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Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Poetry and Plants
April 7, 2013
— 9 Comments
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- iris in bloom
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- soft hello
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- inner iris
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- deep purple
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- poets’ corner
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- poets welcome class
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- attending the poetry class
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- poems for the day
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- guide
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- share the poems
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- poets
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- TBG docent reads her poem
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- reading with British accent
New this year at the Tucson Botanical Gardens is a collaboration with the U of A Poetry Center, bringing poetry to the gardens. I attended the class next to the iris garden yesterday and was surprised at the depth and education they packed into the experience. We learned about the Poetry Center’s history and the very good luck we have to live in a city with a center such as this. We learned about the botanical gardens and the history and meaning of the iris plant. An enthusiastic docent from the Tucson Botanical Gardens opened the readings with a poem of her own about iris and the field of everyday glory we can find in nature. We then read together a selection of poems, all in some way referring to the iris. Our favorite reader was dressed like an iris and has a British accent that enhanced her interpretation. It was an exceptional experience on all levels for me. I enjoyed the crowd, and had time after the class to get some technical growing advise from the lady who represented the Iris Society. Poetry and gardens do go together very well. Next month the group will meet by the cactus garden….a thorny subject. I am encouraged to use my poetic voice more often, and listen for stunning stories to tell.
Cactus in Bloom
April 5, 2013
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- pink and delicate
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- pincushion
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- pincushion
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- flamboyant
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- orange
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- minis
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- stunning
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- fushia
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- Barrel
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- Barrel
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- Barrel
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- Texan
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- Coahuilan
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- Coahuilan
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- falme
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- bold color
Cactus bloom quickly and with amazing flourish. The colors are often so bright they look almost shocking. The current cactus blooming color splash is a delight to the eye. There is little scent, but lots of pollen for the insects to enjoy and move. Our Sonoran desert environment is rich with diversity and beauty.
Iris
April 5, 2013
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- indigo
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- rosey
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- bright yellow
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- yellow
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- purple and gold
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- peach
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- peachy
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- blossoms
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- close up
Iris means rainbow in Greek, the name of a messenger goddess . The flower has been used in medicine and perfumery for many centuries. The symbolic fleur-de-lis is a stylized iris used in many coats of arms, and by the New Orleans Saints. In healing the essence of iris is used for seeing. Notice that the iris can only look up.
Turbo the Desert Tortoise
April 4, 2013
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- Teenitiny Turbo
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- Teenytiny Turbo eats
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- chomping Turbo
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- Loves his Greens
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- happy with his romaine
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- Shreds it
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- rips it
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- snarfing down the romaine
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- Enjoying lunch
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- Polishing off romaine
Turbo the Tortoise has been asleep all winter in his cozy tortoise den. His very small fellow tortoise, Teenytiny Turbo, slept the winter in a big box on the balcony to protect him from the cold. He is too little to be on his own. They started moving around slowly about two weeks ago, and now they are both warm, hungry, and on the move.
They both came from Wildlife Rescue here in Tucson. Do not pick up a tortoise out of the desert and take it home because it is not legal to do so. If you want to care for this cute pet, you need to inquire at Wildlife rescue for those who need homes. They are independent, but do know their people and ours even likes the dog, who is polite to him. He is very hungry now, so he really enthusiastically devours his romaine. He had green on his lips when I came to see him, so he had been munching wild plants, but he does prefer the wet juicy romaine leaves when he can get them. He doesn’t actually drink any water, even if you leave it out for him. He gets all his water from plants.
Wellness Account
April 3, 2013
Paying attention is the first step to wellness. Our individual health is like a bank account. We deposit good constitution and healthy habits such as whole fresh food and solid rest. When things go wrong it is impossible to tell which check has overdrawn the account. If you take out more than you put in this will always be the result. Rather that be too crazy about diagnosis and specific remedies, a good overview can help sort out the most crucial from the unimportant. How and why do you use your own resources to damage your health?
Our bodies consist of an advanced bundle of cells and energy connected to create this network of life, feeling and emotion. We are a conduit to something fantastic and sometimes unimaginable; a Responsive Universe…. Our bodies are our best friends. We need to listen to our bodies signals – wellness is the only true focus. Are you listening?
Please check out my latest article published at MindBodyGreen which focuses on listening to our bodies and how we can positively respond to those signals…
Do You Listen To Your Body’s Signals?
