Our second stop on the Garden Photos Event tour is at ProximaBlue's (AKA Melanie Reynolds):
Plenty of Pitchers at
M E L A N I E'S
Garden Party
Fragrant Cloud Honeysuckle and Salal (a native plant): This looked and smelled like nature was having it's own party.
Salmonberry Flower: The salmonberry is another native plant with a wide raspberry type fruit. It is an understory plant and one I used to eat a lot while running around barefoot in the forest as a child.
Pansy: I'll be doing a Nature-led post soon as I was quite surprised to be invaded, by pansies of all things! I'll not complain, one can certainly have a lot worse invasions. I'm not sure why they decided to self sprout along the front walkway this year.
A daffodil and Bergenia flowers because they look nice.
Wildlife Entries:
Bear
Baby Bear did not make it into the garden party last year as their was no wildlife category. May we have a moment of silence for the brief life of baby bear who didn't look both ways before crossing the road. As I have a number of posh self-absorbed neighbors I would venture to guess baby bear was struck down by a Tesla, Lexus SUV, or BMW.
Two birds in one shot!
As with baby bear these pictures are heavily cropped and so not of the best clarity unfortunately. Still one must take the opportunities when they arise and work with what they got! The hummingbird was enjoying the pink Dianthus. I bought some dark maroon ones this year so I'm hoping for a nice interwoven blanket of the two Dianthus in the next couple of years.
☙❧
Most of us can only dream of having hummingbirds in our gardens - bears, on the other hand... (poor baby bear). Thank you for inviting us in, Mels!
In a couple of days time we'll be visiting the Expansive Grounds of Delores Delargo Towers where Jon's and Madam Arcati's green fingers work their magic, so be sure to pop back then.
What a lovely array of flowers, Mel! We adore all of 'em - but I am particularly intrigued by the salmonberry, as I have never seen it/heard of it before. Very pretty flower! Jx
ReplyDeletePS Hummingbirds! I wish.
PPS RIP Baby Bear.
It was thanks to you Jon that I learned my lovely pink flowering groundcover was Dianthus during last year's garden party! I can't wait to see the darker maroon ones fill in between the pinks.
DeleteNo hummingbirds in the UK?!?!? I had to look it up! I guess we take the little buggers for granted around here. They are the chihuahuas of the bird world, small packages with big attitude. Two of them are native to my region, Anna's Hummingbird (year-round) and the Ruby-throated hummingbird (seasonal, flies down to California for winter.)
I'm afraid the humble Salmonberry isn't much to look at in terms of plant specimens. It's a leggy understory plant that prefers moist soil and is often found at the edge of wetlands, streams and rivers. The indigenous people of this area prefer a diet of smoked salmon, berries and camas roots. I think this is why the plant got the name 'Salmonberry' among English speakers. Both for its cultural importance to the various Salish tribes but also because it was easy to find near salmon spawning sites. Berries, especially huckleberries, are a favorite food for bears.
Oh! Just looked up the salmonberry, and it seems it's just a "psychedelic" New World take on our own weed bramble/blackberry! Shame. If it were more of a shrub/tree, the flowers would be a selling-point.
DeleteHummingbirds are an entirely South/North American phenomenon, unfortunately - but Dianthus, Honeysuckle, Daffodils, Pansies and Bergenia are all very familiar! [In fact, the first four are all native species in the UK.] Jx
I'd party at you garden any time. How lovely. Sorry for the loss of baby bear, though. I never understand how people mow down animals... I break if I see a squirrel on the side of the road. We all just need to slow down. The pitcher plant is amazing, btw. Wish I had your gift.
ReplyDeleteAw, Thank you! We're very relaxed around here and there are several wineries and small batch whiskey rooms to enjoy. I do miss baby bear. I accidently scared him a couple of times. That's what a lot of people don't understand about black bears, they're very shy. They mostly just want to mind their own business, sleep in their "day beds" and take a dip in a creek or a kiddie pool now and then. They are surprisingly fast, so I imagine baby bear bolted in front of someone going too fast and they just couldn't stop in time. It was all the news around here when every one saw the little bear dead on the side of the road. ;(
DeleteWell! I'd say your bear beats my goanna!
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks a treat! I used to grow many of those plants when I lived in cooler climes and I'm currently storing up memories of old favourites as I'm visiting folk in NZ.
