the bark tree

Arboretum visit

August and I visted the Dallas Arboretum in April during their Dallas Blooms spring event with my friend Johnette, her boys and her mother Donna.  Though we live close by, it was only our second time to go.

Giant snowball viburnum (V. macrocephalum) blooms were gorgeous in the spring sunshine.

We taught the boys how to identify Wisteria.

Though it's flowers are stunningly pretty, I was surprised to see that they had planted an invasive species, Paulownia tomentosa or Princess Tree.

We used to see these sprouting in cracks in the sidewalk when we lived in Brooklyn so I recognized it immediately.

As you can see, they have hordes of azaleas which were in full bloom.

Another interesting beauty was the Red buckeye tree (Aesculus pavia var. flavescens).

We certainly enjoyed our visit.  We must return more often to this nearby garden.

Tumbleweed

On a fall weekend trip to Caprock Canyon state park, Brandon found this tumbleweed covered in cotton which we used as a Christmas decoration.  It's so pleasing to look at that we've left it hanging.

Revisiting

In June, Brandon had a chance to see and photograph our old garden in Brooklyn.

June was always my favorite month in New York, but the garden already looks wild and overgrown.  We left a number of projects unfinished and my short-sighted plantings are certainly in evidence.

It's weird to look back after a just a few months and see the garden living on without us.

Alter-Meeker garden

My dear friend Johnette has been working on adding perennials to the large garden bed in front of her house.

 

A big winter snowstorm tore up a large yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) that was shading this side of the bed.  It looked horrible so they had it removed, creating a new area with more sun.

She got all new soil with compost as well as mulch in bulk.

 

I'm watching with interest to see how her "Endless Summer" blue hydrangea will perform. So far it looks beautiful.

 

We house and cat-sat for them while they were on vacation and I put a few annuals in pots for them.  They looked a little skimpier that I hoped initially, but they'll fill out.

Tree bargaining

One of my mothers-in-law (I have two) recently asked me about Chinese Pistache, a non-native, but well adapted shade tree for Texas.  I told her about 2 or 3 large specimens we have at North Haven Gardens, where I work, which are in the $300 range.  She said she'd think about it.

About a week later, we drove down to visit my other mother-in-law near Cedar Creek Lake.  Stopping into a grocery store for milk, but ever on horticulture alert, I quickly scanned the various plants and hanging baskets they had on sale outside the store.  I was surprised to find a Chinese Pistache tree in a little 3 gallon container for 12 bucks!  I couldn't pass it up!

But I did.  Considering that we were in a hurry ... how will we get it in the car, etc.  I left it behind.  After our visit, we started home passing by the store again without stopping. I began to regret not grabbing it. 

Minutes later my phone rang with my in-laws letting me know I had left my purse at their house in all the baby-loading confusion.  We had to turn back, so I had my chance to adopt the little tree.  I squeezed in the backseat with sleeping Augie so the tree could sit in the front floorboard.  Mother-in-law was pleased.

Hummingbird feeder

We visited our friend's family ranch near Gainesville, TX around Memorial day and Brandon took some good shots of their hummingbird feeder.

 

 

Labor day excursion

Over Labor Day weekend we took a little trip upstate to Olivebridge, NY to stay in the cottage of some friends.

We saw lots of fascinating wildlife including this incredible wasp nest.

A skunk munched on a previously dropped slice of avocado one night outside our door and a group of wild turkeys passed one morning.

 

Out walking, we were excited to spot this Kingfisher near a reservoir.

 

With the help of binoculars, we were thrilled to see two bald eagles and their nest.  One is soaring and you can see the white head of the other perched below.

On another little trek, we appreciated some beautiful moss on rocks in a creek.

 

It was a great little get-away. Thanks again to Stephanie and Matt for having us!

Magnolia cottage

Last weekend we visited our friends in Garrison, NY, who have a magnificent garden they've been working on together for 10 years.



