draw near, honeybees,
to this scarlet perfection ~
feast on its beauty
From the University of Aberdeen’s Cruickshank Botanic Garden on the King’s College campus in Old Aberdeen. More to come…
Copyright 2018 Glover Gardens
Haiku: Seeing Red
Garden
Jasmine, the Calming Smell of Spring
Not much has been happening in the Glover Gardens blog, because so much is happening at Glover Gardens. Spring keeps us busy! Not one to shuck a heavy load, Spring is busy, herself. Look at what she’s done with the jasmine. Our whole yard smells heavenly.
I did a little research on the smell of jasmine and it turns out that Glover Gardens is an aromatherapy district! The Telegraph, a venerable UK publication, said in a 2010 article,
The sweet smell of jasmine is as good as valium at calming the nerves with none of the side effects, according to new research.
Thank you, Spring!
© 2018 Glover Gardens
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Spring is Calling
O Spring,
you call to me ~
with your cheeky ways
and lengthening days,
your budding flowers
and pop-up showers.
O Spring,
you call the trees ~
with your gentle breeze
tickling soft new leaves,
basking in sun-bright,
peaceful in moonlight.
O Spring,
you call the birds ~
tiny nests built strong,
their answering song
guiding fledglings’ flight
in the morning light.
O Spring,
keep calling out ~
as long as we breathe,
we’ll keep answering ~
the birds, the trees and me.
© 2018, Glover Gardens
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Happy Easter!
These pages have been silent for a short while; so much has been going on at Glover Gardens that there hasn’t been time to stop and chat with you. I miss that! Once I get a handle on things, I’ll be back.
But I don’t want to miss the chance to wish you a Happy Easter. It was a vivid, verdant and temperate spring day here in Southeast Texas. After church, we were surrounded by family, enjoying a meal together here at Glover Gardens, reminiscing, missing our loved ones who were at this table at Easters past, and still, making plans and looking to the future. Easter is like that, with its theme of rebirth, second chances, faith in things you can’t see. Whatever your beliefs, I wish you the peace that comes from living in accordance with them.
For your visual Easter basket, here’s a photo of a Glover Gardens rose that the Grill-Meister texted to me while I was at work the other day. (I love it when he does that.)
Again, Happy Easter. I hope your spring of 2018 is wonderful.
© 2018, Glover Gardens
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The Yard Misses You! (says the Grill-Meister)
When I travel, the Grill-Meister keeps me posted on happenings at home. I love it when he sends flower photos – they make me feel so connected to Glover Gardens. This week was no exception. I was in Washington, where it was cold and rainy all week (although I was almost never outside because I was attending a conference), and these pics with the Grill-Meister’s cheery messages provided all the sunshine I needed.
“Frank-biscus is showing off!” (The hibiscus below is named after my Dad; see Death is Life-Affirming: Hibiscus Haiku).
“….So is Mahogany Splendor aka Hollywood Video….” (The Grill-Meister gives nicknames to many things, and calls this unusual hibiscus with the red foliage and velvety maroon flowers Hollywood Video.)
“And Yuletide Camellia sez ‘Don’t Forget About Me!'” (This winter beauty is blooming early this year.)
I love how the Grill-Meister’s shadow is in the photo above, and how he keeps me grounded in the flora of Glover Gardens when I’m away.
Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook
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Mother Nature Does Her Stuff
Going straight from vacation at Little House in the Rockies to work in Europe (I’m not complaining!), I was a little worried about the patio-side plants at Glover Gardens.
The Grill-Meister got home late last night from the post-vacation flight as my flight to Europe was about halfway there. My nagging met him before he landed: “Plants OK?”
A dutiful husband, he not only reassured me, but also sent a picture. The message?
Mother Nature watered your plants for me. Look at all that blue….plumbago looking awesome!”
Life is good.
Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook
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“Frank-biscus” Blooms! Just in Time for Harvey
A couple of days ago, I shared a lovely hibiscus haiku written by my cousin’s wife in the wake of my Dad’s death, which accompanied a hibiscus. We named it “Frank-biscus” to honor him.
We have an abundance of hibiscus at Glover Gardens, and I used some of them in the post instead of highlighting Frank-biscus, which hadn’t yet bloomed after being re-potted.
A red Texas Star Hibiscus
Hawaiian Hibiscus (I think)
A white Texas Star Hibiscus
Yesterday, as Hurricane Harvey was sending advance rainstorms to herald his impending arrival, Frank-biscus opened up a beautiful, bright pink blossom!
To me, this was a reminder from God – during all of the fearsome ravaging brought by the hurricane – that nature is also beauty.
Here’s the haiku again, now properly paired with Frank-biscus.
your much-beloved dad
like this hibiscus flower
blossomed love and life
Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook
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Death is Life-Affirming: Hibiscus Haiku
Death is life-affirming.
Family gathers ’round when a loved one dies, sharing memories and telling stories, all a reminder both of the value of the life of the lost one and the interconnectedness of those who remain. We experienced this at Glover Gardens recently when my Dad died, rejoicing in the togetherness of family and friends even while we mourned together. In addition to their continual prayers and love, my cousin’s wife brought a gift to our informal celebration of Dad’s life, a live and blooming hibiscus, with a heartfelt haiku.
your much-beloved dad
like this hibiscus flower
blossomed love and life
I’ve posted before about how we love love love both hibiscus and haiku here at Glover Gardens; this gift was as appropriate and welcome as a hug to smooth a hardship – and so life-affirming! A quick little poem, at the second grade level (I couldn’t resist):
I have a wonderful cousin
who has a wonderful wife.
She wrote a hibiscus haiku
to celebrate Dad’s life.
Find more about Dad here.
And here’s a tour through our hibiscus flowers (also shared in this previous post).
Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook
~ with help from Marsha (haiku) and Lucy (cover picture) and Dad (inspiration) ~
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Digital Postcard: Glover Gardens Hibiscus
I love hibiscus! And hibiscus seem to love Glover Gardens. Here are a few of my favorite Glover Gardens hibiscus pics, a late-summer garden digital postcard.
Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook (feel free to share with attribution and links)
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The Don Juan Rose
Happy Sunday from Glover Gardens! This brilliant red rose is too pretty not to share, standing out amidst its neighbors of purple heart and plumbago. The name of the rose variety is Don Juan, and I guess it does look a little seductive. I can’t decide whether to cut it and enjoy its beauty and fragrance inside the house, or to leave it where it is as a star in the landscape.
Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook
