Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Wednesday Vignette, danger

(danger to the left) How nice of Paris to notice me!

Weather Diary, Jan 30: Hi 51, Low 43/ Precip .01"

Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

"The fir mash, an ecological tool" (what Parisians do with their Christmas trees)

I noticed this sign in several places around Paris. Thanks to the Google translate app I was able to decode "de sapins" to mean fir trees...aka Christmas trees...

After visiting Sacré-Coeur, strolling along a cobblestone street, the smell of Christmas was thick in the air. It wasn't difficult to locate the source...

The above photo is of the pathway through Jardin Frederic Dard, one of many small gardens tucked in neighborhoods all over Paris.

So fresh! I assumed this must be part of the recycling encouraged by the signs I'd seen earlier.

The next day I spotted this "tree corral" in another part of the city, outside what looked to be a large apartment building.

Seeing so many trees finally pushed me to do a little internet research when I was back in our hotel room: "This recycling operation aims to promote green waste, the fir trees being transformed into crushed stone, subsequently used as mulching on the garden beds, and especially to encourage Parisians not to put their fir trees on public roads (or in the mountains). The abandonment of a tree is punishable by a fine of 150 €." (source, translated by Google)

One hundred and fifty Euro!? Ouch. Still I spotted many an abandoned tree...

(no, I don't think the sharply dressed fellow was responsible for this tree, just a coincidence he was passing by)

From another site, also translated courtesy of Google: "The choice of the tree, the decorations to adorn it, the gifts we happily open at our feet ... the Christmas tree is at the party in our homes in December. But the day after Christmas, here it is unvarnished and "plucked" abandoned on the sidewalks. Eh yes! After shining a thousand lights, our firs still too often end their lives on public roads. Yet, a second life is possible for our fir trees. The fir mash, an ecological tool. The fir trees will be ground on the spot. No transport, it is also less pollution! The ground material obtained will be used by gardeners of the city as mulching, to protect the grounds and plantations of the gardens from the evaporation of water or cold. As fir mullion is particularly acidic, it is not suitable for use in compost; on the other hand, its anti-germinative properties are perfect for limiting the proliferation of wild grasses in an ecological way. It acts as a natural weed killer."

"After shining a thousand lights, our firs still too often end their lives on public roads." What poetry! Although really "shining a thousand lights?" Aren't they taking this "city of light" thing a little too far?

Later we happened upon a tree collection point where shredding was underway.

It's hard to make out, but there was a pile of trees and a guy wearing ear-protection feeding the trees into the shredder. You can see the stream of "green" being spit out by the shredder...

Nearby was this freshly "fir mash" mulched bed.

Don't worry, I'll be sharing pretty Paris pictures soon. I just had to share this interesting bit of ecological Paris that captured my attention!

Weather Diary, Jan 29: Hi 53, Low 46/ Precip .32"

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Monday, January 29, 2018

In a Vase on Monday — back from Paris! (subtitle: more photos of the Eiffel Tower than you may want to see)

So you may have heard (Instagram, Facebook)...I'm just back from nine days in Paris and it was wonderful! Here's a rare selfie of Andrew and I, in front of that tower everyone visits when they go to Paris...

And...I bought a vase!

Luggage space was extremely limited for purchases, but I managed to squeeze in a few things. This vase (from Le BHV / Marais, visit if you find yourself nearby) doubles as a candle holder (just remove the glass vial) and has an Eiffel Tower sort of vibe to it.

Okay so now you think I'm crazy, but seriously...maybe just a little?

Since the hellebores are all blooming, and it's too rainy to be outside to enjoy them, I cut stem of H. 'Ice 'n Roses' and lined the glass with a piece of Phormium (might be P. 'Apricot Queen').

Paris memories and a bloom to brighten the bathroom. What more could a person want?

Wait, what's that you say? You want more photos of the Eiffel Tower? Well since you asked...

No wonder it's an icon, it begs to be photographed! All of these photos (except for the very last one) were taken during a single afternoon.

First we walked around near the base of the tower but then made our way up to the Musée de l'Homme — located in the Palais de Chaillot — which provided a great vantage point.

One of my shots from a museum window.

And another, this one filtered through a lowered blind.

We enjoyed lunch in the museum cafe, I couldn't resist a toast.

The sky changed nearly every minute.

Back outside and time to make our way to the train and back to the hotel.

But not before I snapped a few more photos.

And then the lights came on!

And the sky turned a brilliant blue.

I'm thankful for the original viewing opportunity as the next time I was out that way (to visit the Parc André Citroën) the top of the tower was fogged in.

There will be LOTS more photos from Paris in the coming days and weeks. I hope I don't test your patience. In the meantime visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for links to other In a Vase on Monday posts!

Weather Diary, Jan 28: Hi 57, Low 47/ Precip .01"

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Friday, January 26, 2018

Ferny — an update

I found myself staring at this fern corner at Portland Nursery recently and wondered if I'd ever shared an update? Since I first wrote about it in March of last year it has filled in quite nicely.

This particular building is a cavernous space, I don't think it's heated in the winter time.

Cyrtomium fortunei, aka Japanese holly fern

Polystichum tsus-simense, aka Korean rock fern

Dryopteris filix-mas 'Linearis Polydactyla' aka Slender Crested Male Fern

And let's pause to appreciate the Selaginella kraussiana, hinding behind a frond.

While I admired what they've built here my mind wandered...

...to the branches on my patio. Some of them Alison's, some of them mine. I see an installation "inspired by" in my future.

Perhaps an update on my fern table is in order? It's looking a little "winter worn"...

Late last fall Andrew and I cut a branch from one of the neighbor's conifers. It was hanging annoyingly low over our property and dropping needles continually.

Of course cutting it resulted in a shower of needles which I haven't got around to cleaning up yet.

Sadly, I know there will be plenty more...

The orange leaves under the fern table belong to Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Ogon Nishiki' — they're planted in the tops from the dish-planters that live behind the shade pavilion. Once the pavilion is converted to a greenhouse they get moved out of the way. In the spirit of "keeping it real" I'm sharing the lovely sheet plastic, pvc, and binder clip structure I built over the fern stock-tank. Why did create something so horrific you ask?

Because I went out to check on another plant in the garden, after a particularly rainy afternoon, and discovered the tank was a swamp. Ferns like it moist, but they're not bog plants (shown here Coniogramme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra').

Turns out I hadn't added any drainage holes to this tank when it was full of Equisetum hyemale (horsetail - I didn't want it to esacpe) and then didn't think to do it when I planted it up with ferns. Duh! (shown is Coniogramme intermedia 'Yoroi Musha').

Selaginella braunii

Blechnum chilense

Oh well, it's behind the garage and since I'm not spending time hanging out on the patio these days I don't see it unless I come check on it.

Let's end with a pretty picture shall we? Here's the same area last June...

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.