He was (is) beautiful. I’ve named him Crispy Glover and given him a nice place to hang out, on an Opuntia aciculata (Chenille Prickly Pear) pad (gift from the miserable gardener).
That way I can keep an eye on him, kind of like an extended science experiment. Don't you think he looks happy there?
In a way that’s kind of what my driveway planters become over the winter, an experiment. I’ve called them my “Denial Garden” in the past. It’s where newly purchased (and gifted) things go when they’re in holding until spring. This year it's a bit of zonal denial plus a lot of denial that another season has come to an end. If I keep scheming and dreaming then the gardening season just continues, right?
I haven’t even written about a lot of these plants yet. New purchases, things from the Portland Garden Bloggers plant swap, etc, etc, etc. Most of them are destined for the new planting area which will be created by the removal of the monster privet.
I am both dreading and excited about that project.
But in the mean time I get to keep an eye on these new babies…
And think about where they’ll end up and what that will look like.
Of course it’s also the area I am using to stage things in transition like these colocasia and alocasia which must be protected from the upcoming winter temps. Oh how I don’t want to think about that.
I wonder if the Old Farmer’s Almanac says anything about what crispy dragonflies mean about the upcoming winter. Surely there’s something, Crispy Glover what are you trying to tell me?
All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
That dragonfly is a beauty. I'd go crazy photographing it :-).
ReplyDeleteI like your metal tubs a lot. So many neat plants in there. The tub with the Opuntia linguiformis, for example, stays outside year round, right?
The tanks stay in place year round but the selection of plants is always changing. It's the veggie garden in the summer, and some form of wintering over plants the rest of the year. Usually the ones that don't have a home in the ground yet. The Opuntia linguiformis for example came back from NM last month and is there for rooting.
DeleteI helped a friend remove a thicket of bamboo and found a crispy bird hanging in the branches -- it was remarkably light, completely desiccated. I would rather have found a crispy dragonfly.
ReplyDeleteDid you save it? Crispy Glover is very light too...
DeleteThe dragonfly is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone should have a denial garden. I love the agave in the funnel.
Ha! Thanks. I had to move it (the funnel planter) from where it had been because the larger containers around it got moved and thus it was a target for the evil cats next door as they jump over the bamboo and fence into their yard.
DeleteI got a chuckle over Crispy Glover. His wings are beautiful, nature is amazing. Does he have a friend called Marty McFly?
ReplyDeleteI think if I did a little walk around the house and checked all the window sills I bet I could come up with a (equally crispy) Marty McFly friend. Sadly my house isn't ever as clean as I would like it to be...
DeleteThe second you mentioned his name I wanted to yell, "Get your damn hands off her!"
DeleteCrispy Glover, aka McDragonFly! Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteLove all those stock tank plant dioramas. Yep, I am fantasizing about building a small greenhouse off the back porch so I, too can live in zonal denial!
Ha! Thank you, glad everyone is "getting it"...
DeleteYou should definitely do a greenhouse. Careful though, they're addictive.
Crispy Glover means that winter will be mild! Let's plant that in the collective consiousness and see if we can make it happen with the power of our minds.
ReplyDeleteLet's do it! I know Louis is already working to get that energy out there.
Deletesuculentas e cactos podem plantar direto no chão ou tem que ser em vasos ?
ReplyDeleteThey can go directly in the ground. These are only in a container because they're rooting or I haven't decided where to put them yet.
DeleteI'm moving and grooming plants for the great migration too, and found a perfectly preserved butterfly...the only way I have a prayer of getting a photo. Madame Butterfly was less photogenic than Crispin though.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, every time I find a butterfly like that its wings are all tattered.
DeleteDo you have holes drilled in the metal containers? I have several old aluminum buckets which I have been contemplating as planters, but I suppose I need to drill holes.
ReplyDeleteThe large containers have a drainage plug toward the bottom in the back, so those are fine if you just remove the plug. The smaller metal washtub and the metal IKEA planters were without any drainage so yes I had to create holes. A large nail and hammer does the trick quite easily.
DeleteI do like Crispy. I kept wondering if this could happen to the mantis that was hanging out on one of the cactuses last week. It seemed to have a very difficult time moving but it eventually made it's way down and into the yard.
ReplyDeleteA crispy manits would have been very cool, and of course fit into your holiday decor quite wonderfully!
DeleteI have s tiny cloche waiting for such a specimen! Actually, we found a crispy lizard in the attic when we went up to fetch the Halloween bins! http://instagram.com/p/fDC10lEqQo/
DeleteThat's very cool!!!
DeleteYour photos of the plants in the stock tanks make me think of Muppet Theater. I half expected the happy characters to break into song! Thanks for such a great image.
ReplyDeleteBridget
Funny! And thank you very much for caring for the stock tank residents during my recent absence.
DeleteWe had a crispy dragonfly at our house too. We took it to my grandson who was thrilled. I shall be moving plants too in a few weeks. I think most will come in the house for their winter vacation. I like having agaves inside. I know they are safe here. Getting them inside without anoles is another matter.
ReplyDeleteSpiders and slugs are my challenge, nothing nearly as cute as an anole. Hard to believe it's that time of the year again...
DeleteI love the denial garden and that dragonfly is pretty cool. I can't wait to see the privet be gone process and replanting mayhem that will ensue.
ReplyDeleteOh Louis there's going to be mayhem all over the place. Ugh.
DeleteYour denial garden looks like a fab little nursery. Love the agave in the funnel, quite steam punk too!
ReplyDeleteAndrew jokes about my starting a driveway nursery, although I think its 's more fun to give away extra plants to friends.
DeleteHaha, that's a nice way to decorate your opuntias!! I have to protect many of my plants too, that is what I hate most of this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe it's almost November? No denying it.
DeleteGreat second life for a dragon fly! I have one in my green-flowering cactus planting too He's been there for a couple of years so Tattered Glover would be a better name for him. Don't have the heart to compost him, though...
ReplyDelete