Flowers

California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica

Mexican Aster, Cosmos bipinnatus

An elementary school rests in the background. The kids were on a two week winter break (in July), so I roamed the grounds.

Thinleaf Sunflower, Helianthus decapetalus

Early Blue Violet, Viola palmata

Spurred Butterfly Pea, Centrosema virginianum

Oxeye Daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum

Nodding Thistle, Carduus nutans

Author Matt Hern is the founder of The Purple Thistle Centre in Vancouver, Canada. According to his website, “We run a 2500 sq/ft resource centre that has a ton of supplies, tools, materials, classes and workshops, and its all free. There’s a library, bike fixing shop, computer lab, silkscreening room, animation facility and lots else. And maybe best of all, the whole thing is run by a youth collective that controls all the day-to-day operations and really runs the place.”

Guerilla gardening is also offered at The Purple Thistle Centre.

Devil’s Backbone, Pedilanthus tithymaloides

Cucumber, Cucumis sativus

This is my first go at cukes, and they are curious. The vine flowered a sunshine yellow over a month ago, and I’m waiting for green oblongs. Instead, pokemon-esque footballs connect runners to flowers.

Carrion Plant, Stapelia gigantea

While writing on the porch last October, I sensed movement behind me. The twisted tip of a large, light yellow carrion flower pod began to unravel. I watched as four slits widened a few centimeters at a time. Over the course of forty-five minutes, it splayed wide open in a ten inch base jump from the shelf.

Within minutes, a large black fly arrived to sample the thick white chunks in the center of a flower that smelled like three-day-old roadkill in late July.

The squatting stink bug delivers the stink eye.

Arugula, Eruca sativa

This year’s end of the year party was held in the art teacher’s garden. During a tour I noticed that her arugula was flowering like mine. She said it’s called “bolting” when greens begin forming flowerets. After that, they produce significantly fewer leaves. I’ll eat the flowers before seeding begins.

This afternoon, my neighbor caught me carrying a couple plants I’d sprouted from a pumpkin we carved in class last October. The middle school math teacher-turned chef-turned college professor-turned retired gardener and world traveler, offered greens from his garden, then gave me a tour and advice for growing greens, fruit trees, tomatoes, herbs, and potatoes.

While watering the garden, a young praying mantis headed for higher ground along the edge of the raised bed against the side of the house. A large spider took notice and peered down at a rival killer.