Our Garden Blooms in Summer

 It is about time for showing you some photos, taken on September 8...

Things blooming in our garden.

On September 8, I walked around and captured some of our summer blooms.

This is a beautiful summer Azalea, in a pot on our patio, right below the kitchen bay window.

Hummingbirds LOVE it!

Crocosmia blooming abundantly!

Showing you the actual size of a Crocosmia flower...

Our hummingbirds love them!

On September 8, our Hydrangea paniculata, Limelight a late–summer and autumn blooming variety that starts indeed out a bit 'greenish'.

Kwekkie still checking IF there is one more kernel left from her breakfast...

She is on our driveway in the morning—together with the kitties, waiting for breakfast!

A happy duck!

Our Liriope muscari variegata, near the driveway are blooming...

A Moonflower Ipomoea alba, around breakfast time—after blooming at night.

An insect is inside.

New Moonflower Ipomoea alba buds—ready to unfold during the night at our Rose Arbor.

September 8, I spotted the first Spider lilies in bloom and more buds to open soon.

Our Spunky girl—inside the garden hose near the driveway...

On September 12, showing you the HUGE size of our Moonflower's leaves!

Yep, they LOVED all that August rain...

On the trellis against the storage room underneath our balcony... Moonflower Ipomoea alba vine. 

That trellis photo did NOT show the Moonflower Ipomoea alba's actual size!

This was early morning, during a darker day so they thought it still was not yet DAYTIME...

Our Oxalis are blooming again!

They got all whacked off with a weed eater—by our over–active garden crew!

But since those are bulbs, they did come back.

Our Hydrangea paniculata, Limelight on September 22 in the sunlight.

And on the fence, the Potato Vine or Solanum laxum 'Album'.

Hoping you enjoyed our summer bloomers!

Do you have anything blooming in summer?

Related links:

Azalea Society of America | Late Blooming Azaleas at bottom

{Crocosmia} | previous post by me

{OXALIS in Our Garden} | previous post by me

{Our Liriope Muscari - Border Grass or Lily-turf} | previous post by me

Sorghum from Birdseed

It looks like our Georgia garden critters are taking things in their own hands by seeding some Sorghum plants from Birdseed!

First I thought it was corn, by looking at the plants leaves...

This was on September 8.

Against the repurposed Umbrella Post with Bird Feeder on top.

Pieter always leaves seed out for the mourning doves and for the brown thrasher, they love to search on the ground. Also the Cardinals and others.

So three plants have grown up from sprouted seeds...

This is close to the Bird Feeder that I mentioned in my previous post.

Pieter repurposed that parasol pole on Christmas day, 1998—it kept well!

They seem to be ripening perfectly well—this was on September 21.

We just leave them there for the birds to enjoy later...

Do you see plants growing up from birdseed in your yard?

Related link:

Sorghum Growing in Georgia | previous post by me

Our Bird Feeder with Dried Mealworms atop Umbrella Pole

 Keeping such a vast estate up to date in every area, is quite an upkeep.

But it is oh so rewarding to see HAPPY BIRDS around.

Bird Feeder with plexiglass front and back so we can see how much they ate...

Dried Mealworms with some sunflower seeds and other bird feed mixed in.

Pieter did start purchasing these dried mealworms for the baby birds from our Eastern Phoebe end of May, that had a nest in our front porch. See post below.

The Carolina Wrens go in there often, pick out one worm and hack it to pieces somewhere on a tree trunk.

We left the thick slice of the oak tree's stump on the ground—for that purpose.

Also the perfectly sawn off oak tree trunk serves as a feeding table for lots of birds—and squirrels of course.

But they too have to live... We saw one with a severe bot fly warbles under its skin—the dreaded Cuterebra emasculator Fitch.

Pieter leaves peanuts in the shell for the squirrels and sunflower seeds.

Are you feeding birds and using dried mealworms as well?

{Umbrella Pole Recycled into Bird Feeder Post} | previous post by me

Eastern Phoebe Reside in Front Porch with Babies | previous post by me

AMAZING recovery of Japanese Magnolia—after getting LIGHT and FOOD!

 With our HUGE oak tree now gone, there is more LIGHT + FOOD available for this beauty.

On the side, where once that HUGE oak tree took away all the light, and no doubt most of the food and moisture available, now some healthy NEW branches did sprout off!

Our Japanese Magnolia or  Magnolia x soulangeana is next to the vinyl picket fence.

A bird house (a Carolina wren residence) and also a hummingbird feeder make it into a favorite tree for birds.

From our breakfast area, we did notice another NEW shoot off branch right in the middle—look at the size of its leaves!

Vinyl picket fence is visible below...

It was rather hard to capture but here you see its enormous size leaves!

Happy and Healthy...

And, already on September 8, I noticed that all the BUDS for next spring were formed already!

Soft, hairy buds—waiting for the spring and here they bloom as early as February 12; often on my Mom's Birthday...

