~ A somewhat autobiographical look at how plants have impacted my life ~
Geraldton Waxflowers
The first half of our Western Australia trip was from Perth south to Albany. The second half was from Perth up to Geraldton. When we visited Western Australia in 2017, we didn’t have enough time to venture north of Perth. We’d wanted to see the famous Geraldton Waxflowers, Chamelaucium uncinatum and maybe even find the much photographed wreath flower, Lechenaultia macrantha, in bloom. So this trip was a chance to complete the tour. As it turns out our waxflower visit was to a commercial grower. And guess what? They look just the same when grown commercially there as they do when grown in California—or in landscapes all over Western Australia, like Kings Park and the freeways around Perth. Besides the
Geraldton Waxflowers
The first half of our Western Australia trip was from Perth south to Albany. The second half was from Perth up to Geraldton. When we visited Western Australia in 2017, we didn’t have enough time to venture north of Perth. We’d wanted to see the famous Geraldton Waxflowers, Chamelaucium uncinatum and maybe even find the much photographed wreath flower, Lechenaultia macrantha, in bloom. So this trip was a chance to complete the tour. As it turns out our waxflower visit was to a commercial grower. And guess what? They look just the same when grown commercially there as they do when grown in California—or in landscapes all over Western Australia, like Kings Park and the freeways around Perth. Besides the
The Rear View Mirror
In the summer of 1979, a graduate from the University of Texas faced disillusionment while job hunting, mostly in Houston’s industrial sector. Unexpectedly, an interview opportunity in San Jose led
Tomatoes and Marigolds
The last 2 years I lived in Austin were in a mobile home in the south part of town. I still have occasional nightmares about returning home only to find
Town Lake, Austin
Austin is situated on the Colorado River in Texas – not to be confused with the Colorado River that provides much of Southern California’s water. Dams along the river create
Ostentatious Austin
After graduating high school, I enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Texas in Austin, enjoying the sunnier climate compared to Houston. The university, rich from oil
My First Landscape
At the end of college, the author’s parents moved to a wooded area north of Houston, building a two-story house surrounded by large trees. They landscaped the property creatively, using
Going Back to Houston
After 3 years living in Missouri, my father accepted a new job in Houston and we moved to Texas in February of 1970. We had last lived in Houston in
Kansas City, Here we come!
The author reflects on their time in Kansas City, Missouri, describing its four distinct seasons and vibrant landscape. The excitement of moving to Gladstone is detailed, highlighting family traditions, local
Return to Kansas — Dorothy hated it!
On a white-hot day in July of 1965, our family returned to Wichita. The thermometer at a roadside bank sign said it was 105. Florida had been warm and humid,
Florida’s First Commercial Tourist Theme Park
In previous posts I’ve reminisced about our 1960’s home landscape in Plantation, Florida. Besides the plethora of plants and natural landscapes in Florida, there were massive developments created out of
River of Grass
The biggest publicly accessible landscape in Florida is also the largest subtropical wilderness in the US: Everglades National Park. At 2400 square miles it still only protects about 1/5 of
Florida Paradise
On Halloween night of 1961 our family arrived at our new home in Plantation Florida, a fast growing suburb of Fort Lauderdale. To keep up with the growing population and
Wichita and the Cold War
In 1960, my father was transferred from Houston, Texas to Wichita, Kansas. I only have a few plant-related memories of Wichita. Our house had junipers and other evergreen foundation plantings
Collecting Seeds
In 1959, we were transferred from Monahans, Texas, to Houston. Though both are very flat with spring thunderstorms and long hot summers, they have drastically different climates. Houston annually receives
My First Plant Memories
Tumbleweeds and Sequoias The first plant I remember wasn’t beautiful, nothing that you would ever want to grow in your garden, or even alive. It was an invasive weed brought