Leaf Study

This past weekend I spent with my house plants (which I admittedly tend to neglect during the summer gardening season). Some received new pots, some were topped off, most received some organic slow release fertilizer and some were relocated (upon request - they do talk). It takes me awhile to find the perfect spot for all my houseplants. Hopefully, all will be a little happier. We'll see what they say. Anyway, during this major project I could not help but notice their different leaf structures and I wanted to capture that here. It's not always all about flowers.

The soft, grass-like blades of the Spider Plant,

compared to the stiff spikes of the Pineapple

(yes, the one I started from the grocery store),

compared to the even larger saw toothed leaves of the Aloe.

This variety - I am not sure of the name - has beautiful, lizard-like stripes.

There's the cactus with its hair-like, but sharp, spined ribs.

This one is much taller and "snakes" its way upward.

Even sharper yet, is the Crown of Thorns silhouetted here.

There are rounded, "fleshy" leaves such as the ones
belonging to this succulent in a foamy sea green,

and the emerald green leaves of the Jade Plant.

I have plants with needle-like leaves such as this Rosemary,

and this Creeping Rosemary,

and truly needled Norfolk Pine.

I have plants with "designer" leaves such as this Begonia.

This one looks "frosted."

Look at the mottling on the leaves of this Slipper Orchid,

compared to the green, rabbit-ear-like leaves of this Slipper Orchid.

 

This orchid is producing not just leaves, but kikis (baby orchid plants)!

Look at the large, broad leaf on this Moth Orchid.
It is striking next to the aerial roots.

Look at the lines of this Plumeria leaf - so sleek.

This Violet should "leave" you all warm and fuzzy.

(Would it surprise you to know that we had to rent a separate truck to move here just for my plants?)

Egads! I've been scrapped!

I'm not sure who started this award but I faved Rosey Pollen for her initiative even if she isn't the instigator and point of origin. (She's a lot of fun and was a fave anyway and I enjoy her blog very much - definitely a blog worth stopping for.)

(Copy and paste this award into your blog if you've been hammered with it.)

According to other posts the Honest Scrap Award "rules" are: (Remember RULES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN.)
1. Brag about the award.
2. Include the name of the blogger who gave you the award and link back to that blogger.
3. Choose a minimum of seven blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
4. Show their names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with this award.
5. List at least ten honest things about yourself. (TEN?!?)

Mary Delle, in the true spirit of nature, hammered me with this Honest Scrap Award. (Her blog is very provocative and beautiful. You should definitely take time to visit if you haven't already.) (That would be rule number two.)

Anyway, according to past blog posts from recipients of this award, you may either accept it as an honor or a sort of dare - as in how dare you drag me into this! I am going to accept this award as an honor. Being a relatively new blogger I am thrilled to know that anyone actually reads my blog, and even more so, that anyone would want to know TEN things about me much less ONE.

What a GREAT way to get to know more about your fellow bloggers - go Scrap Award! (That would be rule number one - already I am out of order!)

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Honestly, TEN?!? things???

1. I am very honest so no problem stating honest things about me - I think I may be too honest sometimes - maybe even what is termed "brutally honest."

2. When I was young, my grand mother took me (and my brother and sister) to the local fair where I played a game trying to sink a ping pong ball into a gold fish bowl and I won!  I have had pet fish ever since. I still maintain a 55 gallon fish tank - which, yes, I MOVED from Maine to NY (fish and all). It is tropical (not salt) with live plants. In the past five years or so, I have been very inspired by Takashi Amano - just google him and see his beautiful work creating aquascapes. His creations renewed my passion and interest in this hobby.

3. Once I ate dog food on a dare - dry dog food. Truth.

4. I met my husband in my twenties and he asked me to move to Colorado and I didn't (chicken - bawk bawk). He asked me again when I was in my mid thirties and I did. We eloped and were "Mauied" on Makena Beach (Secret Cove). He is my soul mate. We will be married eight years this New Year.

'Hawaiian Wedding' 

3. I keep about six different Orchids including the one pictured above (would love to have more but don't have the light or room indoors). I worked with a woman in Maine who kept many beautiful house plants, but not any orchids. I convinced her to try one. She later became the president of the local Orchid Society and just visited Ecuador (in search of Orchids) as well as created a book entitled the "Orchid Alphabet." I think that is really cool.

4. I try to live by these Reiki principles:
Just for today, do not worry
Just for today, do not anger
Earn your living honestly
Honour your parents, teachers and elders
Love your neighbour as yourself
Show gratitude to every living thing

Stanley

5. We lost Stanley on August 4th. He is the Golden you see in my profile picture (and above) and he was my dearest friend. He was a week away from his fifth birthday. He had a pancreatic tumor that was inoperable. His symptoms were sudden and he left this life a shooting star and barely suffered. He will always be so very beautiful. On a brighter note, our new puppy, a Golden Doodle, was born on October 24. We have picked out the name MoJo for him as he will be a lucky charm. We will be able to visit him in just a few short weeks. I cannot wait. I will, of course, be posting his picture in the near future.

6. I used to work in advertising/graphic design. I used to work with very large tension fabric displays for national trade shows and some retail. I do not miss either of those jobs. Now, I  work full time with my husband. We make (some) and distribute dog grooming supplies - mostly to groomers. Who knew? If I could do it all over again I would study biology, entomology or forensics (which I find absolutely fascinating). I think my dream career would be to professionally create wildlife garden habitats.

7. I started a pineapple plant from a pineapple I bought at the grocery store - cut off the top and it will root - I just had to try.

8. I keep african violets in my grandmother's name - she always kept violets. Her name was Violet Fern (hence, the name of this blog).

9. I love wine.

"Los Jardines Botanicos de Vallarta, Study I"

10. I love painting with water colors. I am content to drink wine, garden and paint for the rest of my meager life. And that's the honest scrap truth!

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Following are blogs brilliant in content and/or design (rule number three) - and, as far as I know, have not been hit, I mean awarded, with this before. Do what you will with this Honest Scrap Award. It is a great way to share and learn with, and about other bloggers.

A Tasteful Garden for the beauty Allison brings to each day with her wonderfully artistic eye.
Atlanta Farm Girl for taking her garden by the roots and making it grow along with the dogs and the horses and the chickens and the kids and the ...
Conscious Gardening for gardening boldly, beautifully, consciously.
Gardening in My Rubber Boots for beautifying her stake in the world with notable style.
Idaho Small Goat Garden for a genuine, down home and friendly garden that welcomes and grows more than just plants.
Madblooms for sharing her wonderful blooming like mad garden and life.
Plant Avenue for propagating garden fun.

Cut & Paste Garden

Sometimes a sketch is just not enough for me. I am a visual person and really like to "see" things. How many gardening mail order catalogs do you have? I know I have plenty. One day I decided I have enough to spare and started a "cut and paste garden." This was a great way to truly visualize plant relationships. It took my initial sketch one step further so I could see color, shape, textures ... Below is an example of a cut and paste garden for my planned "hedgerow." I am playing with seasonal interests here (as well as considering good choices for birds and wildlife).

Following is example of a cut and paste garden of drifts of flowers. You can really visualize the colors.

Finally, here's an example of playing with textures and mingling colors. By the way, because these pictures are from mail order catalogs I can be sure that all these plants share the same needs - sun, soil, etc.

This works great anytime, but especially in the middle of winter when it's pretty difficult to visualize anything but a warm beach. It's an easy and inexpensive way to experiment with plants. You can even add notes. So, go ahead and dream up that new garden bed or revamp an old one - you can always "paste in" the existing garden features you like, or "rip up" the ones you don't!