tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38978479760739039212024-03-13T23:26:51.375+01:00Lady Greenthumb's gardenWelcome To My Garden!
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humble musings on lifeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-19836869572316756342012-07-31T18:43:00.000+02:002012-07-31T18:43:44.365+02:00BURUNDANGA : Angel's trumpets & zombiesThe last few years, there's one word that strikes my mind whenever I admire the swaying blooms of my Brugmansias. It's again that time of the year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jQm3kvwSbo0Yj0EismzuuVybG1DrLS3oWsmOJaN0yPHlB6ju_MnIBFrGsEtI0zVwwY755EUYr6NwRz8EI4JZNMGiW_51sJDiixVA5Qgmo2QX2g7imU3Xc4au9d5zOhKLRgzW2CtPZwVR/s1600/truba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jQm3kvwSbo0Yj0EismzuuVybG1DrLS3oWsmOJaN0yPHlB6ju_MnIBFrGsEtI0zVwwY755EUYr6NwRz8EI4JZNMGiW_51sJDiixVA5Qgmo2QX2g7imU3Xc4au9d5zOhKLRgzW2CtPZwVR/s400/truba.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Every year in Colombia & neighbouring countries, but also Thailand, there are quite a few reported cases of the criminal use of <b>burundanga</b>, a mysterious drug that allegedly turns people into human puppets. These stories warn people that, for example, a young woman was recently assaulted after receiving a poisoned business card at a gas station. Shortly after handling the attacker’s card she began to feel dizzy and was nearly attacked by the thieves. Customers have been robbed by a salesman after eating spicy food, a girl came to hospital only to find out she was abducted and sexually abused, etc.<br />
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Such stories strongly warned the reader to beware doped cards and this new, mysterious drug: the dreaded ‘burundanga' ! Some of these stories are definitely false or just a myth, but Burundanga isn’t made up. And it might be more dangerous than even the myth makes it out to be.<br />
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I'm sure that all of you Angel's Trumpets' lovers and admirers out there know that all parts of Brugmansia and Datura plants are poisonous both to humans and animals. I've heard strange stories from people who were, to mildly put it, some sort of seekers of visionary experiences. They claimed that chewing the seeds of these plants gave them heavy hallucinations for days. Other than a raised eyebrow, at the time being my conclusion was that every fool has it's rainbow and that there was obviously a reason why these plants were called locoweed, Jimson weed, the devil’s cucumber and so on and so forth.<br />
Nevertheless, upon watching the video on the world's scariest drug, and at the same time being a huge admirer of these astonishing plants, I was determined to find out what's hiding behind the pretty face.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ToQ8PWYnu04?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>So basically, it all starts with Brugmansia plant, which has a high content of <b><span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD8">scopolamine</span></b> (burundanga) – an extremely toxic chemical that can be lethal to humans, and that produces psychoactive effects. Its Spanish name, <i>El Borrachero</i> (The Drunkard), is even more instructive. The theory, supported by health officials and victims, is that under the influence of burundanga, people are robbed of their free will and turned into puppets, completely susceptible to the suggestions of criminals.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMAJ_d5ZAOcBUMdYgxga9teXILBG1Qfad-1G4Ds1U-tS09CBSi2D38jayBHWTCD8vSnUiOAEyHDcuDitYt5TnO6Q7cuch3ZiFZOkaPBNtAc1VBfcTMPgjppyH1IHysS186REzT51qk6iO/s1600/truba1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMAJ_d5ZAOcBUMdYgxga9teXILBG1Qfad-1G4Ds1U-tS09CBSi2D38jayBHWTCD8vSnUiOAEyHDcuDitYt5TnO6Q7cuch3ZiFZOkaPBNtAc1VBfcTMPgjppyH1IHysS186REzT51qk6iO/s400/truba1.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NDsqliqLejFI7DMMMI6nYpmqNwOfXdXxiInQABi13lEjJV47Q5etIV22rZBdgvKg0oj227v8Cz4LC96ELapcgE68DTx1-jFmKo8-Tk7aIjLJtqZ1VT8pbg4w88VTluFU_uhvpDwZITy6/s1600/truba2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NDsqliqLejFI7DMMMI6nYpmqNwOfXdXxiInQABi13lEjJV47Q5etIV22rZBdgvKg0oj227v8Cz4LC96ELapcgE68DTx1-jFmKo8-Tk7aIjLJtqZ1VT8pbg4w88VTluFU_uhvpDwZITy6/s400/truba2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NDsqliqLejFI7DMMMI6nYpmqNwOfXdXxiInQABi13lEjJV47Q5etIV22rZBdgvKg0oj227v8Cz4LC96ELapcgE68DTx1-jFmKo8-Tk7aIjLJtqZ1VT8pbg4w88VTluFU_uhvpDwZITy6/s1600/truba2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>What’s really scary about this drug is the ease that it can be administered. It can be ingested, inhaled, or imbibed. One of the myths is that you can just blow it in people’s faces. And while both toxic clouds of powder and doped business cards are unlikely to be true, the drug should be quite easy to slip into an unsuspecting person’s drink or food. Victims are said to become docile and agreeable ‘zombies’ who are not only compliant with requests but even eager to help. Stories circulate about people who have invited robbers into their own homes under the effects of burundanga. In his brilliant investigative <a href="http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/burundanga-republic/115/" target="_blank">article on Burundanga</a>, Nick Olle of Global Mail writes that ''
<div class="">according to Colonel Mariano Botero Coy of the Bogotá Metropolitan Police, the modus operandi of these criminals - and he says they are generally gangs rather than individuals - is true to the stereotype.</div><div class="">"In many cases it is a man alone in a nightspot and a woman manages to put the substance in his drink," he says.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH_v-flwBoKinkaSOrZVOu5g2LYbD1DowM9OnEfu_JJapQlZjKPAYh8FmRJWc1pUkh_9Y2WINxqJXLLAQG4GrZg4nFWF01MwNyYvQLJeENIQAP7QMl-VZTbwEW19hWfFdftbXXRDmOHVC/s1600/DSC06526s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH_v-flwBoKinkaSOrZVOu5g2LYbD1DowM9OnEfu_JJapQlZjKPAYh8FmRJWc1pUkh_9Y2WINxqJXLLAQG4GrZg4nFWF01MwNyYvQLJeENIQAP7QMl-VZTbwEW19hWfFdftbXXRDmOHVC/s200/DSC06526s.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="">"The victim then loses their free will; they are conscious of what is happening but they lose their free will."</div><div class="">There's even a verb for this type of crime - <i>burundangear</i>. And actor Matías Maldonado, has twice been a victim. Both times - in 2003 and 2005 - he was "in the context of seduction…vulnerable" in a gay district of downtown Bogotá. His recollection of the first time he was drugged amounts to waking up confused and discovering his bank account was empty. But on the second occasion, he remembers going to an ATM with a man he'd met in a bar. "I was completely conscious at this stage," he says, "we returned to the bar and I used the money I'd withdrawn to buy drinks.</div><div class="">"I can only assume that at this point he spiked my drink and we went back to the ATM and emptied my account. I don't remember this part but the next day, I still had my bank card but there was a balance of zero.</div><div class="">"It's incredible to think that this can happen, that you can freely give the code to your bank account to someone. There are even cases where people take someone to their home, open the door and help them clear everything out." The article continues about modern burundanga ajd a tendency in Colombia to use the terms "scopolamine" and <i>burundanga</i> as a catchall for all cases in which criminals take advantage of drugged victims. The reality is that many of these cases now involve <i>new burundanga</i> or other illicit cocktails that may or may not include scopolamine.</div><div class="">Just like Brugmansia, there are limitless records of stories on Datura stramonium about it being traditionally used by voodoo sorcerers to create subservient zombies from living humans.</div><div class=""></div><div class="">Before you are scared off from this blog post and from Angel's trumpets in general, have in mind</div><div class="">that apart from their undeniable beatuy, some good does come from these plants. Its alkaloid ingredients have become widely used in medicine as sedatives and amnesiacs. Hyoscyamine can help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and if you have ever had your pupils dilated and it might have been with scopolamine. </div><div class=""></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr0fdqLvXIcSI0slU6yh8K_D7Cvr9iAIby3k31uiW1h6lnxuIjOuHFCH9mJhUL8b97-VU3jutkxGUVRG6towD4q8aEAf2pC84RFdSTvEArQittnf-hBPqVB3B6E-THGLyJ8MqL3DZq2bL/s1600/DSC06524s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisr0fdqLvXIcSI0slU6yh8K_D7Cvr9iAIby3k31uiW1h6lnxuIjOuHFCH9mJhUL8b97-VU3jutkxGUVRG6towD4q8aEAf2pC84RFdSTvEArQittnf-hBPqVB3B6E-THGLyJ8MqL3DZq2bL/s320/DSC06524s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class=""> Now that there's some info revealed behind this pretty face, I'm trying to find reasons why I, myself, am so amazed by sheer beauty of this plants and their smell, and why, upon visiting a garden center, I'm drawn to any variety of Brugmansias but also Daturas, secretly hoping that it might be another new variety that I still haven't added to my collection. Is this what happens when a person gets obsessed with growing Brugmansias? Could it be that the narcotic effect of the first open flower creates an unyielding hunger for more....? Is the slowly developing addiction to scopolamine unconsciously forcing the grower to dream of acquiring more and more Brugmansia plants, because this means a larger dose of smell and thereby more narcotic? Does the intoxifying effect on the grower explain, why so many of them become so passionated about Brugmansia that they start neglecting other important things in life? If so, my dear Brugmansia-lovers, you have been <u>burundangeared </u>(yes, there's even a verb for this type of addiction/crime - <i>burundangear) </i>forever to remain zombies...