Day in the life

For the second time this year, I opened my front door to find a strange garden-related object there. In July it was the smoking cowboy silhouette, thoughtfully chained to my front railing by some “friends.”

This time, the offering was more aesthetically appealing, though kind of equally shocking. At first I was totally mystified, then I figured out that my neighbor Martin, an event designer, had left off a centerpiece (at least I’m pretty sure that’s what it is) from a ball he had done the evening before. It’s pretty cool actually.

(They're freaky-looking from the flash, but they're just carnations—not radioactive.)

Then I checked out the bulb action in the front yard. Not bad. Some Erythronium “pagoda” (trout lily) and some species tulips. Too many shades of pale going on but Ok.



These trout lilies are great perennializers—I love the waxy little blooms and wide, mottled foliage. I’ve had more luck with the pagoda hybrid than with the species.

I’m getting ready to be pissed off at Van Engelens if I don’t see some Princess Irene coming up with the Passionales. Hmmm, the PIs are single early and the Ps are Triumph. I need to think these things out more.

Then we discussed the pond. The horror. A coherent summary of it will have to wait for another post.