Visions of Roses, the Ocean and More

11:01:43 AM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Ballet Suite No. 1

Spring At Last!

A few months ago my friend Ed at Chiefland Nursery told us about a nursery in Hawthorn, about 30 miles, away having a great selection of new roses. We visited and bought ten new roses, at a reasonable price, too! Several are blossoming and shown today.

Last week as I was working on music in my studio I heard Liberty barking which signals a visitor. I quickly went downstairs to see who was arriving and was very surprised at what I saw. We had twelve visitors; ten cows and two adults chasing after them in the front yard! The cows were grazing under the Sycamore Tree and their owners were heading into the yard to turn them back to their pasture about a half mile away. I laughed and ran for my camera. Our neighbors, man and wife, were scolding the cows and urging them back toward the driveway  for the trip back home. It was hilarious! No harm was done and soon they were headed back down the road.

This year we learned that several roses did not survive the drought and bought anew. I was certain to add variety. The price was right so we bought ten new plantings. Of the six Bougainvilleas only three survived the drought. I felt lucky at that!  Also, our soil is deficient and acid loving plants do not do well despite our best efforts to augment. I doubt we'll ever see flowers such as are seen at the Masters Golf Tournament on TV this week.

The Dahlia Garden is gone and replace with new Bougainvilleas.  Happy to say several Dahlias are sprouting surprisingly at the Walkway Garden.  Gladiolus are plentiful and the Cannas and Butterfly Gingers are doing great! 

In a few weeks we'll have an attractive Journal for you to feast your eyes upon.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

 

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9:16:13 AM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Tchiakovsky's Violin Concerto No. 1

Album Review No. 3

As we close the Photo Album for 2007 and look forward to Spring our Journal features Roses from the garden past. The variety and beauty make for an interesting view.

During the coming months if my camera finds anything of great interest we will be sure to post the photos and tell the story.

Enjoy the cool weather!

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

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10:03:31 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Piano Sonata No. 12

Turning The Album Pages

A good camera helps a Journal to be effective and entertaining. I can take only modest credit for what God provides and the camera represents.

I hope you enjoy your visit to the updated Journal.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

 

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10:19:29 AM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Concerto for Harp & Orchestra

Opening the Album.....

The summer past comes alive again with the opening of the photo album! The best of the Englefield Gardens (2007) are featured on our two AOL Journals. If you enjoy the visit, you may click on the link at the left side of this page to see many more beautiful pictures from the gardens. The title is Journeys & Flowers. We will be updating the pictures over the next several days.

Always fun to open a picture album.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

 

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10:23:45 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Symphonic Poem "Ode to Pocohantas"

Low Teens Tonight-Predicted

Gardens provide surprises even in the middle of winter in N. Florida. We have blossoms!

For the past few days we have mostly been covering the plants that are most vulnerable to the frost expected. Pillow cases and sheets work well. Blankets even better.

Today I stopped at Ed's Chiefland Nursery to say hello and wish everyone a Happy New Year. We had coffee and Ed showed me his new "Knock Out" Roses with such large blossoms. I bought three to replace some roses lost in the drought.

Our neighbor Grace has a raised vegetable garden. They are cleverly elevated about three feet above ground to minimize bending over to care for them. Grace is very meticulous and she has an excellent system of protecting her vegetables. Pictures are shown above.

The grass planted at my new mini golf course is growing well. I'm beginning to have tees and target greens with pins and flags in position. I believe my golf game is improving dramatically. When I return to the real golf course I will give a report on my scores and progress. 

I honestly love the cool weather.Today I wore my parka all day as temperatures were in the 40s. I planted three new "Knock Out" Roses at the Red Garden and transplanted five Copper Canyons to the East Garden. The C. Canyons did not do well in the morning shade so I replanted them to the morning sun. If they blossom next year we'll have seven in a line and they will be spectactular in the fall (See pictures 9 & 10).This year the drought hindered them and an early frost canceled the blossoms. We shall see......

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

 

 

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6:23:32 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Richard Englefield's Winterland Symphonic Suite

How Wise The Mourning Dove

After working in the gardens I was sitting on the front porch watching the birds at our feeders. Two Mourning Doves were feeding on the ground below the feeders because they are too large to perch there. Suddenly they cried out and flew to the nearby Sycamore Tree. I wondered why they flew away. Within merely a few seconds five or six Redwing Blackbirds flew in from behind the house to feed at the same bird feeder. The Mourning Doves had seen them coming and apparently knew where they were headed! It is that obvious fact that amazed me. How wise the Mourning Dove.