</div><div class=""><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcejelGWQuNey1PXK_eZmkfdU_2v4QbriPzcarKK5Txn7RvTqmVBRatrr60w4pq4drw8rqUpKjbJe4zBC7uSXSQyy23XHZpJuPwZfat1b9OsMD-azFzh1faMpBUHeE3oM_aoio9XYRwJ9H/s1600/DSC06533s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcejelGWQuNey1PXK_eZmkfdU_2v4QbriPzcarKK5Txn7RvTqmVBRatrr60w4pq4drw8rqUpKjbJe4zBC7uSXSQyy23XHZpJuPwZfat1b9OsMD-azFzh1faMpBUHeE3oM_aoio9XYRwJ9H/s400/DSC06533s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com27Zagreb, Hrvatska45.814912 15.9785144999999645.637112 15.74495799999996 45.992712 16.212070999999959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-11232432630244288672010-08-15T13:16:00.005+02:002010-08-15T14:12:46.415+02:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - August 2010<div style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6JXo3V46q9NulorrA9Yv5-ip4t31mbkDPF6C4sgv3UNiV92p4Suecjpxlz29T3YKlFs0O1-VFTrJ8l30uX-_iP2je-du2jm9hbyhVpSWPyawx_kX8PcMVJ7XhImBDYVdZoxUivGu7Kni/s1600/hemerocallis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6JXo3V46q9NulorrA9Yv5-ip4t31mbkDPF6C4sgv3UNiV92p4Suecjpxlz29T3YKlFs0O1-VFTrJ8l30uX-_iP2je-du2jm9hbyhVpSWPyawx_kX8PcMVJ7XhImBDYVdZoxUivGu7Kni/s400/hemerocallis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My garden on this feast August day in Croatia, the Assumption of Mary (or Velika Gospa) ... perhaps not as lush as some of the August months years back, and perhaps already one foot deep in autumn's cauldron, and perhaps even quite a weird month concerning weather, droughts, lethal humidity, more draughts, and then violent winds, hailstorms ... nag, nag, nag. Do gardeners ever stop complaining about the weather? Just when they are bursting with gardening energy, it is usually raining cats and dogs. And then after spending all those weeks and months dreaming of summer days and all the benefits that sun will unleash upon their garden babies, right then, just like that, guess who comes out nagging about the unbearable heat ? So instead of fussing about something we cannot change (anymore), let's take a walk through the garden and ask if anybody's got something to say... </span><span style="font-size: small;">with a special thanks to Carol of <b style="color: #ffd966;"><a href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/">May Dreams Gardens</a></b>, I'm delighted to both share and enjoy the blooms from all over the world.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG1s2CnRBoOnqr1K8uooRgZCQ-aa9ulNkb19nVvgCt9DpGaT-1QwzpSjCifO2KidZc7kDCqaDwrb19J2eXkRxhJKWqOge38jw-7BNIRQWJQLdr2_3EWk7wxrKHI6i1mQuFi74ToGbefBV/s1600/Capparis+spinosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWG1s2CnRBoOnqr1K8uooRgZCQ-aa9ulNkb19nVvgCt9DpGaT-1QwzpSjCifO2KidZc7kDCqaDwrb19J2eXkRxhJKWqOge38jw-7BNIRQWJQLdr2_3EWk7wxrKHI6i1mQuFi74ToGbefBV/s400/Capparis+spinosa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capparis spinosa</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_L0CW44c5NMEj6tWummRFvC-BNGfaOdYWi5rnUu9qGhjmmwevJKbnddgoLNo4mTgMhhXlUFuKw6xTIm8TI6VrZz_Nm3WfkDLLeBNynvLf8xeND88FJhK0dAbylP2lEFxvgVxfFbEOWUX1/s1600/lager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_L0CW44c5NMEj6tWummRFvC-BNGfaOdYWi5rnUu9qGhjmmwevJKbnddgoLNo4mTgMhhXlUFuKw6xTIm8TI6VrZz_Nm3WfkDLLeBNynvLf8xeND88FJhK0dAbylP2lEFxvgVxfFbEOWUX1/s400/lager.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lagerstroemia indica</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyub74mjNOWLt7KqFx8EPqSSP_rlRSMBvLWyKkkiR6V-yMNNN-LSeOkA8GrxWPmGsoqE3jfb0ld5mnBTrtqbMEGD5sHKbQAv_Fn6gP9waHAkA_L2ARmkeUY1rCPi9LBBdbSqNLFOjXgT42/s1600/santolina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyub74mjNOWLt7KqFx8EPqSSP_rlRSMBvLWyKkkiR6V-yMNNN-LSeOkA8GrxWPmGsoqE3jfb0ld5mnBTrtqbMEGD5sHKbQAv_Fn6gP9waHAkA_L2ARmkeUY1rCPi9LBBdbSqNLFOjXgT42/s400/santolina.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santolina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhLkxLadSjVLnAm-XuwH6Kwt4Cp5oNmlvj1EUVRlPe-X7mvseR7cJEUpQB1cbU1JBYm8PzLyQHf_kw-Y8JRugL2IPeZAKZiK3lsAQqsmvhG-bmsrPJetXfQYL2AE4k8ysLyDYsmWY5R_0/s1600/hortens1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhLkxLadSjVLnAm-XuwH6Kwt4Cp5oNmlvj1EUVRlPe-X7mvseR7cJEUpQB1cbU1JBYm8PzLyQHf_kw-Y8JRugL2IPeZAKZiK3lsAQqsmvhG-bmsrPJetXfQYL2AE4k8ysLyDYsmWY5R_0/s400/hortens1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hydrangea 'Ayesha'</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73E621FPK-SQuz2FG42_EzZ8AxVjtx89Jxd8ABVfV_sb3YmOhwq9zekk_0ywL2FBXAUWnewa_qK-Wpmg7SZ3RckwIgU4nR7hlH_5Mpn8ZJBqIMtHRFrncjRQDwfYgEwQgbCr_1tTeLiBi/s1600/cosmos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73E621FPK-SQuz2FG42_EzZ8AxVjtx89Jxd8ABVfV_sb3YmOhwq9zekk_0ywL2FBXAUWnewa_qK-Wpmg7SZ3RckwIgU4nR7hlH_5Mpn8ZJBqIMtHRFrncjRQDwfYgEwQgbCr_1tTeLiBi/s400/cosmos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cosmos<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKxMrxrKlBoQ6kRwphvpsw5nYxEKLeyIR1qSG1LAduw1YB_8zIPBjAB2Z3DlaQlqukor_rKpjfNs3dWT8CG4Zk7OORTP7qiCxnpE8Xi62Y8HjNCN3CJAI6jX1aylmQKFWiZYUtj22beGM/s1600/P6260420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKxMrxrKlBoQ6kRwphvpsw5nYxEKLeyIR1qSG1LAduw1YB_8zIPBjAB2Z3DlaQlqukor_rKpjfNs3dWT8CG4Zk7OORTP7qiCxnpE8Xi62Y8HjNCN3CJAI6jX1aylmQKFWiZYUtj22beGM/s400/P6260420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkTGNG2xEa9fue9o5JYEBe2MwXaonOs16OnzFnK7JQ8izU1dXQJw7fgJIpmcajkFXecplJo9Rp6Fwi9hpnyeqlMvym1jGxTcbdMDnJWfjdSQEJMoQkJz6TBpoV6n48AvwZw8OgnUlS6NS/s1600/P6260411A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkTGNG2xEa9fue9o5JYEBe2MwXaonOs16OnzFnK7JQ8izU1dXQJw7fgJIpmcajkFXecplJo9Rp6Fwi9hpnyeqlMvym1jGxTcbdMDnJWfjdSQEJMoQkJz6TBpoV6n48AvwZw8OgnUlS6NS/s400/P6260411A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H. ''Mariesii variegata''</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmv_jviKbpdwzxcqpJoKA3rVNTuS998Rj56k6iV-Pxra15ORfkoL8xlYl2BO9KeMqs_s-87Zugrn_g5tXgTv4Gl6GP3FGQy19ViCDXL3siSpPJ2dywpHGUYCi_9oRKKW63MTho0jDBgXo/s1600/lucifer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmv_jviKbpdwzxcqpJoKA3rVNTuS998Rj56k6iV-Pxra15ORfkoL8xlYl2BO9KeMqs_s-87Zugrn_g5tXgTv4Gl6GP3FGQy19ViCDXL3siSpPJ2dywpHGUYCi_9oRKKW63MTho0jDBgXo/s400/lucifer.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocosmia 'Lucifer'<br />
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</tbody></table><div style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you want to join in this extraordinary feature hosted by Carol, all you have to do is simply create a GBBD post of your own on the 15th of the month and then post a comment on <b><a href="http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/">May Dreams gardens</a></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWqi_mIERV9cXjUcEtzWZgbJBjx86Vl0P2We5A9A1yfSpL56ge9Cd_NJb1lyaSSBIzhBTLBKA_K97vbpSCiC1HoZ1TI3Ixq0NlhBCSwjevCE_1j6RC7Qg2misPcHe2A6ZttYWsnCFic9C/s1600/DSC01509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWqi_mIERV9cXjUcEtzWZgbJBjx86Vl0P2We5A9A1yfSpL56ge9Cd_NJb1lyaSSBIzhBTLBKA_K97vbpSCiC1HoZ1TI3Ixq0NlhBCSwjevCE_1j6RC7Qg2misPcHe2A6ZttYWsnCFic9C/s400/DSC01509.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-86228016116377440512010-08-06T21:17:00.006+02:002010-08-08T22:50:25.293+02:00Simply MAUVELOUS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ejg2BtMbRMKvuEluudSHSEVIlIFY_6R3PTFSQd_AFk0-yiTYzNSoDXpklEHE9je65HIoGTcsFuF-xD2K418y2vNE6JyHbD8ElHYlqLgRQIrFn6lfHNMGBQ2224KwBpWFJkF0DHM9vlW6/s1600/P8051293.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> <br />
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</style><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 12pt;">I rarely visit garden centers with a fixed idea. Instead of finding a desired plant, I just let them find me. In my favourite nursery, there’s always a surprise plant lurking for me when I least expect it. Consequently, about two years ago, strikingly huge flowers caught my eye from afar. I was literally flabbergasted, my body paralysed, my heart skipping some beats. Sighs of ecstasy and utter disbelief swarmed the area. A trolley full of weird container plants with hibiscus-like flowers larger than my head. The extraordinary size of these showy flowers was just phenomenal. Stuck inside the container, a big ID card read the name of NEWBISCUS XXL ‘Mauvelous’, stating the size of 20-30 cm in diameter. Having no idea of what type of hibiscus I was dealing with, I had decided to keep it as a container plant. A month or so after flowering, it started to wilt away, just like any other bulbiferous perennial from the garden;and then finally, completely died off. Or so I thought.</span></span> <br />
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</style><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I went back to the nursery and inquired about those ill-mannered Newbiscus plants, hoping to buy another one, perhaps a different color this time. But one of their staff just gave me a weird look, shrugging her shoulders and explaining that all of the remaining Newbiscus plants got some kind of disease which they couldn’t stop and eventually died, so they had to dispose of the whole shipment. Bloody hell, I whispered, it must be a joke or this is the crappiest, dullest Hibiscus specimen ever. Anyhow, the whole idea was unacceptable so I decided to keep the container with the Newbiscus leftovers. It had over-wintered outside, under the shed roof. And then, one day late spring, there was life. Small shoots started to emerge, as if trying to yell out at my recklessness. For the love of God! </span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">❁◕‿◕❁ </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 130%;"></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I was still doubtful, but eventually sometime in late July / August the otherwise plain, ordinary shrub started to burst out with flower buds. A week later, I noticed a few passers-by wearing a big ‘what-the-hell’ cloud above their heads and secretly observing the flower heads in disbelief. And awe!!! Therefore, late October last year I decided it was worthy of a special place in my garden so I planted it out, near one of my agey silverpines, which would provide some shade for it’s delicate flowers in the afternoon hours. This year it grew considerably bigger and richer in flower buds and those breathtaking mauve dinner-plates.</span></span> <br />
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</style><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 12pt;">For more information, this beauty has a very own official <a href="http://www.newbiscus.com/index.php?page=Home-Newbiscus-EN" style="color: #ff99ff;">website</a>, providing the present and future carers with plenty of information and photos. I can only add that it is a plant that will lavishly reward even the most negligent gardeners. It has earned the medal of a tough cookie here in continental Croatia, after over-wintering weeks of -20’C temperatures and coming back in late spring. With abundance of water yet no fertilisers, I believe it came out quite mavelous for an untended 2-year old. As with any other hibiscus plants, the flowers are short-lived, especially if battered by savage rain and strong winds during summer storms (which in my case somehow synced with the flowering period continually testing the plant's resilience). But even if each flower only lasts a day, these few weeks of lavish bloom festival are worth the wait. Every bit of it. And you'll be aching to see it again in the spring ...</span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhTLrBdNnMo1le13OtXmEZ6gfcBn94LxA6XA4ny4HR4rvF1zLDE7slv72Rpr1KaJniyDNrQnmWl1A7JxnXDNssR_zvdl4Oul1kfSj_ob5PGLE8qle4sceIDwDa6ei2zdqy5HCYQnmzY0t/s1600/P8031264.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502666705791736546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhTLrBdNnMo1le13OtXmEZ6gfcBn94LxA6XA4ny4HR4rvF1zLDE7slv72Rpr1KaJniyDNrQnmWl1A7JxnXDNssR_zvdl4Oul1kfSj_ob5PGLE8qle4sceIDwDa6ei2zdqy5HCYQnmzY0t/s400/P8031264.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9Qe-LQf44E7CvgrwGM4sKEkyxg1Vzh3fcsBCKzGye-t47asr-n4qpQV-0b4BBxfdV9qUjKQbeLJN0bvaXPN8YGAYgvrw9gHAWyxLDneq9GD7hrO0PZxTWX2nsBm8QcvWiDXS5Fc0iOy-/s1600/DSC01894.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502406642543526930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9Qe-LQf44E7CvgrwGM4sKEkyxg1Vzh3fcsBCKzGye-t47asr-n4qpQV-0b4BBxfdV9qUjKQbeLJN0bvaXPN8YGAYgvrw9gHAWyxLDneq9GD7hrO0PZxTWX2nsBm8QcvWiDXS5Fc0iOy-/s400/DSC01894.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-5919339953039629912009-02-11T14:20:00.041+01:002012-02-03T11:21:45.034+01:00Prickly friends: Overwintering hedgehogs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kI_tpfll22t70rG-eTpN53DzqH8dZgizaoF_lwkCWl3SfrKx2eDYdNd2eo2SQsbG53_Z9aVBcBuyih6aeYl66lKl4elHw9E1KtoIAKNtu4zxI42MNYmMvf0ivNEZ-UljBD6wza_mI69R/s1600-h/bb2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301532627851516194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kI_tpfll22t70rG-eTpN53DzqH8dZgizaoF_lwkCWl3SfrKx2eDYdNd2eo2SQsbG53_Z9aVBcBuyih6aeYl66lKl4elHw9E1KtoIAKNtu4zxI42MNYmMvf0ivNEZ-UljBD6wza_mI69R/s200/bb2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 162px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a>This winter a few little creatures are responsible for taking most of my time. Well, not taking, just making most of my days. So here is my story of...<br />
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<span style="color: #ffcc99; font-weight: bold;">'PRICKLY HOGLETS'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Early December when the winter had blown first of its cold breaths into my garden, I was to join Kristy cat on the window, during her everyday task of </span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOUlO8O8HVO3UM4OeuIcrAdv2Ic2_K6As0uJ8DTVBcefjwIWUW5L3EXJ9z6iQL4Z_RP2mBZXPEHPEXdqFIIge-SLY8bknPzN7bm6fLKeiM_4Y7AO_721PC-6frOFO1yBs-R9a292VfNsO/s1600-h/k1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301572913036828018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOUlO8O8HVO3UM4OeuIcrAdv2Ic2_K6As0uJ8DTVBcefjwIWUW5L3EXJ9z6iQL4Z_RP2mBZXPEHPEXdqFIIge-SLY8bknPzN7bm6fLKeiM_4Y7AO_721PC-6frOFO1yBs-R9a292VfNsO/s200/k1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 160px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">scanning the front garden for some action. And there was plenty. Little birds everywhere, fighting for pieces of bread crumbs and seeds that have fallen out of the feeder. And then, a wee, prickly figure staggering about with his very own slice of stale bread. It was early afternoon, and the weather was quite chilly, about -5C</span>.<br />
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</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHOEoL_BtZOjQRxonzDQq_MyXlvszDki8SLxHTMQHd0yO3GcYZMFRVBfkKqs_XSBNM3b7udjE9BjRnA2XEchl5LA0w0eRfLWGFGb_sJZ4a6Q06nU6et75DQFXJa7QE4n4vEtfUy12D7c5/s1600-h/k3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301573148140206946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHOEoL_BtZOjQRxonzDQq_MyXlvszDki8SLxHTMQHd0yO3GcYZMFRVBfkKqs_XSBNM3b7udjE9BjRnA2XEchl5LA0w0eRfLWGFGb_sJZ4a6Q06nU6et75DQFXJa7QE4n4vEtfUy12D7c5/s200/k3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 178px;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was surprised to see a tiny hedgehog out in midday, during such a cold period, when it should have been in a 'deep sleep' mode by then. So tiny, it weighed only 200g, while a single hedgehog should weigh at least 600g to survive the winter </span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">and wake up after hibernating through the cold months. In a blink of a moment I decided to overwinter the poor little lad, even though the only experience I have had with hedgies was feeding them cat food and leftovers in the backyard. He (I later found out it was a 'he') must have been so starved out he would not let go of his stale bread. So I brought him in, and the next mission was to make him a new home. I connected two big rectangular PVC boxes with a PVC water pipe (thanks Dad)</span>.</span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc6HQN3jNj5PjeZLfmQ3Wf2_TMXfhhKdQ0dPt_OVEsTdjHfytgZpbsyI5nK1zD3VFQZ3MyWbdARu0QL7rcsOUEP8TvIyhLBmgf3xBLIyAt6ZjlzYx0XOwlz1rqfllhZfag-Z02nN5DCiL/s1600-h/bbob1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301533095615569778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwc6HQN3jNj5PjeZLfmQ3Wf2_TMXfhhKdQ0dPt_OVEsTdjHfytgZpbsyI5nK1zD3VFQZ3MyWbdARu0QL7rcsOUEP8TvIyhLBmgf3xBLIyAt6ZjlzYx0XOwlz1rqfllhZfag-Z02nN5DCiL/s400/bbob1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 218px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia;">I hardly knew anything about hedgehog care so I was learning along the way and googling up anything and everything on them. I named the little fella <span style="font-weight: bold;">Billy Bob</span> ( but any similarity with Thornton was accidental ;-). He had a severe respiratory inflammation and was so oblong and underweight he hardly resembled a hedgie (you can see how tiny he still was a few weeks after I've brought him in on the above photo). Since the vets here will rarely treat hedgies and even if they do, they will just do whatever needed to get rid of the annoying and demanding owner, it was just Google and me. Nevertheless, his health improved visibly within weeks, and so did his weight. He also had a slight mange infection which was succesfully treated with a mixture of tea tree oil and baby oil. And now, 3 months later, he is a chubby pile of prickles that can hardly fit into his tunnel, and has early morning activity moments with Kristy the cat, his personal aerobics trainer, to help him stay fit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqVgKpDSwMpTfcKBPRfWUy5aqlMndPcxEJNtf7iTw7imUYBFiqZ594WZgLblndiLXieDMNyJYN0dHtGjyFm1Ylt2yGPDRLT_uQYuwTdwfML9ZPKDlvZzuSr9zb7ktr5WXHwS8x8hyphenhyphenBtQe/s1600-h/billybob+kristyPC141883.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301533789097624898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqVgKpDSwMpTfcKBPRfWUy5aqlMndPcxEJNtf7iTw7imUYBFiqZ594WZgLblndiLXieDMNyJYN0dHtGjyFm1Ylt2yGPDRLT_uQYuwTdwfML9ZPKDlvZzuSr9zb7ktr5WXHwS8x8hyphenhyphenBtQe/s400/billybob+kristyPC141883.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 307px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
