My Secret Garden: How Doeth It Grow?

Like a jungle, of course!

But, I don't EVER remember my Secret Garden being as beautiful as it's been this Summer. No exceptions.

I intended to write about my July/August garden last year, but time and direction prevented me. I've been writing elsewhere, and, even this time, it's taken me several weeks to put this post together. Anyway, I am NOT going to let the days slip away again. It'll be yet another year before my garden reminds me to write about it if I don't do so now. Even now these beautiful blooms are fading. However, it will only be a few weeks before the next wave of color begins. Enjoy.

To understand my "justifiable" (cough, cough) pride, you must be aware that an immutable Law of the Universe is that Summer in the South is hot as Blazes, humid as a steam bath, and rain is never dependable. There are very few plants which can survive, let alone bloom, under these stresses, with zero pampering. After the day lilies, during the first two weeks of June, there simply isn't much happening in the Southern Garden. By July, the crepe myrtles are almost the only thing still blooming... but not in my garden. The rains came when needed this year, and we have been the beneficiaries of God's bounty. Beautiful flowers during the day and heavenly fragrances to enjoy during late night constitutionals with Pasha Zack and Harem Kitty Maxie.

Long, long ago, I started collecting heirloom plants for each month. I wanted color throughout the year... the gaudier, the better. My idea was that if a plant had survived and thrived for a hundred or more years, and had been passed down through my family or friends' families, I'd give them an opportunity... they could root hog or die! They rooted. They thrived. And recently I received the gardener's greatest accolade. A friend came down my drive and exclaimed, "It's a wonderland!" What more could I ask?
　
Generally in order of appearance, these are the bloomers in my July/August garden: Crepe Myrtle; Garden Phlox; Lycoris Squamigira (aka Naked Lady Lily); Philippine Lily; Cashmere Bouquet; Confederate Jasmine; Pink and Blue Buddlieas, New Gold Lantana and Homestead Verbena. July/August is all pink, white, yellow and purple, and the butterflys and birds have been going crazy.

Happy writing, and gardening.

God bless,

Frances

Who will eventually return to writing Science Fiction Romance...

I promise!
　
　
　

My Secret Garden – July 2009

How doth my garden grow? Until day before yesterday... it didn’t! Don't take this picture seriously. I just loved the kitschyness of it.


After a spring of rain, rain, rain, jungle, jungle, jungle, we’ve gone for over two months with less than ½ inch of water from heaven...which we have now gotten... yes, day before yesterday! Flowers, basically, had stopped; and, their leaves wilted and turned brown. Even the grass stopped growing, and I haven’t had to mow in weeks. Last night it poured and we're expecting more later. Hurrah! Just so long as it doesn't storm violently. Such are the vagaries of summer gardens of the Deep South. If we can't eat it, and it isn’t watered by God, it doesn’t grow. On my hill...it is root hog or die.


Except...we did water the vegetable garden which my roommate and I planted in my patio. I have success to report in this department. Well, qualified success. The Supreme Poodle Pasha Zackery, MaxieHaremKitty, and catnip have done their work. They have been ferocious defenders of the growing larder (they both like lasanga). This year, the deer haven’t gotten fat at our table’s expense. Houston, we have tomatoes. The watermelon, squash, cucumber and eggplant have been busts. Never made it off the launch pad. But there have been other problems in our organic garden.



First, it was the roly-polies. They are those tiny grey crustaceans which roll up into a ball when you touch them and are supposed to clean up dead leaves. Except, they decided that tiny new plants, dianthus in particular, were gourmet provinder! Sorry, the dianthus had to go... and the roly-polies returned to their proper duties.


Next, it has been the Tomato Horn Worms. They’re about the size of your little finger, and are truly voracious


MONSTERS. My roommate calls them the “pedophiles of the garden”. She says Horn Worms like ‘em “young and tender”. Yes, I know, vulgar, but she did give me permission to use the phrase. It isn’t a patch on what she really said the morning she found the top growth eaten off of all our tomato plants, so thank your lucky stars for my tender sensibilities in not repeating her exact words. Picking these worms off the plants over several days and spraying the plants with a Pears soap solution did the trick. The plants are now recovering and continuing to produce. We hear that pure diatomaceous earth works on both roly-polies and horn worms. Oh, well, next year!


Last night we had the first real rain since May. Everything has perked back up. The cashmere bouquet and summer phlox are no longer wilted, but are beginning to bloom again. The confederate jasmine has also started blooming once more. The daylilies are all rebloomers, but will take some time to recover. The next flowers to bloom on my garden calendar are the Philippine Lilies and the Naked Lady Lilies. I’ll post pictures as they open.


