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| Voodoo Lily Bud (Dracunculus vulgaris; 5/7/2023) |
M gifted me with a voodoo lily (Dracunculus vulgaris) bulb (also known by several other names including dragon lily, dragon arum, and snake lily), in August 2021. I wrote about it here and here. It grew leaves, last year, but, didn't flower. Well, this year, we have a flower bud! It is supposed to open up to display a purple spathe and emit a rather stinky smell! I've been taking pictures of it every couple of days to see how it is developing. The photos above were taken on May 7; the photos below were taken this morning (May 10). I think I can detect the beginnings of an unfurling of the spathe!
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| Voodoo Lily Bud (taken 5/10/23) |
M watered the garden, today, and he planted three more cuttings of the Euphorbia tirucalli along the side yard wall. His only concern is they exude a milky sap when cut, which can cause skin irritations if one comes into contact with it. We will have to be very careful when pruning them.
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| The First Ripe Blueberry |
I picked the first ripe blueberry today! I offered it to M, but, he said it was mine! It was sweet and delicious! The other blueberries are still ripening:
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| Unripe Blueberries |
It promises to be a good crop of blueberries; most will be frozen and saved for my daughter whenever she comes home, next.
Elsewhere in the back garden, the red aloe plant is doing well and having a flower stalk:
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| Red Aloe and Flower Stalk |
It is another plant that M gave me. The first one he gave me was planted in the front garden, in the succulents border, and someone swiped it! I was very sad that happened and M gave me a replacement plant. We decided to keep it in the back garden! The leaves turn red with more sun exposure.
Just behind the red aloe plant, growing under the peach tree, is a white guara plant:
It's also known as the butterfly flower and it's another drought-tolerant plant and attracts pollinators. I've asked M to buy me another guara plant, a pink one if possible.
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| White Guara (Guara lindheimeri) |
It's also known as the butterfly flower and it's another drought-tolerant plant and attracts pollinators. I've asked M to buy me another guara plant, a pink one if possible.
The fuyu persimmon tree is the last fruit tree to flower, this year:
I am hoping to get more than one persimmon, this year, but, even one would be lovely! When we first bought the plant, we were told that it will not bear fruit for at least five years! This is the third year after planting it.
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| Fuyu Persimmon Flower |
I am hoping to get more than one persimmon, this year, but, even one would be lovely! When we first bought the plant, we were told that it will not bear fruit for at least five years! This is the third year after planting it.
With spring being upon us and summer around the corner, so to speak, I am seeing quite a few gardening posts on blogs I read and, having read some of them, I am coming to the realization that my garden is sadly lacking in ornaments! Garden statuary, in general, and more specifically, "Buddha heads"! Some appear to be simple plaster or resin heads of the Buddha, placed, I presume, to give an Asian flair to their gardens, or, perhaps, it is meant to convey a sense of serenity? Which, I suppose, is a compliment of sorts?!
Then, there are others which are planters in the shape of the head of the Buddha; one plants inside the head, and, on at least one blog, there was a discussion about the different "hair styles" that can be achieved with different plants! Hm.
I can understand wanting to have religious statues in ones garden. I have seen Buddha statues set up in little outdoor shrines; quite a few Buddhist homes in Sri Lanka have them. I have also seen statues of the Madonna in the gardens of some Catholic homes, often in a grotto setting, but, sometimes, just set on the ground. I am assuming that there are statues of Jesus in some Christian gardens, too?
But, I have not seen a "Jesus head" planter! Have you? I did an online search and I found some statues of Jesus and the Madonna (by themselves or of the Madonna and Child) with a planter at the back (although, they seem to be more like candle holders than planters, going by size), but, no planters shaped like the head of Jesus. I wonder why? Why only Buddha head planters and not Jesus head planters? Is there no demand for them? Perhaps they don't have the same vibes? Sigh. Seems like I've had this discussion before, or something similar to it!
Would I plant in a Buddha head planter if I was given one? No, I would not. But, IF I did, then, I would choose a Ficus religiosa (also known as a Bodhi tree) seedling as this is a sacred tree to Buddhists. Would I plant in a Jesus head planter? Again, no, I would not. Would you? In any case, what would one plant in a Jesus head planter if one wanted to? Euphorbia milii (also known as Crown of Thorns)?