A month later, during the worst colds of January (-15C), thanks to dogs, we have found another lost cause in the garden, another hoglet, an autumn juvenile just like Billy Bob, that did not accumulate enough fat to hibernate, so he was roaming the frozen backyard looking for some food (or help). This lad was in a severe condition: seriously anemic, stuffed with ticks, a bad case of mange and fungal dermatitis and flu. His weight was nearly 350g but he was in such a bad condition he wouldn't even curl up in a ball. By now, I have bought another wide rabbit cage, so my hedgie could have more space to roam around in the night. It has a built-in hideout as they like to bury into an isolated place, where they can sleep during the day, undisturbed by daily light. The new hedgehog, named Marco.Polo, desperately needed some vet help.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSwmEegCzK5Ae7CWEshVignSMS-z7H1__s2R3klNLPgDeVfqxPcXSBNeyz_ANiqEaDCAhTXAERts80yp8slFvhTBA3-1O8p4a-lAOi1HYcm0xpATlKQECiUn-joU09cc-0v9u79JC7MLW/s1600-h/marco1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301552969738449010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSwmEegCzK5Ae7CWEshVignSMS-z7H1__s2R3klNLPgDeVfqxPcXSBNeyz_ANiqEaDCAhTXAERts80yp8slFvhTBA3-1O8p4a-lAOi1HYcm0xpATlKQECiUn-joU09cc-0v9u79JC7MLW/s400/marco1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 210px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Marco during one of his TeaTree oil antifungal baths</span> </div><br />
But like I said, I was on me own, and I had to go to the vet's and beg for a drop of Ivermectin (parasiticide) to sprinkle on his food, becasue he was too weak to be treated in any other way. He wouldn't eat for days, and had to be syringe-fed, but then he fell for something that Billy Bob had lost his head over: bananas. No tinned cat food, as delicious as it may be, no sultanas, no fruit, no treats could ever delight my hedgies as much as bananas do. Along the way, he was treated for lungworms (25mg Mebendazole two times a day, I used the meds my cats get for worming), severe respiratory inflammation (antibiotics through syringe or hidden in yummy banana slices), mange and ringworms (Canesten cream on the nose, ears and around the eyes; for prickles and belly the following mixture: a pint of tepid water, 10 drops of quality Tea Tree oil, 2 drops Lavender oil, 1 spoon of Almond oil and a squirt of baby oil, applied every 3 days) and this is the first week I can finally say he now resembles a healthy, young hedgehog, following the example of his examplary inmate, Billy Bob.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4y_k1uvnAMuLHy1mtBzFGYT9fzdlx3zM9sYxDFUOHaYFLk4m1dxXAW0ptV81zIjj7tEUuCpBASOV8b14htnrCtrxMrOtP0U2ZotcrOqFUuBQ0Ka8A-3u7i1e7UzwZ6cLW7alItsXrtScc/s1600-h/bbanana.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301553658065650402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4y_k1uvnAMuLHy1mtBzFGYT9fzdlx3zM9sYxDFUOHaYFLk4m1dxXAW0ptV81zIjj7tEUuCpBASOV8b14htnrCtrxMrOtP0U2ZotcrOqFUuBQ0Ka8A-3u7i1e7UzwZ6cLW7alItsXrtScc/s400/bbanana.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 173px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">''You are what you eat''</span> (unknown hedgehog)</div><br />
They do live in separate cages (boxes), as they are both males, and during their free walks in the front room, Billy Bob was spotted bandying Marco around like a little toy. It was only recently that they've had the opportunity to test their prickly strength with one another, since Marco was in isolation for over a month during his mites and ringworm issues. When I say cages, that's exactly what their homes are to them. No matter how much we humans will try to make their life and homes comfortable, they still are wild animals, born to be free, and they are bound to feel imprisoned. I have grown so very fond of them both, but I still think of myself as their gaoler, and sometimes think they really must hate me for depriving them of their natural life and confining them to a piece of plastic art. But I guess that's slightly a better option than being frozen to death under a pile of leaves in the backyard. In a month or so, they will be set free in the backyard where they will hopefully continue to enjoy that little bit of wilderness in this crazy town, and share our garden joys and sights with us.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QAUQiy9QwvF3LmhSuiBHo1MSeyxfTlwLz_wnN6_B5OTrINar7C6BueJaSm7PN6MCfBgIEu1EGI45TwUXqXDRvIkdieeU0LkWVjHwmunQO8cyQ-3vKo0D04wVuAnnj7jpIR5GG3IUvVK8/s1600-h/bbari1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301554124442439634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QAUQiy9QwvF3LmhSuiBHo1MSeyxfTlwLz_wnN6_B5OTrINar7C6BueJaSm7PN6MCfBgIEu1EGI45TwUXqXDRvIkdieeU0LkWVjHwmunQO8cyQ-3vKo0D04wVuAnnj7jpIR5GG3IUvVK8/s400/bbari1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Billy Bob and the art of seducing stuffed toys</span></div><br />
1. Here are some of the most interesting, important and intriguing facts I have learned, so far, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYR81PbNOoPxUNiyO5poN3HQDO7ltth_RIfXNizUuXpg8qj3mVqSy28dWfEVj5VARiRbprxoSawcHQdqppcUpGF_Zwetdh_b7Zt1RxjOXF563cqvSqiXqZAct_9DPYalYyHBJxTa6xrl6E/s1600-h/bbe.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301555428309267554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYR81PbNOoPxUNiyO5poN3HQDO7ltth_RIfXNizUuXpg8qj3mVqSy28dWfEVj5VARiRbprxoSawcHQdqppcUpGF_Zwetdh_b7Zt1RxjOXF563cqvSqiXqZAct_9DPYalYyHBJxTa6xrl6E/s200/bbe.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 176px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>from my dear bathroom inmates, Billy Bob and Marco.Polo.<br />
They both belong to the variety of <a href="http://www.e-pelion.com/fauna_mammalia_econcolor.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Erinaceus concolor</span></a> or the East European Hedgehog (White-breasted hedgehog) which is a protected species in Croatia, but also in the whole of EU.<br />
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2. I had to place their homes in a temperature controlled location, my bathroom and use an oil radiator to keep the place warm above 20C. The ideal temperature range for hedgehogs<br />
is 72˚ – 80˚F ( 22-26˚C)<br />
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3. According to some guidelines, hedgies should have at least 2 square feet of floor space with a solid bottom. As they love to explore at night, the more room the better. Oh and yes, hedgies can and will climb all sorts of things and escape the cage if it has no top or the walls are not high enough (Billy Bob used to climb on his tiny hideout, a shoebox full of straw, and jump out over the walls of the box, making a great goodmorning surprise for when you step into your bathroom and suddenly feel you've just entered a poop factory ;-)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2lb1EyATvpOIh1jswdeLTin61RSAc5jkIo1V-VgTdiXxV1sYMMeT-sIL_zUlLSKAshFD7IR_d_lBTZbbsFSyMKBs5Iy4inDqJozJLaOqefgt9BE87wVUsapwFgm_98K2I4j5faHqwC9c/s1600-h/bbundertable1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301561438077217698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2lb1EyATvpOIh1jswdeLTin61RSAc5jkIo1V-VgTdiXxV1sYMMeT-sIL_zUlLSKAshFD7IR_d_lBTZbbsFSyMKBs5Iy4inDqJozJLaOqefgt9BE87wVUsapwFgm_98K2I4j5faHqwC9c/s400/bbundertable1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 174px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
4. Generally, a hedgehog found outside during the day must be very hungry (underweight) or sick or both. They are primarily nocturnal animals, even though juveniles can be seen out during the day, foraging for food and trying to build weight before hibernation. And this particularly goes for the late litters of hedgehogs, autumn juveniles, like BB and Marco, due to the unusually warm autumn weather, like the last year's. If you ask me, the only way you will know a hedgie needs help is if you catch it and weigh it.<br />
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5. Hedgehogs need to be AT LEAST 600g in weight to be able to hibernate succesfully.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4NVdAq0cX593yeRzHJWMidW4bIZOR9VmxPrAh900FgrBXHIWCgi9O_bEojZVUb4fWauqlXThqkYKNY_I_r94OvIInHwYc1xcXBUw-336_4I-dYltit9LPhdg4SaT19v5MqwTkXn8lN7d/s1600-h/bbkristy2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301561857024277778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4NVdAq0cX593yeRzHJWMidW4bIZOR9VmxPrAh900FgrBXHIWCgi9O_bEojZVUb4fWauqlXThqkYKNY_I_r94OvIInHwYc1xcXBUw-336_4I-dYltit9LPhdg4SaT19v5MqwTkXn8lN7d/s400/bbkristy2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 172px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
6. <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Be sure to visit these two great sites </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/health.htm" style="color: #f1c232;">1) Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue</a><span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">for all sorts of medical conditions and first aid, and the plentiful </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/" style="color: #ffd966;">2) British Hedgehog Preservation Society</a></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> for anything and everything you ever needed to know about helping the little prickly buggers. Mange, for instance, can be potentially life-threatening for a hedgehog. Loss of prickles, scaly, flaky skin, bald patches, complete loss of fur, epilepsy-like attacks, aggressive behaviour and biting your carers (hello Marco) are just some of the symptoms.</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">7. Some gardeners wrongly think that having hedgehogs in the garden is all they need to keep the slug and snail population down. They will only eat slugs if they are starving and no other food is available (they mainly eat beetles and caterpillars). And now the scary part: slugs and snail</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">are the primary carriers of lungworms which are responsible for almost as much hedgehog deaths as are humans and their careless behaviour.</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZgCB4lZ_k43j3daiowKILIfWsBwV1aBDn7S67XFv1LenDGXCY3L8w-jx7GI9uUcooO3kTN81PNSkSnneCRST7RuSmc-yG_hzVE1KHyiwiQ_LIV4TZ6OYUp5GEt2W7scCh-lxL1dXD7QE/s1600-h/bbkPB300029.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301562203369790722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZgCB4lZ_k43j3daiowKILIfWsBwV1aBDn7S67XFv1LenDGXCY3L8w-jx7GI9uUcooO3kTN81PNSkSnneCRST7RuSmc-yG_hzVE1KHyiwiQ_LIV4TZ6OYUp5GEt2W7scCh-lxL1dXD7QE/s400/bbkPB300029.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 192px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