John C. Bader
About the Book: www.responsiveuniverse.com
Now Available: Amazon Barnes & Noble
Garden Ideas from Grow Down
March 26, 2013
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- Design drawing
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- Modern Desert Garden
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- patio setting
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- rock background
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- Drawing
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- contest winner
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- entry
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- garden room
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- fireplace next to couch
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- lounge in garden
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- designer’s card
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- in the garden building
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- view from inside
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- concrete and mud
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- water chain
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- winning water feature
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- metal barbecue
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- tree well planter
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- cactus collection
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- plants hang
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- metal barbecue
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- bright color accents
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- colorful divider
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- patio view
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- blooming cactus
The final installations for the Grow Down design contest are all very impressive. My favorite did not win the official competition, but I still love the water harvesting site built by Realm. Here are the ideas from the other installations not centered around water harvesting and growing food, which is my personal bias.
The three other designs were also innovative and showed new ways to use small spaces to create privacy and shade. The use of metal was popular with all four, but the winner constructed a full on room with a roof, couch and fireplace. The full size tree and the water feature at the entrance clinched the deal with the judges I am sure. The view from the comfy couch is really lovely, and would be great in cool weather with the modern gas fireplace. If you live in Tucson I recommend that you see the grow down installations to pick up some excellent ideas to use at home in your garden. I plan to try a few things I saw today. There are lots of ideas that can be executed on an even smaller scale.
Grow Down!!
March 25, 2013
— 1 Comment
post modern desertscape
Tucson Botanical Gardens hosted a demonstration weekend for local designers. The Grow Down is intended to show ways to get big use from small gardens. I attended on Saturday to see how they were doing and watch a demonstration on using shade cloth. I will go back and see the finished designs as well as the winner of the prize. My own prize goes to Realm, the group that was practically finished when the others were still working away on the installation. They show a water harvesting method, bright green fake turf, and vegetables growing in raised beds. This is exactly the kind of water use Tucson needs to cultivate. Go Realm, Grow Down!! You have my vote. The other designs were also very beautiful, but there was nothing to eat.
Realm design entry
water harvesting
bridge over water retention
bench and astroturf
Tomatoes
Citrus in pot
plants in bench
sitting area
Spring Blooming in the Desert
March 23, 2013
— 2 Comments
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- hedgehog in bloom
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- cactus mix
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- more hedgehog
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- blooming hedgehog
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- begonias
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- aloe
When spring arrives in the desert it comes on quickly and leaves. We have to get it while we can. The color of the blooms on cactus are extravagant and vivid. The bees are busy and the livin’ is easy, for a very short time….then we sizzle.
Botanical Break
March 21, 2013
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- orchid in the butterfly house
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- butterfly
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- queen owl butterfly
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- orchid
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- orchid
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- butterfly magic
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- orchid
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- orchid
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- butterfly on orchid
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- butterly
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- orchid
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- butterfly
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- aloe
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- aloe blooms
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- sahuaro
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- garden ship
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- penstamen
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- Poppy
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- poppy with bee
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- aloe
A trip to the botanical garden refreshes the spirit and gives a natural buzz to the day. I love to visit the butterfly house to see what they are doing. Today the orchids made me very happy.
Equinox Hilaria
March 20, 2013
— 6 Comments
Cybele drives the lion chariot
At the Equinox everyone on earth has about the same amout of darkness and light. The sun is close to the equator as it shines for about 12 hours on all parts of the earth for a day. This seasonal shift is of significance to most native cultures. It signals either a lengthening or a shortening of daylight in the months ahead. It creates the conditions for spring planting or fall harvest, depending on the hemisphere in which you live. For a single day, however, we all have the same amount of light and dark in our experience. The literal meaning of the word equinox is equal night. Many calendars begin around the vernal equinox. Romans began the new year on the Ides of March, Astrology uses 21 March as the first of the year, as the Sun moves into Aires. A new year celebration makes sense at this time, as do celebrations to honor rebirth.
The Roman goddess Cybele was associated with rebirth in one of the first Spring break resurrection parties ever held. Romans were all about blood, so they used real bull blood…no chalice of red wine for them. Hilaria was a celebration of resurrection and eternal life held in Rome on the vernal equinox to honor Cybele. She ruled dangerous animals, fertility, and rebirth. She protects civilization. The fact that she is resurrecting her son, Attis, who is also her lover is not a big deal in Roman terms. These things happen in pantheons all the time. After all was ceremonially brought safely back to life Hilaria commenced in a frenzy of joy and mirth. We do not have any evidence of chocolate bunnies, but they were festive in their own Roman way, with orgies, and chariots drawn by lions, castration, and other stuff they liked. Violets are the flower of the day, since the blood of Attis when he died the first time became the violet we pick in the spring. Do not hesitate to decorate your eggs with violets if you want to get down Roman style this year. Unlike our own Virgin Mary, this mother drives a lion chariot, while holding a pineapple, and is on the violent side, so, caveat emptor.
Roman goddess Cybele
Cybele with her lions
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