Excluding the picture of the Journal author, there is other beauty to behold at this quiet time of year. An Azalea seems to think it is Spring time. A Pink "Knock Out" Rose at the Red Garden is the only flower seriously blossoming. However, last evening I marveled at the beautiful sunset. Actually the second evening in a row that we have had such lovely sunsets. This time I went for the camera. I thought, "How very nice to have such beautiful sunsets."

November 26th was my 70th birthday. The picture of me was taken before Patricia and I went out to dinner at the famous Melting Pot for dinner. I was showing off the new watch she bought for my birthday.

I have been very busy for the past few days. Just to give you an idea of what I refer to, I'll give a run through. Cannas at the Rose Garden had propagated vigorously and had to be dug up and divided and replanted  to the Orange Garden. Next year the Orange Garden will be twice the size of last year! Butterfly Gingers in the Greenhouse had to be similarly divided and replanted at both sets of steps of the front porch. All gardens had to be raked so I could see what needed to be done below. Much to be done..... weeding and mulching primarily. Cleverly I saved back the mulch from last year and I have begun to cover plants in the gardens.

Every day I rake dead grass and plant Rye Grass seed at strategic places on my new miniature golf course in the back and side pastures. Nine holes mostly par threes (one par four - 310 yards). Pat's Mums used as a tribute to her Father's Birthday at church were planted today in the Orange Garden. A potted Canna was planted in the Red Garden this afternoon. All quite different from admiring beautiful flowers in the gardens during the summer. Secretly, I am very proud of the necessary expansion of the Orange Garden. People slow down as they drive by to admire the Orange Garden from the road.

Oh! Yes! I forgot something very important. A few days ago I dug up the Dahlia bulbs at the Dahlia garden and they were GONE! So, I planted four Bougainvilleas from the Greenhouse in their place. They love the sun and there we can regulate the watering as they like dry climate. The soil is questionable as evidenced by the poor Dahlia performance, so we shall wait a see in the Spring.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Thank you all for your visits to my Journals.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

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7:49:42 AM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Nine Symphonic Poems

The Fall Show Begins

Click each photo for a larger picture.

The time has come to begin preparations for the colder weather. The potted Hibiscus must be brought into the Greenhouse along with the Jatropha Trees & others. Plants must be cut back and mulched to protect from the frost. Cannas and Butterfly Gingers will be transplanted as they have self propagated more than expected.

The prolific Copper Canyons are now beginning to have full blossoms. You'll see one from the East Garden but there are eleven so you can imagine the great show that is coming.  Tall Yellow Bells in the Rose Garden surprised me as they have grown to six feet tall! The Butterflies are more present than ever! They are featured in today's Journal.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

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3:48:14 AM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's String Quartet w/Flute & Oboe

They Load Their Horses in Trailers and Go Visiting

Our new neighbor Grace and her horse Champ had visitors this morning. Friends arrived with horses in trailers, unloaded and saddled up for a nice ride.  Grace has a new trailer and often goes to their farms for a ride.

I asked one of the riders if they had a horse for sale. The reply was, "Sure I have a twelve year old I'll sell you for $500."I replied, "I'll give it some thought."

Imagine the fun they have riding about the countryside , through the woods and down by Waters Lake.

Maybe I'll buy a horse and go along with them.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

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8:23:48 AM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Conceto for Harp & Orchestra

Fall Blossoms Now Arrive

If photos do not show click on View Archives above and this title. Pictures will show.

The big Confederate Rose Trees are filled with blossoms large and beautiful. The Lavender Philippine Violets at both Patio & West Gardens are in bloom. At the Patio Garden the basket Impatiens are flowering quite well again. The Red Hibiscus are bright as ever! Our lovely Pink Queen Elizabeth Roses at the Gate Post Garden are very attractive.

Last year we had two Copper Canyons at the Orange Garden. They were spectacular. This year we have eleven that came from the Propagation Farm. The show will be rather immense when the blossoms soon arrive.

Enjoy the visit.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield (Click here)

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10:23:41 AM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

Hibiscus Stalwarts in the Gardens

If you have trouble viewing pictures click on View Archives above and this title. Pictures will show.

Photos taken at dusk make excellent portraits because the background is obscured.

The new October blossoms are the Confederate Roses reaching to the porch roof tops. They open during the day with white blossoms that turn pink in the afternoon. Cooler weather has brought out the Double Ruffle Hibiscus.

I am partial to the Mandavillias that grow also to the roof top. We have four or five and last week I bought two additional and placed them in the Greenhouse . They were on sale for $5.00 and I could not resist.

I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click here)

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