When the lungworms breed inside the hedgehog they rapidly multiply, fill the hedgehog's lungs and the hedgehog either dies from drowning (Pneumonia) or bleeding from the lungs. Hedgehogs with lungworms have terrible breathing problems, are very thin and underweight, often have bad diarrhea and will have secondary bacterial infections. Once the worms are well established the hedgehog coughs like an old smoker and gasp for air before dying in agony. Post-mortem examinations often show the lungs as a solid mass with very little lung tissue left.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS3xK0m4G-gi5FpODQ_Ha2Ic3Lae6xgpSGptqkxwhamudFjq_mxpJM-DQZdnEFUjmOi6ikAf65oFvbr-EiFEqJOVbbzvuT5tXaDsXPbY9NPsjQg-zk8EzXR7t610lQSXsVMrOouH_rC4E/s1600-h/bbkristy3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301567853351612626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIS3xK0m4G-gi5FpODQ_Ha2Ic3Lae6xgpSGptqkxwhamudFjq_mxpJM-DQZdnEFUjmOi6ikAf65oFvbr-EiFEqJOVbbzvuT5tXaDsXPbY9NPsjQg-zk8EzXR7t610lQSXsVMrOouH_rC4E/s320/bbkristy3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 285px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>8. When it comes to food, I provide the following: tinned cat, puppy or kitten food (chicken flavor their favorite / never feed fish flavors), poultry flavored cat biscuits, meat leftovers like chicken and mince, bananas and sultanas as treats, 100% natural muesli (Tropical flavor), probiotic yogurt, worms, crickets... Hedgehogs should never be given cow's milk, bread or salty foods. Also, hedgehogs drink a lot of water. And like I said, when it comes to bananas, I could swear I have heard both of them purr out of joy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhC61HgnJKSqgk-fRZUvPs1s_8vkK9SXA02MzePmmMoe0CJHKtfV4A4ZFld4N_YY9PY8TNUzOLvLUsH4kqQJ3jXVlaBxbT-7KDkUqNZ1NK_j6nfdBiOgsOToWATs-P2mgd1_BRggBL69Y/s1600-h/bblasc.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301562468977169122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhC61HgnJKSqgk-fRZUvPs1s_8vkK9SXA02MzePmmMoe0CJHKtfV4A4ZFld4N_YY9PY8TNUzOLvLUsH4kqQJ3jXVlaBxbT-7KDkUqNZ1NK_j6nfdBiOgsOToWATs-P2mgd1_BRggBL69Y/s400/bblasc.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 167px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
9. Whilst the hedgehog is in hibernation, a number of odd things happen to it: The hedgehog stops being a warm blooded animal since this uses up too much energy. Its body temperature falls to match that of the surrounding environment. However, the surrounding temperature must not be below freezing (the ideal temperature in the nest for successful hibernation is about 5º c) and if it rises too much, the animal's blood flow will increase and start to use up too much stored fat. The hedgehog becomes cold to the touch; stops moving; heart rate drops<br />
to about 20 beats per minute. To wake up, the hedgehog needs to metabolise fat which warms the body and begins to get the blood flowing again. The hedgehog may help itself along by shivering. This can all take from 1/2 to 1 hour to complete. Only then does the hedgehog have a normal body temperature and can again venture out into the world<br />
10. Hedgehogs taken into care do not have to and should not hibernate ! They do well and are all the more fit for missing it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yuL7Q0pr_zPvUBGGzQrFdaAQi6twhVeKlK4dG8A9QOzY4BgaM5f-P5ytrD-pPwfHf4_lkiDtEcy6aZrLqyFld2zexPyrcgXbYHF881fFrkzgmIr2OuIsAoxjguWRx3tKcBsocU0M6m49/s1600-h/bbDSC00432.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301562726994144354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yuL7Q0pr_zPvUBGGzQrFdaAQi6twhVeKlK4dG8A9QOzY4BgaM5f-P5ytrD-pPwfHf4_lkiDtEcy6aZrLqyFld2zexPyrcgXbYHF881fFrkzgmIr2OuIsAoxjguWRx3tKcBsocU0M6m49/s400/bbDSC00432.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 329px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
11. SELF-ANOINTING: If you smell *really* interesting, your hedgehog will lick or nibble on you, back off, and suddenly contort itself, start foaming at the mouth, and lick the foam onto its spines. This ``self-anointing'' has to be seen to be believed, but it's perfectly normal. It's not known for sure why they do it, but it probably has something to do with self-defence; hedgehogs <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vAfQdlHk9qtO6Fa84PnNoDDFCDywO_YTlX3Xycxv78b4GF4VuJilaONqyF3d2b8IclreqQFP3XqD1GaW9WcflIJ62zVeNrkhyphenhyphen5U-8JQi7fMDX52sxwRTGDxA4thtWUwKoRhCUYW3RH_n/s1600-h/bb8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301563226044938210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vAfQdlHk9qtO6Fa84PnNoDDFCDywO_YTlX3Xycxv78b4GF4VuJilaONqyF3d2b8IclreqQFP3XqD1GaW9WcflIJ62zVeNrkhyphenhyphen5U-8JQi7fMDX52sxwRTGDxA4thtWUwKoRhCUYW3RH_n/s200/bb8.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 166px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a>are *highly* resistant to most toxins, and when they encounter something that might be toxic, they get it in their mouths, foam, and cover themselves with the toxic mixture. The result is a toxic hedgehog, which is really something to reckon with. (Incidentally, the toxin resistance of hedgehogs is truly prodigious and has been the subject of some research; they are one of the few animals that can safely eat giant toads (Bufo marinus), for instance. They will also seek out and kill adders (they are immune to their venom).<br />
<br />
<br />
I noticed my hedgies like to chew on the carpet, looking for<br />
strange odours (like stain removers)or stick their little noses<br />
into the vacuum cleaner extensions and sniff away!<br />
<br />
12. Hedgehogs are extremely car-sick.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisovs_0X1LUeMyGh6xjlYW823wTHkh7jQmNvXUyg_8bYWFIoSfKINux6dNvE-i3rVv19ddkYwmsZOlmDNB6seDc3qihB5iTwYce4JqAS_D2gQRv4TzJpz-r2RN1hj4KveAo9iYkctXh07D/s1600-h/billybob22.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301563659448809362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisovs_0X1LUeMyGh6xjlYW823wTHkh7jQmNvXUyg_8bYWFIoSfKINux6dNvE-i3rVv19ddkYwmsZOlmDNB6seDc3qihB5iTwYce4JqAS_D2gQRv4TzJpz-r2RN1hj4KveAo9iYkctXh07D/s400/billybob22.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>13. Long before the advent of Groundhog Day on<br />
February 2nd, the Romans observed a similar event thousands of years ago<br />
on the exact same day. Rather than use the North American groundhog,<br />
the Romans used the hedgehog.<br />
<br />
14. “If during hibernation, he (the hedgehog) looks<br />
out of his den on 2nd February and sees his shadow it means there is a clear<br />
moon and six more weeks of winter so he returns to his burrow.”<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98gDyGBvS3mMr-WRf0kUatcmBueDJvRFETKyzAXPlbffrbBAOBYhLkc9klyIF_rvXVs3tXXPWQx2x277NZDmAA0w7rzPQqRol1Awah7bl0MAT2OE3jn5MpSm0OuKEtWQ726ja1tfihiFt/s1600-h/marco.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301564377550340690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98gDyGBvS3mMr-WRf0kUatcmBueDJvRFETKyzAXPlbffrbBAOBYhLkc9klyIF_rvXVs3tXXPWQx2x277NZDmAA0w7rzPQqRol1Awah7bl0MAT2OE3jn5MpSm0OuKEtWQ726ja1tfihiFt/s200/marco.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 90px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 174px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHtXtbxyoJFtffz5nd0fcKVShSQjgW7JkAXGucmBzTWNAVL8HnyQ-UBZDNWtZzJxyzFVmliWncfo9lKpjLqK0OEl6BBzUtXwzA_CXLg48IKaLWKndCJ32-M-EK173TWOQdDFVX5XCg94_/s1600-h/marco9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301564655149522658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHtXtbxyoJFtffz5nd0fcKVShSQjgW7JkAXGucmBzTWNAVL8HnyQ-UBZDNWtZzJxyzFVmliWncfo9lKpjLqK0OEl6BBzUtXwzA_CXLg48IKaLWKndCJ32-M-EK173TWOQdDFVX5XCg94_/s200/marco9.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 91px; width: 163px;" /></a><br />
<br />
15. Until 1990's, there was no name for a baby hedgehog, so the hedgie<br />
enthusiasts gave it a name: hoglet.<br />
16. Hedgehogs have an amazing immunity to most things that are toxic.<br />
Quantities of many toxins that would kill a human hundreds or even thousands of times over will often have no noticeable effect on a hedgehog at all. This trait has inspired both legends and scientific research, with no conclusive results other than acknowledgment that it is true.<br />
<br />
17. Another <a href="http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/hedgehog_care.html" style="color: #ffffcc;">great site</a> about providing care for autumn orphans/juveniles.<br />
<br />
18. Gardeners also need to be aware that injuries caused by lawn mowers and<br />
trimmers are one of the most common type of injuries in hedgehogs.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2hfu9xR5Ts7zyGtlkT0IeUHz6KxkYy-bNucIzUver3egUCDsfOTrOX9lL-hZD9RzpA20a2p7SzStd2SvpJxZqDD_VwYjs6OoXHcXNO6EA2Ol-iQ_OjR0P5NJHQbXU8dquxmykQqVsbL-/s1600-h/bbeast1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301565087627567202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2hfu9xR5Ts7zyGtlkT0IeUHz6KxkYy-bNucIzUver3egUCDsfOTrOX9lL-hZD9RzpA20a2p7SzStd2SvpJxZqDD_VwYjs6OoXHcXNO6EA2Ol-iQ_OjR0P5NJHQbXU8dquxmykQqVsbL-/s400/bbeast1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 335px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I never knew that if my hands smelled of soap,<br />
