We woke up to this today!!!!!  "Yikes," said Sandy Bradley, from Florida.  

"Impressive," said Mark Conde, who's here.  He was responding to the temperature, and this:

 

 

Both "impressive!!"  Tere Christensen's response was "Ahhhh-magical!  She's in Florida too.

 

We are so fortunate to be viewing the Super Blood Wolf Moon.  This picture is looking west watching it set over the Southern Appalachians.  

 

My understanding of the title is this:  Super moon because it is in perigee, nearest to the center of the Earth right now. Blood moon because it was in eclipse last night about 10:30, (we missed that part.)  Wolf moon is the name given by Native Americans for the January full moon, when wolves climb the hills and sing together.  

 

I hope you you got to see it.  If not, you can enjoy my picture.  I went outside in 10 degrees so you could see it.

 

 

You're welcome!!!!!

 

 

 

This is Camellia japonica.  I was surprised to see it blooming in January. But I just read that it's sometimes called Rose of Winter, since it blooms between January and March.  OK.  Normal.

 

My sister, Julie has these huge bushes (15 feet tall) growing in the middle of her circular driveway. They are beautiful right now.  The blossoms are about 5 inches across, and each branch is loaded.  Kinda messy on the driveway, but beautiful when you look up.

 

Camellias will grow in our area too.  They like bright light, but will do well with a little shade.  Roxanne and Jim have some in their yard, and they seem to do fine with a lot of shade.  The leaves are thick and leathery, making me think the deer probably don't eat them.  I'll get back to you on that assumption.  

 

Maybe I'll write a blog all about deer and their food preferences.  For Karen.  ;)

 

There are several species of Camellia.  They are all evergreen shrubs or trees. Camellia japonica has large leaves and big, showy flowers and the plant can grow to 36 feet!  Camellia sasanqua has smaller leaves and flowers and the plants grow 5-6 feet tall.  These two species are common garden plants, available in local garden centers.

 

Another species grown mainly in Asia is Camellia sinensis. It has small white flowers and is sometimes called tea plant or tea shrub. Because the leaves and leaf buds are used to make tea.  Leaves are collected at different stages of development producing different tea qualities.  Too much science for this blog entry;  I just like knowing that Lipton tea comes from a familiar plant.  

 

If you see a bush booming in winter, look closely, it might be a Camellia.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Jon took this picture this morning as the sun was coming up. 

 

A beautiful reminder that it's a new day with no mistakes in it.  

 

I hope you're making the most of it.

 

 

Happy Thursday!!!

 

Momma is out of hospital and finished with rehab.  It has been a whole month!!

 

She's getting stronger every day, and is ready to move back to Atria, her assisted living home.  Since transitions are so difficult on the elderly, my sisters have asked me to come stay the first few nights with her.  Even though her pictures and furniture and things are there, we want to be sure that she has somebody familiar there in the middle of the night.  

 

And so she doesn't feel babysitted, I can just be coming for a visit, and still preserve her dignity as an independent person.  She turned 95 in December, and is doing remarkably well.

 

Thank you, friends, for your loving thoughts and prayers.  We are going to make this a great new year!!!

 

I'll be on the lookout for something interesting to blog about.  

 

 

Hope to see you soon!!!

 

 

Here we are again on the trail.

 

We saw lots of cars on the road today, but nobody on the trail.  Hmmmm.

 

It's really pretty down here.  Nice weather, fresh air, exercise.  

 

 

Hope to see you soon.

 

Where in Five Forks is this?

 

If you don't know, then you've never been on the Creekside Hiking Trail. 

 

This is the bridge that crosses the creek about half way down the trail.  

 

The hiking trail has always been here.  And it's delightful spring, summer, fall, and winter.  There is always something new to see.  It's not a long or strenuous hike, just go slow on the uphill climb.  

 

You really should check it out.  It's beautiful right now.  I hope to see you out there.

 

 

Happy Hiking!!!

 

Sorry it's been so long since I've written a blog.  The last couple ones were written on my phone. Way too much work. 

Well I have an iPad now, a gift from a friend. And I have something important to write about. 

 

 

This is our friend, Floyd Bowen.  He was very instrumental in the establishment of our Fve Forks community.  When the Board of Directors was getting started, Floyd volunteered and served on the board for 2 years. Then he was reelected for two more years. During that time he facilitated the establishment of the bylaws for our HOA. Lots of legal stuff, which he understood. He offered wisdom and advise based on his experience as a lobbyist for Exxon in the state of Texas. 

 

Floyd and Lois were some of the first residents in Five Forks.  Their permanent home is in Austin, Texas, and they would travel by car to North Carolina; nearly 1000 miles, to spend time in their mountain home.  

 

When they were here, often staying 3 months at a time, they worshipped at the Methodist Church in Young Harris, and played bridge several times a week.  They loved to travel too.  We heard about cruises, trips to Europe, and other adventures.  We also heard good stories about their children and grandchildren.  They were very proud of them all. 

 

Now for the the rest of the story.  Early last year Floyd was diagnosed with liver cancer.  He bravely underwent treatment, and got the green light to go on with his life.  When he went for a 6 month check up, they found that the cancer was back, and had spread.  He volunteered for an experimental drug, knowing that it wouldn't cure him, but may help somebody in the future.  Floyd was only 80 years old, but had such a good outlook on life, we all thought he would pull through it.  The doctors knew otherwise.  So they began Hospice care, and made those difficult end of life decisions. They sold the mountain house, and concentrated on living their best life while they still had it together. Floyd died on Saturday, December 15, 2018, leaving the world a better place for having lived.

 

Our hearts and prayers go out to Lois, because Floyd was her best friend for nearly 60 years!!!  How does one say goodbye?  I will tell you that my life is richer for having known Floyd and Lois as neighbors and friends. 

 

 

Bye, Floyd.  I love you.

 

 

 

 

My girlfriend gave me some seeds....Castor beans.  

 

She told me they are effective in keeping the moles out of the garden.  She also said that her husband had to use a chain saw to remove one from their garden last year.  Hmmmm.  Do I really want to plant that?  Let me think:  NO!!!!

 

I didn't mean to plant it, but apparently I did.  Slam in the middle of the garden!!!!

 

Now for some interesting information about castor bean plants.  Castor beans were discovered in Egyptian tombs, looking a lot like polished bits of marble.  The Egyptians used castor oil as lamp oil, and an unguent which they drank with beer to purge their systems.  Some people still use castor oil as a laxative.  AAK!!!

 

READ THIS:  CASTOR BEANS ARE POISONOUS!!!  DO NOT EAT!!!

 

I also read that castor oil is used for lubrication of airplane engines, and for hydraulic brake fluids.  That just sounds toxic.

 

So....We're NOT going to eat any part of this plant, but it is interesting to me that we haven't seen too many moles in the garden this year.  I have also seen castor bean plants in some local gardens.  Maybe it does work.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

 

 

 

I love mountain mint but even I am tired of that picture.

 

Jon and I were at the Methodist church in Blairsville last week and I saw a Monarch butterfly floating around the zinnias. I only took one picture with my phone and LOOK what I got!!!!!!   How beautiful!

 

I hope you see butterflies everywhere you go.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Maybe you've seen this along the trail, or on the roadside.  It looks like it's been dusted with baby powder.  It is Hoary Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum incanum.  That's a mouthful!  We just call it mountain mint.  

 

Mints are distinguished by their square stems, and opposite leaves.   They also display compact bunched flowers atop their leaves.  Enlarge the picture and you can see the bunches of lavender flowers.

 

Be sure to notice it;  and if you're up close, crush the flowers and leaves, and smell it.  It has a fresh, clean mint fragrance.  Delightful!

 

I hope you see some mountain mint in your travels.   

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!