Miscellaneous Garden Things...

Finally, what a leaf! Since I have not grown up near banana trees (none growing in the streets of Montmartre (yes, that would be in Paris, France...) back then...probably still the case now!!!) I LOVE watching these humongous leaves develop in such a short time, oh, how I love them! Fact is I have a tremendous amount of respect for them too. Length of this one: 23.5" or 60cms. Wow... Then this semi-little spider which I also admire (you have seen them here before, yes!) for her talent of seamstress and her artistic costume. And now a not so good shot of this elusive blue dragonfly but still worth it I believe. They are extremely fussy (unlike the copper ones). I'll keep trying...perhaps I will jump in the pond, hide my head behind a big waterlily leaf, wait patiently and hope for the best...to be continued.

Latest Escapades in the Garden...

Diablo Does not Want Steve to Work!

The Petite Birthday Party

Steve showered me with roses and glads, we had tons of delicious food including grilled shrimp, plenty of nice drinks to chose from, and of course some bubbly...even Coconut showed up for the party demanding some tidbits of beef barbecue. She had planted herself right smack in the middle of the table but after chasing her twice she consented to remain on the floor!

Another Close Look at Flowers/Plants

Hollyhock, passion flower, new banana leaf and the next one emerging...so cute!

Wild Life Spotted in the Garden

Early Birthday Fun

Yesterday my adorable young friend Marion took me to lunch to "Seasons", a chic restaurant in Old Town. We shared a yummy (monumental) sandwich and needless to say indulged in the accompanying "frites"....how naughty and nice! She surprised me with an early birthday gift, this little plate, something to cherish for years to come: totally me....except for the plaid pants...(not in my wardrobe then), so funny because I actually am shopping for exactly that, plaid pants for this Fall! How did she know?

The Garden

One of my favorite roses "Secret": exquisite perfume!
The sacred datura bud

Purple Cone Flower

In the Garden...

2 very different creatures although the tiny one does have hair too! Coconut is spending a lot of time outdoors these days.

Our Agave

I LOVE it! I admire so much the beautiful imprints that the new developing leaf(with those thorns) leaves on the one to come later, no, we can't be as gifted as nature, not in a million years!

Long Meditation...Painting!

How long ? Time enough for vines to grow around her ankles....for creatures to think she is some new species of tree...

Painting

Probably 1999...
Yes, so ashamed about the absence of art that I have to post one old painting!

Our (little) Banana Tree And Misc.

Perfect Sewing....Tall roses and Composition

Cicada, Beetle and a Rose Named Secret

Yes, yes, yes, I will get back to my studio but I still have too much work in the garden.....and I must admit that I do enjoy it. This afternoon I planted: 3 zuchini plants 1 sacred datura 1 zinnia Not a lot accomplished as far as planting goes but I had to trim a humongous climbing rose "Peace" that had totally overgrown its allotment space. This rose has canes that are over 8' tall and 5'' around....a huge amount of work and I only did 20% of the work. One cane fell on my hand and of course 1 big thorn first..right in my thumb...ouch! The pleasures of gardening...

Flowers to Be Planted

After the horrible monster I had to quickly post this "prettiness"

After the Beauty....The Beast

This was the appalling view in a corner of the patio yesterday night. I had sprayed to repel insects (those attracted by light)) and was spending a peaceful and wonderful moment reading and just absorbing the silence and the beauty .....I heard a sound like a helicopter right there almost under my nose...When I pulled away the potted plant to see what the roaring was all about I found this huge beetle fighting to get up, a big generic black bug on its back(to the left)...and a huge ugly brown spider thinking "dinner"! I was horrified and totally sick but still...You know...The intrepid photographer/reporter/fake scientist/entomologist/would be coroner had to get to work...I was disgusted ...my face contorted by hideous grimaces, as I was getting closer and closer with the camera to that very live spider....
After spraying her abundantly with "Spider Death", I took more pictures of her covered with the shiny poison.
Total horror, sorry, I thought you would want to know and so, with my natural generosity I am trying to recapture the moment for you guys!
Check those "cute" little eyes (if eyes, whatever). By the way I am an arachnophobe...yuck!