I've got a wildlife camera set up. I'm really trying to catch an image of the cougar around here. They are so elusive! I never want to meet one though. If you actually encounter a cougar it's dangerous. They are the ghost of the forests. Sadly I've captured a lot of wildlife injuries this year. They coyote had an injured front paw, Mama deer had a swollen injured back leg joint (but was recovered within a month) and we've got a solo raccoon with only one eye and a damaged paw.
ReplyDeleteSome people might call my plant selections boring or "granny plants" but hey, if it grows nice and is low maintenance it's a welcome friend in my yard!
Yay! I made it in time for the second entry! Took me awhile to get caught up with the group, as I barely survived the triffids area. Thank heavens Gavin gave me some attention and then brought me up to the crowd goers. And just in time for a beautiful one at that!!!! Melanie never disappoints. She had me with the interesting and pretty Pitcher plant! I'm not sure I have ever heard of one let alone see one. I adore pansies. Take them!!! They are a happy flower, and at least here go crazy and love the colder temps. Mine are still going nuts.
ReplyDeleteAnd kudos for the capture of a hummingbird. We have a few here, and I have yet to get a good capture shot of one.
There's a tiny little baby Venus flytrap at the bottom too, but it got cropped out because I waited four years for this flower! A friend that used to live in the neighborhood had an amazing pitcher plant pot and she was happy to help me setup my own. I almost lost it during the crazy heat dome event a couple years ago when we reached 115F here, in the pacific Northwest where the average temperature is usually mid-70s!
DeleteI'm glad Gavin helped you out and got you back with the crowd.
What beautiful colors, and I especially liked the honeysuckle, I've never seen ones with pink like that. I used to love it when pansies would just pop up in the yard, some years I'd get a bunch and some years not one.
ReplyDeleteIf only you could smell the honeysuckle! It lives up to its name of "cloud fragrant".
DeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteI always love your garden entries!
And i wanted to thank you for bringing Upton back. Something you said clicked and he's back commenting.
*smooches!*
XOXO
It was me!! Why is it that NOBODY ever notices me???!!!
DeleteSx
Even without clucking like a hen
DeleteEveryone gets noticed, now and then
Unless, of course, that personage should be
Invisible, inconsequential, me
Cellophane, Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name, Mister Cellophane
Cause you can look right through me, walk right by me
And never know I'm there
Just be thankful that your messages here aren't going to Mr DeVice's junk email. One of mine has gone awol, so I guess that's where it went...
Jx
Actually it was probably Maddie's glorious post about the gardening event that roused Mr Tonking, and not my vague inquiry, so I will shut up and return to being a wallflower!
DeleteSx
I did find your second comment in the spam box, Jon - gods only know why? Anyway, I've published it now.
DeleteAs for the return of Mr Tonking, I'm sure he did read your comment (at Maddie's, was it?) Ms Scarlet.
But I might also have had something to do with it as I did email him... And I have a very fine selection of garden photos in return!
Yay! Jx
DeleteWell Sixpence, You've set off the whole bird rookery! As you can see I can't take credit for Mr. Tonking's return. I will take your appreciation of the garden entry with gratitude though, Thank you!
DeleteHahahaha
DeleteI see that! And the garden is always a total delight!!!
XOXO
RIP Baby Bear. I forgot about the wildlife aspect of this year's event - probably because I am never quick enough to capture it on camera - so I admire that you caught this bear's brief moment. Good luck with the Cougar - I reckon you'll get the shot.
ReplyDeleteI also have random pansies sprouting up my driveway!! Much nicer than the usual dandelions. And I love the smell of Honeysuckle on a hot day - they are beautiful, too.
Sx
Thank you, Ms Scarlet! I am glad I got the picture of him. Bears have adorable faces! It always takes me a moment to recognize them as bears and not some wayward Portuguese water dog or Burmese Mountain dog (there's one that lives just over yonder.).
Delete"RIP Baby Bear" Have you seen The Revenant?
DeleteI am blown over by this.
ReplyDeleteProxima's (I am not sure if I know them well enough to use Mel!). The plants are Fabulous and so many I just don't know!
I have grown Pitcher Plant and love the space age flower. The Honeysuckle is a fab colour, I just wish I could smell it.
The Salmonberry Flower is Uber Fab and have never seen it before.
We have enough problems with Squirrels and foxes so I don't think that I would be happy with Bears in the garden. That is what Zoos are for.
Ttfn
Aw, Thank you Madam! I know you do wonderful things with your back garden and I always look forward to yours and Jons stop on the garden tour! I love foxes, but I'm glad I don't have to smell fox piss or listen to the little psychos in heat. It's bad enough listening to the crazy deranged songs of the coyotes. I once had to listen to a cougar mewling in heat for hours, a flippin' cougar! By 3am I was ready to start throwing shoes at it, knowing full well it could slap me to death by one big murder paw.
DeleteThis year was a great recovery year for many plants after so much drought, wildfire smoke, heatwaves and freezes. I can't wait for next year already!
I like your description of "running around barefoot in the forest as a child" like some kind of feral child raised by wolves.
ReplyDeleteWait, did you didn't know I was indeed a feral child raised by wolves? It's not far from the truth. I can remember going out to split wood for the fire in my pjs, coat and moon boots as early as age five all by myself. I used to feed the chipmunk in the woodpile Donkey Kong cereal because the barrel shaped cereal was the perfect size for its little hands. It was so adorable!
Delete"Honeysuckle" is a nice name when you think about it. The scented one is called "Geißblatt" in German, "Geiß" usually is a female goat.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that you have hummingbirds in your garden, aren't you far up in the North ? No Kolibri here, never. And no bears. There may be some on the Balcans (Romania, where the Draculs live).
While they appear so small and fragile they are tough little birds. Anna's hummingbird stays year-round and there is an argument that it only stays into winter because so many people have hummingbird feeders. I think that could be partly true, but ultimately, the bird decides if they should migrate or not. So human influence is minor. They are also co-dependent on the Red-breasted sapsuckers who are birds that make small holes to get insects and sap from birch trees.
DeleteThe hummingbird and some months take advantage of the sapsuckers holes as well for the sweet goodness of sap. It does not negatively affect the overall health of the tree. It is like a papercut to them. The Birch Boring Beetles are killing the trees though and this could disrupt the web of inter-dependence.
I am rather envious of your stunning pitcher plant, and can't wait for "honeysuckle season" again - the scent is divine!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking part and replying to all the comments, Mels.
Yes, looking forward to next year's event already. I've got some new additions to get in the ground this winter if the weather will cooperate.
DeleteMadam Arcarti brings up a good point. Why am I suddenly Mel's? I'm not sure who started it. It makes us chummy sure, but its not very sexy. Can't we all be sexy online, except for bigoted trolls? Their true nature makes them ugly in any venue.
Mels? That was definitely Mr Devine playing fast and loose with your moniker.
DeleteThey used to call me Scarls back in the day, I loathed it, so if you really aren’t fond of this we will resolve to come up with something better.
Sx
Oh, Melanie, I'm sorry for the non-sexy naming thingy. I'd seen "Mels" in the comments somewhere - either at Ms Scarlet's, Dinah's, here, or somewhere else entirely, and it stuck in my mind.
DeleteI used "Mels" in the title as a way to shorten it enough to fit on one line *and* on my Sideboard in full (even though the ?!? got turned into ...), then must have got carried away by the end of the post with the thank you. Apologies.
Ms Scarlet & IDV, I've never liked my name much. If I'd been born a boy it would have been Richard (or Dick! Gasp!) at least "Rich" is a nice shortening of the name, that's what my uncle goes by. Thankfully, I rarely get Gone with the Wind nowadays. Melanie is fine, or Proxima or even "Proxy" if we're feeling fun and playful. (I am my own proxy. :) )
DeleteThank you! I really don't like to fuss. When I was growing up there was a popular tv show called "Mel's Diner" of a surly, overweight, balding dude and his waitresses. That's what comes to mind when I hear Mel or Mel's.
Whenever I was called 'Scarls' I immediately thought 'Snarls', which was harsh but fair, anyhow, I feel you - and I was going along the lines of Proxy for a new nickname, or perhaps Roxy for when you're feeling ultra frisky!
DeleteSx
I looove pitcher plants! No need for any of the other entries now!
ReplyDeleteHahaha. Thank you, Hound!
DeleteI had a Heaven Scent rose bush taken out as I was forever snagging my best tops on it's thorns and I replaced it with an evergreen honey suckle Henryii it hasn't flowered yet but I shall be very happy if it looks as good as yours.
ReplyDelete