Just A Lily Brightening the Way.

   I have been lax on taking care of the plants this whole summer.  It seems as if one thing or another has gotten in the way and anything not on that "priority" list fell to the wayside.  I feel bad about it but, at the same time, feel there was no need in pushing myself beyond feasible limits.  I am getting old.  Today, however, as I meandered back behind the old greenhouse to the grape arbor, I was greeted in the most pleasant way.  The lycoris lilies were in full bloom...at least as much of "full" bloom as was possible in view of the recent chomping by the Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers.  Those things are relentless!  The lilies proved stronger and were simply gorgeous.  The golden color is a perfect touch for the hint of fall that we are enjoying. 

  These particular lilies were from a few bulbs that I received some 30 years ago from a dear friend.  Ms. Twin (yes, there were two and they were both "Ms. Twin") had dug up some of her bulbs just to share with me.  This sweet elderly lady knew I loved flowers of any kind and knew that she had the perfect gift...one from the heart.  I was elated and immediately planted the bulbs.  They have bloomed every year since and always remind me of the dear friend.  Sadly, she passed only two years after gifting the bulbs to me.  

  The lilies are in the same family as the Red Nerine lilies that are so abundant across the Deep South.  They have a dozen or so names including Lycoris Lily, Nerine Lily, Spider Lily, Jersey Lily, Guernsey Lily and even Naked Lady Lily (due to the lack of leaves...not clothes.)   The spotting of the lilies gave me a much needed lift this morning and I was able to continue the day with a bit more ambition that before.  I figure if the lilies could fight against the drought and grasshoppers then I should be able to fight against the tiredness that wracks the body.  Never doubt that somewhere hidden among the trials is an answer that can make everything right again.

Bat Shenanigans!

   Mr. Bat, the Bayou Cat, is one of the most curious cats that has ever lived at the Little Bayou House.  He is also one of the most daring.  He climbs everything but, unlike most cats, he climbs down like a squirrel.  Cats usually will back down a tree.  Bat, on the other hand, runs down the trunk head first.  So far, he has been successful in his attempts but I am waiting for the day when he gets himself in a predicament and needs to be rescued.  He almost did that today.

  I was out meandering the hillside when I noticed Bat run up the arbor post.  He was sitting about 12ft high on the post when he thought it would be great fun to squirm around in the grapevines.  So, he wormed his way this way and that through the great web of vines.  By the time he made it to the far post, he had almost become completely snared!  Hmmm...I thought this may be the time that he was going to need rescuing.  I watched as he pushed at the vines and pulled at the vines.  He bit the vines.  He clawed at the vines.  Then...he made a smart decision.  Slowly he turned and went back in the direction from which he came.  He followed his "tunnel" back to the starting point and ran down the post to greet me.

  The silly cat has no fear!  I have found him in the tiptop of an oak tree, on the peak of the shed roof and on the end of the pier.  His shenanigans are going to get the best of him one day.

Eerie Light Globe!

   Instead of "Christmas Cheer", there has been a whole lot of drear going on around here.  I have been trying hard to "spice" things up a bit by baking and making candy but that does not seem to help weather-wise.  Fog!  Clouds!  Rain!  Sometimes all three at once...heavy clouds, fog and then rain and back to fog as soon as the rain stops.  Merry Christmas from the Bayou.  This is our typical weather pattern.  Lovely.

  As Bat, the Bayou Prince Cat, and I were making our rounds early this morning, he suddenly bounded off into the midst of the grape arbor.  Obviously, something scurried beneath the greenhouse deck which adjoins the arbor and he was giving chase.  That is all good as that is what cats are supposed to do...give chase to critters in the garden.  There are no lazy, lap cats around here just like there are no lazy dogs or people.  If you want to live here, you have to pull your weight.  Unfortunately, Bat did not catch the rat or whatever caught his eye but his attempt did bring to focus something that wholly appealed to me.  The vision was the perfect way to portray the plight of the Bayou in December!

  Hurricane Katrina had donated us several large streetlight domes way back in 2005.  Since the things were unique, I figured that, at some point, I would need to use them for a clue hunt.  I sort of stuck them aside and forgot about them.  Well, one sits atop a short post under the grape arbor.  The vines have twisted and turned about the lamp globe in the most artistic way.  Hmmm...I may just have to leave it be.  It is intriguing now that it has become "one with the scenery".  The abandoned light globe, the bare grapevines and the greyness perfectly depicted the drear of the day.  There was just enough breeze to give the entire thing a sort of unearthly blurriness.  I like it!  In fact, I like it so much that I am tempted to paint this as artwork for inside the Little Bayou House!  Yep, it has been a long two years, folks.   Being isolated has me swimming in weird ideas.  Go figure.

The Steadfast Moth

  Son was doing a bit of work on the small deck on the back of the greenhouse.  He was extending part of it to make it easier to pick the scuppernong grapes that grow on an arbor just beyond the greenhouse.  Since I am so short, the grapes are just out of reach but a deck under the arbor will help immensely.  While he was working, he found a moth.  While there is nothing unusual about finding any critter on the Bayou, this moth was being particularly calm.  The critter was on one of the risers of the steps and even though, each of us had made several trips up and down those steps, the moth did not move.  It stayed motionless even through the hammering just a few feet from its resting point.  The critter had no inclination to take flight until nightfall so it trusted us to not harm it.  

