Labor Day

I enjoyed Hillary's speech but didn't watch a lot of the convention--they all seem too conventional, without surprise, same old truck night after night. Of course, growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland which shares the Delmarva peninsula with Delaware we're quite familiar with Sen. Biden, who I think is a great VP choice, actually. I think I recall that his hair is all transplants from elsewhere on his body but if vanity is his worst vice I think that's OK in a VP. Far better, I think, than Gov. Palin. It will be interesting to hear the different commercials I hope in Iowa/NE/SD; I'm sure we'll be tired of the Va-Md ones by then.

We had a great time on the weekend with Allison. She stayed at a B&B then went to our place and surprised us with food and a full fridge, which was great as we wanted to see the UVa-USC football game, though we knew we would be crushed. It was on national TV and Darby is in the band (though they showed the USC band a lot, they never showed him, sigh but you can see him practice at http://picasaweb.google.com/alwootten/CavalierBand#
). Saturday we went for a cruise on the Miss Ann (see http://flickr.com/photos/24104502@N06/2478782657
) with my thesis advisor Paul and his wife Rachael, who were celebrating their 47th anniverary on 31 Aug. Although the day began with clouds, rain and a brisk NE breeze, by the time we cast off for our brunch cruise up the Corrotoman River it was beautiful. We had watched the ship's Saturday sunset cruises from our front deck for years; we had run out on the jetskis to circumnavigate it, but we had not been on it until this year.
http://picasaweb.google.com/alwootten/IdaLeeBirthday#
for Ida Lee's birthday. After we had returned home we visited a friend from U. Va's home a few miles away, very close to the home our cousin Put Rosenberg had lived in many years before (Cousin Edie Foster's daughter, Jennifer Scheid, still lives nearby). When we arrived to surprise them, they were just returning from the afternoon tea cruise on the Miss Ann (it leaves the area after 52 years next week). Then we went on to Paul and Rachael's new house--they had torn down all additions to the 1844 farmhouse and were building an ultra-modern new wing designed by Paul's son Tom, a NYC architect. It was amazing--lots of work to do (electricity in only one bathroom so far, for instance) but sits on a point surrounded by a creek about 150' across known as Horn Harbor--great sunset views. We had Ti Ponche (sort of daiquiri with extra lime and sugar) and watched the sunset--wonderful views! Next day we mostly relaxed before heading home, where I met my son Nate to go see Batman. Certainly a well put together movie but all effect and too little craft went into its making, I think.

More Fall bulbs!

Planted Dec 20:
By the driveway: N.'Fortissimo' (5,25,50,250) 5 1.3000 6.50
Narcissus 5 5 0 01-0426 N.'Double Smiles'(5) 0.8000 4.00
Above the Heron: Narcissus 5 5 0 01-1131 N.'Sailorman' (5) 1.3000 6.50
Narcissus 10 10 0 01-1420 N.'Rip van Winkle 0.5000 5.00
Left of Front Door:
Tulip 10 10 0 02-0628 T.'Fire Wings' (10) 1.4000 14.00 Ida Selection
Tulip 5 5 0 02-0925 T.'Caribbean Parrot' (5) 1.7500 8.75
3 3 0 03-0108 Allium giganteum  5.2200 15.66
Planted earlier along walk:
 Iris-Dutch 20 20 0 28-0133 Iris reticulata 'Pixie' 0.3500 7.00
In pots:
1 1 0 40-0160 Hipp.SA 'Ballerina': Sonatini 8.2500 8.25
1 1 0 40-0168 Hippeastrum SA 'Merry Christmas' 9.7500 9.75 Bloomed in kitchen

McClure and Zimmerman
Iris Siberica Mixed Colors 3 @ $3.32 $9.95 In lower garden to right of sundial
F60594 Red Nymph Amaryllis 1 @ $14.95 $14.95 In red pot planted 12/16 dormant
f62681 Nir Paperwhite 6 @ $1.66 $9.95
F63230 Dracunculus Vulgaris 1 @ $5.95 $5.95 Not available.
F66246 Estella Rijnveld Tulip 6 @ $0.99 $5.95 Planted to left of front door
F66288 Webers Parrot Tulip 6 @ $1.33 $7.95 Planted to left of front door

Alium aflatunense Purple Sensation
Tulip Hocus Pocus
Tulip Brownie

Thanksgiving 2016

Roast turkey rubbed with thyme, sage, rosemary, turmeric and garlic, giblet gravy and oyster Rockefeller stuffing,  roast cauliflower,   sweet potato fluff, cranberry sauce and cranberry relish, and the three π^2s: pumpkin pie, pecan pie and peach pie.

