Garden in Paradise: September 2012

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Garden Appreciation

I am so appreciative of my garden...the many colors, textures, forms and inhabitants are never boring, always soothing, typically interesting and sometimes surprising.

This is the fiery bloom of an

Aechmea blanchetiana orange bromeliad.

I have several of them scattered around the property, all in brilliant bloom!

This is the first time my Beauty berry bushes

have retained their lovely purple berries.

They are a favorite food source for birds and other wildlife.

More bromeliads in bright bloom.

These blooms boast an interesting purple tip.

Breathtaking!

The Monk Orchid is delicate and tiny.

Some consider it an invasive species so I keep mine in a pot

and quickly collect the seed pods when they appear.

A new addition to my landscape is this Thryallis bush

that I purchased for $6 from the High School plant sale this weekend.

Thryallis produces clumps of pretty yellow flowers in late summer/fall

and year-round if temperatures remain warm.

I also purchased this plant in the Anthurium family for $4.

The leaves appear similar to those of a birds nest fern

but the tell tale spadix gives a clue to its true identity.

Although not very impressive right now,

I purchased this coco plum

from the High School sale for $3.

It replaces the wild one that was accidentally mowed down. Hmmm!

I like native plants, and this one produces a tasty fruit for the wildlife.

I'm very sad to report that my beautifully exotic Lady Margaret passion vine

did not make it through the flood of TS Isaac after all.

She sat in water for over a week and finally lost the battle.

I will eventually purchase another since she's one of my favorites!

A native vine that survived the flood is the wildly fragrant

White Twine Vine, or Sarcostemma clausum.

It is a host milkweed for the Queen butterfly.

This vine grows wild along my fence row.

I'm always careful not to mow it down.

The flood didn't just take some of my plants, it provided a perfect environment

for frogs...hundreds of them...all over my yard!

These tiny babies are literally everywhere.

I think they're cute!

Finally, the annual blooming of my favorite, and first,

Dendrobium orchid

announces my birthday is near.

This orchid never disappoints and produces more sprays every year!

Happy Fall everyone!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

"Are you missing one of your chickens?" my neighbor called to ask. Apparently a yard bird, as we endearingly call them, was loose down the road. My girls were locked up tight but I still had to investigate. What I found was a sad sight...a poor chicken had either been hit by a car or survived an encounter with a dog. Whatever happened was not good. Disoriented, scared, and hurt, the chicken made little fuss when I picked him up. I could not detect any breaks but he was bleeding from his eyes, ears and mouth. All we could do was pray and make him comfortable.

My daughter prayed the sweetest prayer..."Dear God, one of your chickens is hurt. If he is suffering, please take him home. If he can heal and live happily, please heal him quickly. Let him know he is safe and give him peace. Thank you, God!" Melts even the coldest heart, doesn't it?!?!

We made him a bed in a pullet cage and put him on the lanai to rest. We had plans and left for the day. I prepared my children for a sober return home, knowing the chicken had little chance of recovery. Yet, when we returned, he was still alive, resting quietly without labored breath.

Covered with dried blood with his left eye barely open

As the hours passed, the chicken moved very little. I hand fed a water/Gatorade mixture every couple of hours, being sure not to get any liquid in his nostrils. His eyes weren't open and we wondered if they were crusted shut with dry blood...we gently wiped his face, eyes and ears with a damp, warm cloth. Many times he seemed listless, hanging his head with open mouth; we were certain he wouldn't make it. But he kept up the good fight. I nursed him through a few nights and the storm, keeping him warm, dry and hydrated as best I could.

Pidgeotto recovering in his pullet coop

One morning, we were awakened at 4:30am to a crowing rooster! Good morning!! The rooster, still unnamed, got moved to the chicken pen. We kept him in his pullet coop so he and the girls could safely get acquainted. We didn't want one of the ladies to peck him on the head after his trauma.

Fully recovered, Pidgeotto shows off his beautiful plumage!

After a couple of days, the rooster showed his great disdain for his cage which was now more like a cell block to him. We released him to the girls! At first, the girls were not overly hospitable and demonstrated their feelings as chickens know how. The rooster permitted the girls to vent, but only for a few brief seconds. He took a few hard pecks like a trooper, then puffed up and declared his rightful place as any rooster would.

Clockwise beginning with Pidgeotto at the top,

Gina, Honey, Phoebe, Cameron II, and Penny.

The flock is now quite happy together. The girls seem at peace, knowing they are protected. Since our original rooster, Cameron (the hero who lost his life to the dog down the street while protecting the girls), was my son's yard bird, he had the honor of naming this rooster...Pidgeotto.

For reference, Pidgeotto is a character in the anime world of Pokemon. In short, he is a large raptor-like bird known for his powerful talons, fiercely defending his territory from intruders.

Pidgeotto playing card

I see the resemblance!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Flood Recovery After TS Isaac

A week ago, my sunny Garden in Paradise was gray and submerged in several feet of water while being pummelled by a seemingly endless deluge of rain.

Just after sunrise, our property appeared quite flooded indeed!

Tropical Storm Isaac made his mark on the East Coast of Florida without making landfall; even evading the Florida Mainland and heading into the Gulf of Mexico after passing over the Keys. No one expected the floods but they came regardless.

By mid-morning, the water was really high, but the butterfly garden was still dry!

In my area, although flooding was intense, most homes are built on high ground and were not not impacted. However, the low-lying sea-level yards and roads flooded quickly.

By early afternoon, the waters continued to rise

while bands of intense storms continued to pour their moisture

over the already saturated land!

Shortly after this photo was taken, the dock was submerged.

Thankfully, most of the water receded within 24-48 hours. Although thankful my home was not damaged, I was disheartened over my hard-earned landscape.

By early afternoon, the pond, yard, ditch and road merged into one.

Everything was submerged; even the cactus that grows in one of the most elevated, hottest and driest parts of the yard was completely covered by the encroaching water.

The Butterfly Garden was not spared.

The aftermath was smelly, with dead fish rotting on top of turf. OK...positive thought into action...I received a gift of very expensive fertilizer for free!!!