The Hearts of Flame LIVE!

This one's finished blooming now, and it's setting seed. The seed stalk is interesting too. Not as pretty as the flower, of course, but it's still interesting to look at.

Now you can see the papery sheaths that hold the separate little flower stalks a lot easier. They've pulled away from the main stalk and they are really strange to touch. Sort of like a dry onion skin, thicker, different texture.



AND!!! Guess what I saw out back!

I've been watching the other plants for signs of that color change. The other two plants in the Western Garden are showing a tiny bit of dark red at the very tips of the larger leaves. I saw that on these two plants in my back yard too and I wondered if it meant something...and sure enough. The hearts on these two are turning to flame. I have TWO MORE FLOWERS coming! Oh BOY, I'm walking on air!

I'll be out of town for a good 10 days or 2 weeks or so, but still, I'll get to see most of the action on these, I'm pretty sure.



Meanwhile, I'm putting things to bed before I leave...(hee hee! bedding plants here, get it?).

Okay. Come on. A little lame humor never hurt anyone.

I'm always glad to see Moss Rose Time come around again. I used to think they would be all-year flowers here, but they aren't, and that's just what it is. I've been shopping with my usual great care, and got a lot of plants for $.99 that often run around $4. Like that. So, for the first time, this year I'll be sure to put in LOTS of regular garden flowers. It's worth it, it really is.



The first flurry of mangoes is at an end. I've gathered a lot of them up and sent them around to some folks, and the timing was perfect: I got to send a lot out to people I really wanted to have some of these great mangoes, and now the first crop is mostly over, and I'm leaving tomorrow on my trek. This one's for Cindi, here. The other nine were just right - I like to have them at varying stages of ripeness so they'll last a bit for the Mango Eater on the other end. But this last mango was quite green, and I figured a couple hours of our Florida sunshine was worth a good two days of Northern sunshine. If you leave the green ones out in the sun it makes a big difference in their sweetness.

So I packed up the whole box except for this last mango. I put in on my #1 most favorite garden rock, this black mica beauty I picked up in Connecticut a few years back. The mail carrier was a substitute and came very late in the day, yay! I worked outside, watching for him, and when I saw him on the other side of the street I wrapped the last mango, put it in the box, put in the final bubble wrap cushion and sealed it. Puttered around for a few more minutes...and there he was.

At first he was not all THAT happy to pick up an unexpected 10# box a block away from his truck, but I sweet-talked him for a minute and he grinned at me and was fine, and proud to be doing his job. He just needed a minute to get over the surprise. The regular carrier has it down to a science now. She checks from across the street to see if there's a box waiting for her, and brings her truck for it when she's done with her delivery loop.

The next crop will be ripe in June and July, so we'll be getting Double Mango Bliss this year.

Leaving tomorrow on my trek. I'm so excited I can't sit still! Dancing around like a little kid who has to pee.