Friday, August 3, 2012

Summer Means High Color ~ The Blessing of Gabby Douglas

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.”
Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting


The Meyer Lemon is ever-bearing this year. Despite what the original label promised, dwarf it is not.
Oh, how I wish I had saved the tag for this hibiscus. It would be nice to order more.
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She was shipped home from the Garden Writers Association Symposium the summer it was in Portland. Every year,  as the sun reaches higher in the summer sky, she races to climb just a bit higher than the last year. Then when winter comes- she retreats into the earth's bosom. At her peak, she's tall and charming as a hollyhock- without any of the messiness of rust or the like. At least not so far. Can't wait to see what treasures await this year's GWA event in Tucson! Maybe someone will remember my beauty's name.



Past the unruly roses, you can spy the umbrella put over the barrel of cymbidium. 

I heard these orchids bloom better when they get more sun. However, the one week of a real summer weather I remember- perhaps this spot is too exposed this time of year in my inland garden. Too heavy to move the barrel on my own, Cost Plus sold me their last 5' umbrella to push into the compost enriched bark.  It should keep them safe enough while that area is under construction. More on that project later. 

For now, I'm going back to watching the Olympics. They gave me a new role model. The Olympian, Gabby Douglas. Only 14 years old- and so wise. 

   

When the training was tough, she meditated on the scriptures. 
She went into the gymnastics competition with a smile. 
When she won, she kept perspective "The glory goes up to Him, and the blessings fall down on me.”

Aren't we all just a little less cynical for the blessing of her presence? 

The photo of Gabby was found at CNS News.

8 comments:

  1. Sometimes I wonder if Southern Californians should shop in nurseries with a Sharpie to black out words like "dwarf" and "full sun"... I'm very tempted to plant a dwarf Meyer lemon, but maybe in a container. I can barely keep up with the lime and Eureka lemon as it is... Your hibiscus is a luscious one -- and no rust? Even the dreaded white fly? Amazing.

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  2. Your garden is sooooo beautiful. All of your efforts are obvious. Thanks for sharing. Nice tribute to Gabby! xo

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  3. Hi Nikki! If you use worm compost, you'll have less issues with white fly. Knock on blossoms, so far I haven't had to deal with rust in the hibiscus.

    Sue, Thank you for the compliments.

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  4. woow.....that is a warm plca a think :)
    and do not miss....

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    It is FUN :)
    WELCOME
    Håkan ( The Roseman)

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  5. Mr Roseman- Thank you for coming by- and for sending your LOVELY garden shots of your own.

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  6. Lydia,
    Lovely Lydia with her Lovely Garden! I enjoy seeing it and hearing about all your blossoms.
    I had to chuckle because when I was planning and designing our back yard we bought what was labeled "NON bearing orange, tangerine and grapefruit" trees. Yea right! They stay relatively small but produce fruit in abundance! Funny! What's up with that?
    We have several beautiful hibiscus bushes. Once when I was having a party and dressed in a tropical long dress I went out and pulled an orange blossom off one of the bushes. It was covered with ants so I sprayed it! OOPS! I wore a wilted orange hibiscus in my hair that night! LOL

    Thanks for sharing Gabby's quote. Love it that she is now on the Kellog Corn Flakes box!

    XO Trisha

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  7. Indeed we are, Lydia! What an inspiration Gabby is...To EVERYONE, and especially other teenagers of color....! She made History!

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  8. Had read a little about Gabby's win, but hadn't heard this quote. What a lovely, unspoiled Christian young lady. Her parents should be very proud of her as I'm sure they are.

    Judy in Seal Beach

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