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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Symphony of May Colors
I'm going to make this wordless, just enjoy yourself the symphony of May colours: Tulips, Forget-me-not, Lilac, Magnolias, Rhododendrons and Azaleeas, Cherry, Apple and Pear trees in full bloom, are really abundant on walkways, parks, botanical gardens, on streets, in balconies and community gardens.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet"
It's been a year since I've included my first cutting of Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet" (you may read the previous blog post here: "Concolor Lace, pelargonium with vivid flowers" ) to our collection. If the foliage smell is not so pleasantly as you would wish (sweet pungent with some nutty notes), I doubt you may find many other scented pelargoniums with such a showy vibrant red-pink blossoms and fancy velvety crinkled leaves.
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| Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet" flowers |
I believe in love at first sight ;-) thus I planted the rooted cutting into an ornamental pot, which was chosen accordingly to provide more color and beauty at any sight. Also the pot has little feet to allow drainage and air flow and the roots have enough space to expand.
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| Pelargonium "Shottesham Pet", known also as "Filbert scented pelargonium" and "Concolor Lace" |
When overwintered indoor under artificial light, its wired branches have grown into a desired shape and were just gently pruned (the plant has around 40 cm high). I may assure you that it is a prolific bloomer and, after a month since started to bloom, has tens of florets which are continuing to fascinate me.
Monday, May 14, 2012
A Growing and Blooming Affair at UBC Botanical Garden
We had an incredible sunny weekend in Vancouver and we spent our Saturday walking throughout UBC Botanical Garden.
Well, the truth is we decided a month before to participate to " A Growing Affair" event, having fun, participating to demos / workshops and, of course, looking for new additions to our garden.
We started our day visiting the plant sale area where was featured a great collection of plants, shrubs and trees propagated by the "Friends of the Garden" team.
I'm pretty sure that the generous weather and affordable prices (mostly bellow $10) made this event a successful spring sale.
Interesting were Geranium Dalmaticum, Geranium Cantabrigiense (a cross between Geranium dalmaticum and Geranium macrorrhizum), and geranium "Little Gem".
Pelargoniums were featured in tender plants area. Just couple of scented-leafed: tomentosum, Charity, Concolor Lace and Ashby.
After finished the plant shopping, we've participated to a workshop about garden bugs and they featured Mac's Field Guide. I've checked and aphids are still listed under "Bad Garden Bugs" ;-)
Later we met other nature enthusiasts under the Ginkgo tree in front of the gatehouse and joined them for a garden tour.
Following Asian Way, close to the Greenheart Canopy Walkway (a treetop walkway longer than 300 meters, with heights up to 17.5 meters) we found a Melliodendron Xylocarpum in full bloom. It is a 4-5 meters high tree whose pink flowers bell-shaped look really fragile in the sun.
As per my understanding, the tree has more than 15 years old (was planted in 1996 according to the tag) and last year made fruits with the professional help of Ian Gillam's who pollinate some of its flowers.
Follow the link to see an intriguing picture of its fruit on UBC's "Botany Photo of the Day" thread of February 10th.
Its name, "honey tree" (Melliodendron) induced me an illusion of a honey flavored flowers, but I was a little disappointed by their insignificant blooming scent.
Most of the fruit trees from the " Food Garden" area were in full bloom as well.
The Art of Espalier is very well represented at UBC Botanical Garden ...
and the multitude of colorful flowers bordering the pathways is an amazing sightseeing.
It seemed to be "A Growing and Blooming Affair" which made our day really special.
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| "A Growing Affair", May 12- plant sale area, UBC Botanical Garden , Vancouver |
Well, the truth is we decided a month before to participate to " A Growing Affair" event, having fun, participating to demos / workshops and, of course, looking for new additions to our garden.
We started our day visiting the plant sale area where was featured a great collection of plants, shrubs and trees propagated by the "Friends of the Garden" team.
 |
| Perennials for sale - "A Growing Affair" event |
I'm pretty sure that the generous weather and affordable prices (mostly bellow $10) made this event a successful spring sale.
Interesting were Geranium Dalmaticum, Geranium Cantabrigiense (a cross between Geranium dalmaticum and Geranium macrorrhizum), and geranium "Little Gem".
Pelargoniums were featured in tender plants area. Just couple of scented-leafed: tomentosum, Charity, Concolor Lace and Ashby.
 |
| Pelargoniums for sale - "A Growing Affair" event |
After finished the plant shopping, we've participated to a workshop about garden bugs and they featured Mac's Field Guide. I've checked and aphids are still listed under "Bad Garden Bugs" ;-)
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| Mac's Field Guide of Garden Bugs |
Following Asian Way, close to the Greenheart Canopy Walkway (a treetop walkway longer than 300 meters, with heights up to 17.5 meters) we found a Melliodendron Xylocarpum in full bloom. It is a 4-5 meters high tree whose pink flowers bell-shaped look really fragile in the sun.
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| Melliodendron Xylocarpum in bloom - UBC Botanical Garden |
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| Melliodendron Xylocarpum tag |
As per my understanding, the tree has more than 15 years old (was planted in 1996 according to the tag) and last year made fruits with the professional help of Ian Gillam's who pollinate some of its flowers.
Follow the link to see an intriguing picture of its fruit on UBC's "Botany Photo of the Day" thread of February 10th.
