River Birch, Betula nigra
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I planted this river birch eight years ago - a young tree that was only a few feet tall - that now fills in it's own bit of air space, devoid of leaves today as I prepared the garden for it's first freeze of the season.
I always think that I should pick all of the flowers, fill my largest vase with water and fill it with salvia and perennial marigold and butterfly weed and roses -- but after I've wrapped the citrus, brought in the plants off of the deck - I tend to let the garden do what it needs to do: rest for awhile, take it easy, close down the show - perhaps go on an extended sabbatical. Here, in zone 8b, we're on the 'cusp' of growing so many things, that often we're too tempted to take chances (which I suppose we all do), and the night of an early freeze (and perhaps a freeze that might last for more than a few hours) is a lesson in letting go. I've done what I can tonight, the garden will do what it can - and I'll find out tomorrow exactly what that is.
It's all okay.
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The day was an interesting one: it was our 'every other year' biosafety inspection, consisting of three very funny and smart individuals assessing the lab's handling of microorganisms. We did well, that is we 'passed' - learned a bit, have to modify a few things, made a deal (rather, a swapping of favors) - and humorously may incorporate a protocol into our lab's biosafety protocol that deals with how to dispose freshwater fish in a BSL-2 level facility.
Yes, that is when Rico or Joy pass on to the great fish pond in the sky, they'll have to be soaked in 10% bleach prior to being taken out of the lab (in a biohazard bag) for the traditional viking burial. I only wish I had videotaped the conversation discussing the lab's aquarium, and how to handle 'living biologicals' (other than ourselves and our microbes) in a BSL-2 lab. It was pretty hilarious.
Of course, I had to mention that CatDaddy was still in a petri dish, in the freezer. Now we'll have to also have him in a ziploc bag (with a biohazard sticker) - and yes, it's rather pathetic that we haven't found the time for his viking burial.
We're all busy, okay?
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So I can't resist posting another Kasey Chambers song - this one with her husband, Shane Nicholson, off their Rattlin' Bones album. The song is 'Wildflower' - how beautiful.
And tomorrow the garden will still be beautiful -- just different.
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