Saturday morning we rode with the San Clemente Scooter Club to the City of Orange International Street Fair. Continue reading
Fun at the Orange International Street Fair
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A Parakeet Named Gilligan
One of my favorite birds is the bright and lively parakeet. They are active and playful, and come in a variety of beautiful colors. Though much quieter than larger parrots, they can become good talkers.
Originally from Australia, parakeets were taken to England in the 1800s and became very popular. This beautiful little fellow belongs to my mom. After Mom lost her little companion dog, she found the house very quiet. She considered getting a new dog, but her area has coyote problems, and she was no longer comfortable walking a dog. In July I wrote a post titled, The Coyotes Are Back, after I spotted a coyote through Mom’s living room window.
Years ago Mom owned a parakeet and I thought she might enjoy another. At first she said no, but eventually warmed to the idea and one afternoon we took a trip to the pet store where Mom chose Gilligan.
. It has been amazing, and a joy to watch Mom and Gilligan form a bond. When Mom leaves the room Gilligan strains his neck and practically falls off of his perch looking for her. When Mom eats, Gilligan goes to his food dish and also eats. The funniest thing is after lunch, he starts chirping until Mom takes her nap and then Gilligan takes his as well. He certainly has her trained. He signals Mom when he wants out of his cage, and from there he flies to the top of the china cabinet. Mom reaches up to him with a wooden perch and uses the command words, Step Up, which is a command bird owners use to teach their pets to step onto a perch. I visited Mom today and took these photos. You can see him perching on a picture frame, and the top of the china cabinet. He is becoming quite tame and will sit on Mom’s finger. Recently he sat happily on her shoulder while she walked around the house.
He really is a beautiful little fellow and lives up to the title Companion Bird.
Can my Mandevilla Plant Be Saved?
The mandevilla has become a popular patio plant in recent years. Its brilliant flowers add color and a tropical look to any patio. When we purchased our plant, it came with a trellis because it’s a hardy climber and needs to be supported. In most areas the mandevilla is considered an annual, but in Southern California it’s a frost sensitive perennial. They like sandy, well drained soil and do well in the ground and in pots. They grow best in bright indirect light or filtered sun light. Our plant is on the front patio, and gets morning sun. As you can see, it was very happy in this spot during the winter and spring season. In mid August we took a ten day vacation, and unfortunately during that time, Orange County suffered a heat wave, and our irrigation system did not deliver enough water to the plant.
Below you can see what it looked like when we returned home. I’m both sad and embarrassed to post this photo.
Being an optimist I immediately deep watered the mandevilla and pruned the dead wood and leaves. I hope to nurse this plant back to good health. I took the photo below this afternoon, and as you can see, the plant is looking a little better. The remaining leaves are turning green and there is some new growth. I will keep you up to date with its progress. I hope that by next week at this time you will see an even bigger improvement.
Motorcycle Ride to Newport Beach
As you can see we weren’t the only ones in Orange County trying to escape the heat yesterday. Continue reading
Magic Lantern Hybrid Tea Rose
Our Weather has been very hot lately, and I haven’t spent a lot of time outside. This morning when I went out to look at the front garden, I was thrilled to see my Magic Lantern Hybrid tea rose in bloom. It is such a beautiful coppery orange color. Hybrid teas are the most popular type of rose. Not only is the blossom gorgeous, but as you can see below, the bud is also a joy to look at.
Hybrid tea roses usually produce one bloom on a long stem, which makes them perfect for cut flower displays. Hybrid teas are also popular because they continue to produce flowers all season long. My Magic Lantern has a light fragrance, although many tea roses have a much stronger scent. Magic Lantern is a very vigorous variety and is easy to care for. This plant is now in a large pot at the front of our house. It gets morning sun and seems very happy there. It does like frequent watering. I originally planted the Magic Lantern in the lawn at the side of our house. Three summers ago, a guest, when leaving, backed over the plant and flattened it, splitting the main stem. I dug up the bush and transplanted it to the pot it now grows in. I thought it was the end of my beautiful Magic Lantern, but as you can see, it not only survived, but has thrived. Now you know why I say it’s a hearty variety, and I’m especially fond of our Magic Lantern Hybrid Tea Rose. You might want to add one to your garden.