Studiology

Comparisons

My night bloom cereus decided to flower again. This time I was able to make a comparison between the species which is Epiphyllum oxypetalum and a cultivar (or hybrid) that was found at Mark Twain's house, simply named 'Mark Twain'. 

The larger variety on the right is E. 'Mark Twain', supposedly it offers an extra row of petals. I'm not sure that I actually see that, but what it does offer is a flower that opens at least an hour before the species with a much larger bloom. Since flowers don't normally open until 11:00 PM or later, it's nice to have one that opens around 10:00. 

In spring I also purchased a gladiolus that was crossed with acidanthera or the night fragrant, white gladiolus ( some refer to it as Gladiolus bicolor 'Murielae'). The hybrid was named 'Lucky Star', bred some 60 years ago yet rarely available. The last of my gladiolus to bloom. 

This hybrid inherited the fragrance of acidanthera but has much larger flowers. Here is a comparison between the parent (on the left) and hybrid.

The night garden continues with its evening and nightly shows. With September's arrival the moonvine will step it up, flat white flowers will open every night, joining the cestrum, brugmansia, and datura. I learned that I can put the night blooming cereus flowers in the fridge at night so they are preserved for morning. Once taken out of the cold environment, they will quickly close, knowing it's way past their bedtime. But... it gives you a chance to wear them as earrings, for a fleeting moment. 

Family Time

The highlight of my August was a trip to West Virginia to join my cousins and aunts. My mother was one of six girls, there are two left and Aunt Eloise was celebrating her 86th birthday. Cousins came from all around and we whooped and hollered, as one does in West Virginia.

Her farm is a memorable place for us all, most of us learned to fish there. I was the squeamish one who refused to put the worm on the hook.

It's easy to see who is celebrating a birthday, look at that expression!

Darling Callie joined her in opening presents and trying on her new shirts.

The joining of a family can be a beautiful thing, as was the case here. So little time, so much to say. I'm glad we took the time to make it happen. 

 

 
 

Spring Observations

Three years ago I began a very unscientific study of flowers per square foot in spring. My targeted plants were peonies versus iris, particularly bearded iris. Which of the two gave me more flowers per square foot? And when I say unscientific, this was from observation only.

Even with my lackadaisical approach, it became evident that peonies gave more color, square foot for square foot, plant for plant. The answer only lead me to analyze why. Could I do something to increase the advantage of my iris? The answer is a simple one, and it's all about maintenance. 

They cycle for many perennials is a period of root growth, sometimes followed by a spurt of growth. With bearded iris, this spurt comes in mid-August. Fresh roots go down, rhizomes are formed up top. If the foliage and crown is overtaken by other plants during this critical growth period, the floral display will be compromised, not a maybe or possibly but a certainty. 

Peonies also put out new roots in a cycle. Their root growth is much later, more like early winter. This root growth won't become a growth spurt until spring, when most plants around them are slow to emerge or still dormant. The timing of new growth occurs when little else is coveting the space and light reaches their new leaves. A peony clump will also grow as a dense plant with light reaching the uppermost leaves, feeding the plant more successfully than iris.

Based on my observations, the critical time to remove overgrowth from iris in now. Lax stems of aster, baptisia, amsonia, phlox, and other perennials will threaten the flowering capabilities of your bearded iris. The more light that reaches the rhizome, the better the floral display.

 In my second year of following this maintenance plan, I saw better results. I'm sure that spring of next year will give me more flowers per plant on my iris than the previous year. August is the month to begin preparations for spring. 

Pez News

Timing is everything in life. I was working my shift at the gallery when a customer from Texas came in, a person that likes Pez dispensers. So strong is her love of the lowly Pez dispenser that she had this tattoo on her side.

Naturally we had a lively discussion, and I learned the history of this little candy dispenser, which is actually very interesting. First made in Austria, it was a simple mint dispensing container, no feet, no head, just 1 mint at a time, made so that only 1 was touched at a time. The idea was, eat this mint, don't smoke that cigarette. Possibly the first anti-smoking campaign. The name came from the German word for peppermint - pfeffermintz. 

Given my alteration of the current dispensers, they are of no value to a Pez collector. Now an art collector, maybe. Smile with me on this as I present "The Creature from the Black Lagoon".

Or the mermaid, another creature of water.

 In October I will be a featured artist with a new show titled "Cautionary Tales". This piece is for the show, titled "The Tiger's Eye", from a story written by L. Frank Baum, the author of "The Wizard of Oz". This story was put to paper in 1905 (a jungle fairytale), but not published until 1965. At the time it was written, it was considered too frightening for little children. The key element of the tale is a magician who is forced to become the eye for a tiger cub, born without his left eye. In his forced captivity, he lives in hate which transfers to the beast he inhabits. As the story continues, he is the eye for a boy and a deer, and in each case he makes them wicked with his hate. 

My opening reception is Saturday, October 1st, from 1 to 5 at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan.