Memory Holders

  Years and years ago (way back when the kids were small), we used to take hikes back into the creek bed.  While other parents were too afraid to let their kids even go outside, I encouraged mine to roam the woods.  Of course, I was with them but the dangers were still there.  I figured my kids needed to learn to handle scary situations rather than hide from them.  Obviously, it worked.  As adults, they are alert to their surroundings, are able to face and conquer problems and have an infinite love for nature.  Our treks allowed them to learn to smell snakes before seeing them, explore the hidden wonders of wild creek beds and learn the flora and fauna of the area.

  It was on one of those "expeditions" that we found the creek bed filled with purple flowers.  The wild Stoke's Asters were in full bloom.  The kids were so enthralled with their own "Secret Garden" that we decided to dig up a couple of plants to bring back to the yard.  I had no idea if the plants would even grow after being moved from their boggy domain but they did.  This week, I was surprised by a few blooms peeking out from under the jasmine vines.  Their rich purple color led me to believe that the asters were happy where they were planted so many years ago.

  Stoke's Asters are wildflowers that can be found all over the Southeast.  They do well being transplanted into gardens as long as they have a bit of shade and well-drained, acidic soil.  After they are established, the plants require little to no care.  The blooms also do well as cut-flowers as they will last up to a week in a vase!  

  I love my little aster patch, not only because of the blooms, but also because of the memories of our creek bed hikes.  I miss those times.  It has occurred to me that perhaps I do not have gardens but, instead, have "memory holders"!

Just a Couple of Things

  Just a couple of things here, Folks.  First, for any of you following the story of the skink family, it ended in tragedy.  My early morning check gave me hope that the little family would survive the onslaught of bad weather brought on by Tropical Storm Cindy.  Nine of the eggs had hatched and were doing well.  One little one had perished. Mama Skink seemed happy and was trying her best to care for her family in spite of the danger that came with the storm.  This first check found the tide waters still at least a foot away from the nest under the board.  When I went down after the next torrential thunderstorm, tragedy had struck.  Mama and two babies had abandoned the nest but all the rest of the little skinks had perished.  The ground was just too saturated.  Rainwater had flooded the entire area. The nest filled with water and the little ones drowned.  With a heavy heart, I hastily gathered the remaining sixteen eggs and headed up the hill. The eggs were cold but I could not just leave them.  Halfway up the hillside, I felt something wiggle in my hand.  Two tiny skinks were working their way out of the eggs.  I JUST HATCHED TWO BABY SKINKS!  Even under a light and in a nice bed of moss, the other eggs did not hatch.  This morning, however, the two little ones were bright, happy and trying to catch some little moths that were attracted by the light.  My little ones seemed to be ok. (Sorry about the picture below.  It is difficult to take clear photographs in the middle of a gale!)

  Next, regardless of the torrential rains and high winds that ravaged the Bayou, a splotch of purple led me to the garden.  The Stoke's Asters were in full bloom!  Their bright blossoms waved in the winds and dripped beads of water but were still gorgeous!  I needed that bright spot in all of the gloom that surrounded me.  Somehow, there is always a silver lining that gives hope. Not that Tropical Storm Cindy was a bad storm but the days on end of nonstop rain had started to take its toll on my emotions.  The asters brought a smile.

  Then, in the midst of all the drippiness, the clothes dryer went kaput.  It had been going nonstop for at least three days when suddenly it gave up the ghost.  Try as they might, Mark and Son could not repair the thing. That is when I realized just how important it is to save things.  Most folks would have tossed the old clothes rack years ago but I knew that it would come in handy some day.  It did.  Towels were hung to dry in front of the open door.  The gale winds flapped the towels and I was able to do laundry without the so called conveniences.  Folks who live down here and who experience storms on a regular basis understand the value in items such as this.  When there is a need, we have something to fill that need.  Sometimes it pays to use a little logic and be prepared for whatever may come.  Just saying....

  All in all, the storm turned out to be eventful.  We had babies, found blooms, salvaged a damaged pier, endured nigh on twelve inches of rain, ate far too much and realized just how fortunate we really are.  Life is good.

The Botanical Wonderland otherwise known as The Creek

  Down behind the house where the Bayou turns into a creek, I find more amazing botanical specimens.  These are just growing wild between the roots of oaks, pines, tulip poplars and maples.  Spider lilies, rain lilies and irises abound! Mosses, palms and ferns are in huge mounds but these are not what caught my interest today.  Today's magical find was the Stoke's Aster!  This beautiful bluish purple flower never ceases to impress me.  The color, the fringed petals and the sheer number and size of blooms is breathtaking! The creek is filled with the plant and this is the month of their showy blooms.  Ahhh, perfection!

  Mark and I were out on a late afternoon hike about the hillside when he pointed out the gorgeous flower.  The bright purple stood out against the soft greens of the wood ferns making this quite the showpiece.  I had to stop and photograph the stunning view.  Further down in the creek than we dared to go, I knew that the whole area would be filled with the blooms.  With the sun setting in the west and the creek swollen from recent rains, not only would there be masses of these flowers but there would be hundreds of cottonmouth moccasins lounging on the moss-covered roots.  These are not critters that I wish to cross!  One misstep is all it would take for one of us to be severely injured.   I would have to be happy with the few plants that were near the clearing. 

