Made it to Portugal

I'm here in Portugal visiting my parents. I thought I would never make it. This was the work traveling I have ever done but it was my own fault. I missed my first flight because I could have sworn it had said 8pm and not 8am. Anyways I noticed at 9am my mistake and was able to connect to my flight that left from boston to azores. Sadly my hubby had to pay 117 to get me there since Northwest cancelled all my flights because I missed that one. Everyone I landed I had problems. It was just never ending pain. I still have to figure out how to get home and if I'll be refunded at all. I still have my flight to boston but after that all my flights were cancelled. My first plane was delayed so it got there about 15 mins before my next one was scheduled to take off. It took forever for the plane to stop and when it did it was nowhere near a gate and we had to take a shuttle to get inside. I got inside and my next flight was delayed a bit an extra 10 mins but I was at gate E and my next one was at gate A. They said I wouldn't make it so they changed my flight to a later time (2 hours away). I thought I would try anyways. I made it only because it was delayed another 10 more minutes! Then when I got to boston my bags did not show because they had gone on the plane that was scheduled 2 hours later. This became a problem because I needed to check in and check in my bags and only had a 30 min time in between. I had to run from terminal A to terminal E to go check in and check what to do, then to go back and try to get my bags or tell them to send it to terminal a, they were there so i checked them in and made it in time. But i couldn't fix anything in texas because the airlines could not be contacted. When I got to boston they couldn't do anything so said for me to fix when i got to azores. I am pooped and have not gotten it fixed yet.

My husband has been dealing with the house while I have been here doing all the bidding and paperwork. So I am excited so far everything has been going good. The inspector is scheduled for monday. I hope all goes okay and there isn't much of anything at all wrong.

My coworkers had asked me to take photos of plants here and maybe bring some seeds of interesting things. Well I had told them I'm pretty sure they have basically all the same plants. I never notice before what plants were here but I was right. Practically all the same plants just way bigger because it does't get as cold here. Pampas grass, hibiscus, bougainvillea, hydrangeas, vincas, geraniums. But there is one plant everywhere that I have no idea what it is. I'm going to go search for it now but I don't think it sets seed. I'm pretty sure I can't take a plant on my trip back and it would probably die by the time I got back. My mother has a lot of house plants. Her ferns here are huge. The house is humid and it makes them grow like beasts. She has always been really good at growing ferns. Not myself. When I went to college and they moved here she gave me 2 ferns. Well they died soon but I think I neglected them too much. I'll be trying again when I get home since I only have a plumosa fern outside but no ferns inside just ivy, begonias, and succulents.

I'm Alive Trust Me

Hi everyone. I'm sure you have all been worried about where I have been. I got busy with school and work in general. Finals were last week but I still have an online final to do. Sorry for not posting much, I have been so down about our apartment. My Husband and I have been in dire want of a home. I'll be leaving tomorrow to go visit my parents in Portugal and I'll be gone until January 7th.

Good news, We are house hunting. We found a great home and will be starting tomorrow on the process of getting it. So soon I will have a yard to garden in. This home has some nice landscaping too with some what looked to me to be wonderful plants. I'm very excited and do hope we get the home.

Every one have a great holiday season. I'll be back next year hopefully with a garden to plan for!

Open Days San Antonio: The Fox Garden cont.-Orchid Greenhouse

Like I mentioned in the last post, here is the rest of the Fox Garden from the Open Days Tour on Saturday 18th. This blew me away and has been in my head since then. The Fox Garden had a great greenhouse filled with beautiful orchids. I never expected what It would look like inside.

There was a nice sign in front of the greenhouse saying "Welcome to Davids Greenhouse"


Remember to click on photos for larger size.


Here are all the orchids in the greenhouse. Isn't this just a site to see! Look at all those roots hanging down. There were a few orchids that were blooming. Of course I had to take photos of all them. Along with these orchids were two hanging outside one of those was blooming. Enjoy the photos. This is the end of the Fox Garden.













All the blooming orchids in the greenhouse


The blooming orchid outside

Open Days San Antonio: The Fox Garden

Open Days in San Antonio was held on October 18th a wonderful Saturday. It ran from 10am to 5pm and there were 6 gardens to tour. Entering the gardens cost $5 each or $25 if you bought all 6 tickets at a local nursery. This was the first time San Antonio has been in Open Days. Proceeds benefited Gardening Volunteers of South Texas, the Alamo Heights Homeowners Association and the national non-profit Garden Conservancy. I took as many photos as I could of each garden before my memory card ran out. Just as a note these Open Days blog posts will be photo heavy. Sorry but I just could not leave anything out. If you want to see bigger photos just click on the images.

