I’m seeing house finches and goldfinches on the bird feeder lately as well as the usual cardinals, chickadees, and titmice. White wing doves were abundant for a few days.
Spent yesterday morning pulling four plumerias and the pink angel trumpet in, pruned back and covered the porterweed and the two small yellow angel trumpets that are in the ground. Then Robin and I got the ponytail palm covered and that was a chore. it’s grown quite a bit this year.
Still had some smaller pots to bring into the garage but I wanted to get the last two plumerias and the cereus in first so waited on my grandson for that. Also to move the stag horn in as last year I could barely lift it and this year I can’t.
And now that’s all done and I’m squared away and ready for the cold weather to come barreling in today.
So hollering for the dog over at the shop yard after covering the ponytail I saw a car move slowly down the street, turned around in the drive of the Wicked Bitch of the West’s lot and came back slowly. I purposely watched it as it seemed like suspicious behavior to me. Coming back across the street I saw it had pulled into the drive of my neighbor who lives on the corner and there was another unknown car there as well and two people were standing around. Once I crossed the street a young man approached me since I was looking their way. Turns out they are my new neighbors, young couple about the age of my grandkids. Montreal had told me he was thinking of selling the house and a while back there was a man taking pictures of the property but no for sale sign ever appeared. So I’m glad to have a young couple next door and they seemed nice enough and perhaps when they get in and settled they’ll strike up a friendship with Robin.
Friday I transferred the faint lines of the next painting to the paper so I’ll be starting on it during our week of winter.
Sunday morning and it’s 74˚, supposed to climb to 78˚ before plunging nearly 50˚ to a low of 30˚ tonight. I have the door open. It’s becoming overcast and the wind is gusty, the wind chimes are active, and thunderstorms are predicted.
Your plants are so healthy and happy- the staghorn is the largest I have ever seen!
ReplyDeleteNew neighbors who are not assholes- bonus!
The faint lines for your next work looks very like my blobby abdominal area..
Yes, glad about the new neighbors. the staghorn is going to get divided this year since I can no longer lift and carry it. Hate to do it but needs must.
DeleteI have my plants on the screened. I built a crude frame and covered it with thick plastic sheeting. Took a peek and things aren't looking good. I wish I had enough room inside, but everything has grown so big, it is just not possible. It has been in the 20's at night. I see a lot of new ferns in my future to replace the ones that are dead. Glad the new neighbors seem agreeable. Can't wait to watch the new painting take shape!
ReplyDeleteYou need to get HeWho to build you a little greenhouse.
DeleteYep. Starting Tuesday we're going to have two nights of 31 degrees (or close, anyway) and then a night of 29 degrees. Week after that more of the same.
ReplyDeleteHoo boy.
I hope your new neighbors are good people.
Yes, I have high hopes for the new young couple. The people who moved into Frank of the Bountiful Garden's house after he died turned out to be very weird, very reclusive. He's the guy that was shooting at the neighbor's dog for chasing the chickens he let run amok in other people's yards. He died of a heart attack 3 or 4 years ago and she never comes out of the house.
DeleteI'm so glad we just have the one plant to overwinter (since Rita died, heavy sigh). But I simultaneously wish we had more plants. It's a conundrum. Currently 38 here & we were supposed to see some flurries, but it's just rain so far. Can it be May yet?
ReplyDeleteI do have fewer than last year. Gave two of my big plumerias away and winnowed down the little tenders/succulents. Still too many though or rather the keepers are getting too big.
DeleteI decided not even to try to move my biggest Hawaiian schefflera. But, it's in a northeast corner, so the wind will get blocked somewhat. I've got freeze cloth around it, and have a 150 watt bulb in a work light that I can turn on when it gets really cold. I remembered to water it well, too. Everything else is inside. I don't have nearly the number of plants you do, so the dining area's big enough to hold them. We've had rain on and off, and the wind's shifted to the northwest at about 20mph.We're down from 73 to 60 -- looks like a frontal passage to me!
ReplyDeleteNeat that you have some new neighbors who might be congenial. I can't quite figure out your new painting, and that makes it even more fun. It'll be interesting to watch it develop -- and that's a perfect project for the coming week.
I'm going to have to check out freeze cloth. Right now I use old blankets, sheets, and tarps or heavy duty plastic trash bags.
DeleteThe new painting, it's a close up of the pistal of a female zuchinni flower.
Good luck with the plants and the weather. This yard, I'm not covering anything. If they die, they die. Since we're new here, I'm not really attached to any of them. That staghorn is an astonishing plant.
ReplyDeleteThe staghorn started as one little frond. I'm going to have to divide it this summer since I can no longe pick it up and carry it. Hate to do it but, no choice.
DeleteYou certainly have transferred outside in! If your bad weather is proportionate to what blew through here, hunker down.
ReplyDeleteIt's cold but not as bad as the previous three or four winters with days in the los 20s which I guess is what they meant by 'mild' this year.
DeleteHope you stay cozy and all of your plants survive! Glad the new neighbors seem nice!
ReplyDeleteI have hopes the banana trees will survive and I won't have to cut them down to the ground again. They can usually withstand mild freezes. Yes, I was a little anxious when Montreal told me he was thinking of selling the place. Never know what you're going to get.
DeleteJust spent about an hour cursing and sweating while moving a couple of plants into the greenhouse in expectation of a polar front. I swear I treat my plants better than myself. Good luck with the new neighbours, sounds promising.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad my grandson and family moved back from Arkansas. He didn't even pop a sweat getting those four things in for me. Yes, I'm happy about the possibility of this young couple. Could have been so much worse, like the poeple who moved into the house on the other side of the WB of the W's property about 8 years ago. Very weird people.
DeleteI see the nasty weather coming your way. Hang in there and stay safe!!
ReplyDelete