I think, for the time being at least, I will leave my garden devoid of statues or head shaped planters of any religion!
By the way, M was very upset about the oil stained paver and asked one of the neighbors next door if they knew who did it and they said no. Of course, they would say no! M tried to clean off the stains with some degreaser spray that he had, but, it didn't work, so he turned the paver over:
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| The Paver Turned Over |
The oil stains seem to have seeped to the other side, but, they are not quite as noticeable.
How is your garden coming along? What do you have growing in it? Do you have any ornamental statues or interestingly shaped planters?
I do like persimmons and only discovered them in the supermarket last year if I remember rightly and bought quite a few over the weeks.. How nice for you to be growing blueberries they are so nice too. I'm not surprised nobody will own up to spoiling your paver sadly it's the way some people are these days. As for ornaments in the garden I have quite a few, I have a mole garden, I'll have to take some photos for you. The reason for moles is my son works underground in London :) I have a neighbourhood watch ornament which amused me when I saw it so I had to buy it. I don't have any head planters as you describe, no I would not be tempted to buy a Jesus head but can't say I've ever seen any.
ReplyDeletePersimmons are delicious and so are homegrown blueberries!
DeleteYes, people will rarely own up to creating a mess or spoiling the place. But, I know who worked on the vehicle because I was outside, walking, when they were there and I saw them (they saw me, too). I didn't see them spilling the oil, but, I saw that they had containers and spray cans of lubricants, etc. They didn't see me when M asked them if they knew who did it.
I think I remember you mentioning your mole garden, but it would be lovely to see some pictures of it. That's cute that you chose moles because your son works underground! :)
So many things. And all are so good. I love persimmons but we don't get them in our country.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I'm sorry you are unable to get persimmons in your country. May I ask which country you are in?
DeleteI have never seen a red aloe before. It's quite pretty. I have seen Buddhas in gardens, but not as planters. The people I know who have them are not Buddhist, but like many of the Buddhist philosophies. Being Buddhist, do you consider the Buddhist garden statues and planters in bad taste? That's interesting about the Jesus planters. I have never seen one.
ReplyDeleteThe red aloe is eye catching, isn't it? Currently, I only have that one, but, eventually, I will divide it (it has some daughters) and there will be additional plants.
DeleteI think it is lovely to have Buddha statues or heads in the garden; I will assume they are being displayed as something good to have. However, a Buddha head planter seems disrespectful to me. What would you think if you saw a planter in the shape of Jesus' head, planted up with plants to resemble hair?
I'm not sure how I feel about the planters and the hair. It doesn't seem right, but if the intentions were good, it might be okay.
DeleteThank you for the reminder to consider the intentions. That's an important thing that I overlooked in my initial reaction. I know it wasn't intentional, just ignorant.
DeleteWhat wonderful plants you have! I imagine you will be wearing your mask when that Voodoo Lily blooms! Your blueberries look very healthy. Our blueberry plants are just recovering from the snow, I must check them for buds. I don't like the idea of a Buddha planter, but a quality statue would be different and look peaceful. I've never thought about statues of the head of Jesus, I couldn't imagine it. Even in churches He is portrayed completely. I would quite like to have a statue of St. Francis or Mary in the garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. There's a reason why I told M to plant the voodoo lily far down in the garden, well away from the house! LOL. Although, the stinky starfish flowers he planted in the front garden don't smell that stinky to me.
DeleteThe blueberries are looking good aren't they?
I am fine with Buddha statues in a garden; even a Buddha head. It is the Buddha head planter I have issues with. I would never consider planting in and displaying a Jesus head planter, or a Mary's head planter. To me, that would be profane, even if I am not a Christian. Or, at the very least, insensitive.
Your plants are just wonderful. I wish I had me an M to help in my yard!
ReplyDeleteTry putting a little kitty litter on the oil. Sometimes it will absorb it.
Thank you, Anne; everyone should have an M helping in the garden! :D Oh, good idea to try kitty litter on the oil stains! Right now, M turned the paver over, so the stain is not so obvious. But, I'll keep that tip in mind if there is a next time.
DeleteYes, I agree, it is insensitive to someone's faith to have a Buddha, or a Jesus "head planter". Can you imagine the outcry if people manufactured a head planter from the prophet Mohammed? I do not have any statuary in my garden, unless you count the little resin raccoon left by the previous owners. I also have a weathervane like an old fashioned airplane. The propeller spins and the plane turns with the wind. It is blue metal and we call the pilot Patrick,
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. A statue is one thing; a planter in the shape of the head of the founder of a religion or its primary teacher is something else. Your resin raccoon and the weathervane sounds nice. Another blogger I read often posts pictures of weathervanes she finds when she's out and about. I haven't noticed them over here, at least not in my area.
DeleteYou have some really interesting and lovely plants in your garden. Did you choose what to put there? Or were they already there? Are they mostly native plants? Lots of questions lol
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. Most of the plants in my garden are what I planted; the lemon trees, the calamondin tree, and the feijoa (pineapple guava) trees were already here. Only some of the plants are native plants, but, quite a few are water-wise and natives of similar climates - warm, semi-arid areas.
DeleteI imagine eating fresh blueberries from your own bush is such a good taste & feel. I think many people looking for calm in their life, believe that having a Buddha statue in their garden would bring or evoke those feelings. I do have a small sitting angel I made long ago in a ceramics class & she reminds me to pause often in the garden to give thanks for my blessings.
ReplyDeleteOne can't get blueberries any fresher than that! I ate two more that were ripe, yesterday, and left one berry on the bush to ripen a bit more. Right now, they are ripening just one or two at a time.
DeleteYes, I can understand that Buddha statues and Buddha heads evoke a sense of peace and calm and don't really have any problem with having them in the garden. Angels are fine, too, and statues of Mary and Jesus. But, a planter in the shape of the head of the Buddha? I don't know. I would not consider it would be OK to have a planter in the shape of the head of Jesus or the head of Mary with plants growing in it - what do you think? Suppose it was a planter in the shape of a menorah with plants growing on the top where one would normally place candles - would that be considered OK?
Absolutely agree that it is very disrespectful to have the head of Buddha as a planter or any religious leader or symbol as a planter.
DeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. I suppose I'm over-reacting, but, it just isn't something I'd consider OK to do. Having said that, I rather like the idea of having an angel to watch over the garden. :)
DeleteSo much coming alive in your garden. I always enjoy seeing your plants and what they are up to lol
ReplyDeleteBlueberries - what a wonderful berry to have in your garden. You will have quite variety of berries and fruit in no time.
I think I remember the aloe being stolen, or maybe I remember hearing about it but you have a nice one going now in your back garden.
I'm glad M said something to the neighbors. I think they may now think twice before they use that area for their messy activities. I'm hopeful anyway.
Thank you, Debra. Yes, the garden is in full swing right now! I find something happening every day! I picked a whole handful of blueberries this morning and ate them right away, while I was still in the garden! :D
DeleteYes, I know I complained about the aloe being stolen, when it happened. The replacement one is having two or three baby plants; I will divide them, one day, and start new plants.
I was nervous when M approached the neighbors about the stain, but, if I see them working on their vehicles out there again, I'll ask them to try not spilling on the pavers! Maybe I'll give them a trash bag and ask them to cover the pavers! People have no respect for other people's property!
I forgot the planter question. No, I would not have any religious planter head as I think it seems too frivolous for the subject. But that's just me.
ReplyDeleteIf people want a religious item in their garden I think that's fine because it's a personal space and some people may like those reminders of their religion in their garden.
I'm not big on any sort of garden ornamentation in general thinking the plants are enough. My friend was getting rid of a couple of old birdhouses that were rotting and decaying (just my preference hahaha) and I did bring them home.
Oh I just remembered a religious thing I have. When we first bought the house and were cleaning up the yard we found a cement statue without the head (the poor thing!) then a few days later I found the head so of course I repaired it. It sits proudly in the bed around the patio kind of tucked in among the plants. He looks kind of religious. Shepherd-like.