Marilyn, who works with me at Wave Hill, designs and maintains the garden plantings and Eric creates the rock walls and pathways.





This was our first time to see the garden in it's springtime peak, which in zone 5, is a little later than ours in Brooklyn.





It's always an inspiration to visit this lovely oasis and a pleasure to spend time with our friends.

We got hitched!

Brandon and I tied the knot!

We married at City Hall in Brooklyn on December 14, 2007 and had a small party at The Black Rabbit in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Then on December 29, we had a big reception in Texas with all our family and friends at the oldest dance hall in Dallas, the Sons of Hermann Hall. Both events were wonderfully memorable and great fun. Many thanks to all who attended. (Photo by Kevin McDermott)

Texas critters

Highlights from Texas

I found lots of great old postcards at various used bookstores.

This is the garden of my friends Bob and Carolyn.

And the lovely nursery across the street from them.

Below, this Blackjack oak in my mother's yard has rotted away on one whole side. It's almost completely hollow, but manages to survive.

Mother and I outside our family's favorite Tex-Mex joint, Herrera's.

My brother Rand carefully drew all these beautiful Spirograph designs on index cards years ago and they still hang in a closet in my mom's house.

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This is one of the last little independent nurseries left in my home town. I bought plants there for my mother and for Brandon's mother. I somehow forgot to photograph my mom's plants.

Brandon taking a bite of his birthday cake and checking out his Granny's lovely fig tree.

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This is my friend Johnette's son Micah knocking over one of her plants.

My Dad at his place south of Ft.Worth. The pond is full this year due to heavy rains this year. He and I planted this pine tree together in 1993 when it was a scrawy, pathetic little throw-away that I rescued from the nursery where I worked. Now it's full and beautiful.

He restored this '73 Jaguar back in the 80s and we got to take it out for a spin.

Brandon's great aunt Bonnie lost an old tree in a recent storm. His cousin Sherrie gave us a piece of this cholla cactus.

More items unrelated to gardening... We visited the Kwik-E-Mart on the day of The Simpsons movie premier.

Mmmmmm squishy.

Brandon's mom and step-niece at the Ft. Worth Museum and my friend Natalie's beautiful twin daughters Sidney and Madeleine.

Birthday margaritas!

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The great bookstore owned by Larry McMurtry, Booked Up. We make a pilgrimage there each time we're in Texas.

I found this interesting set of small format books on South African plants.

3 generations of Kennedys. Brandon with his grandfather, Weldon and father Kent.

Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)

Back in Brooklyn

We are back in Brooklyn after a wonderful trip to the Dallas area of Texas.

It was a whirlwind of visitations including our 4 parents (3 step-parents)... Brandon's grandmother, 2 great aunts, 1 brother, 5 cousins... my 2 sisters, 2 nieces, 1 nephew and many (but not all) of our friends!

We took lots of photos, some of which I will post as soon as I'm rested and have time to go through them.

There were good rains while we were away so we happily returned to astounding voracious growth in the garden! I was so excited to see everything that I took photos in the dark.

Good to be home.

Family visit

Off to Texas for a few days! Back soon.

Monkey Puzzle

We got a new Monkey Puzzle tree!

Brandon and I are both fascinated by this plant (Araucaria araucana). As you might've noticed, I am partial to many odd, spiky plants. Its kooky common name caught Brandon's interest when I first showed him photos in a wonderful out-of-print book I found at Larry McMurtry's amazing book store: Booked Up, in Archer City, Texas. (If you love books, you must visit this place).

When we traveled to France last October, we saw this large specimen in a garden. I argued to plant ours in the ground, but since we are renters it seemed a bit risky as we would definitely want to keep it if we ever leave this house.

Brandon took this amusing photo of the tree when we first took it out of the box.

Sad to say we actually had one before, but it weakened significantly when it dried out while we were in Texas for Christmas a few years ago and met it's demise soon after. I found it's carcass when I sifted through the compost bin. I promise we'll do better on this new one.