Saturday, January 28, 2012

Spanish moss on Lady Banks rose

This is some lovely fresh moss on the larger branch of my Lady Banks rose (see post below). The rose branch is exfoliating to a rich red bark.

Lady Banks rose, at rest.

When I started my garden (jungle) 18 years ago the yard was pretty much lawn (dying in the shade) and a few big trees. I hate lawns, so when a patch of grass died I would put down a paver, a stone, a container, a trellis, an arch, or a plant. One of the first plants I put in was a Lady Banks rose. This rose is a climber and it does that aggressively. It is mostly thornless and blooms but once a year, in the Spring. It's wonder is that it lives happily, entwined in other plants. It doesn't shade them out and it stands partial shade with vigor. I sort of lost  track of it as other, newer plants went in around it. Every now and then, in full Summer, I'd run into one of it's branches, hanging in my face and trim it to above my head.

Two years ago, in the Spring, I noticed that fully half of the backyard was covered with Lady Banks' tiny yellow blooms. This reveals a small part of the lattice the one little plant has become in 18 years. Patience is a virtue.

Lucky fence, Roscoe

I have photographed this fence for the last 2 years. In summer it is covered with thick vines and in winter the leaves fall revealing the fence. I have been waiting for a perfect (in my head) balance of rampant vine and organized fence. This is it. the gate of the fence was open the day I took it, on the way to the grocery. On the way back it had all been cleared and it was just a fence. Thus the lucky.

Red berries, Roscoe

Those of you who follow my blogs know that I have a thing for red berries or berry-like objects. These are just down the road from me.

Thursday, January 12, 2012