{Our Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride' from Quero, Belluno in Italy}

One more special Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride' Blushing Bride Rose of Sharon, did come from Quero, Belluno in Italy. In my previous blog from October 19: {HELP ME FIND ITALIAN ARTIST M. SOTGIU mother of Luigi Tramarollo} you can see some more information about my most scenic road to work. Along the river Piave, to Quero, a small town in the mountains. Alongside the road, close to the plant, there was the most fabulous 'hedge' with double pink Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride'.

After the blooms had gone, I did stop one day in order to collect some of the seedpods. Soon enough an older gentleman stopped and asked what I was doing. I told him that I loved those gorgeous pink blossoms so much that I tried to grow some from seeds. He said no, no... That made me stop in my action. Quickly he pulled out of his pocket a Fiskars bypass pruner and started clipping off cuttings for me. He went on to tell me that you couldn't grow them from seeds, this was the way to do it. Graciously I accepted this generous gift. We did take them home to The Netherlands where Dad managed to keep them alive and he even has still some himself. His did far better than ours! So once again we got a precious memory from the Veneto region where we lived and worked. Look for yourself and tell me if you would not have fallen in love with these blooms...

We did loose most of ours and fortunately we could save just enough clippings to start all over. This is the result with the very first blossom!

Here they are in pots, just outside of the greenhouse where they over-wintered.

Their heart is a much darker pink. Look how healthy they are. So glad that we could revive them!

This is Dad with his version of Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride' on the right and another variety on the left which he did bring home from Georgia. After all, he is a professional Market Gardener... The Netherlands has the perfect climate for growing any plant, tree or flower, except tropical species.

Related links:

{Our Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc & Our Life in Italy} | previous post about our double white one

LEARN from Husband Pieter's Successful Rooting of Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc | another post 

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{Our Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc & Our Life in Italy}

• We are fortunate to have some new shrubs of Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc,< (click) or Jeanne D'Arc Rose of Sharon. This species is a rarity with its frilly pure snowy white double flowers.
• For us it is even more special since we did bring a cutting back from the area where we lived and worked in Italy. These trees were lining the streets of Maser, the neighboring town where we had to pass through first, before reaching our town Cornuda in the province of Treviso. 
• In the very town of Maser you also find the Villa di Maser< (click) (Villa Barbaro) one of the greatest masterpieces of Andrea Palladio (1508-80), and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• It was on Sunday morning, April 9 of 1989 that we did tour several Venetian villas and also this Villa Barbaro. Together with our boss Gigi and his wife Anna (she translated Pieter's book about Mushroom Growing into Italian). We were with a group of Rotarians and a Venetian Prince. 
• Quite educational and we had a delicious lunch afterwards. To my surprise and great joy, Paola from the blog, Laboratorio di Zia Polly: A richiesta vi porto a visitare Asolo < (click) just did a post about Asolo <(click). 
• The sequence of towns is: Asolo, Maser and then Cornuda. We went that Sunday afternoon to the famous antique market of Asolo, every 2nd Sunday as of today still going on. Just click on Paola's blog for looking at the beautiful city. 
• She has a google translate button at the top, to the left. For me, reading this was very nostalgic. 
• So there is a good reason for cherishing our Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc from Italy. We lost one in front of the house but another did fill in and we got babies now! Look for yourself how beautiful they are...

• For more information you can click on the above hyperlink from Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc
• Don't forget to click also the other links, the villa info is in English and it is quite a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Paola's blog shows very good pictures of Asolo.

• These flowers look a bit fried from the hot sun...

• All the above pictures I took on May 31 and the following are taken by Pieter on June 6.
• This shrub just began to bloom and behind it you see our huge Southern Magnolia tree.

• More blooms opened in a week time.

• Now from the Magnolia tree, facing the house, to the right is another Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc and also on the other side of the brick path to the front door. One of those we had to replace a couple of years ago. Hope we keep them alive now. You see the water hose is right there to water them...

• For sure, Maser in Treviso, Italy would be a far better climate for them...
• But meanwhile they make us happy for having something from the time we lived and worked there.
• The Veneto area has a very rich culture and we sure miss the ancient buildings as well.

BUT we got an authentic Italian Ristorante da Maria and they even do serve the Prosecco from the Asolo area!

Related link:

{Our Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride' from Quero, Belluno in Italy} | post about our pink one

LEARN from Husband Pieter's Successful Rooting of Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc | another post 

{Daylily Hemerocallis WHITE TUXEDO + SAD Feline & Canine Love Story}

Our Daylily Hemerocallis WHITE TUXEDO are blooming again, like last year when I did a post about them, see link below. The successful breeder was our neighbor across the street. She passed away, but each year when the White Tuxedo bloom we think of her in a special way.

 Pieter took these photos in the morning around 10:00 AM when they were at their best looking.

They live true to their name; for only a day...

On May 22, I did post about our sweet feline girl 'Spooky'. Just check {Our Felines - Sweet Spooky I...}. She got befriended with the Dachshund from across the street, Daisy was her name. Her human parents were the dailily breeders...

You guessed it, our Spooky girl was crossing the street to visit with Daisy!

We did board Spooky at the Pet Lodge with our pet duck, while we flew on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to The Netherlands for Pieter's eldest brother's birthday. A couple of days later we picked up our best friends at the airport in Amsterdam, who flew in from Atlanta. After touring in The Netherlands we flew with them to Venice and toured Italy together from May 28 till June 7. We got back home on June 12... That were 22 nights for feline Spooky and for Kwekkie the pet duck, at the Pet Lodge!

Arriving home, there was already a card in the mail for Spooky, from Daisy her friend...

Dear Spooky,

I surely am glad you're back home. While you were away I didn't get into much trouble since there was no need to cross the road. I have been chasing rabbits, squirrels and frogs in the garden. Watch out for the frogs - some of them taste bad and make your mouth foam. I learned to quickly push them with my nose so they don't get me. I'll show you how, on one of your visits.

Heather's three cats are here but they aren't any fun to play with. Did I tell you that you are my best animal friend. We have fun playing chase, don't we. Come over to see me soon. My "parents" tell me not to cross the road to your house but sometimes I forget.

Your best friend,

Daisy

Another letter from Daisy on 30 September.

She writes that her cast will come off in two more weeks. That day she got home with a new cast and when her human parents opened the door of the car to carry her into the house, Daisy made a noise they'd never heard her make before. From the back of their house came another noise; that was our Spooky who had been waiting for her friend, to welcome her home... Daisy however was not allowed to play outside.

On October 8 at 2:00 PM, Spooky came home from her visit to Daisy, in vain as she only could see her through the front door side glass panel. She crossed the road when Pieter was with ant killer on the front lawn and he heard a bang... He heard a car racing down the hill and when he looked up he saw our Spooky girl on the road. The car never even slowed down from speeding past our home. Pieter rushed inside to call me and when I raced down the stairs and lifted her up, her heart was still beating but very weak... She didn't look wounded but soon blood came running from her mouth and she died in my arms. I sobbed and carried her to the back of our garden where she got buried by Pieter and his brother Toon, who was staying with us, as well as his new love Wilhelmien.

Handing Spooky's body to Pieter for her burial. Toon took this photo of us.

Sad ending and Daisy really mourned about Spooky, so did we.

But Spooky lived for one-and-a-half year with us versus a dailily that lives but a day...

Have any of you lost a dear pet due to reckless driving?

Related link:

{Daylily White Tuxedo} | previous post by me