tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26119836929656598842024-03-19T03:46:52.470-05:00Outside ClydeLiving the life of gardening high on the low spot of a
North Carolina mountaintop.Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.comBlogger4072125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-25923953909310572122023-09-11T01:03:00.000-05:002023-09-11T01:03:13.481-05:00Get Back To The GardenThe maintenance gardener is feeling sad. He was hoping the spurt of energy would last through the summer mowing season. That is not what happened.I was in the hospital for two nights and three days last week because the drain catheter in my right lung got infected. Another CT scan showed the cancer had grown right back. Instead of any improvement, I have gone back to sleeping most of the day. TheChristopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-18680499526680310782023-08-29T19:48:00.001-05:002023-09-02T20:14:37.510-05:00WearyI have not been feeling well the last couple of months. And the garden grows a little wilder by the day.Movement has slowed. The tall flower meadow blooms on.The rambling Clematis stans has ebbed and flowed and held on with the competition.The Doll's Eyes have come out to look.Joe Pye bends with the wind while butterflies glide and hummingbirds zoom through the air.And golden Rudbeckia drifts in Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-18756192300950176722023-08-19T14:33:00.000-05:002023-08-19T14:33:12.927-05:00The Bear In A Tall Flower MeadowI appear to be on the late summer route.The bear is a regular morning visitor it seems. They probably always have been. I have just never been home during the day to see them so often.I like this cropped picture better. It shows off the Tall Flower Meadow coming into full bloom and the bear to better advantage.The bear went up the stairs. Time to get in the house. The bear poops all over theChristopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-40688746101272737002023-08-16T16:24:00.001-05:002023-08-17T07:26:42.718-05:00A Very Fine HouseI wandered out to a late summer wildflower meadow yesterday to take some pictures of the ever-increasing floral abundance to share for the Bloom Day post, then ran out of energy before I could finish. I'm a day late. Such is the way it is these days.The tall flower meadows are having a stellar bloom this year. A vision in my head from long ago has finally been turned into a reality. I did what I Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-41127703149063096062023-08-13T20:17:00.001-05:002023-08-13T20:17:32.775-05:00Joe Pye And The Sweet AngelicaLate summer bloom in the Tall Flower Meadow has begun. Joe Pye is one of the first to color up.Angelica gigas is now self-sowing and wandering the gardens. That is always my hope with the wildflowers that I introduce to the mix.Black-Eyed-Susan is a prolific spreader and a pretty good weed smothering ground cover.The time of Joe Pye is here.Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-64561098766983856072023-08-05T19:03:00.001-05:002023-08-05T19:03:21.270-05:00Into A Blooming MeadowIn between rain showers, when the meadow is dry, is a good time to wander into the garden to see all that is a bloom.A lavender Beebalm.Purple LiatrisPurple ConeflowerPost white Fly Poison fading to greenBlack-Eyed-SusanInto a blooming meadow.Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-43360733974149000832023-07-30T20:53:00.000-05:002023-07-30T20:53:06.611-05:00The AromaThe morning air of late has been just right for the putrid stench of Voodoo to emanate from the parking lot and infuse the garden. That aroma has been starting off my day. The sweet smell of 'Lemon Drop' azalea is no more.The meadows are popping with all kinds of flowers, far more than I can show. The chicory is still going strong.Purple Coneflowers and Black-Eyed-Susan are opening abundantly to Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-76026052703175630872023-07-23T19:36:00.001-05:002023-07-23T20:42:17.379-05:00Baby VoodooThis is the absolute latest rising of the Voodoo Lilies that I can recall. It seems they would be fully leafed out around the end of June in the past. I could go back in time on the blog and find out. The worldwide record heat wave is slow to reach the mountain top thank you very much.I can't help myself. I made a tray of baby voodoo. They hang on the front porch for the summer with the house Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-59565523335805191922023-07-15T13:20:00.001-05:002023-07-15T14:07:13.907-05:00A Short Walk In The GardenI missed a few Bloom Day posts because........ This mostly green stroll through the garden is strewn with flowers if you look close enough. It will have to do for my return to this month's Bloom Day offering. The flowers were not my focus on this walk in the garden. I was trying to capture the mood.I'm running into another photo storage filing error limit it seems. I never did anything about the Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-14447808460504387372023-07-12T20:58:00.000-05:002023-07-12T20:58:18.579-05:00Some Flowers In The GardenIt would be a shame not to show you some fetching pictures of the chicory with Miscanthus 'Morning Light'. It is hard not to smile looking at such a pretty sky blue fallen to the ground.The Bottlebrush Buckeye is now showing.And the 'Lemon Drop' azalea perfumes the air.Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-38663808910680754792023-07-10T21:00:00.000-05:002023-07-10T21:00:19.768-05:00In The Summer SunshineHundreds and hundreds of daylilies are blooming across the mountain top in the summer warmth and sunshine. This is Bulbarella's doing. I just got caught in the expansion.Daylilies like to expand on their own and pop up in all kinds of places in all kinds of daylily colors.
The roadside vegetable garden is surrounded by a riot of summer bloom.
The Hydrangea 'Haas Halo' has turned white Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-65738632098494159112023-07-06T20:04:00.002-05:002023-07-07T22:32:57.385-05:00VFYFPThe view from your front porch. In much better focus.Where I can see the varmints coming from my bird's eye view from above. I never tire of the view as it constantly changes and interacts with the seasons.Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-22150949017148341842023-07-04T21:50:00.000-05:002023-07-04T21:50:28.153-05:00The Vibration Of The BearI had one fleeting chance to get a picture and this is what I got. Somehow it speaks to my chemo state of mind. I like the landscape painting quality found in the vibration. Click for a bigger picture.Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-79943752585415644462023-07-03T19:27:00.001-05:002023-07-03T19:27:23.769-05:00On Chicory Mornings Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-88783722801163568462023-06-30T12:03:00.003-05:002023-06-30T17:43:55.551-05:00ActionThere was a timid spurt of energy that started last weekend. I wandered out in the garden to do whatever got done. I wasn't sure what was actually possible.The first day went well, an hours long, slow walk with some light editing. On the second day I picked up the weed eater.There was a mowing. The timid spurt of energy was used up. It hasn't helped that I have been to the dentist twice to have Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-18205190365570664512023-06-27T17:59:00.001-05:002023-06-27T17:59:30.508-05:00The Flowers Draw Me InI can see them from a distance. A lush green meadow sprinkled with ever more flowers as summertime begins. White and yellow are the dominant colors for now.
The Persicaria polymorpha has reached blooming height. The Stewartia pseudocamellia is having its most flowers ever. Many springs the latent flower buds get frozen. I should go have a closer look. All the flowers don't show up as well in Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-54432744386728409742023-06-21T20:22:00.001-05:002023-06-21T20:22:53.797-05:00Bring Me The VoodooI was determined to get the water turned on in the roadside vegetable garden last week. I just had to convince myself I had the necessary energy to do it. It is a struggle. Things are getting fuzzy in my absence.While I was getting a waterline back up and running, the six pots of voodoo lilies landed in my truck. Why shouldn't they spend the summer with me? It could be the last. I made sure they Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-89500459737303826282023-06-13T19:32:00.000-05:002023-06-13T19:32:45.211-05:00UnmowedThe maintenance gardener has been very forgiving of wild meadows set completely free to compete. So far. It helps that nature puts on an excellent show with or without a mowed element of order. Baby steps back into the garden have begun as my breathing returns.The matching rose on the other side of the driveway suffered major winter kill from the Christmas time polar freeze. The Fargesia clumpingChristopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-74427853003837636662023-06-07T08:50:00.000-05:002023-06-07T08:50:45.330-05:00Welcome To The LushI have truly enjoyed watching the garden grow into the green Lush of being in the view from above on my front porch. So much of what I have planted over the years has grown in size and substance to be identifiable from a distance. That enjoyment will have to help soothe the maintenance gardener who is itching to spend time in the garden.My breathing is a touch better which means I am sleeping Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-51441674598717706742023-05-20T20:40:00.000-05:002023-05-20T20:40:08.610-05:00Ripples On the SurfaceI have been sleeping for the past two months. The sleep of the dead and dying. Being sick is my full time job now. It demands my attention. Spring passes over the mountain top in the tapestry and texture of a mountain meadow as I slumber.Green is a color again amid the march of the Mayapples.A healthy sprinkle of the blue Phacelia purshii is now growing in my garden. It will only spread more fromChristopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-8822880785418547022023-04-18T07:31:00.000-05:002023-04-18T07:31:59.306-05:00Spring On A LeashThe final diagnosis was stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the lungs with metastasis to the nearby lymph nodes and the lining of the wall of the lung cavity. It has kicked my butt. I am permanently tied to the oxygen tube. I had my first chemo last Friday.Good thing I planned for a nice view from the front porch for my decrepitude.The view from the dining room window is where my ashes go. Not many people Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-36514199040208157312023-03-23T17:04:00.000-05:002023-03-23T17:04:45.751-05:00The End Of PerkyTesting, testing, testing. A diagnosis of lung cancer has been confirmed. I won't be doing a cancer journey blog. It may get mentioned from time to time. I suspect the number of posts will dwindle since walking the gardens is difficult when you can't breathe. One more test to go and the first appointment with an oncologist is on April 7th. The waiting for some actual treatment is not fun.The lastChristopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-80979505221283662982023-03-15T22:03:00.003-05:002023-03-15T22:15:57.604-05:00A Brief Blue Bloom DayThe sun came out on a frigid Bloom Day morning. It took a lot longer for me to get going. I did manage a short afternoon stroll to see what the freezing cold had done. Not bad I suppose. The daffodils looked relatively ok, but more cold in the low 20's is scheduled for next week.The newly planted chionodoxa in the Great Lawn have started to bloom.So far, no varmint has eaten them. I didChristopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-26488988535785097912023-03-13T21:21:00.002-05:002023-03-14T06:57:09.975-05:00Amazing GraceI spent my 65th birthday in a hospital. Testing, testing, testing. I have not been feeling better. My shortness of breath has gotten so bad, so rapidly, I can't walk ten steps without having to stop and catch my breath. My right lung is partially collapsed. I'm on oxygen now. The tentative word was lung cancer. More tests were needed for the particulars. I can't breathe which means I can't work Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611983692965659884.post-61073710563589608662023-03-08T19:58:00.000-05:002023-03-08T19:58:02.673-05:00The Handiwork Of Bulbarella StinzeIs sprinkled with blue glitter generously throughout. Click on a picture for a walk with the daffodils.
Christopher C. NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621322814577793080noreply@blogger.com0