“Yours truly” is indoors, at the computer, because all energy was exhausted doing projects this morning. The weather was perfect for working in the storage building and tarp shelter. Correction: the morning weather was perfect…. It became uncomfortably hot by noon, and unbearable by two. Earlier…, I removed a lot of things from the storage building–and most are on my patio awaiting decisions. This was a good time to consolidate all my bird feeders. I fashioned hooks from old wire hangers. ~~ Honestly, I put a lot of stuff in a trash bag and all will be hauled away!! ~~ Things are set aside for a donation to Thrift ‘n Gift. ~~ A “casual,” but productive morning!! ~~ Note that I have “disaster preparedness.” Food and emergency supplies if we have to “shelter in place.”

Wishful thinking: I wish there were a few neighbor individuals interested in birds, and gardening. I’d love to share some of my “too much stuff” with them!! FREE

Mid-afternoon, I became the recipient of two more pathetic, neglected, discarded plants. Nothing I want but I’ll transplant… and nurture, and eventually (hopefully) find a new home for them. (The planters are battered and broken, and can’t be salvaged.)

A day in the life of an old lady!!

Where are my birds??

Usually, I have many birds at my feeders–all hours of the day. Lately, not a single bird morning, afternoon and evening. The CARE Center maintenance staff have been using chain saws to cut nearby trees–and a big fire as conditions permit. I wonder if that activity scared the birds away. Hummingbirds are gone–and that was to be expected. But I usually have Cardinals, and Doves, all year–and other varieties.

“Patience is a virtue” we’re told. Sometimes my patience wears thin when I’m searching the Internet and can’t locate an answer to my question. Today, I want to identify the Butterflies on my Cape Honeysuckle. My picture on the left, Internet picture on the right. Perhaps this site has identification of butterfly on my Cape Honeysuckle? Am I safe to say Agraulis Vanillae? Wikipedia offers this description. ~~ I’ll be honest, butterflies are not “my thing”; I prefer birds. However, I’m curious about my visitor!!

…Google, et al, trawl my messages.

This just popped up in my email messages: Big Daddy Bottle Tree.

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I’m just the “foster parent” for the coleus plant. A CARE resident neighbor lady fell and broke her hip (and still in a convalescent home). I’ve been “caring” for her several coleus plants (and mosquito plants). I’m delighted to see the beginning of a bloom!!

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…drastic temperature change and I’m cold!!

Yesterday indoor temperature

• 55 degrees at 7:00 AM
• 59 degrees at 8:00
• 60 degrees at 8:20
• 69 degrees at 9:20

Today indoor temperature

• 55 degrees at 6:45 AM
• 61 degrees at 8:00
• 65 degrees at 8:45
• 69 degrees at 9:20

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The furnace is not working!! That problem needs to be resolved!! The “heat strip” installed with the new air-conditioner is functioning BUT it is very slow heating my trailer home. ~~ Less than five days ago, heat and humidity. Weather station picture (on the right) date-stamped 10/18/2016.

It’s a mystery to me why I started packing that black bag. Maybe because it is “new” and a recent thought about using it for extra emergency evacuation items? See my earlier blog message about Hurricane Preparedness. There are no weather reports about a hurricane forming in the Atlantic; no tornadoes. For some unknown reason, I packed this bag, and reorganized the red bag. I hope, and pray, the “preparedness” is never needed!!

I can’t resist a yard sale!! Especially one almost in my back yard. Today, Thrift ‘n Gift is so anxious to get rid of all the extra stuff, they dropped the price to $2.00 a bag. My “treasures” include (obviously) more clear glass vases, a sturdy Christmas Tree base, and “gizmos” to support plants (so they don’t droop), Two “garden flags” were begging for a home, and “Jack” was immediately put on display (“yes” a bit faded but ’tis the season).

The CARE maintenance staff is cutting down the trees across the field from my trailer home. I plan to find a two-inch limb and strip it down so I have a tree trunk. Then I’ll attach the braces for branches and bottles/vases. (Watch for pictures of the finished product,)

The red & white flannel-back plastic tablecloth will serve as another cover for my plants when/if we have freezing temperatures. I have lots of old sheets but one more cover may come in handy?!

Hidden from sight (first pictures), between the two garden flags, is a black bag. I can (and will) use it for more “evacuation” items. I’ve collected more (for evacuation) and need another bag to transport all. Let’s hope, and pray, we never need to evacuate!! ~~ Although the bag is new, it smells “musty” from storage. I’m airing it out before using it.

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Postscript, same day 2:20 PM: About one-thirty, I received a phone call saying everything remaining was “free” (before left-overs are hauled to the dump). I can’t resist a yard sale in my almost back yard; I won’t refuse “free” if I think I can use it in my yard.  **ALL** for my yard (except another new bag for “who knows what?”).

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Seemingly overnight, I have something new in my “yarden.” I’m a novice… so went to the Internet and found this web link regarding Elephant Ear bloom. “Highly favored” because I have the pleasure of this rare sight.

Alocasia odora is also known as elephant ear plant because of its colossally huge leaves and the general shape of the foliage. They are members of the Aroid family, which encompasses plants with some of the most attractive foliage available to gardeners. The glossy, heavily veined leaves are a standout and the main attraction, but occasionally you get lucky and the plant will bloom, producing unique dangling seed pods on elephant ear plant.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Seed Pods On Elephant Ear Plants: Do Alocasia Elephant Ears Have Seeds http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/alocasia-plant/elephant-ear-seed-pods.htm

Occasionally, I complain about “too much yard work” but that’s when I’m extremely tired and “no end in sight.” An unexpected bloom is my reward!! Recently, the seed pod on the Yellow Butterfly Vine, and now seed pod on Elephant Ear. Oh joy!!

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Pictures showing the rapid deterioration of the bloom (?) seed pod.

I’m republishing this message from an earlier date (10/16/16) because I don’t want my readers to miss the life-cycle of this Elephant Ear bloom/seed pod. Personally, I find it very interesting.

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Day nine of the Elephant Ear seed pod. It is dry and brittle (and the reader is tired of the day-by-day pictures).