The first garden on I went to was The Fox Garden. (Following Description from Garden Conservancy Website) Construction of the Fox Garden began in 2003 and was completed in 2005. The pre-existing groundcover, plants, and deck were removed, and boulders and fertile soil were brought in to create this tropical paradise. More than 100 majestic palms are the main feature of the garden. The owners have also added a cabana with an outdoor kitchen, a tented pavilion, and a greenhouse. An area was preserved for a large vegetable garden. Visitors will have the opportunity to see a tropical oasis of palms and flowers juxtaposed against a vegetable garden, and a greenhouse featuring a variety of orchids. (End Description)


The front of the House had nice beds with lots of great plants. The House it's self was beautiful of course. Sorry I did not get an overview, I was just not thinking at that moment. There was such nice placement of plants textures and color. There is a philodendron in that photo along with pentas, oxalis, sago, ruellia and probably more.


There were wonderful trees in the front surrounded by these wonderful beds filled with calladiums, liropes, sagos and much more.


The first thing I noticed were the wonderful container combinations. I was jealous of course. Well acutally the first thing I noticed was the nice car but I didn't take a picture of that sorry it was blue, my favorite color. Sherlie my friend and class mate who I coincidentally met her loved this planter with Mona Lisa Lavender, Petunias, Diamond Frost Euphorbia, and Silver Dragon Liriope.


There were tons of great containers all lining the driveway and the path to the garden. I'm estimating about 15 containers with crazy combinations. These two were great of course. One was simple and the other more complex but with pink as the main tying color.


This was my favorite container. I'm really liking that Bromeliad or whatever type of Bromeliad it is.


The Fox Garden did really well at using a handful of plants and combining them in different ways. The vine that was used everywhere were mandevillas in pink and white.


Another common plant seen everywhere was the Diamond Frost Euphorbia. This combination was great and lined the walkway leading to the garden. Silver Dragon Liriope, Diamond Frost Euphorbia, and Foxtail Ferns.


This was the entrance walkway but looking the otherway (I was just leaving and forgot I hadn't taken a picture of it). There were also caladiums and some other plants in those side beds besides the diamond frost euphorbia, liriope and foxtail ferns.


When walking in this is what you first see. What a beautiful site! I felt like I was on a movie set or something. The pool was stunning and all the decor went together. It was all so very clean and pristine. There was a downside to this garden, it looked too perfect. It looked like there was some hired help or something because not a stray leaf was found or a sad looking plant. Like Sherlie said, "There is not a space not filled. I wonder if they planted most of this a few days ago?" It did not seem like a 'real' garden at all.



By the pool and home there was a bed that was filled with Holly Ferns, Aspidistra, Palms, Caladiums, Dahlias, yellow shrimp plants, hibiscus, and more.


The most common plant seen in every garden, besides palms were Aspidistra. I have never seen so many large clumps of Aspidistra ever. This is an expensive plant and I couldn't believe every garden had them in such large amounts.


Here is a look back at the entrance with the greenhouse hidden to the right. I'll get to that next post as I have many pictures of the inside of it.


Here is the tented pavilion. It is gorgeous of course, sitting in on the couch facing the fountain.




On the way to the pavilion there was this great surprise. Bromeliads in the palms! I loved this idea. I'm sure everyone who can does this but I never would have thought about it.


The inside of the Pavilion. Isn't it garden magazine center spread looking?!?! I would die to have this in my future yard, what a nice place to relax and read or take a nap.


I loved this little container on the table in the pavilion.




This was the little path leading down to the veggie garden. There were the usual plants that were elsewhere in the garden lining the way. There were some orchids hanging from trees and portulaca and ferns in the rocks.


Here is the vegetable garden. I'm not sure what was on this side. But there was another side that had lots of large tomato plants and pepper plants. This area had a huge lawn area and a shed to the left of this bed. I don't know what happened but I did not take photos of all that. I guess I got distracted about what I saw next....


I saw these Ghost Plants....


HOUNDREDS of them all along the wall. It was a site to see. They mixed so well with the firecracker plant cascading over them. I was in awe at the use of these succulents. It was such a nice shocker to an area that didn't have much interest.

The Fox Garden was a great way to start the Open Days Tour. Of course I haven't shown you the Orchid Greenhouse yet. It would be too many photos in one post. So I'll let you all take a break and be back next post with the Fox Gardens Orchid Greenhouse. Prepare for eye candy!

Wordless Wednesday: Violas

Violas

T Shirt Designs

At school we have a Horticulture Club. They want T-Shirts and of course asked if anyone had artistic talent. I really did not want to volunteer since I have too many things on my plate at the moment, but no one raised their hand and I thought, well one more thing couldn't hurt. I raised my hand to do the T-Shirt design and everyone got a surprised look on their face and some asked... are you sure you can draw. People tend to under estimate what I can do, but that is okay.

Anyways, no one had any design ideas and the group is mostly male. Being a female it's hard to think of what the male Horticulture lovers would want on a shirt. They suggested a tree and that is what they did last year, but I really wanted something better and not so cliche. I drew out some flowers and a tree, all things that grow well in our area. Here they are:

Esperanza

Plumbago

Crape Myrtle


I showed these 3 to some group members both girls and guys. The girls loved the Esperanza and the guys didn't like any of them and wanted a more strong and manly tree. I think they are being selfish, really. I made the crape myrtle thinking it would please both sides. It's got flowers and is feminine but it's a tree and doesn't scream too feminine. After getting input from the males I went home and chose a more manly tree. Really I think it would be better for the males to have their manly tree and the females to have their esperanza. The tree is just so cliche and I like flowers I'm sorry. When I think of tree I think of arboriculture and not Horticulture as a whole.


