Mrs. Potter.

The recent extrema interest in the natural world around me all stems from a small interest in Mrs. Beatrix Potter, author and illustrator of the early 1900's.

I have had an interest in her work for a while now and in October of this year, 2008, I found myself checking out all books related to her and her work at the local library. I was most drawn in to her work of Fungi That is how it all started... Then I spent a full Saturday working on cleaning up and dressing our patio/garden and I was hooked.
Here is a collection of more of her inspirational work.
I still have yet to actually try my hand at drawing and painting the various vegetation around me as I have been caught up more in researching others and the local flora and fauna while taking fotographs to use for later time when I actually take the time to sit down and add pen & ink to paper. Till then enjoy her work.

Cheers,
'Mr.Ray'

Rosemary & Thyme

I love that the British can mix the love of gardening with crime investigation. That is the main plot for the BBC TV series 'Rosemary & Thyme'. Here is part of one of the episodes.



'Mr.Ray'

Our Morning Walk.

On our walk today I came upon several spots with Fungi. I had the ol' nikon and so did a little documentation.

There is some new growth down the side walk from our place.



These red guys are hanging out along Kettela Ave. in front of the convention center.


We are packing our place to move back up to Utah. I find that I am a going to miss living here more than I thought. This has been our place in Anaheim for the last 2 1/2 years, the only home both of our boys have ever known. SoCal has been mine and the wife's home for over 7 years. I think if I had been working full time for the last few months it would be different, as in, excited to start something new. But as we have developed a routine and I have been able to enjoy our place it is a lot harder. I think also the fact that it is by necessity not so much choice that we have to do this. I am very grateful that my sister in law and her family are willing to let us move in with them at this time.
I love Autumn and Winter but as my fascination with plant life has begun to develop it will be different not having active growth going on around me. I will miss discovering exotic plant life in and around our neighborhood. The climate in Utah is much harsher and not actively suited for these types of plants out of doors. But I do look forward to new discoveries that are bound to be found when making an effort to explore. I think in the spring I would like to go down to Utah Lake and possibly try and find some tadpoles and adult amphibians. That will be fun. On to new adventures!

'Mr.Ray'

In the Grass

Coprinus quadrifidus mushrooms (?)

On our walk the past two days I noticed a nice growth of two spors. This morning we came upon this. There was heavy rain last night so this fungi is not in the best of shape. I love little secrets and discoveries. The image was taken with the camera on the cell phone so not the best image.

'Mr.Ray'

Under Glass.

I have had a bell jar for well over a year.... almost two I think. Anyway I have been lazy in not getting myself a base so finally I recently dragged myself to the local thrift shop to find an old plate and begin my life under glass. I have started with simple mosses (Bryophyte) that are abundant in and around our living complex.


I seamed to have found several types of mosses. I plan to find out their taxonomy and will update once known.


Upon digging up a nice clump I also was blessed to have found 'Walter' the little earth worm who is now making his home among the soil of our Terrarium. This Terrarium is also home to 'Pete' the frog prince statue that was given to Miss M. for her birthday a few years back.


I plan to add a small fern as soon as I locate a suitable subject.

below are a few more images.





Cheers,
'Mr.Ray'

Conservatory.

Horniman Conservatory.

One day I would love to have an acre or two that I may be able to build my own small Conservatory. I want this post to be an ongoing one that I will update regularly with images of Conservatories for reference for that far off 'one day'.

Nov.26/008:
Found a collection of posts related to this subject by Mr. Whimsy. Here.

At the Nursery.

Today I took a little trip to a local plant nursery to take a walk around and see what plants I would like to one day place in my garden spots. Since I am with out current employment I can only take pictures and dream. One day.

So why in Southern California are most if not all of the plant nursery's located under electrical power lines? A google search brings up nothing. A true mystery I guess.

Here are a few plants that cought my eye while wandering around.
'Velvet Range Ruby' Anigozanthos.

'Little Gem' Aloe campanula Hyb.

'Kaffir Lily' Clivia miniata. I first saw one of these while walking around the Anaheim Convention center one night and was intreaged by it so excited to know what it is.

'Cordyline Pink'. I was drawn to the purple leaves and found its 'flower' intreaging.

'Yeddo Hawthorn' Rhaphiolepis umbellata. Here again like the purpleish leaves and the very vibrint red flowers.

'Princess Flower' Tibouchina heteromalla. These leaves are 'fuzzy'. Unfortunately the flowers were not present at this time. The fuzzy leaves reminded me of 'lambs Ears' that my dad has had in all of our gardens growing up.

'Bougainvillea' La Jolla. I want to plant this in 2 earns and place them on top of our brick wall on eather side of the gate. They act kind of like vines and creap along fences or just hang low and that is what I want it to do just drape over the brick pillars.

'Coleus Inky Fingers'. These are awesome!

'Super Bum' Platycerium. This one was listed as $249.

I remember my grandmother had a few of these that she kept in her large studio apartment in SF. These smaller ones are actually very reasonable cost wise $29 each. I would like to one day own one they are so interesting. plants you hang on your wall like art.

'Dwarf Chandler Pummelo' Citrus maxima. When I saw the name I had to share. This fruit was huge for the small shrub of a tree. Citrus Maxima indeed!

I wrote down that this plant name was 'Eric John Wax Plant' but with further research that is not the right name it is a Bromeliad.

This little huming bird folowed me around for a while.


This poor butterfly was stuck flying into the corner of the shade net. If it just turned around it would be fine.... Oh well.


Well that was my adventure.
Cheers,
'Mr.Ray'