Georgia Garden 2008

[Debra H (back) and Deborah A (front), my two research study coordinators, assisting me with planting several baby plants one Friday early evening after work in May]

Spring in Georgia has meant a new season for gardening - my first in the Peach State. Experimenting with new perennial flowering plants, and having received several donated plants from my co-workers (everyone does gardening!) I have created this garden in the front of our house, that still needs a lot of work, but is growing like crazy. One thing that is certain is that EVERYTHING seems to grow to incredible sizes here in Blue Ridge - weeds and all. Hopefully this rings true with the plants I have carefully planted.

I planted Angel Trumpets, Gerber Daisies, Echinacea (and double-Echinacea), Carolina Jasmine, Cannas, Elephant Ears, Hibiscus, Ginger, and more. Having been known to get right to the planting and little with the planning (of where to place plants), I am not sure how the final blooming garden will look like.

But anyways, I include here a picture in the month of May when I first started clearing the garden bed and sought the help of two co-workers to help me plant some 200 baby plants and ornamental grasses. Also included (below) is a short clip of what the garden looks like, as of yesterday, a couple months after the garden was started. Some have grown rather quickly (Angel Trumpets, Bee Balm, etc..) while others are slower to develop and bloom (Echinacea, Ginger - not shown, etc..).



Will post updates probably towards end of this month or mid August and again towards the middle/end of summer in early September.

Deck & Dogwoods

Our deck is finally screened. And the dogwoods are in bloom.

My Little Fig Tree

Not long ago, exactly two months to the day in fact, we were having movers come and take all our belongings away. That Saturday evening in Durham (July 15th, 2007) our dear friends, the Mostaghimi Family, threw us a going away party. Who knew that we would actually end up staying the night at their place, well, since we no longer had a furnished house to go back to! Hee hee...

Well anyways, that evening, I was personally presented with the best going away gift - a small fig tree. But this was no ordinary fig tree mind you. This tree has some history, not all of which I actually know. Sufficeth to say, this tree has 'come a long way'. And quite literally too! All the way from Shiraz, Iran :-D

The Mostaghimis have this glorious fig tree in their front yard, and some in their back yard too. And the one in the front always produces an abundance of figs, of which we were given some around the time Ethan was born. Three wonderful purple/green figs, one for mom, dad and noomie.

Since then, and perhaps even earlier, I had always "hinted" to Zhila or Parvaneh or Fariba, that I would LOVE to have a cutting of that fig tree to grow myself. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have acquired this huge interest in gardening and in anything that grows in fact :-D

And in only two short months of having this precious plant, it has grown enormously. To be exact, it is well over four feet tall now. An offshoot was growing very well also, until last night's storm, which snapped it off the main plant. This morning, I quickly put potting soil into another planter and stuck this youngling fig into it. I am not sure if this is how to do it, or if I should have placed it in water to root first. Perhaps I should have consulted Mr. Mostaghimi!

But now it would seem I have two fig trees.

Reading some, I found these trees grow quickly (as witnessed personally) and they grow to heights of 25 feet plus! Fariba relayed what her dad had said that I should find a place to plant this tree that is not nearby other trees. If planted too close to other trees it will not bear fruit. I have found a perfect place for my fig tree(s) and I can't wait to enjoy fresh figs from them.

Now, what to do about 'keeping them indoors for their first winter'? Yikes. I hope they don't grow too much more in the next few weeks before I (have been instructed to) bring them in :-D

In Pictures: Garden & Wagon

Graduation Time

This time in May is definitely graduation season everywhere, with college seniors saying goodbye to the campus world they've lived and breathed and partied and studied in, to the "real world" they are going to embark on. On Sunday, Chelsea's grandparents threw her a graduation/going away party. Chelsea finished her program at UNC and is moving to New Zealand with her husband, Zafar. The party was very well planned and the food was fantastic! Chels' grandparents' place was also very beautiful with gardens all around the house and very mature (over 20 years of planting has taken place and so the gardens have had time to totally develop). I loved it. Well anyways, here's a couple pics from that night.

Anika M. James Memorial Garden

From one garden to the next, we attended the opening of the Anika M. James Memorial Garden, which was held this afternoon behind the Baha'i Center in Durham. The garden was a project inspired by Anika herself, carried out in her memory by the vibrant junior youth of our community. Several of Anika's friends were in attendance today, some offering words of remembrance, prayers, songs and dance.

The official cutting of the ribbon was done by Bob (Robert), Anika's dad, and tearful mom, Mahtaj, was not far away. Today also marks Anika's birthday, and she would have been 16. It also falls during these days of Ridvan -- an important and most holy time of the year for Baha'is.

The garden itself was just beautifully done. Located behind (in the "backyard") the Durham Baha'i Center, where once it was just brush and overgrowth, is now a well-designed (courtesy of O'Mara Landscaping -- James O'Mara is a local Baha'i and professional landscape architect) and simple garden with beautiful stone work and a garden bench and sign that reads "In Memory of Anika James, Our Dear Friend".

Still clearly very sad and broken hearted, Anika's parents thanked the many friends and community members who have offered services in Anika's name, finances for the garden project, and much, much more. All of this work done in honour of Anika, will surely aid in the progress of her soul, and in healing the hearts of all who loved her.



[a pregnant Kelly, and Anika, at Fariba and Payam's wedding, summer 2006]

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Here are some pictures we took this morning from the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The blue skies were in full force, and so were the gardeners enthusiasts who were all out it seemed for a plant sale that was going on at the SPDG. There were so many different plant varieties. I wanted to buy so many different plants. But it would not be wise to do so since we are moving very soon. Lots of planters and pots and decorative garden stuff -- I guess you just have to know what I mean -- with local craft artists and horticulturalists and botanists doing their thing. It was especially neat to see the "bog plants" and carnivorous varieties like the Venus Fly Trap (not sure the official name).

The Snow Azaleas were really pretty and we took some photos by them. Ethan kept reaching out to touch them, sporting his new wide-brim summer hat.

Landscaping Labour Of Love

Just pics for now... Off to dinner with the Tidmans at The Cabin....Will add details re what types of plants these are we planted, though you may already know what they are, and I will simply do so for my own learning. Enjoy!