27 April 2024
It’s been kind of a bleh morning. I went to bed at 9 pm last night and did my usual multi-tours of the bathroom for most of the night. I finally got out of bed at 5 am, had breakfast and checked emails. It’s also wash day. The only thing I can get excited about that is fresh linen on the bed.
What started out as a bright, sunshiny day has turned into an overcast one and we’ve even had an unpredicted shower. We could use a lot more rain since we are in our dry cycle right now.
Yesterday, I called Dinnen Electric to come out and change the timer to the pool pump. It quit working and I wanted it replaced for when I am in Mississippi. I was going to skim the leaves from the pool this morning and then run the pump manually for a couple of hours. When I looked out the window, the Great White was working which meant the pool pump was working. Miraculously, the timer seems to be working again. I’ll need to call Dinnen Electric and cancel the timer order.
I’m starting to get organized for the trip. Today I sorted pill packets for morning and evening meds. Opening the packets and inserting the pills is quite the feat. The arthritis in my hands gave me trouble opening them and then trying to pick up the pills and put them in the packet was a challenge due to the neuropathy. I had completed the morning packets when I looked over and realized I had forgotten to include a baby Aspirin. Back to opening and adding the pills. Fortunately, I had enough medications on hand to meet my needs for the trip except for Omeprazole for my esophageal reflux. I quickly went online and Walgreens fill the prescription which should be ready by Monday.
Tomorrow, I’ll start pulling out “camping” equipment such as my coffee pot and other kitchen items and start filling the suitcase. As usual, I’ll overpack.
Jimmie sent me three more photos from her morning walk. I really appreciate it.
I remember the first time I saw Red Hot Poker in a botanical garden. It certainly catches your eye. It’s native to Africa and has, of course, been introduced as an ornamental in the states. It belongs to a family of plants I’ve never experienced: Asphodelaceae. Calflora.org lists 5 genera and 6 species and all are non-native.
Biota of North America Program lists 5 genera and 6 species but different species and genera for the family. Even the taxonomists agree that the family is a mishmash and catchall family. Generally, the leaves are in a rosette pattern and a central flowering stalk is sent up. As an example of a plant in the family you may be familiar with is Aloe vera.
My first exposure to bleeding hearts was in the Pacific Northwest. I found the Pacific bleeding heart after a long search. Of course, when I did find it, it was so abundant I was tripping over it. This is a plant genus that would possibly be found in Tishomingo State Park in northeast Mississippi and my major professor, Dr. Pullen, asked me to look for it. It is found in Tennessee so there was a possibility. I never found it. I’ve since found it in North Carolina.
I was introduced to a similar plant as a graduate student at Ole Miss called Mother of Thousands. The reason is everywhere the leaf was notched, it would produce a tiny plantlet.
As the “babies” fell off the plant and rooted, the “mother” would secrete a chemical to retard the growth of any plantlets around her. Only when she died did the tiny plantlets begin to grow significantly.
Flaming Katy certainly stands out with those red flowers. It’s a native of Madagascar.
It’s time to fold clothes and put them away.
Stay tuned!
