Tangle

True solitude is a din of birdsong, seething leaves, whirling colors,
or a clamor of tracks in the snow.

- Edward Hoagland

Vagabond

Tabbie decided to wander out into the garden a few days ago, camera in hand,
to face the cold damp wind which has defined our October this year.
I could sense some dissatisfaction when the memory card was grudgingly handed over with a scowl, but Tabz’ face lit up with a big smile when I asked
if anything pretty remained in spite of the near-wintry weather.
“Vagabond” was the puzzling one-word reply I received.
It took me three days to figure it out.
D’oh!

- Aggie

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There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood—
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame,
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.

- A Vagabond Song, by William Bliss Carman
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~ Photos by Tabbie ~

Namesake

So let me introduce myself. I’m a friend of Tabbie’s.
My name is Aggie, and pretty much whatever Tabbie likes, I like.
Two peas in a pod you might say, but not identical peas.
I’m here for now at Tabbie’s request to keep this blog up and running.
You’ll see my spin on things, but in many ways this place will stay the same.
I frequently consult with Tabbie, without whose input I’d be completely lost.
I can’t promise there won’t be more changes in the future,
nor can I promise this blog will go on forever, but for now the garden grows.
It’s nice to be here in a garden amongst other friends of Tabbie’s.

Getting to the “Namesake” part of this post, many of you know that Tabbie particularly loves flowers which are yellow and flowers which are fragrant.
I’d swear nirvana is achieved when the two qualities combine
like they do in this great plant from Tabbie’s fantastic collection.
It’s called the Chinese Perfume Plant.
Having never been around when it was in bloom,
I’d always wondered why it’s called a perfume plant.
Two weeks ago I got the chance to smell it, and like an addicted butterfly,
I’ve returned again and again to enjoy the ineffable sweetness
which floats from the tiny yellow blossoms adorning this plant.
The scientific name for this species is Aglaia odorata.
I can’t tell you how glad I am my name’s not Aggie Odorata!

– Aggie Aglaia

Yo

Yo, little fella!
No matter the world’s gone mad,
your groove’s shinin’ bright.

- Aggie Aglaia
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Yellow orchids.
Tabbie’s got such great plants. This one is rupicolous, meaning it grows on rocks. It’s a miniature orchid called Laelia bradei from Minas Gerais, Brazil
where it thrives at elevations of 1200 – 1300 meters (3937 – 4265 feet)
in the nooks and crannies on exposed flat rocky ledges. The entire plant
sticking up out of the pot measures just under 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall
at the tip of the highest petal. Each flower is a mere 1 inch (2.5 cm) across.
Dainty fortitude.

Angraecum didieri

This little orchid is growing on a medium to large fist-sized rock. The 2 inch flower is almost as big as the plant from which it sprouts. You can see in the second photo the very long spur which this flower sports. Early in the evening the pale green and white star begins to smell like a spicy sweet melon. Later the fragrance becomes darker and more intense, exuding scents which are sometimes musky, sometimes laced with smoke, and sometimes exactly like black licorice or sweet anise candies. It’s intriguing and nice and very different indeed. This amazing little plantbeast hails from the island of Madagascar.

High Summer

Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been
the two most beautiful words in the English language.
~ Henry James

Midsummer Night Neos

Blooming Baby Kinginrasha

A small division of Neofinetia falcata variety ‘Kinginrasha’ has decided to bloom. The plant is mounted with moss on a piece of Mopani wood along with a clump of ‘Unkai’ (center) and a small division of ‘Rashaba Yamadori’ .

‘Kinginrasha’ is characterized by its rough leaf texture
and thickened flowers which cluster together, faces pointed to the heavens,
as their tails gracefully curl and intertwine. I find them to be very charming.