plantfreak2002

Seven months old and growing fast!

2010-01-27T12:50:00.007-05:00

Here's your latest Cameryn update.

She still enjoys playing in her exersaucer though now she'd much rather be standing up outside the saucer (with momma's help of course).

Sticking her tongue out from around her pacifier is a new favorite habit.

She has a sliver of her new tooth poking out and she tests it on anything she can get a hold of.

Mmm, tasty butterfly!

Mmm, face!

Mmm, toes!
Cameryn still makes some great faces for us.

Like this one:
she's trying to whistle but just blowing air :)
Silly monkey!
Just like her momma.
Another silly face.
She smiles so much now and when she's not smiling
she looks so waif-like and forlorn.
Zonked out! I think she looks more like her daddy when she's sleeping.
Look how big she looks in Gramma's arms!

Her mood is still at it's best just after a nap.

Here with her newest favorite toy, the keyboard.
Stay tuned for month eight!

Christmas Time is Here

2010-01-06T16:25:00.020-05:00

In order to get good pictures for our first-ever, family holiday photo, I asked for special permission to come to Homewood on Sunday (when we are closed). With the help of a tripod, we got some amazing shots that almost look like they were professionally done. These pictures were taken right around Thanksgiving.

In her first outfit we posed her on one of the polar bear decorations
but we just couldn't get her to smile. She was a little more at ease sitting in the sleigh. The stuffed monkey just happened to be there as a decoration. How fitting! We changed her outfit for another try at a polar bear picture. She still refused to smile but it turned out cute just the same.Chillin' in the sleigh with her doll, Brandy Leann.

We decided to take advantage of Cameryn's newly-learned ability to stand. Don't worry, Walt's hand was holding Cameryn in place the whole time. I just photoshopped it out :)
Cam and her daddy. Finally, a smile!

The official 2009 Haney Holiday photo.This is just one more posed shot of Cameryn in her Christmas-wear but I took this one at home. I really expected her to hate that hat more than she did.
Christmas Eve was spent at Gramma and Grampa's house and a good time was had by all.Cameryn and Gramma.Cameryn and Daddy.

Cameryn and Mommy.
Cameryn and Grampa.
Cameryn and Aunt Ginnny.
Cameryn enjoyed all of her gifts because they all offered her something new to chew on, even the boxes.
Since Miss Cam has started teething, everything has become a chewable object. We haven't seen any teeth yet but they're sure to show themselves soon.

Wrapping paper was also a favorite new chew toy.

Hey, look at me on my new ride!

Outta my way, ya crazy drivers!
If Gramma had sprung for an automatic, I wouldn't have to shift gears...
This is definitely going to be one of Cameryn's new favorite toys.Christmas dinner at Gramma's was awesome as usual. Cameryn got to try a few new foods and still hasn't met a food item she doesn't like. Mmm, turkey leg!
I couldn't resist getting some pictures of Cameryn in the first Christmas dress worn by yours truly. (Yes, my mom has kept them all these years)
Isn't that the most precious smile ever?!A lady should always have coordinating undies just in case!Cameryn in the first Christmas dress worn by Aunt Ginny.

Adorable!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T16:35:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving this year was another grand event including 70 or so of our closest family members. Although it proved to be a wonderful family reunion for most, it coincided with the beginning of Cameryn's I-don't-know-you-and-therefore-don't-like-you phase that kept Walt and I confined to mom's bedroom for a good part of the festivities. Almost no one got to hold, visit with or even look at Miss Cam for any length of time. The lucky few people who got the most Cameryn-time included Aunt Annie's beau, Bob. That stone cold face lasted about a minute before the crying began. Cameryn, not Bob :)
Cousin Andrew faired much better.
Cameryn really seemed drawn to him. Isn't it precious?

All the excitement wore our little sweetpea out! Her other bib said "Everyone is thankful for me".

She was happy to get back home to her peaceful, quiet house.

Cameryn Update

2009-11-16T12:24:00.016-05:00

For the members of Cameryn's Fanclub out there who aren't on Facebook, here's the fall update for our little C-Monkey.

Miss Cameryn is growing like a weed and weighs about 17lbs! She is now eating some fruits and veggies in addition to her rice cereal once a day.

She can almost sit up unassisted and does a pretty good job with the Boppy pillow to help her out.
Her little legs are getting very strong and she can stand up for a few seconds with support.
Her gramma continues to spoil her rotten (I'm sure that will never change). Here she is in a super-cute monkey outfit with her moccasins that Gramma and Grampa bought her in the mountains.She has almost outgrown her bouncey seat and when she sits in it she uses her monkey feet to grab the toys. There's those monkey feet again, reaching up to help her grab the elusive butterflies.
She still loves bathtime but no longer throws a fit when it's over.
Her newest favorite thing is her jumper swing. She entertains herself quite well in it especially with the turtle toy from Great Aunt Nita and Uncle Charles.
Unlike her momma, her best time of day is when she first wakes up in the morning.

Like her momma, her second best time of day is after waking up from a nap :)

Great Aunts Vera and Colleen and Great Uncle Dale came up for a visit about two months ago. Miss Cameryn was held and hugged all she could ever want and a good time was had by all.Colleen and Vera gave her a cute outfit that was unfortunately the wrong color (should have been N.C. State red) but she does look adorable in it and it matches her eyes.

Dale and John sent us a gift to commemorate the trip. Dale put together a set of pictures for Cameryn, complete with a "C-Monkey". How crafty! The packing material was brilliant, quite useful and gone in a flash.
Vera & Cameryn

Dale & Cameryn

This one was titled "Profile of Three Blondes" :)

They now brighten Cameryn's otherwise boring bathroom.

Cameryn's trip to the beach

2009-11-15T10:50:00.001-05:00

Last year we spent a week at the beach for Walt's birthday (10/15), as we have for the past few years. On October 16th, 2009, Walt and I found out we were going to have a baby. And so, this year we returned to the Outer Banks with our little Cameryn and marvelled at how much had changed since last year.

Cameryn wasn't quite sure what to make of the surf and the sand but we all had a good time relaxing and enjoying our precious baby.

Cameryn's Gramma, mommy and Great Aunt Nita

The first few days were warm enough for adorable outfits like this one from Nita and Charles.

Cameryn's first ferry ride

Cameryn and Grampa catch a football game.
Life is Good, yes it is.

The last few days were too chilly to be outside on the beach. We love visiting in fall but the weather sure is unpredictable.

I can't wait for next year's trip when our little seamonkey might be just big enough to enjoy it.

A Few of Her Favorite Things

2009-08-21T15:52:00.003-04:00

This past week Cameryn has finally started taking interest in her bouncey seat toys. We hope this signals the beginning of Miss Priss being able to entertain herself for short periods of time. I am so glad my former boss Kim gave me this great hand-me-down! Ah, to make dinner again without interuption ...

After a long day of playing with Mommy (and usually drooling, spitting up and pooing all over the place) it's time for Cameryn's bath.Then there's a little time for having some num-nums and going around like a "nakedy Jane".

Then Daddy burps her in her favorite position aka "the sleeper hold".For her daytime naps, Cameryn loves chillin' in her swing. Laid back, with her mind on her num-nums and her num-nums on her mind. Word! This was another awesome item Kim passed our way.When she wakes up from her afternoon nap Cameryn and Daddy entertain each other with smiles and funny faces.

A Happy Baby

2009-08-05T10:38:00.005-04:00

Well, we definitely have had a few real smiles now. Of course Miss Cameryn has to be in just the right mood to give us a grin: full belly, clean diaper, well rested and no gas (but hey, aren't we all more willing to smile under those conditions).

Here's a happy Cameryn in her Hawaiian happy coat from Auntie Lili.
We've now discovered that one of her favorite activities besides gazing up at the fan or out the window is taking a bath. And I think that Gramma likes giving the bath just as much as Cameryn likes taking it :) They both enjoy her Burt's Bees body wash and I love how she smells afterward. The only trouble is, Cameryn likes her baths so much she almost always throws a fit when you take her out of it. The following is a rare, happy picture of the after-bath experience.

One Month Update

2009-07-27T12:15:00.012-04:00

I can't believe it's already been a month since Cameryn was born! She's growing so fast and is now 9lbs (up from her birth weight of 7lbs 5oz). None of us can agree on who she looks most like. Sometimes I think she looks like me, mostly when she's frowning or deep in thought...

but most of the time I think she looks just like Walt.

We can already tell a lot about her traits and personality.

She hates to be bundled up and will kick her legs out of her blanket if swaddled (she did this from the day she was born). But, she doesn't like her feet to be cold so we've gotten a lot of use out of the many socks we received and also the pants with footies. No matter what she's wearing, she usually sleeps stretched out to her full length. (We have no idea where she got those skinny legs).She's got a great appetite and eats about every two hours (yes, even at night). You can tell she's almost always thinking about "num-nums"...even when she's not awake.She loves being outdoors and will usually stop crying as soon as she goes outside. Obviously this is going to be a huge asset for people like us who spend most of our evenings in the backyard.

If it's too hot out, she'll settle for staring through the window.

She also doesn't mind being carried around in the sling that Cousin Jody gave us, which makes it much easier to get a few chores done around the house. The best part about the past week or so is that Cameryn is beginning to smile more and more.

We're really looking forward to the days when we see more than just those fleeting gas smiles and sleep smiles.

Thank you to all our family, friends and neighbors for your love and support.

Be sure to check back often for updates on Cameryn's development!

The Rest of the Story

2009-07-17T13:46:00.010-04:00

As most of you know, we lost Walt's dad, John, last summer due to complications from lung cancer. I wasn't pregnant when he passed away so he never knew that he'd be a grandpa again this year.

So here's the rest of the story. When Walt and I had our second ultrasound at 13 weeks, we were given a rare opportunity. The ultrasound technician offered to show us 3D pictures of our baby (who at the time was only 3 inches long). It was amazing to see the amount of detail in the images on the monitor and our first real glimpse of little Cameryn.Then came something that made us both gasp. Right there in front of us was a picture of John on the ultrasound screen. The pronounced cheek bones and jawline were unmistakable. We couldn't help but laugh a little and then cry a little at the sight. We are convinced that John was playing a joke on us and at the same time letting us know that he knew about our baby.
These images look so different from the previous three and yet were taken just minutes apart.
The days and months passed by quickly as we headed towards our June 25th due date. The closer we got, the more often Walt would say to me (and sometimes even to Cameryn in my belly), "please don't go into labor on the day Dad died; any day but that day". Our due date came and went and edged us ever closer to the anniversary of John's passing.

On June 26th there were no signs that I would go into labor. I wasn't nesting, I had seen no blood, I had no contractions. In fact, I felt pretty good all day so the whole family worked outside on our backyard project. But, I did try to take it easy for most of the day, just in case.

That night when I awoke with a contraction, the first thing I did was look at the clock. It was 12:04 am, four minutes into Saturday, June 27th, the date John passed away. I smiled a knowing smile to myself and playfully cursed John's name. I knew that even though it was just one little contraction, I was going into labor and would give birth by the end of the day. It is fairly well-known that I am not religious, nonetheless I do consider myself to be a spiritual person. And I truly believe that John had something to do with the timing of my labor. It's as if he liked the circle-of-life nature of it all.

