Distant Melodies

Our friend Michael came over yesterday. Showed him my baby rose. He thinks it is a throw back to the parents of this hybrid. Hmmmm. Yes. 

So I went on the hunt to discover the parentage & grandparentage. 

I look like my Grandma Verna so why can't a rose look like its grandparents???

Parents of White Licorice are 

Distant Drums and Singing in the Rain.

Below Distant Drums…in the category of "unusual color roses" and in my mind stunning.

Distant Drums Rose

From Weeks Roses Website: Wow…certainly THE MOST unusually colored rose from the late Dr. Griffith Buck…and it’s fragrant, too. Very hardy, this rose survives winter under Iowa test conditions…so you can count on it to be present every spring with a show of flowers. Vigorous and beautifully balanced with lots of clusters…more like a Floribunda.

Distant Drums

Next, Singing in the Rain, (below, but both parents look too bronzy and orange to make a white-yellow rose like White Licorice don't they?)

Singing in the Rain Rose

Parents of Distant Drums: 

The Yeoman and September Song.

The Yeoman below …now we are getting into the lighter shades..I love these types of petals,frayed and laying on top of each other. The color is more like my tiny rose, but the petals bear no resemblance. I do see White Licorice in this for sure.

The Yeoman

The Yeoman

Again, my White Licorice for comparison



Finally, the September Song Rose..oh look at those nice pointy petals.



Absolutely fun and fascinating study. 
Gotta go check my roses now.

Tiny Surprise!

Wow!

My "White Licorice" rose has put out a tiny tiny version of itself. I have never seen anything like this…a teeny tiny rose right next to regular sized roses. I guess it is some kind of hybrid thing it decided to do all on its own. What do you think?

Here is the size comparison...

The petals are different on the teeny one...

Also, the stamen color is different 

on the teeny one

Here is some info on the rose I found on line..the fragrance of this rose is intoxicating…just had to have it once I stuck my nose in it…maybe my tiny rose is a child of the parent plant Distant Drum or Singing in the Rain…better look those up.



and hopefully the coloration and bloom my White Licorice may one day display...

Loving Our April Showers!

It has been raining all weekend and the ground looks so rich and refreshed. 

I thought I'd take a few photos of our early spring blooms and my new succulent garden before the sun came out.

As a design pattern, I decided just to go with color and contrast in small circles, waiting for the groupings to grow and fill in later. Blooms from purple ice plant will soon 

add to the color splash.

A red Alstromeria was already in the center of the box so I decided to let it stay. Lithadora adds the sprightly blue.

Here are some of the "succulent circles" up close and personal.

Also adding color the the yard are my precious pansies. The newly transplanted Galardia (orange in back of photo) I pulled out of the center box is still struggling, but I believe will do well in this sunny spot.

Despite many Ironite applications, the leaves of my Rhoddie are still yellow, but the bloom is great!

PS:

Even though our backyard looks verdant, our front yard has been 99% junipers and 1% olive tree since 1971. We cut water use 40% last year by using shade sails in the backyard. I am hoping my succulent passion will further cut water needs. Still, the joy at hearing Shasta Dam is over capacity is well deserved. 

Dave's New Years Birthday balloons atop our olive tree with junipers below.

A Walk In the Park 2/26/16

It's snowing plum petals:
feathery-light
white missives
of spring.

It's raining sweetness
from baby pink blossoms,
tickling latent emotions
stored up since winter's frost.

Heaven is walking right out of the sky
landing next to me
taking my hand and leading me on.

My Foxy Affair

I stumbled upon this pretty little fox under a Christmas display in Niles Canyon a few years ago. I have always loved foxes, but that fox was speaking to me!

When I discovered Lawn Fawn die cuts featuring  foxes, squirrels, birds and birch trees,it seemed a perfect subject for card making. Of course these die and stamp sets also required the purchase of pricy Copic markers to add color to trees, grass, animals and skies.
Here is a look at what came of my foxy ventures.

Lawn Fawn stamps, die cuts and Copic Markers used here..

I made these little place markers for Thanksgiving Dinner at our neighbors. They feature Lawn Fawn leaf cuts, banner, stamps and of course fox.I add the glitter around the edges with my finger. The Tim Holtz paper adds a bit of texture.

This is a Bday card for my favorite little golfing buddy next door… I used Lawn Fawn scripty Happy Birthday die cut, number cuts and fringed grassy cut...

How Does My Garden Grow?

It's that crazy time of year again when staying in the house is impossible…it's spring! Things are growing very well after our recent rains. Here's a little looky-loo…especially for my new succulent blogger buddy.

Succulent Trouble Shooting

I don't know what the white spots are except for water spots. It has had no water except rain but is sheltered under the porch. Am sun…this photo was taken at 11:40 am so you can see the sun on it. Planted in cactus/succulent mix from nursery. It is starting to bloom. (double click on any photo to enlarge)

Here is a photo in the shade…you can see the yellowing on some leaves. It is producing new growth like crazy, it is just that it isn't as blue as when I planted it 2 years ago.

In the backyard, I have this beauty. but wonder if it is time to cut the long stems and start anew? I really like the way it looks right now.

It seems to love the shade and 

only early am sun.

This succulent (below) is growing in the front entry way, only filtered sun and is now growing into the walkway.

Should I cut the blooms and restart many new plants? I am thinking of trying to propagate per your blog advice. Thanks for sharing the world of succulents…I'm addicted.

Our 35 year old clivia




my paper garden work

It's in the hole!

I hit my first hole in one today!!!

Las Positas Golf Course in Livermore, where I take lessons from the resident Pro, Jeff Debenidetti

Location: first hole on the executive course. Nine iron, 94 yards, pin tucked behind the bunkers on the left. Hit it to the back of the green, trickled down the ridge, disappeared. Lost it. No one there to see it but the grounds keeper who gave me a single finger as he drove by in his tractor. I thought he was saying 'HI". but he meant "one shot".

Pretty much fun I must say. Especially after being bitten by a dog on Sunday and breaking my wrist in September, wondering if I would ever play golf again. 

Well you know it all evens out somehow and I know God has been looking after my heart, body and soul for a long time.

Good night. Sweet goodnight.

Email congrats from my PT crew:

Candyce, 

That is great news!!!!! Oh my gosh what a great way to comeback after all that you've been through. It makes me so happy to hear about this and the positive experience you had coming into hand therapy. These are the moments that make me want to become a hand therapist. It was so nice working with you and walking with you through this process. 

I will let Kerri know about this today. Thank you for sharing and congratulations on getting your first hole in one! I bet it was an amazing feeling!


Alyssa 

Warm & Welcome--Rain & 2016

It's raining. And raining. So far not too cold. Everyone is happy. Willing to get drenched. Willing to walk and drive and work with water falling from heaven all around. Christmas 2015 was my best ever. While I was recovering from my distal radius fracture
(doctor talk for broken wrist) I decorated every vacant spot in and outside the house. It helped me heal. It made me grateful.

I made these little cards with my embossing tools. Gold and so pretty.

I put Christmas trees and berries on my dining table...

And decorated my Tree of Life with lights, glitter birds and various Christmas baubles.

I decorated my tiny tree

and made Christmas ornaments with glitter glue and mica chips

Welcoming in the New Year with my husband's 70th birthday 

was yet another blessing.

When he saw his home made card, he loved it. When he saw his birthday balloons, he said," You know there is only one place for these"…and up he climbed to set up his birthday display.

I made Happy Birthday Stars to hang over our garage...

Life is very warm and wonderful today, in the rain, in 2016, the Year of Restoration.