Happy writing, happy gardening,



Frances

Gardening and Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

P.S. I haven't forgotten about History, Part III!

How Doth My Secret... Jungle Grow?

Err, ah, I meant my garden... It’s supposed to be a garden? Isn’t it?

June is the month of unbridled growth in the US Deep South and I can’t keep up with it! Never have, and probably never will. I might as well face facts. The grass is going to remain above my knees this month. Perhaps I can catch up next month.

The overwhelming color in my garden is VIRULENT JUNGLE GREEN! Of course there are other colors too. Lots of other colors! I have many aims in my garden: twelve months of bloom; gaudy color; good smell; feed the birds; feed the butterflies; and above all... be able to survive without any effort from me!

Remember that if you want to see a larger version of any of the pictures, simply click on the picture.

New Gold Lantana attracts butterflies and humming birds. Be careful of lantanas, because the berries are extremely poisonous. This variety has almost no berries. It was developed at Mississippi State University and exceptionally well suited to mid-latitude growing zones. It’s a good, hardy plant.

Homestead Purple Verbena also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Very hardy. Mow it after its first bloom and it will bloom again.

Butterfly Weed, also known as Pleurisy Root by herbalists, is... you got it... loved by butterflies and hummingbirds. Slow starter, but very hardy after established. The North American Indians used a tea from its roots as an expectorant.

Multiple Daylilies, old fashioned orange (single and double), yellow, pink, peach, orange, bright red, deep black red, purple, and all sorts of multi-colors. With new hybridizing, they come in almost every color, are fragrant, and the band ought to play ruffles and flourishes in their honor.

Oakleaf Hydrangea, wild, all through my woods. A very large, stately shrub.

Old Fashioned, Heirloom Hydrangea, you know, the type that your great grandmother had, and were used to decorate for your grade school graduation. They can be anywhere from blue to purple to pink, depending upon how the mood strikes them.

Buddleias, both pink and blue, have a wonderful, delicate fragrance, and of course... are loved by butterflies and hummingbirds.

Gardenia fragrance can be almost overwhelming, so I recommend not planting them too close to the house. They can get pretty large and need pruning... which for me is a pain. However, the cuttings root easily. I love them.

Magnolia Grandiflora, wonderful, lemony fragrance, and I just found a new tree growing on my hill this spring. Whoopee! I need all of these large evergreen trees that I can get.

Cashmere Bouquet can be a spectacular garden THUG. It’s decided to take over one of my beds and... everyone loves it! I guess I’ll let it stay. The flowers were used for the perfume and soap which our grandmothers loved. The flowers do smell wonderful. However, don’t mess with the leaves. They stink worse than a skunk!

White Yarrow is a lovely white light in a deep green jungle. Before the advent of modern medicine, its leaves were used to stop bleeding.

My roommate decided to engage in biological warfare for the vegetable garden. Besides planting the garden in the patio under the bedroom window, so that the Supreme Poodle Pasha Zackery can guard it, and he has been diligent, she has planted catnip among the tomatoes, peppers and squash. Now, Her Serene Highness Maxine, the royal Harem Kitty, has taken up residence in the middle of our vegetable garden. No one, but no one is allowed to approach her catnip. Heaven help the deer this year.

After days and days of rain, it has been an absolutely gorgeous day here. I wish the same for you.

Happy gardening, happy reading, and happy writing,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance
Real Love in a Real Future

My Secret Garden, April and May 2009

By the end of April, my German Bearded Iris had faded (but only for the time being, since I have rebloomers). Now, my Amaryllis have come in and are still blooming. My Daylilies have just begun. They'll reach their peak about the first of June and continue until Fall. But, that'll be for next month's blog.

As far as blogging about about my garden in April... once had to suffice, both then and now. I am too busy working. Spring is work time. All flowering shrubs such as forsythia or azaleas must be cut back within six weeks of their blooms ending so that the blooms for next year aren't obliterated by the prunning. Same for wisteria. This doesn't even cover the grass which just topped my knees.

There are also the flower beds to be cleaned. When you live on dirt which could truthfully be spelled c-o-n-c-r-e-t-e, one must weed while the gound is soaked by the Spring storms or it doesn't do a bit of good. Roots left in the ground multiply. And, for heaven's sake, don't forget preventing errosion! Holes must be filled, and liriope planted on hillsides. The liriope comes out of the beds which are being cleaned, and... it's a never ending circle.