it would trigger the unpleasant hedgehog bites. </span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">I'd swear not even dogs could bite that hard.<br />
Marco would too. ;-)</span></div><br />
19. I've mentioned the Tea Tree oil before. It is supposed to be toxic for hedgehogs, as well as for other animals. I would add that this is true to some extent, for if it gets digested in any way, it surely is TOXIC, even for humans (but you can still make an excellent TeaTree oil mouthwash;-). Or if it's a poor quality, or a quality that is good for nothing more than your finest aroma burner. But when it comes to 100% pure essential oils like that of Primavera Life and Oshadhi, I can say it is one of a few natural antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral products that really do make a difference. Same goes for a Tea Tree cream from a good health shop or chemist, and in many cases it has shown to be an excellent cure, if not better than traditional veterinary remedies.<br />
<a href="http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301534806791603634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-5E51gu5FsovuQF7jC7WllA5QN7C3MR97O2H98b4_Y8Wwz6XIZg-E9dUgg9gJCujFMwPTQBN3epZTzWE_UDacEY8vv3nMO3S9C_PlKWRsrt6bd7cgWJryRnZ_n_DUTCs_YulP19Sho3G/s200/welcome3.gif" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 145px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 171px;" /></a><br />
<br />
20. Do visit the <a href="http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue (UK)</span></a> for anything and everything you ever wanted and needed to know about hedgehogs. Find out how to help ''The Hedgehog in YOUR garden!''<br />
<br />
<br />
So much about my prickly little friends for now. As far as my gardening spirit is concerned, with the first rays of sunlight, I galloped to the local nursery only to discover a new target of my lust: Vossii Laburnum and a fresh supply of spring bulbs. Sweet heavens !!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwhwwypVmaA7BHyH5ZiUhLk5LCPfY7aY45A3a6_FsgV-5vPDDq2py1FzDA8FKs8GDs0JV0hulOAbH_dgLqFnccrbcoDdi1qcyB-xOwGRAr6DSfy_WpR9IGP_vAL0DbQQBYgDXIclg9-a4/s1600-h/tunnelvision.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301568433135786658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwhwwypVmaA7BHyH5ZiUhLk5LCPfY7aY45A3a6_FsgV-5vPDDq2py1FzDA8FKs8GDs0JV0hulOAbH_dgLqFnccrbcoDdi1qcyB-xOwGRAr6DSfy_WpR9IGP_vAL0DbQQBYgDXIclg9-a4/s400/tunnelvision.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Kristy cat ponders whether cat tunnels were originally<br />
made </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">for those ill-mannered, prickly rascals</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-57388985796581571032008-11-24T17:10:00.015+01:002009-01-08T17:19:28.175+01:00Mystery plants and horticultural imports<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHODNGePaNq89TQ7fIi10IpmKHYxfd_3I16stXkZ4OlSGuvTW9XDg6kuyjcE0rfZ1Y5M2arGnmnVvIxZ-l0HfpvqoeXtDKZGVrdn6gqahmbq3P8WZuDFGbDySh9juD97HzhsYuCE1-Vk9/s1600-h/kipouriaplant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHODNGePaNq89TQ7fIi10IpmKHYxfd_3I16stXkZ4OlSGuvTW9XDg6kuyjcE0rfZ1Y5M2arGnmnVvIxZ-l0HfpvqoeXtDKZGVrdn6gqahmbq3P8WZuDFGbDySh9juD97HzhsYuCE1-Vk9/s400/kipouriaplant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272289260883403330" border="0" /></a><br />When the strict protocols governing import and export of plants are concerned, gardeners are especially likely to snatch a plant part and smuggle it back home for propagation (are they ??). Concerning all that, I found an interesting article over at <a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-style: italic;" href="http://www.backyardgardener.com/article/green/895.htm">BackyardGardener</a><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-style: italic;" href="http://www.backyardgardener.com/article/green/895.htm"> - ''Gulid-free Souvenirs''.</a> Also more on the <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article789425.ece"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">delusiveness of plants </span></a>... LOL<br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/10/euphoric-about-euphorbia.html">Euphoric Euphorbia</a> was the 1st plant I smuggled back to my garden from the land of Odysseus. But certainly not the 1st one that has put a spell on me. I was not bothered about all the safety regulations (I was not smuggling immigrants after all) , I had one fear only, of those passion-less passport control drones confiscating my little friends. But luckily they were always more concerned with my Carmex lipbalm. 3 years ago, back on Kefalonia island, in an old churchyard, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfcWIlYFwsGVeWIjdsd6pC5prG-ivpsIc3ZUhr7b-e7ZdSKHj_4NajkE-KQDVBGafoQcedKNNVBxdg6cJo01-W7Xi3ibkmYBBRZhIfo8SI2AxQqe2c6olIRX7q-iGHAfLfTRl4t2muM6W/s1600-h/moonlitsission1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfcWIlYFwsGVeWIjdsd6pC5prG-ivpsIc3ZUhr7b-e7ZdSKHj_4NajkE-KQDVBGafoQcedKNNVBxdg6cJo01-W7Xi3ibkmYBBRZhIfo8SI2AxQqe2c6olIRX7q-iGHAfLfTRl4t2muM6W/s200/moonlitsission1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272508697136913010" border="0" /></a><br />I spotted this beautiful, delicate plant fluttering in the wind. There was only another larger tree of the like on the island, in the protected laguna, already carrying seedpods but they were not ripe yet. I took some anyway, but never managed to germinate them. 3 years later, this August, it was the right time to harvest some more seed pods. Naturally, I still hadn't the faintest idea what the plant was, except that it belonged to the bean family, judging its seed pods. So instead of asking around, I went on a googling mission through the whole Fabaceae (bean) family. An hour later, already discouraged by hundreds of cousins and no look-a-likes, I suddenly came across this name. The foliage was identical, so were the seed pods, and seed size, shape and color. <a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://www.delange.org/PaloVerdeMexican/PaloVerdeMexican.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Parkinsonia.</span></a> <a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Parkinsonia+aculeata"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Parkinsonia acuelata !</span></a> Possibly. At least I think so, if you think I might be wrong, feel free to widen my horizons. After all, this has been a mystery plant here for years.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoalUoXXrEBAniamdPgvU1fjyz2UnsGlMZg2P3ZGZAJoeFoazrSqTM0DlgakgHuCA57JBNCFWdBdUQSM6v2yDOS1FP6QsKcnes07bCbBE9ao7pepPLz2BkWqjR7z94OF45gIQLnwhWUBU/s1600-h/PA111804.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoalUoXXrEBAniamdPgvU1fjyz2UnsGlMZg2P3ZGZAJoeFoazrSqTM0DlgakgHuCA57JBNCFWdBdUQSM6v2yDOS1FP6QsKcnes07bCbBE9ao7pepPLz2BkWqjR7z94OF45gIQLnwhWUBU/s200/PA111804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272509473397778690" border="0" /></a>The Irish botanist Thomas Coulter was the first to categorize the plant. He obtained specimens near Hermosillo, Sonora<span id="l7" class="HoverPopup2"><span style="color: rgb(153, 88, 0);font-size:100%;" > </span></span>in 1830. Also known as Mexican Palo verde tree, or Jerusalem thorn. I recently ran into an article about gardeners, their star signs and the plants they were attracted to. Apparently, Cancers are strongly attracted to the Bean family, esp. to the Mimosa tree look-a-likes. I can wholeheartedly confirm that, as I have had the strangest affinities towards the fan-like foliage which has led me to collect anything from Mimosa (Acacia dealbata) to Jacaranda tree, even though I can only grow some of them as greenhouse plants. Albizia julibrissin makes up for all those who can't be planted outside. I'm actually trying to push the limits and grow my Mimosa outdoors (with considerable winter protection) against the south wall along with Figs and Palm trees.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRA8pFjQ7CQAXe2Ni-Ugak7BLOuPMYjTACpZ3kNw_60zrFe54ltJFG0yrkCDFwedwX90_lUsh-Y1lYNjncY5vAhFxhjQIDJ1Dz7g1lLSKnZP9510JgaKHMrbUTXzwHx21rjSSaeptlse7/s1600-h/Parkinsonia8201369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRA8pFjQ7CQAXe2Ni-Ugak7BLOuPMYjTACpZ3kNw_60zrFe54ltJFG0yrkCDFwedwX90_lUsh-Y1lYNjncY5vAhFxhjQIDJ1Dz7g1lLSKnZP9510JgaKHMrbUTXzwHx21rjSSaeptlse7/s400/Parkinsonia8201369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272288797139040978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Parkinsonia in the churchyard of </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Kipouria monastery, Kefalonia</span><br /><br /></div>Now back to Parkinsonia. Greece, or Mediterranean or even Europe are not at all what you would call a typical habitat for these. It doesn' t even fit in with the surrounding flora. Rather it is <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW05NwflzMs6O-ThG6A_4g87dSq20uQLdasBG513hcbI7Qxs9Gn9qJ7Hyknh3VBH05aMVUBKPxq-Ii118GlqX7sl3hLhd9ieY7vLWXUHKoqnXsyNE-FAYc99RqoTei0KL_gjo2MdBaXZO/s1600-h/koutavos1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW05NwflzMs6O-ThG6A_4g87dSq20uQLdasBG513hcbI7Qxs9Gn9qJ7Hyknh3VBH05aMVUBKPxq-Ii118GlqX7sl3hLhd9ieY7vLWXUHKoqnXsyNE-FAYc99RqoTei0KL_gjo2MdBaXZO/s200/koutavos1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272509184609866562" border="0" /></a>native to the semi-desert areas of Africa and the Americas. I can't possibly see how it ended up in Greece except onboard some sort of vessel full of smuggling gardeners ... Still, it has adapted very well and grows in a dry, barren part of the island. I'm sure to all of you in the southwestern parts of the US, Palo verde is just an ordinary, everyday bush. In Australia even, it is is a Weed of National Significance. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts. I have already germinated 3 of the seeds and the babies are doing great LOL.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zqWquQFHOwib-QQoU_lWExQrAfqZovFrGNnm7OdnHUOck2ymSYUL2ruXcMMbcYLkFlv6J6VHFNQRQheyxfMMOZ-y_BwJ6-cnMCKqxOyFiz9B8GYIjV9W9KiqTxyr0Mr-spWwbFLkPvft/s1600-h/parkinsonia1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zqWquQFHOwib-QQoU_lWExQrAfqZovFrGNnm7OdnHUOck2ymSYUL2ruXcMMbcYLkFlv6J6VHFNQRQheyxfMMOZ-y_BwJ6-cnMCKqxOyFiz9B8GYIjV9W9KiqTxyr0Mr-spWwbFLkPvft/s400/parkinsonia1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272287189424636978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Greek Palo-verde</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now to go back at the top photo, which is another mysterious plant for the locals, found in the same churchyard. In my opinion a sort of Campanula (very drought resistant for sure), possibly <span style="font-style: italic;">Campanula rapunculus </span><span>or <span style="font-style: italic;">C. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">pyramidalis</span> ??? Hardly needs any soil to grow and thrives on dry stone walls, growing out of structural cracks. Unfortunately, I have not acquired one of these, but have seen them growing out of old city walls on several Croatian heritage hotspots.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNysGm20F4PxxcxWLQuOU41-kzJ71bTweWlLVox42GYsOosdvLGsH3gg6Z0x38Ig3qVytjCfI_kA51lMTuBgHmCVNPRhXMwB0bveEDHtm84DuE7mcOSpMcsp4ANpPkPmAauKwkeKY86shx/s1600-h/leaves1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNysGm20F4PxxcxWLQuOU41-kzJ71bTweWlLVox42GYsOosdvLGsH3gg6Z0x38Ig3qVytjCfI_kA51lMTuBgHmCVNPRhXMwB0bveEDHtm84DuE7mcOSpMcsp4ANpPkPmAauKwkeKY86shx/s400/leaves1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272293734130595762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAj_daMyRGZPUR72yNKO0szVU3f20D1Tj-tAjeYEHDc1E4KayJg165cK6AABN_VjvnVqGKwzdHvbQeprjTf3Rui7zZJXCENw6U4oz05bmqJGBSQfCdWRR5rcP5yIASKv52Ajx_hwM46qw/s1600-h/kipour1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAj_daMyRGZPUR72yNKO0szVU3f20D1Tj-tAjeYEHDc1E4KayJg165cK6AABN_VjvnVqGKwzdHvbQeprjTf3Rui7zZJXCENw6U4oz05bmqJGBSQfCdWRR5rcP5yIASKv52Ajx_hwM46qw/s400/kipour1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272295911945449650" border="0" /></a></div><br /><em></em><span style="font-family:georgia;">And the last one, but not the least. Not as mysterious but equally breathtaking. <a href="http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/URGINEA/Urginea_marittima/Urginea_marittima_rubra/Urginea_marittima_rubra.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Urginea </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">(Scilla)</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"> maritima</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"> or </span></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/URGINEA/Urginea_marittima/Urginea_marittima_rubra/Urginea_marittima_rubra.htm"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Sea Squill</span></a>.</span></span> Has absolutely gigantic bulbs which stick out half way above the ground level and have made my luggage wear the 'heavy tag'. I have smuggled four of these, having to choose only those smaller in size to be able to cram them in. While on a goat path, trying to find way to a secret cave somewhere between nowhere and goodbye of Kefalonia, I ran into a whole area dotted with hundreds and hundreds of these bulbs, actually there were so many you couldn't help but trip over them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMhL1MPtiuKZSqs1XBwVcJ6FFqOneWHgEa8Errehyphenhyphenak-hFYH1c8LeRyPK1LElxkYcrXHIMma-mKVGy-RcSRqxZh1cvFiQkNToySykLFp9ktT2roXe1QMBuDbXvXArnM-PjRgKiY2w1EoW/s1600-h/fnecpath1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMhL1MPtiuKZSqs1XBwVcJ6FFqOneWHgEa8Errehyphenhyphenak-hFYH1c8LeRyPK1LElxkYcrXHIMma-mKVGy-RcSRqxZh1cvFiQkNToySykLFp9ktT2roXe1QMBuDbXvXArnM-PjRgKiY2w1EoW/s400/fnecpath1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288958168802834898" border="0" /></a><br />These beauties are native to the Mediterranean coastal regions, and while prone to fires and high temperatures, they are known to be frost tender in the continental areas. I'm pushing the envelope there too, planted one outdoors while the other three remain potted inside, chucklin' on the windowsill at their infortunate brother. Apart from being giants among all Mediterranean geophytes, the bulbs are also very poisonous. For more detailed info, visit <a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/URGINEA/Urginea_marittima/Urginea_marittima_rubra/Urginea_marittima_rubra.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://www.whitesquill.com/WHITESQILLCARE.html"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">there</span></a>.<br /><a href="http://www.whitesquill.com/WHITESQILLCARE.html"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"></span><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFxLmkUszSKPsBOvA3zlo155IScR6fLmQIyBR5lW-K_80w7MvZner4816n_uxfIKIIq1p04zluj-090rcg5CwanEm5w4QV9Hy2VW7sd5BoQ3Hb1WcgWOJWnsK3l8tr-M-FxETl6vaWwwS/s1600-h/urginea1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFxLmkUszSKPsBOvA3zlo155IScR6fLmQIyBR5lW-K_80w7MvZner4816n_uxfIKIIq1p04zluj-090rcg5CwanEm5w4QV9Hy2VW7sd5BoQ3Hb1WcgWOJWnsK3l8tr-M-FxETl6vaWwwS/s400/urginea1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272299157561051714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sea Squill</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-64705540457553885632008-11-23T19:40:00.010+01:002008-12-01T16:32:51.414+01:00Save the bees and feed the hungry !<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">An angel who inspired the world</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4enLdhPoUezZEZgrOImU1tQg3-RcATQPSiV6YWNzq-URezqJuEwz3fMsGxcRcXOxDjkq2Ae71P4AgCZ8vP7FkuXrNpZR8t7hmbdltxAq22E5hpXq2o7ghZ6l2Wb6N1-F9n7iOmEstfw-R/s1600-h/brenden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4enLdhPoUezZEZgrOImU1tQg3-RcATQPSiV6YWNzq-URezqJuEwz3fMsGxcRcXOxDjkq2Ae71P4AgCZ8vP7FkuXrNpZR8t7hmbdltxAq22E5hpXq2o7ghZ6l2Wb6N1-F9n7iOmEstfw-R/s320/brenden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272913620372193026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">''Brenden Foster spoke, and hundreds answered. Eleven year old Brenden Foster died on Friday, 21 November 2008, but throughout this world he will be remembered always. His darkest hour was his brightest light. This is a story as much of his words as it is of his deeds. His dying wish was to help the homeless. "They're probably starving, so give 'em a chance, food and water." It has become a national movement. He had one more wish, and that was to sprinkle wildflower seeds to save the bees. He had heard that the bees were dying off. His wish was answered by a retired pilot who asked his flying friends to sprinkle wild flower seeds around the world on Brenden's behalf. He spoke with the wisdom of ages. Of that which made him feel sad, he had said was, "When someone gives up." His advice was, "Follow your dreams. Don't let anything stop you." Asked what he thought the best things in life are, he said, "Just having one." If we can learn anything in this life, we can be inspired to do so by this young man. Three years ago, doctors diagnosed Brenden with leukemia. His body may have been held back but his spirit excelled far beyond the dreams of most of us. On death, "It happens. It's natural," He said. "I should be gone in a week or so", he had said. "I had a great time. And until my time comes, I'm going to keep having a great time," he said. I heard that he saw angels coming for him three times in the night before he left us. Then Brenden took his darkest hour and turned it into the brightest of light that truly can inspire the world.''</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote></blockquote></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c-vaGctUJJY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c-vaGctUJJY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></span>How could you even describe the impact this one wee person has made...He might have been just a special kid, he might have been only little, but what he did was beyond words and what he gave us will last an eternity. RIP B-Man ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"><a href="http://cbs2.com/local/Brendon.Foster.Wish.2.862045.