Sorry for the absence

Well, it seems like I just never find the time to write anymore. That isn't the case, but I am just getting over a long, drawn-out session with the flu. I don't know if it was swine flu - there are some who will object - but for those of us without medical insurance, some things just go undiagnosed. I am still a little congested, but it isn't unmanageable and doesn't seem to be contagious.

So I finally got around to planting the half circle in the center of my driveway. I got a couple of plumerias from Scott and Joe a couple of weeks ago, so I used them as the basis for my design. I opted for a symmetrical design, with the plumeria on either side of a spindle palm seedling. Then I went to Ken's Trees on 58th and 58th on Saturday and bought a bunch of nice crotons for $7.00 a piece. I got 6 (2 of each variety) and planted them in front of the plumeria, with a pink majesty croton in the center that I got from Phil at a raffle two months ago. Then I put a dwarf chiflera behind the croton clusters, and finally a pair of Aztec Gold plumerias cuttings from my own tree. Now the circle looks full to my liking, and will be great as it fills in and grows bigger. I still have to spread out mulch, but that will come later this week.

I also have been working to eradicate those horrible vines from my yard. I started working in the back corner, and after a half hour pulled a black trash bag full from the fence and another full of weeds from the heliconia/ginger patch. I am planning to spend a half hour each day this week catching up with the weeding, and planting anything I have been cultivating. I have a bunch of gingers that need to go into the ground, and a couple of recent plantings that have died that need replacing.

The clerodendron I got from Brad just up and died last week. It was blooming very nicely, with big clusters of lovely scented flowers called cashmere bouquet. Then last week, it up and turned black. No warning, no nothing. It is still out there, all black and nasty! Likewise, I planted a plumbago out back and it up and died right off the bat. I think I would rather plants to that so I don't get too attached to them. I picked up a couple of nice plants at Ken's to replace them both, and I have a few night-blooming jasmine to fill in the patches. Hopefully I will get the rest of the mulch down to finish off this new bed. I have already decided that I will not dig a hole for the water feature, but instead will use those garden blocks to build a single layer wall around the black vinyl base. I will let you know how that works out.

Photos of all to come next time.