Its name, "honey tree" (Melliodendron) induced me an illusion of a honey flavored flowers, but I was a little disappointed by their insignificant blooming scent.
 |
| Espaliered Apples in bloom (2D shaped) at UBC Botanical Garden |
Most of the fruit trees from the " Food Garden" area were in full bloom as well.
The Art of Espalier is very well represented at UBC Botanical Garden ...
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| Blooming pathways in May- UBC Botanical Garden |
and the multitude of colorful flowers bordering the pathways is an amazing sightseeing.
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| Bee gathering pollen of Meconopsis "Linghelm" flower |
It seemed to be "A Growing and Blooming Affair" which made our day really special.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother’s Day to all women's with tender hearts, whose roles were so complicated raising us with affection and devotion. There are no words to convey our appreciation for their patience and countless sacrifices during our entire life.
We’ll be always grateful for their implication to shape our future for better, and for their support to pursue our projects and follow our dreams.
Last year we did an workshop, helping the children from our neighborhood to make micro moss gardens with succulents in oyster shells as Mother's Day gifts for their mothers and teachers.
Joyful unique presents for beloved mothers or grandmothers, like usual decorated with figurines, moss, colored gravel, rocks and accent plants. Some of the protagonists are Scented Geraniums / Pelargoniums Attar of Roses (rose), Citronella (lemon), Filicifolium (pine), x Fragrance (apple-nutmeg), Candy Dancer (lemon-rose) or Grossularioides (Coconut).
It's been a while since I wrote this poem to my mother, and it is my best way to express my gratitude for my treasured heirlooms. Hope you'll like it, too.
Thank you, My Mother!
Happy Mother's Day to all Moms.
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| Miniature gardens with ScentedLeaf Pelargoniums near VanDusen Garden Entrance |
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| Attar of Roses |
We’ll be always grateful for their implication to shape our future for better, and for their support to pursue our projects and follow our dreams.
Last year we did an workshop, helping the children from our neighborhood to make micro moss gardens with succulents in oyster shells as Mother's Day gifts for their mothers and teachers.
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| Micro moss gardens with succulents in oyster shells |
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| Candy Dancer, Lemon Rose scented pelargonium |
But what may be more suitable for a Mother's Day Gift than a Fairy Garden with plants exulting her favorite scent? Choose from a variety of plants with lemon, rose, lemon-rose, apple-nutmeg, coconut or cinnamon scents.
Special for 2012 Mother's Day, we put a lot of time and energy into making floral arrangements and miniature gardens featuring plants with edible, decorative scented foliage.
Special for 2012 Mother's Day, we put a lot of time and energy into making floral arrangements and miniature gardens featuring plants with edible, decorative scented foliage.
Joyful unique presents for beloved mothers or grandmothers, like usual decorated with figurines, moss, colored gravel, rocks and accent plants. Some of the protagonists are Scented Geraniums / Pelargoniums Attar of Roses (rose), Citronella (lemon), Filicifolium (pine), x Fragrance (apple-nutmeg), Candy Dancer (lemon-rose) or Grossularioides (Coconut).
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| Pelargonium Filicifolium, Fern Leaf, Pine Scented |
It's been a while since I wrote this poem to my mother, and it is my best way to express my gratitude for my treasured heirlooms. Hope you'll like it, too.
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| Pelargonium xFragrans, apple-nutmeg scented foliage |
Thank you, My Mother!
Thank you for your patience with which you've poured charm and magic into my soul's porch
To fulfill my desire for beauty and my illiteracy
Thank you for the nights known only by us, when you calmed my pain and you've made yourself a torch
To brighten up my unsleeping, to guide my faith's journey.
Thank you for your stories you've told me dozens of times with love and devotion
Shaping my thinking with examples of kindness and acts of bravery
Thank you for your warm smile and for the heavenly realm in which you raised me up with affection
Giving me the courage to follow my dreams bravely.
Thank you always!
And today, like every year, I give you as gift not just a snowdrop. A full carpet of flowers in bloom
That you deserved it, is blanketed your way, by my paid homage
To your tender heart with which I've grown and for the treasures of my heirloom
That you have given me as precious heritage.
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| Scented miniature gardens |
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Pelargoniums Start to Bloom
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| Apple- Nutmeg Pelargonium flowers |
Wondering through Vancouver parks and seeing everywhere spring blossoms leads my mind to my scentsy good luck amulets with mauve, pink or white flowers which would protect persons and share scent'sational joy everywhere. (of course, I'm talking about unconventional amulets - the scented-leaf pelargoniums / geraniums)
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| Miniature Garden with Pelargonium xFragrans ( apple nutmeg scented) in bloom |
April marked again to Vancouverites the celebration of beauty of the blooming ornamental cherries through Vancouver Cherry Blossoms Festival. Dance, Music and Art Exhibitions, Haiku Contest, Tree Talks and Walks... highlighted the brilliance of nature's rebirth and the joys of springtime.
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| Miniature garden with Apple-Nutmeg pelargonium (xFragrans) in bloom |
My scented-leaf pelargoniums start to open shiny their flowers, perhaps inspired by the magic of the pinkish decor, looking like green gems with cream-pink incrustations.
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| Citronella scented pelargonium- first flower of the season |
Anyhow, this inspirational haiku tries to capture the essence of season:
"Pelargoniums bloom
Bees began to pollinate
Signs of summer"
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| Citronella scentedleaf pelargonium started to bloom |