Per instructions… I used the leverage of a piece of pipe to open the blossom “stems.”
I’m grateful the Bottle Tree on the south side of my trailer home is set in a cement base. It is waving in the wind and would surely have blown over if merely stuck into the ground.
My plants look so pathetic, I began to trim those I hadn’t touched the other day. I hope, and pray, they come back from a strong root system. Time will tell?!
I’m exhausted!!
In my humble opinion, fifteen miles per hour is low.
“Multi-tasking”: Eating lunch while preparing this message. Even before nine-forty, I was in my “yarden” photographing more freezing temperature damaged plants. A windy morning but warm enough to start the project cement base for the “Awesome Blossom.” (A slang expression for wet concrete: “mud.”)
Obviously, I needed to “save” the remainder of the bag of concrete?! The second base has been planned longer than I’ve owned “Awesome Blossom.” This one is tricky because I’m preparing in such a way that base for a Bottle Tree can be removed from planter. Second: The planter itself has a hole in the bottom and sits securely on re-bar protruding from the tree stump. The planter, too, will be removable. Obviously, more pictures in a few days, after cement hardens. (To repeat something I’ve expressed previously: Everything has to be portable–and removable–when I die, so things can be moved off this RV site.)
Decisions, decisions!! My plans don’t always go as planned. I’d intended to use the simulated whiskey barrel planter but decided it isn’t deep enough. From a large variety of planters, I’m looking at these four.
A coat of spray paint works miracles?! Because I frequently “refresh” plastic planters, I have several cans, several colors in my storage building. No extra expense today.
True story: My departed husband hated my stories (and me?)!! I grew up hearing aphorisms (as my mother grew up hearing aphorisms): “A stitch in time saves nine”; “A penny saved is a penny earned”; “Don’t judge a book by its cover”; “Early to bed…”. Frankly, I’d never heard the word “aphorism” or “ad nauseam” but highly educated husband knew them and said them when I’d use a “saying” or launch into a detailed story. (My subsequent marriage to an older [sick] man and that’s all I’ll say.)
Perhaps my readers tire of my stories, and weary of the repetitious pictures (ad nauseam). Yesterday I “downsized” a box of pictures, journals, brochures, etc., regarding our trip to Alaska in August 1979. My mind is tormented right now with memories. If it were not so cold, I’d be outdoors, thus “changing the subject” (lol).
“There’s a silver lining” because it’s warmer this morning!! Three pictures taken approximately the same time the last three mornings. “To add insult to injury” our temperature may rocket to eighty degrees later this week.
The plants under the tarp shelter appear in worse condition than the plants pictured here. I’m leaving that picture-taking for another day. I deliberately planned to give those plants extra protection!!
It is my hope and prayer that the plants will recover. However, perhaps this is a nudge toward a bottle garden that requires less work and less heartache!! Yes, I’m heartbroken about the sick (or dying) plants.
I’m indoors, out of the wind and cold, at the computer when there’s a knock on the door. “Here’s four more bottles. Can you use some old sheets?” Indeed, I can use more plant covers but 
I pray we do not have any more freezing temperatures this Winter.
It’s twelve noon and I just uttered the words “Oh God” (not meant as profanity, actually a prayer). I’ve been “downsizing” business receipts, bank statements, etc., all morning. Then I started the box labeled “Alaska trip.” It is so extremely difficult to sort through all this memorabilia!! It’s still too cold to be outdoors so the perfect opportunity to sort and discard. I’m requesting your prayers because (for me) it is more painful than surgery!! I’m not going to the CARE Center for lunch because this project (albeit harmless) has made me sick.
Pictures, journals, receipts, travel brochures… all going back into the box and the box will go into the dumpster. Look at the time stamps on the two pictures; I spent two hours sorting the material. Postcards were separated out and will be given to an individual or business that identifies themselves as a collector. ~~ This trip was made with a 1971 Dodge Explorer motorhome; I found my Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card (valid through September 13, 1979).
Some day a granddaughter may read about my experiences via my several web sites. It would be music to my ears to hear her say (today) “I wish I could read about your trips as you documented them, in your own handwriting.” ~~ It breaks my heart that family is not interested in my memorabilia.
First time visitor to my blog? Here are pictures of the oft-mentioned tarp shelter and greenhouse.
I ventured outdoors briefly to photograph the fountain. A quick tour of my “yarden” reveals many of my plants were killed by the hours of freezing temperatures!!
Grateful to volunteer Woody for installing a new battery in July so I have 12-volt electricity. Our power went off today from about 9:00 AM until 1:30 PM and I’m benefiting from 12-volt for the first time. Grateful to handyman Roger for fixing my furnace so I have heat when no electricity. My Lasko would be useless on this miserably frigid day!! Grateful for a recent purchase of bird seed so I can share with a neighbor and feed my feathered friends. Grateful for sunshine because it brightens our “coldest day in three years” (according to Houston TV meteorologist).
I searched (unsuccessfully) my blog messages hoping to find the one that commented on new battery. I found this message about Melted like butter with details and pictures regarding the opposite end of the thermometer.
This afternoon, we gathered in the CARE multi-purpose room for the memorial service for a resident who recently passed away. Two hours earlier, a dear friend resident departed, with family, for his new “assisted living” home in New Mexico. Poor health and old age takes a toll on our small community. Residents come and residents go. We are blessed, and grateful, for a very supportive environment!!
Many of my plants are dead, or dying, from prolonged freezing temperatures. Occasionally, I have maintenance concerns. More recently I’ve shared “bottle bush blues” BUT
Two weeks ago, we were suffering with freezing temperatures. Four weeks ago I wrote about plummeting temperatures. Remember, I had to rely on the electric space heater?! Thank goodness, today my furnace is working. Frankly, it has been a miserable afternoon!! We’ve had rain, sleet and snow. The walkways are treacherous; I walked very, very, very cautiously!! Ideally, this afternoon, the residents should have been “nestled” warmly in their comfortable chairs, at home, but “we” were enjoying a “going away” party for a departing resident.
Click each picture for better viewing.
Three Quarters & Counting 