As I've always said, give a tree about 5 years to restore its shape and health after removing another big tree that stole light, food and moisture.

Looking forward to seeing it in the spring!

Have you seen some trees or shrubs recovering that way after creating more room/space for them?

Related links:

{MORE BLOSSOMS IN OUR BOTANICAL GARDEN} | previous post by me

{Our Japanese Magnolia against Vinyl Picket Fence} | previous post by me

Big Trees Down and others Trimmed  | Previous post by me

Our Variegated Blue Flax Lily + Video from Flaxseed to Linen from Horst my Birthplace

 Rather late I discovered that our Variegated Blue Flax Lily was blooming again.

We have this since 2014. 

On September 8, I captured these...

Such tiny lovely flowers!

That's the entire Variegated Blue Flax Lily on our patio, as a pot plant.

On September 19, they were still there... now they're gone.

You see the blue sky we have!

Having hailed from Horst, a region in the Province of Limburg, in the South of The Netherlands, there is quite a history about Flax and the Linen weavers.Want to share this very interesting video with you.From flaxseed to linen (Museum de Kantfabriek Horst) — the old Lace factory!Translations:from flaxseed to linenHorst (my birth place) around 1920First, the land is made suitable for the cultivation of flax.Sowing takes place at the beginning of April.After a few days, the first flax seeds germinate.The weeds are removed.At the beginning of June, the flax is in bloom.Harvesting can begin in mid-August.With the rekel, the flax bulbs are removed.The flax is placed underwater to let the soft parts rot away; called retting.Dad used to have a piece of land at the Rotven. One of those former fens...The flax bulbs are threshed from which linseed oil is extracted.Part of the seed is used again for the next harvest.After drying, the stems are roasted to remove the hard inner core.By breaking, the hard inner core is broken; scutching.After the harvest it's time for a party.With the crank, the remaining wood residues are removed; hackling.By hackling, only the best fibers remain.In winter, the fibres are spun into flax yarn.Finally, the yarns are washed to remove the lye.After rinsing, the yarns are ready to weave into linen cloth.By bleaching the linen in the sun, it gets a bright white color.The linen is now ready for use.In the meantime, it's spring again. High time to make the land suitable for a new harvest.This program is composed on the basis of a film (1976) that was commissioned by the Antiquity–Room Horst
Nowadays linen is from Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Poland and of course in China...
But seeing how labor intensive it is—you might appreciate more your linen pieces!At fashion school we learned how this was being created but the above video is far better for understanding...
Did any of you know this process?
Related link:{Variegated Blue Flax Lily} | previous post by me with good closeup photo of flower{Horst my Birth Place, Used to be an Old Linen Weavers Town} | previous post by me

Coprinellus disseminatus in our Garden

On August 29, the day of our 39th anniversary as an immigrant, Pieter spotted these very special mushrooms in our garden, under our Magnolia Grandiflora.

Coprinellus disseminatus.

Beautiful Coprinellus disseminatus...

Pieter, being a true teacher, placed a US penny next to some of the fruit bodies to show how tiny they are!

Not a clean penny but you still manage to read: IN GOD WE TRUST...

Here they are, growing on the decaying roots of some of the Magnolia Grandifolia shoots that had come up under the big tree.

It was only because of August being like a WET MONSOON...

Perfect climate for any mushroom to develop!

Have you ever seen this variety?

Related link:

{10 Hand Painted Wild Mushroom Plates by A. Zen Nove, ITALY} | previous post by me showing another Coprinus edible mushroom

Meeting with Mushroom Grower Nick Pora in Metcalf, Ontario Canada

 We did rise early at our Fairmont Château Laurier, for having breakfast and to get on our way. 

Nick Pora Sr. on the left, with Pieter at his Continental Mushroom Farm

On Tuesday, August 18, 1998 we had received a fax at the Fairmont Château Laurier, for our meeting next day.

So after breakfast we got on our way for FINALLY visiting Nick's mushroom farm!

Nick Pora, was also a loyal customer of my Lacquered Brass Window Decorations 'Mushrooms' in two sizes.

Below post you find some links for actually seeing them.

Guess Nick came to the Dutch Mushroom Days in June of 1988, where I had a stand for selling those.

Nick Pora, also had enclosed these cards with that letter...

CHAMPIGNON — CONTINENTAL —MUSHROOM

Producers of some of the best mushrooms in the world

Nick Pora, hailed from Romania and in 1972 he came to Canada with only $ 5.00 in his pocket.

With hard work, he managed to build himself up and run a successful mushroom farm.

Already during the 1st NAMC at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco he met Pieter in 1979.

See link below this post with his photo.

Again, at the 12th NAMC Conference in Vancouver he begged us to visit him.

But Ottawa is not a city we often flew into...

So this time, when using our frequent flyer miles for a vacation to Canada, we planned it such, that we would end in Ottawa and then drive to his place.

We first met at the mushroom farm's office where we also briefly saw Virginia Pora, Nick's lovely wife.