  The moth in question is none other that a type of sphinx moth.  My tomato plants had dozens of caterpillars munching the leaves so I am assuming that this fine specimen is one of those.  While my garden looked atrocious for a while, I could not bring myself to smash the caterpillars and this moth is the result of my lackadaisical gardening. Which is ok by me except for the fact that now this very same critter (if a female) will most likely lay dozens of eggs on the garden plants and that cycle will start all over again.

  Late in the evening, I went to check on our friendly moth and was happy to find that the beauty went on its merry way.  Now, perhaps Son can finish the deck without worry of smashing a moth.  The Steadfast Moth halted construction of a much needed deck!

Beating the Bandits!

  On our early morning walk, Mark and I came across a few Muscadines on the ground a fair distance from the arbor.  Uh, oh!  That could only mean one thing.  The coons had been raiding the Muscadine vines during the night!  We had better get a move on if we wanted our share of the grapes!  We hustled up the hillside to the arbor to find that the grapes were indeed ripe!  

  While we were picking both the deep purple Muscadines and the golden Scuppernongs, a thought occurred to me.  Since both grapes are actually Muscadines, why did I feel the need to differentiate between the two?  Why not just call them both Muscadines?  Well, that all goes back to the fact that, while both are indeed Muscadines, there is a difference.  All Scuppernongs are Muscadines but not all Muscadines are Scuppernongs!  Muscadines are a type of grape that is native to Southern United States. Muscadines are a fast growing grape that can be found growing wild in just about any woods, field or roadside in the Deep South. The grapes have long been coveted by folks making jelly and wine.  The flavor and color cannot be beat!  A Scuppernong is a cultivar of the native Muscadine.  It is a "bronze" grape and has been developed to be a good bit sweeter than the wild Muscadine.  Although both grapes have tough outer skins unlike the bunch grapes from the grocer, folks down here will go out of their way to pick at least a bucketful.  The flavor is just that good!

  On the downside, that flavor is also what calls the wildlife to raid the vines.  Birds, coons, squirrels, possums and any other critter that takes a liking to grapes, can be found gorging themselves at the arbor.  Mark and I picked what we could this morning and will be out bright and early again tomorrow.  If we want Muscadines and Scuppernongs, we have to beat the bandits that raid the arbor! The grapes will be made into jams and jellies to add to the shelves for our winter enjoyment.

Good things come to those who wait....

Some times you just need to have a little patience. Most things have a way of working themselves out if just given a bit of time and space albeit in most instances, that is the hardest part. I waited...patiently. I wanted/needed another grape arbor. The grapes are doing well on the old arbor but I had three new vines that needed a home. I waited..patiently. Then! Bright one morning as if by magic..a pile of lumber appeared in the backyard! I was ecstatic! I knew that something fantastical was about to happen! I waited..patiently. The lumber stayed in the pile for several more days. Was it just going to sit there? Perhaps the elves that build arbors were on strike! Then, out came the post-hole digger, level and drill! Action!

Yes! Son built my arbor! This is the first major building project that he has ever attempted alone. It was interesting to watch him measure, calculate and cut the boards so they would fit. I am truly impressed with his determination and ability. That said, I can hardly wait now until these baby grape vines start twirling themselves around the posts and cover this with luscious fruit! The other arbor has Muscadines and Scuppernong vines but this one has cluster grapes. There are three different varieties..a white, a red and a dark purple. I am elated, to say the least, as these will be much easier to pick! This past year, I made jam, jelly and syrup from the wild Muscadines that grow down the lane, but it will be nice to have this fruit right out the back door on my new arbor! Good things do come to those who wait..patiently!

In the rose garden, the arbors are filled with roses and jasmine! The scent wafts through the air and greets you the moment you step on the Bay side of the house. Oh my, is this divine! No candle, potpourri or aerosol freshener could ever smell as nice! I could make a fortune if I could ever bottle this exact aroma..it is fresh and slightly sweet but such a bewitching scent. I believe creating the rose garden on the South side of the house was one of the smartest things that I have ever done. The Bay breeze floats just enough of the scent of jasmine and rose through the house to make it almost intoxicating. When the stillness of the night descends, the aroma lingers making for sweet dreams! It is hard sometimes for me to realize that this garden is relatively new, as it was created a mere three years ago. This entire area was decimated by Hurricane Katrina and had to be completely redone. I lost every rose bush on the place and was about to give up growing any. Then, a young lady from Tennessee sent me a rose bush. It was a beautiful red rose and she wrote me an explanation that the red rose was her mother's favorite flower before she passed away. She wanted me to have a beautiful rose in memory of her mother. I was so touched by this act of love that I decided then and there to create a rose garden around this one rose bush. I wanted place that I could sit with my morning cup of coffee and contemplate all of the blessings that I have been granted..one of which is the friendship of this darling young lady. I had only met her in person once for a few minutes but in my heart she is like a daughter to me. Every time I walk through my rose garden, I cannot help but think of Sweet Toni and the red, red rose. Some day, I hope she be able to visit the Bayou and sit in the rose garden that she inspired. Good things come to those who wait..