Then there is the vegetable garden. This year we moved it under the bedroom window because of the deer. We had very fat dear last year when the garden was away from the house. We got three tomatoes, and the deer got the rest, as well as the squash, the peppers, the eggplants, and the mellons. I hate Bambi! The Supreme Poodle Pasha Zackery has his work cut out for him this year. Keep the deer away or no lasagna, dog! Don't tell me that you weren't warned.

And MaxieCat, don't even think about letting up on Chip and Dale! The first time that I see one of my plants disappear down a hole, you are getting the terrible lecture, cat!

And people wonder why my children don't respect me!

Hoping your Spring is wonderful too,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

5/19/2009 Garden Update:

The Peonies have finished blooming and the Confederate Jasmine is in full fragrance. Gee it smells good around here. :-)

Frances

Springtime in "My Secret Garden"

That's what my art students used to call my yard. It was their "Secret Garden" too. This is my absolute favorite time of the year, and I want to share it. My brother took this picture of a Japanese Magnolia in New Orleans last month.

Spring has finally come to my garden, and I am waxing eloquent. We still have chilly days mixed in with our warmer days, and rainy days always come between the sunny days, but you get the picture. Since January, we’ve had days that were warm enough to open the house and turn on the attic fan. The next night we are sleeping under quilts. Nothing is dependable. Go figure.

The songbirds have returned, and have been singing their fool heads off (under my window) since before daylight. The tree tops have turned bright chartreuse green, forming a lacy background to the drifts of white and pink dogwoods, magenta redbuds, and purple wisteria floating beneath their cathedral-like canopy. How do you like that for a run-on sentence? I warned you that I was waxing eloquent. Help me find some more adjectives, or just deal with it. I love this time of the year and it’s my blog so you can just suffer through my euphoric purple prose. Be glad that it’s about horticulture, not... errrah, those birds are singing awfully loudly...

Because my camera cord is misplaced, I snagged a few pictures from Google Images to show how things look. These pictures are from all over, but it really does look like this.

Here are a list of the things presently blooming in my yard: Rome Hyacinths (blue, pink and white); more Narcissus (yellow and white); Snowflakes (white); Redbud (magenta); Dogwood (pink and white); Wisteria (lavender); Carolina jasmine (yellow); late Forsythia (yellow); early Azaleas (read and white); early Iris (white, yellow and purple); Bridal Wreath Spirea(white); Woodland Phlox (blue and lavender); Homestead Verbena (purple). Every one of these, except for the dogwood, is very fragrant.

It’s lovely here. Wish you could share it.

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

P.S. This evening when I went out for the last time with His Highness, the Supreme Poodle Pasha Zackery, the fireflies were having a party in my trees. How much better can it get? Stars and fireflies. May spring come soon for everyone, and may you have plenty of fireflies to light your evenings.

This and That, and a Lot of Fun

Things have been busy around my house. Spring has been springing...off and on...since the first of January. Daffodils, hyacinths and forsythia are blooming, and the weeds are sprouting. One day it’s in the 70s and another it’s in the 20s. One thing that you can count on in the Deep South is that the weather will be totally unpredictable three out of the four seasons. Summer is guaranteed hot, but we’re not there yet, thank goodness. We have four more months of off and on good weather. *G*

Most of my time, recently, has been spent working on THE HUSBAND, my work in progress, and reading and writing a review of Linnea Sinclair’s HOPE’S FOLLY, which will be released Tuesday. Wow is it good! That review will be up as quickly as possible. It all hasn’t left me much time for blogging. I want to alert you to a few items which you might find of interest.

KimberAn, of The Star Captain’s Daughter, has posted her Young Adult Science Fiction Romance novel, THE STAR CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER is online to be read or downloaded for free. This is a book of her heart and an engaging coming of age story. Growing up is so hard to do. Check out the opening chapter at Tia Nevitt’s Fantasy Debut.

Jess, of Jess Granger’s Butterfly Blog, is continuing to post her outrageous, interactive ETHEL THE SPACE PIRATE. Due to other writing obligations, in the future, she will be posting new episodes every other week. You never know what is going to be happening to Ethel, because Jess lets her readers vote on possible future courses of action. It is out of the frying pan into the fire in each episode, and always a hoot. Go back and read all the episodes from the beginning. It’s worth it to come away with a grin on your face. While you are at it, don’t forget to vote on the peril into which Ethel will be thrown in the coming episode. It’s your choice. Kudos for a gutsy writer for tackling so many possible scenarios!

For sheer fun, and hang on to your seat laughter, drop in at

Heather's The Galaxy Express:

Cosmic Idol: The Star Wars Edition
Cosmic Idol II: The Wrath of the Star Trek Edition
Cosmic Idol III: The Final Conflict

I dare you to keep a straight face on any of these. :-)

Happy Reading,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

How Doth My Garden Grow...

As a new addition to my blog, I’m going to try to start adding brief posts about my garden at least once a month. I count my garden year from January 1 to December 31, so I am few days late with this post due to feeling like an eighteen wheeler truck ran me down and then decided to back up to make sure that it did a proper job.

As of the first of January, blooming in my yard were:
Paper White Narcissus: very fragrant

Purple Dawn Camellia:

White Camellia:

Sweet Olive (Osmanthus fragrans): very fragrant

Happy gardening,

Frances

Going back to writing now, :-)

Tis the Season...

For Tornadoes! Hurricane season ends with the last of November in the Deep South of the US...Hopefully! However, with the end of hurricane season comes the beginning of tornado season. With extreme differences in temperatures on each side of incoming cold fronts, the weather here can get pretty drastic. Fifty-five years ago, my home town was destroyed by a tornado on December 5, 1953. This is exactly what it looked like the next morning when I saw it.

Even though I was only seven years old, I still remember the green/orange sky of that evening... green from the tornedo, and orange from the fires. I have an older brother today, only because of a last minute decision by his group of rowdy friends to see a Roy Rogers movie (more manly, I guess) rather than that yucky "Botony Bay" showing at the other movie theater. The terror for me was that I didn't know if I still had a brother after the "little storm" downtown. My home town has never completely recovered. What had been a remarkably attractive and vibrant downtown was turned into a pile of rubble. Today, although once again attractive, as you can see, it still struggles to regain its former life spirit. I am very proud of those who have worked so hard to achieve the progress that has been made.

Last night, our annular tornadoes once again began their passes over us. Thank goodness, for as far as I know, there were no injuries. I will admit to being a little tense, though. After all, I am stormophobic. This morning when the great Pasha Zackery and I went outside, I found that all of my work creating proper drainage over the Summer had paid off. Although we had torrential rains, the drains held, I still have a garden, and I didn't lose any more of my hill. Yeah!

Pasha Zackery was so excited (he likes chilly weather) that he jerked his leash out of my hand and flew off to the woods to do the business that little black Poodles do early each morning. I had just finished cleaning the last drain when he ran back past me, leash flying in the wind behind him. He has been known to gleefully... and quite rapidly, travel for great distances with no regard to demands for his return. When I shouted "Zack, wait!" and he actually turned around and came back, you can only imagine my amazement. Is it possible? Could it be... that he is actually growing up into... heaven forbid... a responsible adult Poodle? I haven't throttled him yet, so perhaps there is still hope.

Nah. Not possible. Forget it. He just snarled at MaxieCat when she tried to crawl into my lap. She simply doesn't understand. She, a civilized lady cat, is willing to share my lap with the computer, and she's willing that he have my shoulders, so what is his problem? Oh, well! They'll work out their territories over the next few hours. I have a manuscript to work on.

Happy reading and writing, and give thanks for your blessings,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

Bracing for the Storm

We just got through with Fay and here comes Gustav.

I hate storms. Fay wasn't really so bad. At least we didn't have any violent rain or winds with her. Just steady soaking rain, which was good. I don't trust Gustav, though... too Teutonic sounding to me. I hope he doesn't plan a blitzkrieg like Katrina.

July was a drought, and August a flood. I didn't have to cut the grass once in July, and most of my flowers turned to dried brown husks. Since the first of August we have had rain after rain, some of it pretty violent. I lost several trees in the first storm and struggle to prevent erosion all the time. On the good side, the Phlox and Jessamine are blooming again, and perfuming my evening games of tag between the Supreme Pasha Zachery and his harem-girl Maxie Cat. On the bad side, the grass is up to my knees, and I can't see either of them when they go after each other.

This morning was a rush to continue working on the new drain, and lay in supplies before Gustav. At the local Farmer's Market, I ran into an old friend at the Master Gardeners' tent. We began discussing "thug" plants and erosion control. She is using the same technique as I. If you have any problems with erosion, try planting the area with Lirope or Mondo Grass. They are garden "thugs", and their roots will hold almost anything against Hell itself.

There is an area in my yard that wants to wash into the Gulf of Mexico and take half my hill with it. I put in the new drain at the head of the ravine; but, it can easily clog, and when that happens - bye bye hill and 200+ year old drive! This is where the Lirope and Mondo Grass come in. Therefore, when the storm arrives in the wee hours tomorrow night, or soon thereafter; I will probably be out keeping the drain open. Remember me after Gustav makes landfall. Are we having fun yet?

