Mystery Tree
Well, not so mysterious really because I found out from my horticulturist friend what it was - a Norfolk Pine Tree - Araucaria Heterophylla
I sketched this tree which sat across the channel from me. It looked for all the world it was upside down... in a funny branchy way, not in that the roots were above the soil. Well, you can see by the sketch what I mean.
All That We Saw...
...which was a good deal indeed on our little Florida holiday.
mango
poinsettias (flowering)
split leaf philodendron
hibiscus (flowering)
bougainvilleas (flowering)
crotons
snake plant
bird of paradise
bamboo
evergreen magnolia
dracena marginata
umbrella plant
asparagus fern
sea grape
slash pine
sabal palm
saw palmetto
wax myrtle
St. John's Wort
button bush
blue flag iris
pond cypress
red maple
pond apple
strangelr fig
air plants
spanish moss
alligator flag
water lettuce
swamp fern
royal fern
boston fern
strap fern
resurrection fern
water fern
old man's beard lichen
pickerel weed
broad-leaved arrowhead
coastal plain willow
Holiday in Florida
Found this critter floating dead in the swimming pool. Never seen the like! It is a Short Winged Mole Cricket.
New Digs
Well here I am at the new place and I have a huge garden. I have two apple trees and a small plum tree. The wooden support has five grape plants beneath it. To the left of the pic, which you can't see, is the fig tree and don't you just love my giant compost bin?
Farewell McKay
So we are moving homes and will no longer be living quite so near a convenient wild creek area. My little creek updates will no longer be, so that is kinda sad. There are however, many other beautiful areas. Vancouver is not lacking in that respect. No sir. So here is a closing photo of McKay Creek.
Moss Patterns
These old pavers flank someone's drive in the back alley. I couldn't help but notice the brilliant moss. Our mild winters treat moss very well here. The moisture and cool temperatures make the moss seem to glow.
Lichen
Ah ha. I reckon these fellows, growing up the side of someone's fence are called "British Soldier Lichen". I only noticed it this time because the red tops jumped out at me.
Landmark
We've had some amazing high winds here recently. I ventured out down the creek during a break between storms for a walk and found to my not-surprise, that the super-dooper leaning cedar was leaning no more and had in fact, split in half. I was always amazed at how far over it could hold itself above the creek. If I can find a "before picture", I'll insert it. Hey mum, you know the one I mean. We used to take Maggie to swim beneath it!
The Language of Time
The Ayamara people in the Andes say the future is behind them and the past is in front of them, i.e., what you can't or don't know is behind you because you can't see behind you, ( unless you have eyes in the back of your head) and what you do know (the past) is "in front of you" because it is familiar.
Funny how cultures view time-lines differently. It seems a given ( to me) that the future is to the front and the past, behind...but it doesn't have to be...and to some people it isn't.
On that note, Happy Solstice and see you in the New Year.