Thank you, Debra. Yes, you are right; gardens are private, personal spaces and people can do what they like and display what they want. I don't think this particular blogger (with the Buddha head planter) is Buddhist, but, if she wants a Buddha head in her garden, then, that's fine. It's just the idea of a replica of religious figure's head being used as a planter; it seems disrespectful to me, no matter who the religious figure is. I left a comment on the blog and she apologized and said she never thought of it that way.
DeleteThe old birdhouses sound like a nice addition to any garden and I like the fact that you repaired the figure you found in the garden. He will tend to the flock of plants! :)
I might be behind with my comments, but I am clearly reading your posts in order :) At least the stain in much less noticeable now. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to read the old posts and comment. I appreciate you doing that. Yes, turning the paver over was the best solution to the problem. :)
DeleteLucky that the paving slabs don't have a top and a bottom! Mine do, in that the surfaces are distinct, and there is a different edging on the bottom, I suppose from how it was poured. At least the oil stain is less noticeable now thanks to M, though it must have been quite a spill to permeate through like that. With a bit of luck the little mark will fade in time. (If your neighbours keep their distance, that is!)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever seen Christ statues anywhere other than in churches. I have seen saints in religious outdoor spaces, and Madonnas in little grottoes in India, mainly outside convent schools. An old family friend had a beautiful carved Madonna from Austria in his house; he wasn't Catholic but CoE (non-practising I think), so he understood what it was. Even if primarily he loved it as a work of art, he respected what she represented I suppose, and displayed her sensitively. eg didn't use her as a dumping ground.
I am not particularly into religious iconography but if I saw it, I would assume/expect it to mean something to the person displaying it. For example, if I saw an image of Our Lady at Chelsea flower show, I would immediately wonder about the significance - not that I would be offended if there was none, but I'd find it odd and wonder what was going through that person's head. Same if it were a Hindu god or an image of Buddha or whatever else.
Funnily enough I thought of you in Wales as one of the rooms that I stayed in (in an old country inn) quite randomly had four Buddha paintings on the walls! I didn't get round to asking why, but it made me think of this post because those kinds of paintings are so freely available in shops here, and liked by so many people. I think you are correct that it is a kind of compliment, in that people, whether they know much about it or not, see Buddhism as a peaceful religion which they are happy to associate with/take comfort from, whereas some other religions can be divisive in one way or another. I should add that there were no practical items like Buddha air fresheners or planters at that place! Those would be at best tacky and at worst disrespectful, as you say.
On a side note - it is very common in Japan to see funeral parlours and civil wedding venues made to look like proper chapels, with arches, spires and crosses etc etc. I got taken in a few times during my pilgrimage, when I was needing to find a Christian church (of any sort) and would go out of my way to reach it only to discover it was nothing of the kind. I wouldn't say I found those places offensive but I think they are a bit insensitive, in that they belittle what Christianity stands for, just so that a young couple who probably has no idea of any of the significance can dress up in western wedding clothes and have their photo taken in/outside a fake "church". It's superficial and kind of trashy! But I am quite sure there is no offence meant, as most Japanese have a very relaxed attitude to religion generally, and happily weave cultural elements of Buddhism, Shintoism etc into their otherwise secular lives.
Hope this comment isn't too boring.
Ella (as if you couldn't guess)!
I am not able to sign in to your blog, try as I might. I have managed to get into three others today, after trying various "tricks", but sadly not here. (Which means I also can't sign up for follow-ups...)
Your comment wasn't boring, at all!
DeleteYes, it's lucky that the pavers look the same on both sides. I do have some others that have different designs on the top. If that was the case, I might have switched the oil stained one for the one M wanted placed under the front garden hose. Yes, hopefully, the stain will fade over time.
That's interesting about the inn room with paintings of the Buddha on the walls and not just one, but four! I hope you found it a peaceful room in which to be. :) I suppose non-Buddhists started displaying Buddha statues or Buddha heads for the same reason your non-Catholic friend displayed a statue of the Madonna - as works of art. It's when a religious icon becomes another advertising gimmick that gets me upset.
We have a few so called "wedding chapels" here, too. :)
😮😠
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