Our white Japanese anemones are finally blooming. Normally they flower right around the start of the school year -- Dave and I always joke that's how we know it's time to go back to work. This year, they're a month behind. It's a good thing we didn't go by their calendar -- we'd have been fired.
And while doing a quick search to make sure I hadn't already blogged about white anemones this year, I came across this post from last October. Can you BELIEVE how good my dahlias looked? And at that time of year?
In order to absorb the full impact of that photo you'd have to see what they look like now, and frankly I'm ashamed to show you. Several I've cut back entirely, and the others have scraggly-looking stems that until yesterday were loaded with dead leaves on their lower parts. I know I've said this before, but I let them dry out too much this year, partly because of crappy compost.
A couple of them are still blooming, like the "Dalaya Dark Aruna" variety that I also showed you about a week ago, but you can see the cursed powdery mildew on the leaves.
OK, I know I'm getting repetitive, and I'm sure you're thinking WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT THE DAHLIAS ALREADY. Sorry about that. I just can't believe what a dismal year they've had, and after I laboriously repotted most of them in the spring!
I harvested not only a couple more tomatoes but also our miniature mandarin orange yesterday. The orange was about the size of a large-ish gumball, the kind that used to stain our teeth blue when we were kids. I cut it open and Dave and I each had half. It was about the sourest little thing I've ever eaten -- more like a lemon with a whiff of orange aroma. It would have made a better cocktail garnish than a snack.
I finished "City of Night" yesterday, so that's finally off the table. I also read a New Yorker profile of Pam Bondi that I've been meaning to get to, since she's from my hometown and we have friends in common. (It sounds so weird, to think I have friends in common with the Attorney General of the United States, though I don't think they're still friends with her.) We both attended the same university at the same time so it's entirely possible I crossed paths with her there, but if so I don't remember it. My parents would almost certainly have known her father, since they all worked at the university. She grew up in a household of Democrats and I think most people are mystified by her hard-right turn. Many seem to chalk it up to ambition more than any deeply held personal convictions.
Speaking of the White House, Dave and I are watching "The Residence" on Netflix and enjoying it. I know we're a bit late to this comedic murder mystery but hey, better late than never. We're also watching "Platonic" on Apple TV, yet another Seth Rogen show. If you need some laughs -- and don't we all, nowadays -- both of these are good options.
Is it possible the mini mandarin is actually a cumquat? They are sour and often used to make marmalade. The earlier dahlias were glorious. But the current ones are still beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNo, I've had kumquats and they're sweeter than this was.
DeleteI‘ve been seeing The Residence on my list of recommendations on Netflix, too; maybe I‘ll start watching it when I return home (but I have to finish the 2nd series of Wednesday first).
ReplyDeleteBoth the anemone and the dahlia are suffering because of water supply..how we garden has to change. And yes, compost with no heart in it is a problem..and anything with peat in a definite no no !
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to research what was the use of that specific type of mandarin...could be for oil... definitely for cooking
"Crappy" is one of my favourite brands. In fact, I have shares in the company.
ReplyDeleteRegarding dahlias and other flowering plants, you can bang on about them as much as you like as this is your blog and you can write about what you want... even Pam Barbie who is as qualified to be America's Attorney General as I am to be the CEO of "Crappy".
As someone who grows fruits and vegetables, I know we can have terrific crops some years due to our care and the weather and other years, despite doing everything right, the crops can be less than par. I expect your dahlias follow the same path.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is so unusual for children brought up in certain families to turn in completely different directions as their parents. I know several kids of ministers that certainly aren't worthy of the cloth today. There are countless examples of the children/siblings of presidents going off in what might be considered embarrassing ways by their parents. I myself grew up in a family of a long line of farmers and neither my brother and I are farmers. So I don't find it to surprising that Bondi grew up in a house of liberals. I think there is something about raising children under a narrow (not sure this is the best word to use but I can't think of a better one right now) philosophy that causes them to reject that philosophy or at least seek other philosophies.
I’ll be interested to read your opinion of The Residence after it’s done. That powdery mildew is definitely annoying. Hope you have more pleasure from the dahlias next year. Still, the flowers have been beautiful. It sounds like City of Night was in all, for you, simply something to finish.
ReplyDelete