To punctuate the story, there is a small epilogue. Our first days at home after Cameryn's arrival were somewhat trying. We couldn't get our new little one to nurse properly, she was fussy each evening and she refused to go to sleep at night. We were exhausted from several days of running on adrenaline and very little sleep. To make matters worse, it had been hot and dry for several days in a row so our yard was in desperate need of water but our rain barrels were almost empty. We had purchased flowers to place on John's grave but of course had been unable to go on Saturday so Walt made the trip alone just days after Cameryn was born. Before he left I told him, "while you're talking to your dad, tell him to send rain". That afternoon, Walt spent an hour or two watering our thirsty plants with the last bit of our collected rain water.

Around 11:30 that night, we were just settling down for bed. From out of nowhere the wind began to blow, it lightninged and thundered, and the rain poured so hard it filled the house with sound. It was just what our poor plants needed and enough rain to fill up our empty barrels. We were so relieved.

But because John had always been quite the trickster, there was one final joke on us. Walt had placed the trashcan and recycle bin by the roadside to be picked up the next day. The strong gusts of wind had tipped them over and were beginning to spread trash all over the yard. Walt ran outside with just a small umbrella to set them upright and bungee their lids shut. When he returned his bottom half was completely soaked. Just as we had done before, we laughed a little and cried a little. And I smiled and cursed John's name.

Cameryn's Birth Story

2009-07-06T15:28:00.007-04:00

I woke up having a contraction at 12:04 am on Saturday, June 27th. About three minutes later I had another one. Two or three minutes after that, another. After the fifth or sixth one I decided to wake up Walt, just in case. By 12:30 I had already experienced at least a dozen contractions and the "show", a telltale sign that this might be the real deal. Because the contractions already seemed so regular and so close together we called the doctor to ask how we should proceed. How would we know when we should head to the hospital? She informed me that if Iwas going into labor I wouldn't be able to carry on a conversation with her like I was and we shouldn't leave the house until I had contractions that lasted almost a minute each, were very painful and came on every four to five minutes.

So Walt and I waited and the contractions kept coming, two to three minutes apart. I knew we'd be making the trip to the hospital sometime that morning so I showered and washed my hair to make myself feel better. When my status hadn't changed by 2:00 am, except that the contractions were a little more intense, we decided to play it safe and proceed with our thirty minute drive to the hospital. We called the doctor again to tell her we were on the way. She thought we were being hasty but we didn't care. Walt said he didn't want to deliver the baby in our livingroom.

Several weeks ago I had jokingly asked my parents and sister, "when I go into labor, can I call you any time, even if it's two in the morning?" Their answer was yes of course. And so, as we gathered our things Walt made the necessary phone calls at precisely 2 am. Ginny arrived at the hospital at 2:30, just minutes after we did, where she snapped this shot of me still looking relatively awake.

They admitted me to the triage of the maternity ward, gave me the super-sexy gown pictured below and by 3:00 they checked my progress. I was only 1cm dialated. Because I was two days over due they decided to do an ultrasound to make sure the baby wasn't stressed.

The ultrasound took forever to complete and by the time Walt and I got back to triage it was 5:00am. As we sat and waited for the radiologist to arrive to analyze the sonograms I continued to have my two-to-three-minute-apart contractions. Around 6:00 we still hadn't seen the radiologist so Walt went down to the lobby to give Mom, Dad and Ginny an update. Mom decided to come up and sit with me for a while. By 6:45 we were all becoming rather impatient because the radiologist still hadn't shown up. I was going to throw a fit if after all this waiting they just sent us home. The nurse decided to check my progress again just for the heck of it. Lo and behold, I was 3cm dialated. It was just enough progress for them to admit me to Labor & Delivery. Yahoo!

Mom, Dad and Ginny all came up to the room to encourage me and distract me through my contractions. I got Ginny to start texting our friends and family around 8am to let them know it would soon be showtime. Between contractions I filled out the paperwork to donate the baby's cordblood. By the time I was offered an epidural I had endured at least eight hours of contractions almost every two minutes and I was exhausted. I couldn't help but say yes.

My water had to be broken by the doctor at 8:50 and she told me that we probably wouldn't start pushing until 1 or 2 o'clock because this was my first pregnancy. But at least I was dialated to 5cm so I was still making progress. An hour later I was at 6.5cm and at 10:50 I told the nurse that I had a funny feeling down below. When I said "I feel some pressure down there and the urge to bear down" she responded "it's OK honey, just do it, it happens all the time, we'll clean it up". I frowned and said "but there's a lot of pressure and I think I want to push". She still didn't get it and said "don't worry about it, don't be embarassed, it'll make you feel better, plenty of women poo on the table". So I practically screamed at her "I feel a head and I want to push now!" Assuming that I was over-reacting, she humored me and took a look. "I'll get the doctor", she said.

Mom and Dad went back down to the lobby to wait while Walt and Ginny stayed by my side. At 11:00 my doctor arrived, by 11:10 we were pushing and at 11:30am Cameryn Elyse entered the world. She was 7lbs, 5oz and 20.5 inches long.

Ginny was there to capture the moments just after Cameryn was delivered.

Mom and Dad returned to the room to get their first look at their new grandbaby.

Baby shower at Tina's

2009-06-15T08:38:00.012-04:00

A couple of Sundays ago my awesome friend/co-worker Tina hosted a final baby shower for Walt & me. And yes, Walt actually attended as did several other of my favorite boys (Tina's husband Andy, Jim & Hal from work, and Ginny's boyfriend Jacob. What brave souls!)
The great thing about events at Tina's house is that no matter the occasion they always have the atmosphere of a garden party. (so maybe it heped the boys feel less self-conscious about the fact that they were at a baby shower) My girlfriend Courtney also dared to join us nursery geeks for the festivities and I was really glad that she was able to make it.
The food was awesome, as it usually is at our work parties. And as a pregnant lady I must tell you, yes, it is all about the food.

Linda commissioned her sister (who works in a bakery) to make a cake that looked just like the quilt from the baby's room. It was a wonderful surprise and she did a fabulous job as you can see.
Best of all, Lili drove in from Kentucky and made me flan! It's my favorite dish that she makes. It's so good, sometimes I daydream about it! Mmmm, flan...

I received a ton of adorable outfits and, more importantly, lots of useful gifts. The gift area ladies picked out this super-cute picture frame...

which goes perfectly with the decor in Cameryn's room.

It's so great to have a super work-family surrounding me. They're the ones who have to put up with my gripes, hunger pangs and mood swings on a daily basis and yet, they still stick around to wish me well. I'm a lucky gal.

Finally finished!

2009-06-15T08:24:00.009-04:00

The baby's room is finally done. Now all we need is a baby to put in it :) We finally got the corner shelf up so Mom's Tiffany lamp has a home.

The dresser doubles as a changing table which I think will come in quite handy.

The coat rack has brushed nickel dragonflies for hooks.My friends at work got the cute green picture frame for us. It matches the room perfectly.
Thanks to all of our wonderful family and friends everything is ready for Cameryn's arrival

and we can't wait!

Baby Shower at Mom's

2009-06-01T08:01:00.011-04:00

I still don't have any pictures of the surprise baby shower my family threw for Walt and me in Florida. It was so unexpected and so appreciated, I'll have to do a proper write-up as soon as I get my hands on them. So for now...

Mom, with the help of Aunt Janet and Cousin Brenda, threw a shower for me this past Saturday. I had a great time and thought that Mom did a wonderful job decorating. There was lots of good stuff to eat including Chicken Salad Sandwiches made by Uncle Mack, tasty pineapple punch made by Janet and spinach dip and cookies made by Mom.

The cake was actually 24 cupcakes with piles of frosting on top. We all enjoyed the cupcakes but they were really difficult to eat without making a mess.

Mom used the candles from my first baby shower in Florida and rubber duckies to make the center piece. It was quite creative and adorable to boot!

We played a few games that got the aunts and cousins cackling. The "guess the circumference of the mom-to-be game" was a hoot because most of my guests apparently think I'm the size of a cow. Luckily, Cousin Sue and Aunt Mindy were really close to guessing my actual size and I am comforted to know that not everyone sees me as muy grande :)

Later I sat in my comfy new glider and opened gifts. Aunt-to-be Ginny was my secretary, taking notes to help me with my thank you cards. (I'll have to post pictures of the great stuff and super-cute outfits I got). I was especially glad to see Aunt Mindy who came all the way from Virginia and Cousin Brenda who drove from Charlotte to be with me on my special day. It was really nice to have all of my local family members there to wish me and Cameryn well. I even got some good suggestions for her yet-to-be-determined middle name and great baby advice.
Next up: the last baby shower thrown by my friends and co-workers this coming weekend.

More baby's room pics

2009-05-29T20:40:00.003-04:00

The furniture has magically appeared! Apparently a few members of my family pitched in to buy our crib and dresser, then Mom and Dad ordered it and dropped it off at the house. Walt and I were so surprised! Now we're pretty much set for Cameryn's arrival. Here's the dresser/changing table. The lamp won't be able to stay there (for obvious reasons) but it sure made for a pretty picture.

Also, a close-up of the window shade Mom made. It's got the faintest hint of an alphabet print on it. So cute!More pictures to come!

Baby Watch 2009 update

2009-05-01T11:33:00.007-04:00

It's been FOREVER! since I posted because I've been a little bit busy with all of the preparations for our new addition. The baby's room is well-on-the-way to being finished thanks mainly to my Mom who is clearly quite eager to be a grandma. Of course, the boys (Dad and Daddy-to-be) have pitched in on the project a bit by painting and hanging the window shade but they're not as into it as us girls :)

Mom and Walt got the room painted about a month ago. Picking the color was an even more difficult decision than I thought it would be. I knew I wanted green but it took me a few weeks of fretting to decide exactly which shade of green. I tried to pick something that would complement the bedding we had chosen (shown below the window) and finally settled on a light green called "Garden Fairy" (Quelle surprise). It turned out more yellowy than I had pictured it but it's grown on me. (the picture makes it look much darker than it actually is).

The bedding came with a cute little valance for the window but I wanted a curtain as well so Mom and I picked a coordinating fabric and she made a roller shade. I think it turned out great (I'll have to post close-ups of the fabric and trim later).

Mom also provided us with this lovely little lamp because "it matched the baby's room". Every baby girl needs a Tiffany, you know. Did I mention that Mom is quite excited about the arrival of her grandchild? :)

Once we get the furniture I'll have to post pictures of the completed room. Hopefully I'll accomplish the garden-inspired, not-too-terribly-girly look I'm going for.

I've Been Pollinated!

2008-12-22T14:57:00.005-05:00

For those of you who haven't heard, the hubby and I are growing a special seedling. It should mature around June 25th of next year. Although it is only about three inches tall at the moment, we were able to get some great pictures of the little one last week.

Isn't technology incredible? We will try to keep everyone posted on its progress as it grows.

Stop back in soon!

A visit to Hawksridge

2008-10-20T13:31:00.015-04:00

My co-workers and I visited Hawksridge Nursery in Hickory, NC two weeks ago and since it was a trip full of oohs and aahs I decided to share a few pictures. We got to see tons of cool plants that aren't on the market yet and plants I've never even heard of. It was definitely plant geek heaven! And it's nestled under a lovely little mountain to boot.Eurya japonica is a plant that is not very desirable to most people because, as it's name implies, it has a distinctive, urine-like fragrance. However, this subtly variegated version really caught our eyes and supposedly, it's evergreen too!

This fairly new holly (Ilex x 'Orton') has way less prickles for a friendlier plant. And check out those fruits!

I had never heard of this plant Neolitsea before, but now, I sure do like it for it's foliage that resembles evergreen dogwood and emerges a lovely shade of plum purple.
The newest member of the Endless Summer Hydrangea Series, Twist-n-Shout™. The lace-cap bloom is pretty and althought it's not that special, it's when the bracts turn down in fall that the real show begins.
Acer palmatum 'Bi Hou' is a new gold bark version of the coral bark maple ('Sango kaku') that should be hitting the market by next spring.A softer Mahonia for a more ferny look in the landscape, M. confusa 'Narihira' kind of looks like a Nandina, but way cooler.
If you can figure this one out without cheating then you are the best plant-IDer ever. Hold your cursor over the picture for the answer.
An as yet unnamed variegated Daphniphyllum. I didn't think I could love this plant any more until they went and made a variegated one. I can't wait to get my hands on this unnamed variegated Osmanthus. (yes, maybe I like variegated plants a little too much)I saw this Illicium floridanum 'Florida Sunshine' a few years ago at Plant Delights Nursery. Tony Avent had one planted by his back door and it took my breath away. But at the time, he didn't have any for sale. Now it's finally going to be available to the public.This is another plant I'd never heard of and now it has become one of my favorite curse words: Damnacanthus! (The one pictured is an unnamed, variegated D. indicus)

Yet another new plant to me is the Camellia relative, Schima. I'm not sure about the species but I want one just the same.

I'm including the last picture for my buddy Jim, who is quite enamoured with this tree, and with good reason. Super-cool fruits dangle from the branches each fall and someone decided to give it the best name ever. Ziziphus jujuba, the jujubee tree!

So many plants, so little yard space!

The Backyard Project

2008-10-01T13:37:00.006-04:00

Now that the rose garden is 95% finished and the perennial border has begun, we've decided to start the next big project. With a little of help from my friends/co-workers, Tina and Steve,(actually it was a lot of help but who's keeping track) we came up with a design to fill the middle section of our oddly shaped backyard. I wish Lisa had been here to put in her two cents on this design, like she did on the rose garden and the veggie beds, but D.C. gets to enjoy her presence instead. Luckily, as you will see, we still managed to come up with a pretty good design.

This is the "before" shot.

Here's the basic blueprint we were using to form the beds. It's from Tina's copy of The Small Garden Encyclopedia by Sue Phillips. First, we laid out the metal edging to form the beds. It was kind of expensive but it was worth it to keep the mulch and the gravel seperated.
Next, we filled in the paths with pea gravel and started leveling the circles where the grass would go. Up to this point, my husband had been skeptical of how the whole thing would turn out, but the addition of the gravel made the design much more clear to him. (Mom and hubby, both of whom are real work-horses and have given the project wings, are pictured below)
With the Emerald Zoysia sod laid, the right side of the yard was essentially complete. Next year we'll began to fill in with more shrubs and perennials but even without them the yard is looking pretty spiffy.

The next phase of the yard will include a semi-circular sitting wall with a fountain/firepit in the center, another sitting area approximately where the bench is and some additional veggie beds (towards the left side of the picture). We don't really have a design for this part of the yard so I guess we're just going to wing it.

I'll post more photos when another phase is complete. Until then, try to contain your jealousy and feel free to stop in for a look :)

Rose Garden update

2008-09-24T13:16:00.002-04:00

The rose garden is now almost entirely complete. There's one spot left for one lucky rose. (Currently 'Moondance' is the candidate in the lead because I don't have a white one yet) This picture was taken from the master bathroom window to show the neat X shape the paths form.
The 'Fourth of July' climbing rose finally decided to bloom for me. It was only one or two clusters but it was still nice. I'm definitely not complaining because this was one of the free ones. I'm hoping it forms some nice rosehips next.The 'Mardi Gras' stopped producing large, double blooms and has decided to make lots of fewer-petaled flowers. I don't think it's supposed to do that but I don't mind so much. It's still got great color and it's charming somehow.
On the other extreme, the latest set of blooms on the 'Tahitian Sunset' are bigger and better than ever. I believe this is also the most fragrant rose I own so it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I'm starting to not miss the 'Tropicana' at my old house.

I have finally managed to capture my 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' at it's best. The blooms are small and in clusters but that's what I like about it. Plus, it's one of the most disease resistant cultivars I've ever grown. It clashes terribly with the 'Gemini' and the 'Brigadoon' behind it but oh well.

The 'Tournament of Roses' is also looking particularly floriferous. Each rose isn't anything to write home about but the whole show is. This one was a freebie, too. Score!

Here's 'Brandy' who I jokingly call "Brandi LeAnn" because that's what my mom wanted to name me (Thank you, Dad, for winning that battle! I'd rather have Dale for a middle name than Brandi for a first name any day :)

And my 'Brigadoon' still makes me swoon and I don't think I'll tire of it any time soon :) *dork alert* Especially now since the cool nights have darkened it's petals to almost red. I've been clipping single blooms for the downstairs bathroom for weeks and I just love it!
Here's all the cultivars by layout.
1. Touch of Class

2 Spellbound

3. Disneyland

4. Beloved (aka Cesar E. Chavez)

5. Brandy

6. Tournament of Roses

7. Mardi Gras

8. Tahitian Sunset

9. empty for now

10. Brigadoon

11. Gemini

12. Our Lady of Guadalupe

13. Fourth of July (not shown)

My New Yart

2008-09-04T21:31:00.018-04:00

Nope, the title is not a typo. It's short for "yard art". Most of the yart my husband and I have acquired has been given to us by friends and family that were reminded of us upon seeing it.

There's the resin statue of frogs playing poker, a gift from my sister, because my husband and I play Texas Hold'em on Wednesday nights. (picture coming soon)

There's the metal gardening cat from my mom, who says, "he's carrying a bucket of water because he don't like hose" (It's much funnier when spoken aloud).

The most recent additions to our collection are possibly the classiest. My wonderful aunt and uncle from Napa have the best taste in all things and these gifts were no exception. The first is an armillory sundial that's extra cool because it's functional as well as lovely. Plus, the hubby can appreciate it because it's a bit more manly. It's the perfect addition to our formal rose garden.

The second gift was a pair of copper dancing frogs. They have not found their permanent home in the yard but for the moment they frolick in the rose garden as well. These joyful amphibians are amazingly appropriate because they will forever remind us of our honeymoon, when we enjoyed seeing some adorable, human-sized frog statues at the Aquarium in Charleston, SC.

These are some pictures we took on the honeymoon, way back in May 2005 :)

Those of you who know me know that I totally have on a goobery grin in this picture (hence the cropping).

If you google Charleston Aquarium frog statue it becomes apparent that lots of other people love those frogs, too. I'm really glad I now have a daily reminder of them and such a happy moment in my life.

The Crapemurder Epidemic

2008-08-08T12:41:00.005-04:00

So it's a little bit late in the season for this subject but I just came across a great article that I apparently missed when it was printed this April in our local paper. Now that I've seen it, I just had to post a link. It was written by one of my favorite plant geeks, Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery who obviously has very strong opinions on the issue of what we in the "biz" call crapemurder. Somehow, many people who grow crapemyrtles in the southeast have decided that it's a good idea to hack them to bits each spring. Tony gives us some wonderful guidelines for how these idiots and misguided fools should be prosecuted. Enjoy!

Tony's rant

This is a link to an additional rant from Greg Grant on Tony's site:

Greg's rant

Stop the Crapemurder!

My Rose Garden

2008-07-28T13:05:00.005-04:00

The first outdoor project I began when we moved into our new house last year was the rose garden. (I'll add a better picture later. This is the only one I could find at the moment.) Eight of the roses (and later the climber, 'Fourth of July') were non-saleable so I got them for free. I love my job.

Here's how it looks now. (Again I'll have to find better picture) There are now 11 roses in the formal bed, plus the one climber on the fence and one miniature I rescued from the grocery store. There's still one spot left in the formal bed for one lucky rose. Right now I'm thinking it'll be 'Moondance' because I don't have a white rose and it performed really well at the nursery this year and last.

'Beloved' (fka 'Cesar E. Chavez') is one of my favorite reds because it holds its color really well and has great disease resistance. This picture does not do it justice; I'll have to post a better one. Another terribly non-representative picture of 'Beloved'. Reds are so difficult to photograph.
'Brandy' is probably the most differently colored rose I have. As you make your way down the list you'll start to see a pattern to the colors I prefer. I love the way the peachy color softens the other colors in arrangements. The habit is a little tall but the stems are nice and long.

'Brigadoon' has been a great performer with blooms that change color with the temperature. When the weather is cool it takes on rich pink to coral tones and even just the cool nights that we've had this summer have done the trick. This picture was taken July 16th, 2008 but usually by now the color has faded to pale pink.

A great little floribunda called 'Disneyland'.

'Gemini' with it's twin buds.

'Gemini' again, oh how it makes me swoon.

'Brigadoon' and'Gemini' look very similar in bud but as the flowers mature their differences become more obvious. 'Gemini' develops almost pure white insides (like the two at the top of the bouquet) and 'Brigadoon' softens to a paler shade of coral.
'Mardi Gras' was a new introduction for 2008 and so far it has performed quite well. I actually purchased this one.

This picture of 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' will have to do for now. I hope to get a good picture of the bloom clusters she usually produces. She's the only pink rose I have without a hint of coral shading. But, she performed so well at my last house I had to buy one for the new garden.

The color of 'Spellbound' is gorgeous (a very rich coral with faint white shading) but so far the plant has been the least vigorous.

'Tahitian Sunset' was my third rose purchase for the year. At the nursery the flowers were huge so I hope by next year I'll get the same performance.

'Touch of Class' is pretty on paper but has failed to impress me in person so far. The color is lovely but the blooms have been puny and don't have enough petals. I'll give her one more year and if she doesn't shape up I'll give her away to a good home.

'Tournament of Roses' is one of the heaviest blooming floribunds I've ever seen and the flowers have an interesting frilly shape. It and 'Disneyland' are the two most floriferous roses I own.

Together they make a lovely bouquet.

Disneyland (one whole cluster)
Mardi Gras
Brandy
Spellbound
Tournament of Roses

Fun with Flowers & Macro

2008-07-23T14:09:00.008-04:00

In an effort to have more plants on this supposed plant-related blog, I now present to you some of my favorite macros of flowers.

My mom's unidentified tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)

Another tree peony (how can you not love tree peonies?) Paeonia suffruticosa 'Kokuryu nishiki' which translates to "Black Dragon Brocade". This is the darkest peony I've ever seen and it is gorgeous!

I'm not sure which Fuchsia this is but I got it from the Home Despot for $2 and it's been hardy through four winters in zone 7b. Score!

Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange Hawkweed). Taken in Worcester, Massachusetts. I love it up north; they've got the best wildflowers.

Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower)

Passiflora spp.

Taraxicum officinale (It sounds nicer in latin)

Yeah, so it's not a flower macro, it's a seedhead macro. Whatever.

The yawning mushroom. OK, here's another picture that isn't technically of a flower but, it is the "flowering body" of the mushroom. And it looks like a face, so it entertained me.

This is possibly my most favorite flower macro ever.

Hymenocallis 'Tropical Giant' (if I remember correctly). I bought it from Plant Delights Nursery about five years ago and it his never disappointed me.

Cool bug pics

2008-07-14T12:40:00.008-04:00

These are some random pictures I've taken recently of different bugs. I like bugs. They're so entertaining.

Just like my old yard, my new yard is overrun with black widow spiders (Latrodectus mactans) like this one who was nice enough to pose for me. I'm kidding of course. Girlfriend was quite deceased when I got this shot.

This picture, which I swear is not photoshopped, is clearly of a daddy long legs (Phalangium opilio) sitting on a daylily sign. But what pray tell is he dining on?

