Rock Garden Surprise

The snow is melted off the rock garden. I went on the deck yesterday to see how bad things looked (more on that later), and was stunned at this bright red Sempervivum. What the heck?!

This is the 'Gold Nugget' I bought last year. Let's call it group 2 because it was purchased more recently

I could not believe the color. It really is that bright red; it's not a trick of the light. I had to find my plant records to find where the other 'Gold Nugget' is planted. (more on that later too) Here it is. Not nearly so red. Call this group 1.

These two puddles are the same variety, but purchased different years and at different places- in different states, actually.

These pix are group 1 at other times of the year





And these are group 2. The first is when it was purchased in May 2025.



And in July 2025

More: I had a genuine scare when I went to look for the garden records. When I switched computers last fall, my backup hard drive did a catastrophic failure. Everything is gone. Although beyond annoying, I didn't lose much at all because it was a backup. But could I find the computer file with the plant records? Eek! No! But I finally did a search of my whole computer and I had put the folder in a different place. (Take deep breaths, calm down.) I would have lost about 2 years of records if I'd had to go to the older backup.

More: I left the fencing up all winter, but it clearly didn't keep the critters out of the rock garden. You can see how the dirt around the second picture above is all churned up around the plant. It's much too early to be working on it yet, but I can see I'll have a lot to do.

I was super, super good today. I edited, I worked on one of my pet projects, I finished most of the unpacking, and I cleaned the kitchen floor. I did those in rotation with pieces in the big puzzle. I actually need to get that finished because I need that table to do taxes!

And I feel fine. Still draining the head a bit, but hopefully I'll get outside for a while tomorrow.

See Those Shifty Semervivum

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026 - A Fare to Remember

I feel much better today, I'd say at 80%. I had to take one nap, and I'm having trouble keeping food down, but I think that may be under control now. Yeah! So I have enough energy to do a more ambitious post about the Flower Show.

This is another of the Standard Flower Show contests. This was called "A Fare to Remember," and the description is "A functional design for a dining table or buffet based on a World's Fair.

Fourth place was "Liberty, Carried West." The intent (I'll share most of it for this one) says, "Liberty, carried west,... reinterprets the Liberty Float from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, reflecting the bell's transfer from Philadelphia to San Francisco, symbolizing national unity and recovery following a 1906 earthquake." This was entered by an individual.

The judges said it was colorful, balanced, and artfully arranged. They took issue with the size of the centerpiece, noting that it made the table less than functional for dining which was part of the rules.

Yeah, that centerpiece is lovely but would be awkward at an actual dinner. I'm sure we've all been victims of the obstructing centerpiece.

Third place is "Tabletelling: A World's Fair Memory." The intent says, "Remembering the feeling after the 1964 New York World's Fair inside a warm, bright room... Mid-century lines and florals hold that bright space-age optimism." This was another entry from one or maybe two individuals.

The judges said, "The repetition of spirals and crossing angles bring to life the mid-century sense of space-age optimism." But they thought there were too many lucite containers with greens that interrupted the rhythm.

I guess I didn't catch all the lucite containers because there aren't many in the picture, and anyway, I think they echo the famous globe of the NY Fair which is pictured on the poster. You know I'm not a huge fan of orange, but I loved the use of color in this exhibit. It's just crackling with energy. If I'd done it, I might have tried to connect the elements more with lucite tubes and spheres- maybe along the edges. Yes, MORE spheres and angles!

And this is just glorious!

Second place went to the Chestnut Hills Garden Club with "Beneath Eiffel's Towering Marvel." The intent says, "On the longest summer day, Pierre awaits his intended at the Paris Exposition... the selected blooms... were chosen for their meaning in the language of flowers."

The judges said the arrangement was colorful, pristine and meaningful. "Pierre's intended will be swept away." They liked the textures, but thought the off-white hydrangeas detracted.

I guess I didn't like the hydrangeas either because I didn't include them in a picture! Haha. I thought the suggestion of the Eiffel Tower and outdoor dining was very well done.