Nick Pora Jr. and Nick Pora Sr. at almost 82 years of age (September) and Pieter.

In February, Nick had lost 40 lbs (18 kg) of weight after their return from a vacation in Aruba.

Me, Nick Jr. and Nick Sr. at the restaurant for lunch.

Nick Sr. had taken us via the compost slab, to a first break room, full with product.

His skills for mushroom cultivation proved to be good.

Then he took us to the Packaging area.

THE BEST WE EVER SAW!

They used a barcode with ratings: 1–2–3–4 or cannery (for worst quality). Beautiful white product!

A Chinese 'mama' ran the packaging including a clean floor; no spills! 

We were both very impressed and told Nick so.

They daily handled 13 tons of fresh product.

Both of us felt very happy for finally having fulfilled his request to visit him!

Fond memories of a long time friendship.

Next day we did check out from the Fairmont Château Laurier, drove to the airport and returned our Herz rental car after driving our 987 km or 613 mi. 

By 11:00 o'clock we flew via Newark, New Jersey on Continental Express, to Atlanta, Georgia.

That was the end of our memorable Canada Vacation!

Related links:

Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA 1st North American Mushroom Conference | previous post by me where Nick Pora attended

Dutch Mushroom Days and Selling My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms | previous post by me

{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | previous post by me

Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa and Parliament Buildings

 On Tuesday, August 18, we got up in time.

Packing up and breakfast at our Novotel in Montréal Center.

Just as I walked with two glasses of grapefruit juice to our table, a kid bumped into me...

Now I had a wet right bosom.

The mother kind of stupidly asked if I wanted water. 

I said rather angry; NO—making it even wetter?!

With a paper napkin in–between to suck up the juice, I drove to Ottawa.

Back then we used the old State Farm map as there was no GPS yet...

It were 160 km on a rather flat area with lots of corn.

We arrived at Rue Rideau 1, where our Fairmont Château Laurier is.

Right on the Rideau Canal, another WORLD Heritage Site.

Lots of road work and also in front of our hotel...

Fairmont Château Laurier ←click link.

From our room 403, we video taped the Rideau Canal and its sluices with the Ottowa River visible as well.

Then we walk around and taped the Parliament Buildings that were right next door of our hotel, visible to the left in above image.

West Block was adjacent to our Fairmont Château Laurier as part of The Canadian Parliament Buildings – Ottawa, Canada ←click link

Related links:

Mount Royal Park and Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montréal, Canada | previous post by me

Notre Dame Basilica of Montréal and Moccaccino at Second Cup Café | previous post by me

Montréal Old Port and City Hall | previous post by me

Montréal Windsor Station and Mary Queen of the World Cathedral | previous post by me

Sainte Anne de Beaupré Basilica, Québec, Canada | previous post by me

Cathedral–Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec from 1647 | previous post by me

Canyon Sainte Anne — Québec, Canada | previous post by me

Montmorency Falls Park Québec, Canada | previous post by meFairmont Le Château Frontenac — Québec City, Canada | previous post by me

Mount Royal Park and Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montréal, Canada

 We went to the next place that we wanted to explore in Montréal.

Driving our rental car towards Mount Royal and parked on one of its parking areas then walking up.

Jacques Cartier was there way before us, on October 2, 1535...

The park is 200 hectare. 

The view of the Chalet we show on the video and also the Belvédère Kondiaronk lookout over the entire city.

It was incredible, even though the weather was heavy overcast that day but luckily no rain; our Burberry umbrella kept it at bay!

It was 15:30 o'clock when we reached the lookout area.

Beautiful gardens too; with Pieter's favorite Verbena hybrida Lanai 'Upright Red with Eye'.

Guess the climate there is just perfect.

Jacques Cartier came here only 43 years after Columbus...

Both had NO GPS; neither cell phones!

We also visit the World's Largest Shrine; Canada's Largest Church (Saint Joseph's Oratory) ←click for informative video and at 1:30 min. you see how this little 9–year old André Bessette lost his Dad when a huge tree fell upon him. After staying with his mother for two years, she also died...

This shrine is so overwhelming and no wonder it attracts over 2,000,000 visitors annually!

At the gift shop of Saint Joseph's Oratory we bought this little wall hanging.

It was a very lovely and interesting day spend in Montréal!

One final night at the Novotel and we would leave...

Have any of you been here?

Related links:

Notre Dame Basilica of Montréal and Moccaccino at Second Cup Café | previous post by me

Montréal Old Port and City Hall | previous post by me

Montréal Windsor Station and Mary Queen of the World Cathedral | previous post by me

Sainte Anne de Beaupré Basilica, Québec, Canada | previous post by me

Cathedral–Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec from 1647 | previous post by me

Canyon Sainte Anne — Québec, Canada | previous post by me

Montmorency Falls Park Québec, Canada | previous post by meFairmont Le Château Frontenac — Québec City, Canada | previous post by me