That would be chocolate cake and he is loving it! I guess it's a good thing for him that I work with a bunch of slobs who leave cake crumbs lying around.This is a rhino beetle my boss found. We think it came in with a shipment we received from Florida. I perched him on a Roma tomato to give the picture perspective but now he just looks silly.

I tried to show his neat coloring by front lighting him...

and back lighting him but the iridescence of his shell made it hard to focus properly on him.

Fun with Treefrogs

2008-07-05T13:41:00.016-04:00

I guess if my blog is called "plantfreak" I should have more than one post about plants. (In hindsite it should have been "plants & rants"). So here are some pictures that at least have some water lotus and papyrus in the frame.

The treefrogs that posed for these pictures are the teeniest little things. Currently they live in the water plant storage containers at Homewood Nursery. They are very agreeable and let me move them around without much resistance. I swear that none of the frogs are photoshopped (other than minor changes in lighting) and that none were harmed in the taking of these pictures.

Daddy long legs

The pensive frog.

The three amigos.

It's a big world out there

Just when you thought Colocasia 'Illustris' couldn't get any cooler...

A Bazillion Thank Yous

2008-06-07T13:19:00.014-04:00

Because I have such a wonderful forum here, for all the world to see, I would like to use it to thank my Mom and my husband. I owe them everything and I want to thank them a millon times over.

As soon as my accident occured, my wonderful husband sprang into action, gathering damp towels, copious amounts of ice, aloe for the wounds and snacks to keep me from passing out. He didn't even pause as he called Mom to tell her what happened. And he did this all despite the fact that I had screamed bloody murder and then began sobbing uncontrollably. He even offered to carry me to the car, though the last thing we needed was for him to throw his back out. When we arrived at the hospital he fetched a wheel chair and made sure I got immediate care. I have never seen anyone admitted and treated as quickly as I was without being brought in on a stretcher.

At home, he has now assumed almost all of the daily chores. I can't do the grocery shopping, I can't clean the litterbox, I can't pick the vegetables from the garden, I can't water my millions of potted plants outside and so, in addition to his full time job, he does these things and more. We can't even sleep in the same bed at the moment so he gets me settled into the guest room every night. I'm so glad I've got him here to take care of me and put up with my sorry-butt.

Then there's my Mom. She takes care-giving to a whole other level. She arrived at the hospital almost as soon as we did (and she never drives faster than the speed limit). She sat with me for the full four hours that I spent in the emergency room so that my husband could visit with his dad in ICU. When the nurse spread burn cream onto my wounds they missed a few spots and then left, so she donned some rubber gloves and filled in the spots herself. She did her best to distract me and keep me as calm as she could during my terrible pain and discomfort.

Now, she helps my husband tend the plants and make sure that I'm as comfortable as I can be. Most importantly, she comes over twice a day to change my bandages because I can't bring myself to do it just yet. It's a repulsive job (if you've ever seen a second degree burn you know) but clearly she has a stomach of steel. I've always known that my Mom is an amazing woman but sometimes it's easy to take her for granted because she makes it seem so easy.

The rest of my family has been very supportive including my Dad and my sister who have taken time out of their very busy days to visit me and wish me well. But my Mom and my husband have gone above and beyond the call of duty, so much so that I fear I will never be able to thank them enough. For now this public display will have to do. I love you guys.

On the Loss of Everyone's Best Friend

2008-05-31T13:26:00.004-04:00

There is a rock at the end of my Mom's driveway that sometimes has the ability to make me cry. If the light is just right, it catches me off guard almost everytime I see it. The problem is, that rock is just the right size and just the right shape and in the moments before the sun sets it has a subtle orange cast. As soon as I pull into my Mom's driveway, if the sunlight has begun to fade,

I see Tobey again. Tobey was the kind of cat that even dog lovers could appreciate. He came when you called for him. He was friendly to everyone he met. He was a skilled hunter of pesky voles. He couldn't get enough attention and he'd flop on your feet just to get it. Unlike most cats he was never aloof, he would let you play with his ears or belly or tail and even if you tried to give him a bath

he wouldn't hiss, bite or scratch.

Mom and Dad say that the most special thing about Tobey was that he chose them. Sometime during the fall of 1999 he wandered into the yard. He was a much thinner kitty back then. Mom had never been much of an animal lover but she could never let any one or any thing go hungry so she started feeding him. Of course he kept coming back and eventually he just stayed. For the longest time Mom referred to him as "the cat" but after it was clear that he was going to be a permanent fixture, my sister and I settled on the name Tobey. That name led to his nicknames: Tobias, Tobalicious and his latino name Tobrerro Miguel. A rumor spread throughout the family that Mom had a cat but no one could believe it. Everyone knew that Mom didn't like having indoor pets so they couldn't imagine her owning a cat. Actually Tobey slept in the garage and stayed as more or less a barn cat. He didn't mind; he prefered being outside anyway. When we caught him napping on Mom's bed one day we finally had proof that Mom not only owned a cat but loved him enough to let him inside the house.

He was such a handsome boy. How could anyone, even Mom, resist him? And how many cats would sport a Santa hat and a smile without a fight.As he grew older he became more and more lovable with his easy-going nature and his big fat chubby cheeks. The ladies at the vets office adored him for that. He was a big kitty but by each January he would look huge with his shaggy winter coat.If you walked about Mom's yard he was sure to follow close behind and maybe roll over on your feet. And he'd always talk to you with that distinctive voice of his. It's impossible to walk that yard now and not think of him.

A few years after Tobey arrived, he led another stray in need of help to Mom and Dad's door. She soon gave birth to three kittens, Bucky, Satchel and Yoda. And although they were not his own, Tobey looked after them as if they were.

