Salmon Sea

Sorry, but we have to take a one-day break from the flower show. A poem erupted in my brain while driving back to Michigan. (In Ann Arbor tonight, home some time tomorrow!) If you look closely, you'll see two small bright streaks in the photo.

Salmon Sea

Two silver fish turned and
wriggled through the salmon sea.
At the bottom of their world,
tickling their bellies–
black seaweed.

Others said, “it’s only jets,
you silly goose,
circling the Cleveland
airport at sunset,
above the trees.”

Are they all blind?
I know what I have seen.

c. March 5, 2010, by sharkbytes

See Valentine at the Beach See Joshua Turns 40! for "The Path to My Kitchen Door"

Philadelphia Flower Show 2010 - Textures

I love textures! I also love color and form, but I think I like texture best... today anyway. The picture above is Agave Victoria, one of my favorites from this show. You might argue that this is a study in form, and it could be that too, but I think when you come in close like this, that the texture becomes the important element.

Here's a more typical picture. I wish the focus were sharper, but I like the contrast between the thorny bud, the smooth petal, and the shiny water drop.

This is one of my favorite succulents, Haworthia truncata. It looks like a bunch of flat, green gummy worms that have been chopped off. I actually could have brought one home... the first time I've seen one for sale anywhere, but it was $25 for a 4-inch pot. I don't see one of those in my future! I did indulge myself with some small, more common succulents. Cousin Maggie and I bought several that could be split and we are taking home some very tiny plants with high hopes.

Here is a plant that is a relative of the African Violet. It is a Gesneriad, which is the family of plants to which they both belong. This one, Sinningia leucotricha, is a popular houseplant because of the white, silky leaves and stunning salmon-colored tubular flowers. I may have to show you those when we get to color! It is sometimes called Brazilian Edelweiss. Don't you just want to touch it?

This is a closeup of one of the masks in the African exhibit. I just love the mosaic look that the various kinds of beans and seeds make, and then contrasted with the stiff grasses. The masks were really amazing. Should we do a whole day of masks?

Finally for today, this is Deuterocohnia brevifolia. It is actually a Bromeliad. (Pineapples are also bromeliads.) It's overall form is very interesting too, as it grows into a beautiful mound, but close-up, the texture becomes important.

It is hard to pick just a few things to share. I probably could have spent all week at the Flower Show studying all the various exhibits in long view, and then closeup, and then by individual plants. The Sinningia was new to me and also the Deuterocohnia brevifolia. And a lot more, of course. But I do try to file away a few new names each year that I hope to actually remember.

See Philadelphia Flower Show 2010 - Passport to the World See Rediscovering Jenks Creek for more textures

Philadelphia Flower Show 2010 - Passport to the World

I have to say before we begin that I wasn't wild about this theme. I think it was so broad that we didn't get to see different ways that the exhibitors interpreted an idea. Instead we went, well, all over the world.

The first thing you saw when you entered the hall was this huge hot air balloon that was covered with dried flowers. The oceans were pansy petals and the continents were roses. Over 80000 flowers were used. Of course the picture I took that showed it better didn't focus, so you will have to settle for the South Pacific. You can catch a tiny bit of Hawaii in pink on the right.

Today I'll just show some obviously international themes, and will focus on details in the days to follow. Here is a Chinese depiction which was one of my favorites.

This was actually a very difficult display to see. I held the camera way up high to get this shot of the United States flag done all in flowers. I'm not sure why they did it like this. I think people would have appreciated it more if it were upright. It looks too much like a casket this way, and it was all in a glass case so you couldn't get near enough to see the beautiful detail of the arrangement.

This setting was arranged for an Indian wedding. Since my friends have recently been to three of them, my understanding is that this was very authentic looking.

I have no idea how authentic looking any of this African display really is, but it was one of the most popular exhibits at the show. I'll have a lot of detail to share from this one in coming days.

I didn't even see all the exhibits. Marie's cousin Maggie and I share a love of succulent plants, and the Philadelphia show has an amazing assortment of kinds both on display and entered in the contests. We pretty much overdosed on them. No regrets, though, about the parts I missed; it was a great day! Tomorrow: closeups of textures.

See Philadelphia Flower Show 2009 - 1

Moose In Boots Passes Test #1

Marie and I had read it to the girls the night before, and they liked it. The next night Anja wanted to read it out loud, and everyone else wanted to hear it too. So I got some good feedback. Even with some of the illustrations being only rough sketches, they wanted to see them all.

I guess I need to start looking harder for possible publishers.

See Moose in Boots- A Sneak Peek

Winner of an Ad for a Month

I'm too tired to do a decent post, but the winner is John of English Wilderness (the only entry).

The answers are: Water, Lichen, a Pine Bud, Deer Antler, Pine Twig, Bottle Cap, and Ice on a Car Window. It wasn't needed, but here is John's essay which is very cute:

Tolly woke to the sound of water on the lakeshore and lay listening to the gentle ripples. He smiled; he wouldn't swap the gypsy life for anything.

His eyes opened and he dropped out of a hammock slung between two pines. The sun hung just above the horizon in a cloudless sky. "Perfect" Tolly said to no-one in particular.

Tolly climbed the worn rocks to where a small stream flowed down to the lake. As he drank the cool clear water he smiled again and wondered where he'd sleep tonight. Today he'd explore further around the lake with Ben. Where had Ben disappeared to? Tolly whistled.

Through the trees Tolly heard an almighty crash like a bear on the rampage. Ben burst into the open sending leaves and cones flying. For a small dog he sure made a lot of noise. Ben bounced over to Tolly and greeted him with a friendly lick.

After breaking camp Tolly and Ben started to walk slowly along the sandy shore. Ben ran playfully back and forth while Tolly began to plan the new camp. He'd catch a trout and build a fire of dry seaweed and driftwood. "You'd like that wouldn't you" he said to Ben, and Ben regarded him curiously.

They wandered along the shore almost out of sight, then passed a distant corner and on to a new adventure.

This trip is great, but it's difficult to find time to do internet stuff. I'll get the commenters done when I can.