Everything's better in Yellow

I am sorry it has been so long since I last posted anything.  True confessions... I have neglected my garden somewhat as well; it's a mess.  Why?  Well, I have been a bit preoccupied by the start of a new job.  It's exciting, and of course, a little bit nerve-wracking at the same time to learn and adjust to a new system on the fly.

I started out with a post about feelings and all about my new job, but I have been advised by my personal lawyer against talking excessively about work haha.

I will say this though, the day before my new job was to start, I was at Whole Foods and saw these bright and happy sunflowers and I bought them.

That same day, Evan came home after grocery shopping (at Whole Foods, incidentally...) and he had bought me these orchids, also in yellow, bright and happy.  They also conveniently replace my other orchid which sadly, is very nearly dead, with just one leaf left.  

Interesting side-fact, Evan bought me a beautiful orchid the day before Match Day (where you find out which residency you will attend) to say that he would be happy for me and support me wherever I ended up.  Fortunately, I matched in LA and we did not have to embark on a long-distance relationship.  But that was our first Love Plant, as I called it.  I get very upset when our Love Plants die.  Fortunately, I have been practicing taking care of orchids...

What is it about yellow that makes us associate the color with happiness and optimism?  I wonder how much is cultural versus inherent?  Here is an infographic to ponder. (It does not have the answers, alas. here is the source)

Fascinating, isn't it?

The flowers made me feel better.  And the first day at the job went well.  I had a dream last night where one of my colleagues at the hospital wanted to pray for a patient that wasn't doing so well, and I thought it was really weird.  But in real life, that's exactly what I did (I prayed)...  and I was blessed with a couple slow shifts as well as some very computer savvy staff which all helped with learning the computer system.  God is good. 

I have a couple more shifts this weekend, and I have been somewhat preoccupied as a result still.  Evan seems to think that I have moved on from gardening, ever the doubter when it comes to my hobbies.  Admittedly, I have rapidly cycled through hobbies in the past.  But there's something about flowers that always seem so simple, always make me happy, always beautiful whether you're there to see it or not...  why would I ever stop gardening?

Finally, I would like to make a shout out to my dear friend Julian for reading my blog and even admitting to liking it.  Thanks Julian, you're great! 

Here's a song that seems to go with yellow sunflowers and orchids.  I hope that you all have good weekends full of bright sunshine and happiness!  

This week's Awesome

At the risk of seeming redundant, as I did just give you an update of what was going on in the garden last week, I wanted to show you some of the really cool little things that are happening right now in my little green garden.

#1:  One of my tiny succulents has an even teenier side shoot.  How neat!

#2:  My portulaca blooms changed colors from just a few weeks ago.  I wonder why that happened!

#3:  My vincas (aka periwinkles) are going nuts!  Bloom explosion!

#4:  Meyer lemons are on their way!  It will be awhile before they are ripe -- generally meyer lemons are fully ripe in the winter, just in time for some seriously delicious roast chicken.  And I can't to eat them -- last time we bought meyer lemons at the grocery store, they were very sour.  Not the same!

And lastly, this is for you.  

I start my new "craaazy" job tomorrow.  Say a prayer for me...

The Best Flower Ever

Okay so that photo above was taken approximately 1 year ago.  ONE YEAR.  And this plant is still alive, not just anywhere, but on the top row of my felt hanging planter, which if you've been following my blog, is the planter of death. 

Let me explain something:
ONE human year = SEVEN dog years = EIGHTY-SEVEN Michelle's garden years

This plant is basically 87 plant years old in the mini-cosmos reality of my patio garden.  All its contemporaries have died, and yet it still lives strong.

Furthermore, I neglected to mention, that during winter time when it was too LA-cold to go outside, I didn't water this plant at all.  For at least a month!

So what is this wonder plant?  Dipladenia.  I picked it unaware of its awesomeness because I thought it was pretty.  You might see other tropical plants that look very similar to it vining all over trellises and walls -- these are a very closely related plant called Mandevilla.  Some sources say they are the same, that Dipladenia is the old name and now these plants are called Mandevilla.  Other sources say they are the same family or perhaps Dipladenia are in the Mandevilla family (very confusing).  Nevertheless, from what I can tell, they are slightly different -- Mandevilla grow well as vines while Dipladenia are bushier and do not vine in the same way.

A few facts about Dipladenia:
-Sunlight -- varying sources recommend everything from full shade to full sun; mine are doing well in full sun.
-Originated in South America, they like warm climates
-if your climate is temperate enough, they are "evergreen" as opposed to annuals
-Moderate watering (unless you have a super-plant like mine which is totally okay with drying out a bit)
-A good container plant
-They are the Best Flower Ever

Thank you, dear Dipladenia, for making me feel good about my gardening self.

The last very cool thing about this plant is that the Italians love it too.  I do not know if they are partial to the color red or if they just choose what works, but there were lots of red Dipladenia and Geraniums in Italy.  Below is my Dipladenia's Italian cousin in Rome -- I am sure you recognize the structure in the background!

Anyway, today's really awesome track of the day suits my feelings very well today -- I love this plant and even more than that, I love you for reading my little garden blog.  Que Dios le bendiga!

Bad News Blueberry

So that's what my blueberries have been slowly turning into recently.  My blueberries have always been one of my most low maintenance plants with regular delicious bounty, so I've been in denial.  But I can no longer ignore the signs... this plant has a blight of some sort.  After looking online for some guidance and solutions, I unfortunately still am not sure why it is or how to fix it.

There are a few possibilities.  It looks most like the pictures I have seen of a virus, called "Blueberry Shock Virus", transmitted by bees.  Apparently, after infection with the virus, the plant can go into a "shock reaction" during which entire sections of the plant die and fall off.  On less-affected areas, the leaves may have little red-brown spots.  The plant may recover, but generally is not as productive as before.  And there is no cure.  

It could also be fungal infection which causes issues like twig or stem blight or stem cankers.  But with those, entire branches tend to die and fall off which is not happening so much as brown, sad-looking leaves.  This too appears to be incurable. 

There are all sorts of other diseases as well, including the phytophthora-related root rot (RIP Jasmine) and "mummy berry".  You can read all about it here.  But I think those are less likely.  Either way, I will have to wait and see.  And if my poor blueberry plant dies, then I will get a new one, since this falls under the "lifetime warranty" on shrubs at my garden center (they should have known better, muahaha).

Meanwhile, my last remaining orchid also doesn't look so hot.  The leaves are individually turning yellow and falling off for unknown reasons.  I think part of it is that I used to water it somewhat haphazardly so that water would land between the leaves.  Perhaps the stem is rotting?  I asked my cousin's cousin, the orchid grower, about all of this when I was in Holland and his advice was, "If it dies, buy a new one."  Will do!  But first I remain hopeful that the remaining leaf will not die.

The garden's not all bad shape though.  My front door shade plants could qualify for plants gone wild.  The funny thing is, I never water these plants...  We have gardeners that take care of the courtyard every Wednesday and they always water them heavily.  With that, they never really dry out.  Don't tell Evan-- I'm taking all the credit for this one.

Well, I am feeling beat.  It must be a sign that I am getting old that a weekend full of enthusiastic wedding partying makes me feel so tired, but alas, pretend as I might, I am no longer really a capable, seasoned party-er (how do you spell that?).  As my husband and I have returned to work, tired already, these moments make me ask, "How do people with kids do it??"  On that note, I dedicate the track of the day to you, and my blueberries.