The kittens were eventually adopted but Tobey's new girlfriend, Priscilla, was allowed to stay. She thanked Mom and Dad by being an even better hunter than Tobey and was soon given the nickname "Priss-killa"

So for several wonderful years, we were blessed enough to enjoy the presence of Tobey and his helpful mate. And each evening we were comforted by the sight of the two of them curled up in their bed.

Sadly, an outdoor cat is usually a short-lived one and we could not keep Tobey forever. In early March just after this picture was taken, he became so ill he could not recover. He was put to rest on March 13, 2008 and placed at his favorite spot beneath the bird feeder. It's amazing to all of us now how terribly we miss him. His absence is almost tangible. Because to know him was to love him

and that, we did.

I'd like to believe that one day I will see him again, in the heaven that I picture. But if heaven exists without any cats,

I'm not interested.

Meet the Kitties

2008-05-30T21:02:00.001-04:00

Since I've heard it's what all the other animal loving dorks are doing, I guess I need to go ahead and introduce my furry children to the world.
My future husband and I had talked about getting a pet when he moved from an apartment into a house. We thought that having a kitten around would be fun. We had even begun to discuss what we’d like in a cat. We agreed: no dark-haired cats, no boring types like striped cats or calicos and definitely no long-haired cats. But clearly fate had different plans. From youngest to oldest and as pictured we have Georgia, Tyger and Mardi.

On Wednesday December 22, 1999 I went to Wal-Mart to do some Christmas shopping with my Mom. When we walked out the front door I spotted a woman trying to find homes for four kittens. The kittens belonged to her co-worker and were going to be euthanized if they did not find homes. I fell in love right away with a spunky black kitten that grabbed at my heartstrings and wouldn’t let go. I called my then boyfriend and once I had his blessing I went back into the store, bought the necessary supplies and came out to claim my new kitten.
We didn’t know what to name her at first. We thought that Mia might be appropriate, after Mia Hamm, because her favorite toy was a little spongy soccer ball. But, it just didn’t seem to fit. Because she was rescued at Wal-Mart and I was minoring in French at the time we decided on "Mardi".

We fell completely in love with our Mardi and after a few months we decided she needed a sibling. We discussed what the new kitten should look like. No more dark-haired cats, no boring tabby cats, no long hair.

On 8/20/00, Pet Smart had a Snowflake adoptathon. There we fell in love with a tiny, fuzzy ball of fur that had the most amazing green eyes and would not stop purring. He was quite ordinary looking and, of all things, striped. He had been named Texaco, after the gas station where he was found. We didn’t like the name and tried to call our little boy Tyler. It didn’t stick. And although we tried to fight it, we couldn’t keep ourselves from called him Tyger.

The first few weeks were a bit rocky. Mardi was already spoiled rotten and not at all amused with her new little brother.

But after a few days of growling, a few days of hissing and a few days of pouting, she began to accept her new companion and they soon became inseparable playmates. This is a favorite picture of the a-little-bit-too-perfect Stepford Kitties.

Now with Mardi Louise and Tyger Woods, our home was complete. We decided that two cats was enough for our tiny starter home.

Sometime around Thanksgiving 2001 we began to have a daily visitor to our front porch. She was sweet, charming and had a fluffy mane of gray fur.

Although she was incredibly adorable and friendly, we knew we couldn’t keep her. We tried desperately to find her a good home as the days and nights got colder and colder. Meanwhile, she spent her evenings curled up on the front porch inside a towel-lined box we made for her. One night it got very cold so we let her inside to sleep in the guest bathroom. The next morning, we sent her outside once again. The next night, she didn’t come back. We worried incessantly the entire time she was gone. The next evening when she showed up again we were elated and decided to let her stay inside until we could find her a home. Mardi and Tyger didn’t exactly agree with our decision. The growling, hissing and pouting were two-fold this time.

But in a few weeks time, Mardi cooled down and just kept her distance. And Tyger had found his soulmate.

Eventually we realized that it was official, Georgia Ann was our third furry child. We had managed to acquire a very dark, dark-haired cat, a boring ol' striped cat and super-fluffy long-haired cat and we couldn't be happier.

Now we have a big new house for them to run around and play in and they get to watch the birds all day long.

Longwood Gardens

2008-05-29T13:37:00.000-04:00

The hubby and I took a side trip to Longwood in August, 2005. We were on our way to the World Championships of Discgolf in Allentown, PA, and I begged him for a detour on our way up. I've always wanted to share pictures from this trip because they include some of my favorites.

The most enjoyable part of visiting Longwood was the tropical water gardens. There I got some awesome shots of waterlilies

with the help of an obliging dragonfly

Check out the giant leaves and buds of this Nymphaea amazonica.

This is the super-cool and aptly named Mosaic Plant (Ludwigia sedioides)
They also had an awesome set of greenhouses with all kinds of neat tropicals and an incredible collection of orchids. I love this shot of a door covered with Tillandsia.

Phaelonopsis orchids

more orchids, you can never have enough orchids

I learned a new plant that I liked so much I talked our greenhouse people into growing it. The picture just doesn't do it justice. There are thousands of tiny pink flowers followed by teeny red and orange fruits all over chartreuse foliage. Trust me, it's awesome.

Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum)

We saw several of these signs throughout the gardens. Who doesn't like a nice garden cat. (Mom knows the usefulness of them thanks to Tobey and Priscilla)

I'm not really into manicured gardens like these

But when you use a model like this to shape your topiaried Taxus...

the results are hilarious! I call it "What are yew lookin' at" aka "the topiary furby"

I'm not sure it's the look that the prestigious Longwood Gardens was going for but, I can dig it!

I can't believe it's come to this

2008-05-29T13:24:00.000-04:00

After many years of resisting the fad, the geeky side of me has taken over... well, the computer geek side, that is. My plantgeek side took over a long time ago. I can't see a more perfect way to share my love of plants (and animals, too) with whoever gives a crap.