  Stoke's Aster is a lovely medium sized plant with ruffled leaves and tall, stocky stems.  Numerous four-inch blooms fill the tops of the stalks and wave happily in the breeze.  The multi-petaled blooms range in color from deep blue to cornflower blue, white and lots of different shades of purple.  The plant was named after Jonathan Stokes (1755-1831) a botanist and physician.

The Little Aster Holds a Secret...or Super-Powers of a Flower!

  Back in the day when my kids were small, my youngest always enjoyed playing video games and watching cartoons.  Most kids do and I, like most moms, occasionally needed to have a "babysitter".  When I was canning beans or making jelly, the kitchen needed to be free from little feet but those little feet needed to be in close range so I could still know their whereabouts.  The games were a sensible solution.  Still, I became aware of the effects of his game playing by a simple question he used to ask me all of the time.  "Mom, what is your super-power?"  I suppose characters on games have "super-powers" and he thought I should have the same.  I always responded that all my powers were "super" since I was a MOM!

  Anyway, now I find that plants can have super-powers as well. Without them, we would not even be able to breathe...sounds amazing but is true! Plants provide us with food and herbs can help heal.  Both of which, to my way of thinking, are pretty super!  Now I find that one one of my flowers has another super-power. The Stokes' Asters found in the creekbed are pretty, little plants but they hold a secret!  Not only do they have a lovely bloom that can knock the socks of those who happen upon them during a hike, the seeds of these plants are full of vernolic oil.  Wow!! Whoopee! Gee whiz!!  Yeah, right.  Just what in the world is vernolic oil and why is it so super?  Well, perhaps it is not so super but rather more interesting. This stuff is used in making epoxy which, in turn, can be used in making adhesives, paints, varnishes and some plastics. (No, I did not know it either!) Not that I promote the overuse of the production of a lot of these but, still, I find it interesting that a plant found in my creek has the ability to produce something this useful. Everyone needs a good glue now and again!

  Personally, I think the Stokes' Aster sole super power lies in its beauty. Think about it, most flowers can claim that super-power. Take a hike and find what other secrets the Stokes' Asters, roses, zinnias, petunias, marigolds (and any other flowers!) hold!  Oh, and while you are in the midst of all that beauty..relax!  It is a proven fact that taking a stroll through a lovely garden can lower blood pressure!!  Super-power! Flowers..the fighters of hypertension!

Total Confusion!

In yesterday's post, I mentioned the Mexican Petunia. This petunia is not what we grew up with as a "Petunia"..this is an entirely different plant. The Mexican Petunia is a much sturdier plant with almost woody stems. Its leaves are more elongated and are about eight inches in length. The plant stands erect making it perfect for a backdrop plant. The Petunia that was found in nearly every garden "back in the day" has now been labelled as the "Old Fashioned Climbing Petunia" by most seed houses that sell "antique" seeds. (~Another potentially misunderstood term.."antique" seed..an antique seed is not a seed that is old..hence antique..it is the seed from a plant that has been open-pollinated for over fifty years. In other words, this plant's grandparents were in gardens long ago. Open pollinated plants are those that are pollinated by birds, bees and the wind not in some closed greenhouse by human hands. This pollination method assures that the seeds will produce new plants that are very similar to the parent plant. Antique seeds are not hybrids and can be saved from year to year.~) Getting back to Petunias..the Old Fashioned Climbing Petunia is also a lovely little bloom. Ranging from pinks to purples with a nice helping of white thrown in for good measure, these blossoms are wonderfully aromatic especially in the late evening hours. They actually do not "climb" in the sense of a clinging vine but are just rather leggy plants that will grow up to three feet in length and then sort of droop over anything that is handy. They can be kept short and bushy by deadheading but then you lose a lot of the charm of this plant. One wonderful habit of this plant is that it reseeds itself once you get them started in your garden. The tiny seeds are scattered about and will pop up in the most pleasing places. I usually just let them grow wherever they decide is the proper place and they do well. I have them in the pea rows, in the herb garden and in flower pots that are planted with other flowers. They planted themselves and I just let them be! Hopefully, this will clear up any confusion involving these two flowering plants..no..a Petunia is not always a Petunia!

While I am talking of flowering plants, I will introduce you to another of my favorites. This is a lovely creek-dweller that was transplanted into the yard gardens several years ago. I fell in love with this Aster when I first saw it growing in masses alongside the creek banks and just had to bring some home. This is one of those situations where I grabbed the shovel, a bucket and a son..tromped through the muck and mire to have him dig the lovely! My oldest son was the lucky fellow that had this honor! He and his beautiful wife slogged around in the bog for several hours digging Asters, Irises, Ferns and Spider Lilies. I was almost in Heaven! (Although I am not sure that is exactly what they were thinking!) I love the creek area..it is almost a fantasy land of plants! This particular Aster is a Stoke's Aster and it resembles a Cornflower. A very prolific bloomer, it will flower intermittently throughout the summer until frost. They do seed a good bit but I have never had a problem containing it. As an added note..this plant does like a lot of water during the summer months but likes to be rather dry through the winter.