The blue ribbon went to the Garden Club of Wilmington with "Blooms: Bridging Tradition into Future." The intent is "Inspired by memories of World's Fair Osaka 1970, a former visitor merges the minimalism of Japanese esthetics with Western convenience."

The judges said, "remarkable contrasting textural harmony... artful...supports the compelling narrative." They particularly liked the floral sushi.

Here's the sushi.

I particularly liked this decoration with the red-twig dogwood and the spiral wreath, except I wanted the twigs to be vertical.

So what do I think? Hmm. it's tough. I really thought the NY Fair with the orange and yellow was spectacular, and fit the era exceptionally well. I would have capitalized more on the spheres and angles as I mentioned. I really wasn't wowed by the Osaka one- there was nothing there that said "World's Fair;" it was a Japanese table anywhere, any time, but the floral sushi was cool, and they used a larger variety of plant materials (which wasn't mentioned by the judges, but I think it's a factor they consider.)

I did get to the grocery store and did some editing. Sorted mail and papers from while I was gone and answered a bunch of emails. Hopefully, tomorrow there will be no reasonable excuses for not getting a lot accomplished.

See PFS 2026- Begonias

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026- Begonias

You know I love begonias. In my dream world I'd have hundreds-all different.

It seemed like there were not as many unusual ones this year, but here are a few. This one is 'Soli Mutata," and it's the only one in this bunch that I have shown from another year. The leaves supposedly change color in the sun- hence the name

Some of them didn't have a variety name. This was just identified as a Begonia Rex. All that means is that it's in the group of plants with over 500 cultivars that all have large fancy leaves.

This one is called 'Snoopy." I'm not sure why.

'Tiger Kitten' is similar to 'Kit Kat' and also another one called 'Little Darling,' so I guess you can't draw conclusions about naming based on something like spots.

This one was large and unidentified, but it took the red ribbon in its group.

And finally, this was only identified as being in the 'Superba' group. But it took the blue ribbon. Not only is it blooming, but the spots on the leaves are pink.

I was up more than I was down today, and I think I'll be good to go tomorrow. And go I must- to the grocery store!

See begonias

Philadelphia Flower Show 2026 - Warm Colors

I need to do an easy post tonight, so I'll just show you half a color wheel with warm colors.

One thing that's so cool about the show is how lavish the plants are. Here are many shades of red and pink.

A spray of very orange orchids.

Orange shading to yellow in this Gloriosa Lily.

And yellow in another orchid.

I did get to my meeting. I wore a mask to help keep the germs to myself and stayed upright and contributed. But I've slept most of the rest of the day and hope to continue that all night.

I had been thinking I'd walk after the meeting, but there was too much snow in the woods, and I didn't have the energy.

See PFS 2026- Floramere- Block

Four Bridges to Home

Yes, I am safely home. And I want to say a definite thanks to God that I managed to miss driving in any bad storms either coming or going. Mostly clear roads, and only a little rain to drive in. That said, it was a long time in the car today. The longest driving day in a couple of years- 10.5 hours. I'd like to quit doing that, but I need to develop a friend near Port Huron to break it up.

Anyway, here's where I was last night- with Dan and Ruth in Canandaigua, NY. They are two of the few people who have walked the entire North Country Trail and I love spending time with them. We have much in common.

I show you three of these bridges that define my route home pretty regularly. But I got pix of all of them today! First up is the Peace Bridge from Buffalo, NY, to Fort Erie, Ontario.

Then when you leave Canada at Sarnia/Port Huron, you cross the Blue Water Bridge into Michigan.

When I take the northern route home it puts me over the Zilwaukee Bridge.

And I'm adding this one in. This is a causeway type brigde over Sanford Lake. This was in the news in 2020 when the dam that created it failed. No one died, but it was pretty dramatic. Repairs have been made and the lake is beginning to refill. So I included this picture because you can see the ice surface beyond the guardrail.

I think I have a touch of Marie's cold. And I have to get up and go to a meeting in the morning which is why I had to get home today. I'm going to bed early. No walking occurred except to and from the car. I'm pretty stiff, but not as bad as I expected.

What a wonderful trip!

See Travel Adventures