New Fall bulbs

f12894 Iris Siberica Mixed Colors 3 @ $3.32 $9.95

F60594 Red Nymph Amaryllis 1 @ $14.95 $14.95

f62681 Nir Paperwhite 6 @ $1.66 $9.95

F63230 Dracunculus Vulgaris 1 @ $5.95 $5.95

F66246 Estella Rijnveld Tulip 6 @ $0.99 $5.95

F66288 Webers Parrot Tulip 6 @ $1.33 $7.95

Those above from McClure & Zimmerman delivered 2 Nov.

These from White Flower Farm planted to North of existing peony/iris bed below tree hydrangea.

Reblooming Iris Orange Harvest		F32286	1	$14.95	$14.95
Reblooming Iris Clarence		F32255	1	$11.96	$11.96
Iris Sky Spirit		F32421	1	$14.36	$14.36
Iris Tour de France		F32184	1	$11.96	$11.96
Old-time Peony Collection (3)		F83543	3	$25.20	$75.60

Planted Oct 15.  Squirrels dug up six bulbs to the S (next to existing peony bed), replanted 29 Oct.  One redug up, replanted 1 Nov.

These from Plant Delights:

1	Paeonia japonica (2397)         $28.00	$0.00	$0.00	$28.00	$28.00	10/31/2016
1	Paeonia ostii 'Feng Dan Bai' (2527)	$38.00	$0.00	$0.00	$38.00	$38.00	10/31/2016
1	Amorphophallus henryi (3049)	$21.00	$4.20	$0.00	$16.80	$16.80	10/31/2016
1	Helleborus 'Bayli's Blush' (11527)	$23.00	$4.60	$0.00	$18.40	$18.40	10/31/2016
1	Helleborus 'Anna's Red' PPAF (2353)	$21.00	$0.00	$0.00	$21.00	$21.00	10/31/2016

To be delivered 3 Nov.

Ordered 28 Oct from Peonysenvy.com:

1 Canary Brilliants canarybrilliants $79.00 $79.00
1 Paeonia Japonica - Large woodlandpeony-large $34.00 $34.00

Received on 1 Nov.

Went to Brent and Becky's Bulbs in Ware Neck and purchased some bulbs:  Rhodophiala bifida, 
An adorable, but strong and sturdy red wine colored, pest proof, tubular flower that decorates our early fall garden for a long season of bloom; 6"-10"; whz 7-.  Also Colchicum

Giant - bright rose/lilac flowers with a white center and base; one of the tallest and largest; free flowering; zones 5-9; 10"-12"; early-mid fall; (18-20cm).

Often misnamed 'Autumn Crocus' because of its autumn blooming, cup-shaped flowers on naked stems; poisonous to critters that may be tempted to eat them; flowers appear in the fall and foliage, which resembles hosta leaves, appears in the spring; prefers rich, well-drained soil and partial shade; many are species and are variable in their color and growth habit, depending on site; bloom mid-late fall; can bloom without being planted in soil; 3 per sq. ft; zones 4-8. 13+cm bulbs unless otherwise noted.  Also bought ten Sternbergia lutia, Autumn Daffodil.  Its shape and size makes it look very much like a yellow fall crocus but it is far from it.  Being a member of the Amaryllis family makes it pest proof, but it does prefer well-drained soil and a mostly sunny location; blooms in the fall and may take a season or two to get acclimated; 6"-10"; whz 7-9; imported. 

Colchicum Waterlily - really looks like a pinkish purple to mauve, double petaled water lily; has to be seen to be believed; lovely with Oxalis regnellii var. triangularis and Sweet Alyssum; 1928; whz 5-8; 6"-8"; late fall;(14+cm).

Often misnamed 'Autumn Crocus' because of its autumn blooming, cup-shaped flowers on naked stems; poisonous to critters that may be tempted to eat them; flowers appear in the fall and foliage, which resembles hosta leaves, appears in the spring; prefers rich, well-drained soil and partial shade; many are species and are variable in their color and growth habit, depending on site; bloom mid-late fall; can bloom without being planted in soil; 3 per sq. ft; zones 4-8. 13+cm bulbs unless otherwise noted. 
Violet Queen - rich, imperial purple flowers; early flowering, often before it's planted; 5"-7".