State of the Garden (Summer Lunch Working From Home)
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Robert’s Dendrobium
A number of years ago, when he was moving from Capitol Hill to Denver, my friend and former neighbor Robert gave me this dendrobium orchid, which bloomed this year for me for the first time. The dendrobium was just an extra. If you know orchids, you can see that it is planted with a vanda. These orchids came from Robert’s mother’s garden in Florida. When she had to give up her place in Florida, Robert brought home some of the orchids, including the vanda. If I know Robert, he just saw a baby dendrobium in the garden and stuck it in with the vanda when he carried it back north to Capitol Hill. When Robert moved to Colorado, he left the vanda with me because he did not expect it to tolerate the Colorado climate. Even here, the vanda is not likely to bloom. Not enough heat, light, or humidity in DC (really!!!). But after five or six years of steady care, the dendrobium flourished and finally bloomed. Robert inspired my affection for orchids; he had a greenhouse and knew each one of his tropical plants intimately. We would go to an orchid show or nursery, and he would look with love on each and every plant, cherishing their individual traits, no matter how small or large. At the botanical gardens, he had different plants he visited and enjoyed. Now his yard has cactii and peppers. He has a few of his most faithful orchids, which are flourishing and which were delightful to visit, and I have this lovely reminder of a time when Robert was one of my local gardening buddies. This, I think is one of the extra joys of gardening, especially with houseplants that come from cuttings. They have a history with our family and friends that is passed on, cherished, and shared. I also have a night-blooming cereus that was a baby from a plant that started as a baby of one in his mother’s garden. The night mine first bloomed (just a single night in the year), the parent plant with Robert in Denver also bloomed.Bonus love from this particular dendrobium; it is scented!
State of the Garden
Last weekend, despite the heat, I was moved to make and implement a major change to the back garden. About 15 years ago, I planted a grape vine. It took a few years to establish itself and then had a few years that harbored promise. There were a couple of spectacular years with perfect clusters of sweet grapes so bountiful l shared liberally with both friends and the birds, while still having a marvelous abundance for myself. For the past three or four years, though, the grapes have been pretty much only for the birds. The vine was breaking up the lattice of the fence and providing a tangled bridge for weeds from the completely untended yard adjacent to mine to climb. The whole tangled mess shaded and blocked from rain precious planting space. It was also becoming a time-consuming maintenance activity.
The kiwi similarly was a noble and ambitious experiment for a tiny urban garden. But it was an overwhelming thug and only bore fruit generously once in eight or nine seasons the last of which was three years ago.
Oh how exquisite the kiwi berries were when there were any. It was time to recognize, with space and light and water and time so precious, that memories of delicious times did not warrant the resources the grape and kiwi consumed.
I ruthlessly cut the vines back to the ground. They may or may not try to grow back, and if they do, I may or may not try allowing them back, but as a controlled espalier. I kept most of the woodier vines and will integrate them into the trellisses and other supports.
The hops vine given to me as a present this spring grew inches within hours of getting more light and space. I look forward to cool weather planting and new delicious offerings from the garden.
Could there be a lesson from this experience applicable to other aspects of life? Perhaps.
Here Come the Grapes
This morning I ate the last of the blueberries from the garden, but the grapes are starting to ripen. Here come the grapes.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
- Asana, Pranayama, and Yoga Practice | Community and Family | Food for the Body | Gardening | Meditation | Quaker
State of the Garden
Here’s the garden after the thunderstorm. Please take some healing, grounding breaths and then take action about increasing federal military presence in cities with peaceful protests.
On the Way to Work (Urban Forest Bathing with Dome)
BTW, if you’re interested in more of my quirky views of the Capitol Dome, feel free to look for me on Instagram as
rosegardenyoga1008
Chickpea Salad on Pita With Homegrown Sprouts, Radish Shoots, and Cress
Chickpeas coarsely mashed can be treated like tuna or chicken salad. If all you have is a countertop, it’s still possible to grow your own sprouts. Pita bread was store bought and stored in the freezer.