Wishing I were writing,

Frances
Writing Science Fiction Romance,
When when life isn't happening.

BLOGGING... The Ongoing Saga

Why am I doing this? It takes a lot of time!

Well, I'll tell you. Number One: Shameless Self Promotion. Yes, I know, sad but it's true. I am an aspiring writer. This is a business. I am soon going to have a manuscript to present to agents and editors. The first question that most agents and editors will ask is, "Do you have a web site or blog?"

Agents and editors want to know: 1) what an author's writing voice is like; 2) how an author will present themselves to the public; and 3) is an author is willing to help with his/her promotion. Do you begin to see a pattern here? Agents and editors!

But who else? You. I want to put my writing and name before you. If you like what I write here, perhaps you will look forward to reading my book when it's published. If you like what I write here, perhaps you will comment on my posts, and I will have a new friend. Therefore, I work really hard at making this blog a pleasant place to visit on your web rounds.

Artistically, it must be attractive, easy to navigate, and fun. Fonts need to be large enough to be easily read by anyone. Content must be applicable, and fun. My emphasis is on the business of becoming a published author. Next, I like to post about astronomy because it is fun and plays such a large part in my Science Fiction Romance. Today, I have added a cool widget on the phases of the Moon (another fun). Also, I love my pets and my garden, so you'll just have to put up with occasional post about them because I think that they are fun. See another pattern forming? I get a serious charge out of meeting people from around the world as they stop in and enjoy this blog with me. It is even better when you comment.

Frances Writes is step number one on my Promotion Game Plan. If you are an aspiring writer, develop your own Promotion Game Plan.

Happy blogging,

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance

Real Love in a Real Future

My Secret Garden...

That's what my art students called it.



About twenty years ago, I began an ongoing project. I wanted to see if I could get bloom in my garden twelve months out of the year. Now this is a very difficult thing. I have extremely poor soil, and so, have composted like crazy. I don't have the money to put into annuals; therefore, I am limited to hardy perennials. All of the plants that I mention here are extremely hardy in the Deep South. If a plant is going to live on my hill, it has got to be tough. As they say... Root Hog or Die!

Being an artist, I LOVE gaudy colors in the garden. The brighter, the better. I love to listen to the birds sing in the early morning. I love to watch the butterflies and the hummingbirds working on the blossoms during the day. At night I love to hear the frogs, crickets, and cicadas serenading life.

Every season has its own special joy. I think of each month by the flowers that are in bloom, and the scents in the air.

January is when the Paper White Narcissus begins to bloom against the backdrop of a gray and brown winterscape, and the unsurpassed fragrance of Sweet Olive promises that, like its tiny blooms, Spring is just hiding.

February is when the old fashioned, yellow Daffodils come out, but in a winterscape that is no longer... quite so gray or brown. The differences are so very subtle.

March is when the fancier varieties of Narcissus and early Iris begin their blooms. By now, we are seeing the faintest indications of green here and there, and the tips of the highest branches seem... somewhat fuller, and not at all gray against a clear blue sky.

The first of April is when the Redbud, Dogwood, Azaleas, Wisteria, Confederate Jessamine, and German Bearded Iris are at their heights. The tree tops are chartreuse lace, and the air is filled with perfumes to shame a Paris designer.

As April progresses into May, the Amaryllis come into their red and white glory, and the Daylilies begin to bloom while tree leaves turn to emerald. By the first of June, the Daylilies are the multi-colored jewels of the garden, each with its own fragrance, ranging from lemon to cinnamon.

Well, it is now the end of June. The trees all have deep green leaves. The Daylilies are past their prime and will only bloom sporadically for the rest of the year. What else has been happening?

June has also had white, blue, and pink Hydrangeas. Subtly fragrant, pink Cashmere Bouquet, and outrageously scented Gardenia have dominated the senses.

All these are now gradually fading. But on their heels, the hot pink Summer Phlox has begun to take center stage. By day, these flamboyant beauties are irresistible to both hummingbirds and butterflies. But by night, their delicate fragrance fills my garden for my walks with the Supreme Pasha Zack and his harem girl, Maxi.

It sounds like I live in a paradise. To me it is. Most of these plants have either come down through my family, or have been passed along from friends. Each has special memories of the loved ones from whom they came. There are worse ways to be remembered.

Share your flowers while you can, and treat your senses.

Frances

Writing Science Fiction Romance, and gardening
Real love in a Real Future