautiful country affords us all drives me to show my love by dressing the old girl up in all the flags and banners.So its six days and counting.

In The Garden

Phlomis russeliana, I brought home one four inch pot of this plant from a neighborhood plant trade. It has proved to be very hardy and Mema loves the dried flower heads for her fall and winter arrangements.

Meanwhile back in the Greenhouse

My very favorite Orchid in my collection is #32 Phalaenopsis "Buddhas Treasure", I think the color is just stunning. This is one of several I brought back from Kauai

This little Vanda (#44) was posted earlier but I decided to post it again as it only had one or two inflorescence in the earlier post and is now just a bee hive of bloom. The color makes me think of fresh honey. I call this one "Murphy's Gold" after the previous owner a co-worker Siobhan Murphy. She said it was in her possession for five years and never bloomed. She gave it to me in 2007 and starting in 2008 it seems to be in bloom all the time....sorry Siobhan :o)