{Our Catalpa Bignonioides - Indian Bean Tree}

One more exotic tree to show you. It is our Catalpa bignonioides; Common Names: southern catalpa, catawba, Indian bean tree. Catalpa has large tropical looking heart-shaped leaves. The white bell-shaped blossoms are 2 inch (5.1 cm) in diameter and patterned with small purple spots and two large orange markings at the throat. The flowers are followed by long slender cigar-shaped pods up to 16 inch (40 cm) in lengh. The green pods ripen to brown in fall and split to release flat fringed seeds. For more info and better views of the flowers, click on both hyperlinks above. It is very hard to capture its blossoms as they are way up high. But these are the photos taken by Pieter at our garden. This tree is close to the creek on our main garden, not in the wood garden. Let's start the Garden Tour.

Pictures are taken on May 6 in the morning.

{TIP on how to avoid a Double Crease in Pants}

Just like to share this tip with you in order to make life easier... Learn from Mariette. In April we went to the Sawgrass Mills in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and found these pants for Pieter. (Click on view alphabetically for all stores listed by name). Whenever we buy some real nice pants, like these Italian Ermenegildo Zegna from the Zegna Outlet store, I prepare them right away. In order to make ironing a snap ever after, you do grasp the ankle cuffs of the pants and hold them together right on the seams.

Match the inner leg seams as you bring the ankle cuffs together. Keep the inner-leg seams together as you flatten the legs against each other. Lay the pants out on the ironing board evenly. Smooth out any wrinkles with your hands; pinning the seams together all the way.

Holding one hand underneath, you can feel if the seams are aligned.

Now you iron the front and back and if they are new, there is not much to iron and aligning them will be rather easy!

With a thread in the matching color you now stitch all along the crease from top till bottom; front and back. That's also rather easy, once it has been properly ironed.

That is stitching almost on the edge...

Barely visible stitching... till almost at the waist area. When worn with a belt the ending of the stitching is not visible at all.

Nothing looks crisper than a properly pressed pair of pants. Nothing is more evident of a lack of attention to detail than poorly pressed pants that have multiple creases.

Next time when laundering it is a piece of cake and it is also very convenient when traveling, for folding inside a suitcase. You never can go wrong. With jeans I don't do this but for this type pants it worked perfect.

Even Sacha did approve of them... She stands proudly by her Papi with her white socks.

Convenient outfit in all cotton. A kind of tropical style jacket-shirt from Gianni Versace is one of Pieter's favorite for when the weather gets real hot here.

Thanks for visiting!

{Our Exotic Sesbania punicea - Scarlet Wisteria}

• Sesbania punicea or Daubentonia punicea, called also Scarlet Wisteria is a very exotic looking shrub with Mimosa-like leaves and coral red flowers are characteristic of those in the legume family. Sesbania punicea is native to South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay).
• The University of Florida also points out that all parts of the Sesbania punicea are poisonous.
• It is the same story as for Olga's Brunfelsia in California, which is also poisonous but so exotic and beautiful! 
• We have had this shrub for years, we found it near a stream during a walk in our neighborhood and were surprised by its scarlet flowers, indeed looking like a Scarlet Wisteria. 
• So we took it home in 1993 and never ever figured out what it was! Only recently I did find out its botanical and common name and was quite surprised about its info. Nevertheless it is a beautiful and very unusual flower. See for yourself and join me on a Mariette's Back to Basics Garden Tour.

• This shows our home before the balcony was added on, with the French sliding doors.

• The view of the house is not blocked yet by our huge Live Oak...

• My folklore blouse from Hungary, matches those scarlet red flowers!

• My face has no tattoos... that is the shade from harsh sunlight!

• Did put one of the Scarlet Wisteria trusses on the bridge in order to get a good closeup.

They bloom by mid May and still are blooming.