Manly Tree (Live Oak wannabe)


Hopefully now the tree will appease the males. I'll have to wait until the beginning of October to get a group vote and see what everyone has to say. It's hard to do this Horticulture Club because everyone is so used to the way that it has always been run. The previous semesters there were leaders that did not participate and then leaders that are so lax that hardly anything happens. I have a genuine want for the club to be fun and useful for everyone. This semester I want it to continue for the entire semester and to do fun things besides a plant sale. I'd like to meet 2 times a month instead of once a month. Meeting once a month would only be a total of 4 meetings for that semester. We have already had one to just get organized a bit and then the next would be getting together the plant sale. I really wanted to meet every week so there could be more activities and fun things to do and give everyone a good chance to attend some of the meetings. No one really liked that idea but agreed to 2 a month.

I'm Vice President but I might as well be the President as the one that was elected is scattered, unorganized, and not much initiative. The members of the club can't agree on anything but don't have a real want to do much of anything that is suggested but anyone. I threw out so many ideas at the meeting and everyone was just not on the train for much if any of them. The person elected PR hasn't done much along the lines of finding people to come and talk and places for us to go. I some how got chosen to be the person to find plant donations when it had been discussed as being a whole group task and everyone's responsibility. I'm feeling like the group just doesn't want to do much of anything really and they are just there for the food that first meeting. My hopes and dreams are just too high I guess. I really shouldn't care but I do feel hurt. The club could be so much fun and really connect us and new comers and get the students more into the city community and the actual Horticulture community. I know people have full time jobs and families but it's just a half hour to an hour 2 times a month before or after your regular classes. I'm busy too, very busy and just so overwhelmed.

Sorry again for the rant. Really if anyone has input on how to drive the clubs spirit and logo design ideas that appeal to all please do say. I really wanted a logo on the front but no one is into that, they are boring.

EDIT
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As suggested I did a tool. This might just work!! Tell me what you think.

Dirt and Trowel

Home but not Garden Television

Morning Glory 'Lt. Blue Mnt. Fuji' and Sweet Potato Vines

On Plurk a couple of garden bloggers brought up the dreaded H(G)TV. Being gardeners we are peeved that there is no garden in Home and Garden Television. The station has been overrun with home improvement and house makeover shows that I can't say when I last saw a garden show. It's been brought up that if they don't have garden shows why not just take out the garden from their station title.

I used to watch HGTV often and don't ever remember seeing a single garden show, but I'm young so maybe once upon a time there were some. Really if HGTV would put garden shows on their station they would get more ratings right? Apparently they don't believe so it seems. To them those home improvement shows are the big money makers. That could be why now a days not many people go into gardening and don't have appealing gardens or appealing neighborhoods anymore. Very rarely do I see a totally nice neighborhood or more than one house that has a great well kept garden. There are probably more people who are into interior designing, buying selling houses and what not because that's all the shows they televise. I have a feeling if they put more garden shows on their station more people would know what to do with their yards and how to grow plants and have just more general plant knowledge. I could be wrong, but it would be nice for us gardeners to have stuff to watch too. I don't have a home to renovate but I do have place to plant stuff.

So HGTV, make more garden shows and educate your viewers into making the outside of their home look good too. It's not all about the inside. Or just take out the garden from your name and us gardeners won't be peeved that there is not gardening on your channel.




I'm always surprised to here people say 'You must have a green thumb to be going into the Horticulture Industry'. Well just a year ago I thought I couldn't grow anything not even ivy. Most people has this idea that gardening is hard and just so time consuming. It's not time consuming if you find it fun and pleasurable. It does get hard to go out and garden in 100 degree weather and seeing your plants suffer despite your best efforts. In my mind having shows to reeducate the generations that gardening is not this impossible thing, and with knowledge you can grow stuff and make a pretty place. Most of the time I hear people say 'I don't have time'. But yet they are able to watch tv for 3 hours or spend their time doing something else ridiculous when they could be out there taking care of their wonderful garden. It's rewarding, more rewarding then watching tv. After saying that then why bother have a tv station show gardening? It gets out to those out there that maybe want to garden but don't know how, and it would maybe give them a boost and inspiration into making a garden and beautifying their world and space. I bet everyone wants a beautiful garden but many just don't believe they can take care of it, grow plants, have the time, have the money, etc. Just my thoughts on what I have noticed in general of the people I talk to.

Blotanical Awards 2008

Blotanical is having it's first Blotanical Awards. If for those garden bloggers that are a part of Blotanical. For all that read my blog please go and vote for your favorites. Of course I would be honored to even be chosen for one of the categories but even if not it's great to award those that do a great job. Go and vote all even if you don't vote for me. Award the special bloggers in that you love who are part of Blotanical. If you are not part of Blotanical and have a garden blog or like reading garden blogs do join! Hurry up there are only 12 days left. My how time does fly.