Bed bugs, Mostly Dead, a stubborn hibiscus, and what about Bob?

Ever have bed bugs? One can pick them up from the gym, a hotel, or even a friend. There’s no cleaner person than RM’s son, “the boy” yet while I was in the skilled nursing facility (aka the home) RM told me the boy had discovered bed bugs in his bedding.

Mostly dead tree, a knee brace, lizards as living ornaments and yes, we have bananas

When I returned from nearly 2 months at the “skilled nursing facility”, I discovered to my surprise that Mostly Dead Tree is still alive and birds were nesting in the dense foliage of the tree’s remains. Mostly Dead is only half a tree and resembles some sort of distorted bonsai tree.

Garden requiem in excelsis

Surely you should be dead by now hibiscus

 

So this is another Florida winter!  After days of temperatures in the 70’s F (20’s C), having to turn on the AC (mostly because RM has been suffering hot flashes), it is early morning, at the time of writing, and 59 F (15 C). I am cold but I dare not turn on the furnace for fear it would wake my roommates, and I do enjoy my quiet early mornings.

Dirt for Christmas, a machete vs. mostly dead, and other indignities

I slightly recognized the holidays this year, which is unusual for me. But, in light of my new knee the relief has put me in a better frame of mind. What do I mean by “recognize”? Presents, gifts, bounty–whatever you want to call them–I bought everyone gifts.

Mostly Dead Tree Mostly Gone

Trees are nature’s wondrous edifices. They provide food, shelter, and shade…a place for a swing or tree house, or just a place to climb for fun or from danger. Trees make oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and in forests and jungles–rain forests, are the engines of the planet’s climate–driving the planet’s rains.

Another New Dawn

Today’s Daily Post’s daily writing prompt asks: How often do you get to (or have to) be awake for sunrise? Tell us about what happened the last time you were up so early (or late…).

Garden update

 I  like gardening – it’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself. – Alice Sebold

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It’s getting close to the Vernal Equinox.  Spring will begin March 20th.  It’s  time for an update on how the plants weathered the winter here in Florida.  We had several weeks of below 60 F (15 C) which may sound ludicrously warm to those of you who have received a lot of snow.  Sorry about that.  I had to lug several of my potted plants into the house at night, such as the aloe vera, the crown of thorns; New Guinea impatience, and my young banana plants. It was a pain in the toches but well worth it in the long run.

Curtains

Does one of these plants look dead to you?  It was Purslane. You can see what it once looked like.  Such lovely little flowers.  Until Mostly Dead Tree dropped a big old branch on it.  I thought I had pulled it back from the brink, but, then the squirrels started digging in the pot,  stashing their nuts.

Latest update: mostly dead tree

From the yard of mostly dead tree

Mostly dead tree has taken several slight hits over the past week.   Rain and wind from the Gulf caused her to lose a few mostly dead branches.   Small  pieces of rotting  branches  from the mostly dead canopy have been dropping like  dead flies  but she’s holding on.   Photo is from her last major loss of limb and no life.   You can see the break in the foreground.