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">A Dying Boy's Wish</span></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-42622437138936056002008-11-04T11:13:00.010+01:002010-04-17T22:39:18.181+02:00Botanical garden de nouveau<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUuiYzzpVTF8CAzJiddS9j4moUmX2ESZxfXNipb-p2xvDDPSfp6vInVfhMNfBOK5lBMKIiexHoHObjgT6qU8EgSWkvTfvIhe82kDTbMBh2G3K_svmPc66QE-59vQYj1V37SfW96Kz6_3w/s1600-h/klupa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUuiYzzpVTF8CAzJiddS9j4moUmX2ESZxfXNipb-p2xvDDPSfp6vInVfhMNfBOK5lBMKIiexHoHObjgT6qU8EgSWkvTfvIhe82kDTbMBh2G3K_svmPc66QE-59vQYj1V37SfW96Kz6_3w/s400/klupa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264736615366301874" border="0" /></a><a href="http://hirc.botanic.hr/vrt/english/collections.htm"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204); font-style: italic;">Botanical garden, Zagreb</span></a><br /></div><br />Watching the asphalt take over the world, I often find myself daydreaming of what this city used to be decades ago, and what it is today, but still it gives me utmost pleasure finding a way out of the city in the very heart of that same city. Among a green necklace of parks all over Zagreb, beautiful centuries-old parks, one place gives me the coziest and most enjoyable shelter from the world, and after all, from my very own misanthropic thoughts. The moment I step in, time ceases to exist... Getting away from my grumpy self is usually the hardest task. But like I said, the moment I step in, it's like ''Where has the time gone ?'' And at this special time of year, when the colorful magic of autumn turns the place in the cozy front room with a fireplace crackling in the background, preserving the everlasting immortality of the garden, I can only be thankful for finding a place that preserves my hometown just as lovely, peaceful and inspiring, as decades ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH3WRAjz0ydmcg42SMSFukbSsKAi7kttAg7nlO7TAibJgQTi7dKGwqVCbHxfNtv4X_9c5tjCw72EoHxsfPiM4IQAUyr-2s7Czp7fUtxk_ddvTlgP3yjVqRAD2N2oGgJcA5K3oeP98YjGE/s1600-h/lisce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH3WRAjz0ydmcg42SMSFukbSsKAi7kttAg7nlO7TAibJgQTi7dKGwqVCbHxfNtv4X_9c5tjCw72EoHxsfPiM4IQAUyr-2s7Czp7fUtxk_ddvTlgP3yjVqRAD2N2oGgJcA5K3oeP98YjGE/s400/lisce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264743060936175778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vJr0f0gO79nSrqDbHy5L-FVNgUoWCamCmtdFiN4eYJf03VB6QYjUKgnRGAlgGDXBWlf8kKba92sWsvB-77GOLFnPxg735joEMEXfSIgcILePvCn2qvchwYeOsu3PzefA6_UP4cEKJuh5/s1600-h/drvo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vJr0f0gO79nSrqDbHy5L-FVNgUoWCamCmtdFiN4eYJf03VB6QYjUKgnRGAlgGDXBWlf8kKba92sWsvB-77GOLFnPxg735joEMEXfSIgcILePvCn2qvchwYeOsu3PzefA6_UP4cEKJuh5/s400/drvo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264743360721194482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlqH2ECps_69KAPPqROm-3LFv6g2eBAqOMb1I0CcCE_W9dWkL9D1kSEsM7EAKUIFNQKz47AgEUELamTeEKZ7KJqbwsj2rPMWM4fcXnF1yxE2q3UZtyouB21OcDRZPwLBHuwpwE88rU78x/s1600-h/path1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlqH2ECps_69KAPPqROm-3LFv6g2eBAqOMb1I0CcCE_W9dWkL9D1kSEsM7EAKUIFNQKz47AgEUELamTeEKZ7KJqbwsj2rPMWM4fcXnF1yxE2q3UZtyouB21OcDRZPwLBHuwpwE88rU78x/s400/path1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264743622576502306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN9QeaAGa1ngjXmBi2_INkGkXhHivnHKDSJ4M397l8NmpyhdyEyKMuebtWo59DT-ShPWOutckb-aa921fWy9X6yOx49h6cbQLzyvmxaRhqtgPQ0_DZdcBG72sKmI54K8qXW3QpDrBjSRD/s1600-h/sophora2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN9QeaAGa1ngjXmBi2_INkGkXhHivnHKDSJ4M397l8NmpyhdyEyKMuebtWo59DT-ShPWOutckb-aa921fWy9X6yOx49h6cbQLzyvmxaRhqtgPQ0_DZdcBG72sKmI54K8qXW3QpDrBjSRD/s400/sophora2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264758814412097762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sophora japonica 'Pendula'</span><br /></div><br />However, I have not only found my spare garden of Eden, I have also found my muse... <a href="http://www.conifers.org/cu/tax/distichum.htm"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">TAXODIUM DISTICHUM</span></a> or Bald Cypress, probably the greatest tree in this park. And equally beautiful at all times. And equally eye-catching and proud at all times...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm_JdazgoET6cH77BRR8b7sBSJClrR6QGtS3nWXx3PpOvhb-ZgNEHQgZCo9p6tJJlj-Xm11_DlvoajjxTwt6_qV3xdob9LNCKvKNJw1K9zzwUr5ig8HZUgP2DD19yjbi1WySGA25w_zTd/s1600-h/taxodiumcrown1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm_JdazgoET6cH77BRR8b7sBSJClrR6QGtS3nWXx3PpOvhb-ZgNEHQgZCo9p6tJJlj-Xm11_DlvoajjxTwt6_qV3xdob9LNCKvKNJw1K9zzwUr5ig8HZUgP2DD19yjbi1WySGA25w_zTd/s400/taxodiumcrown1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264749191801909170" border="0" /></a>starting from its beautiful crown...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pGNhegad_p3_w1sroB9bL8gbSUIh8DvcbptKCJzGjyMOAGzmzLlazuGYHsbBZsLmGwQt_tfSR0NJ5N8h90taIdoz2ZDe1Ct6YMs6Lc_glI-GdHJo4ceGgoTliuySZ8klnhg_u8BA_j3Y/s1600-h/taxo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pGNhegad_p3_w1sroB9bL8gbSUIh8DvcbptKCJzGjyMOAGzmzLlazuGYHsbBZsLmGwQt_tfSR0NJ5N8h90taIdoz2ZDe1Ct6YMs6Lc_glI-GdHJo4ceGgoTliuySZ8klnhg_u8BA_j3Y/s400/taxo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264752782148273090" border="0" /></a>... its spectacular bark ...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vDZlgfFJwGgbGEw1uT0DL_Q1c49IwihX9cvX05U7lEg4qqncMFlPhyphenhyphenEL355elEAf6XRaYqjPhheKJ-F3ZSb_7uJWwzpLVwrqQW1S9Q9G2ZEq-ZnGsZb2uJ07AGSIFoRTmbx8dHyhMLvF/s1600-h/taxo4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vDZlgfFJwGgbGEw1uT0DL_Q1c49IwihX9cvX05U7lEg4qqncMFlPhyphenhyphenEL355elEAf6XRaYqjPhheKJ-F3ZSb_7uJWwzpLVwrqQW1S9Q9G2ZEq-ZnGsZb2uJ07AGSIFoRTmbx8dHyhMLvF/s400/taxo4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264746679296811874" border="0" /></a>... to its mesmerizing knobbly air roots which I love to call 'the little folks underneath'<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCexPBfN0JuQPLKdrL2hNjaL9IJ6UdYogJAPwggBGvf5Bf4CUbmR9kLr8oytoJXN-Cdoo2Gwh3ZVaNcoQ0h-TiLwtGnMtKU8x9CIw8oVy-j8VSl2NMLuxhTbDrf1vvYqRsfQt_5qTDl49B/s1600-h/taxodiumpond.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCexPBfN0JuQPLKdrL2hNjaL9IJ6UdYogJAPwggBGvf5Bf4CUbmR9kLr8oytoJXN-Cdoo2Gwh3ZVaNcoQ0h-TiLwtGnMtKU8x9CIw8oVy-j8VSl2NMLuxhTbDrf1vvYqRsfQt_5qTDl49B/s400/taxodiumpond.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264754157594509186" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=117">Taxodium:</a><br /><div class="factbox"> <ul><li> is the state <span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD1');"><span class="toolTipElement">tree</span></span> of Louisiana. </li><li> has <span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD3');"><span class="toolTipElement">extensions</span></span> of the <span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD4');"><span class="toolTipElement">roots</span></span> that grow out of wet soils or water to get oxygen, sometimes called 'knees' or 'pneumatophores'. They do not develop in habitats where the soil is not constantly wet.</li><li><span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD5');"><span class="toolTipElement">belongs to</span></span> the Pine <span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD6');"><span class="toolTipElement">family</span></span> , but it's not an <span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD7');"><span class="toolTipElement">evergreen</span></span> . In the <span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD8');"><span class="toolTipElement">fall</span></span> , the leaves <span class="zoodio" onclick="soundManager.play('SoundD9');"><span class="toolTipElement">turn</span></span> a glowing yellow and drop.</li><li>is a long-lived tree, they can live to be 1,200 years old!</li></ul></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO13EdU6L36_K9xdFjWvEc07yIfaZyZCW7zMUTqBA7HHYC3ZWqx-zzYB1xgYGw7f2XoHJSgMpV41k12sTOrN7uZC07aLS2fReBFy6c5KUWZNY3_-K2FtGg_PTEPloWdSKTg01gHxiH8prV/s1600-h/taxodium2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO13EdU6L36_K9xdFjWvEc07yIfaZyZCW7zMUTqBA7HHYC3ZWqx-zzYB1xgYGw7f2XoHJSgMpV41k12sTOrN7uZC07aLS2fReBFy6c5KUWZNY3_-K2FtGg_PTEPloWdSKTg01gHxiH8prV/s200/taxodium2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264754651112478274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1YFE4syUWeJowgsMyEj-Eva-WMzNPEJAH66WU3Q1cv0xBjN3Ku5rgCVNe5MJyOcDvXywq8NjXjRcxj-dBHLXLQalxdAuqCXqaKwW6EqbIjVAFJoiN2bP1hub3YpmWB3K2TynjOgm-3BF/s1600-h/taxodium11.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1YFE4syUWeJowgsMyEj-Eva-WMzNPEJAH66WU3Q1cv0xBjN3Ku5rgCVNe5MJyOcDvXywq8NjXjRcxj-dBHLXLQalxdAuqCXqaKwW6EqbIjVAFJoiN2bP1hub3YpmWB3K2TynjOgm-3BF/s200/taxodium11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264754903302538562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-5PksMlL7PhIxOH_UWEn0BPfJ6cwnIe22t_sAPUaVgs2P2YUvkTkhjUc-rCb43eDXKaPrTBjlvC4_HUA4VhLtkiws4N8QAuWzsykdi2pGkmlAj8GL0E1kyhzI5F_L4J9jZdZcawkrGy5/s1600-h/tax5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-5PksMlL7PhIxOH_UWEn0BPfJ6cwnIe22t_sAPUaVgs2P2YUvkTkhjUc-rCb43eDXKaPrTBjlvC4_HUA4VhLtkiws4N8QAuWzsykdi2pGkmlAj8GL0E1kyhzI5F_L4J9jZdZcawkrGy5/s400/tax5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264751215515117938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">' the LITTLE FOLKS UNDERNEATH':</span><br />it is thought that these knobbly roots act as snorkels by carrying<br />supplies of air to the underground roots which may be starved of oxygen.<br />They may also be acting as additional stabilisation for this large tree.<br />But, no physiological function has yet been determined...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-1uk4RUMnYtUhPXEfjWlv1QIBwesxXP9vecdvOYP6zScSCxNAtOlJTcDxxPXoqe0joTougJRVnIZjB9984IzHnvsIX7q56ZSyEsnf_snj0tnYzeyoIjWbWS1Y_F5jmYWSesI1fwsjM6r/s1600-h/littlefolks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-1uk4RUMnYtUhPXEfjWlv1QIBwesxXP9vecdvOYP6zScSCxNAtOlJTcDxxPXoqe0joTougJRVnIZjB9984IzHnvsIX7q56ZSyEsnf_snj0tnYzeyoIjWbWS1Y_F5jmYWSesI1fwsjM6r/s400/littlefolks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264758340863065378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafaPezss3kabBHKgjWtM4zQ1MSiEPfP68v7lE8fjZfTWzlAYUPnpuGPBa5rrPPI7_UfFBwjSos0aOcxfw9J2qyhexrA_HlQ_1MJ0OMMUUyBe_y9xqeFyTvFjlxPzyIPC11YwlvY4sIM0c/s1600-h/bg1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafaPezss3kabBHKgjWtM4zQ1MSiEPfP68v7lE8fjZfTWzlAYUPnpuGPBa5rrPPI7_UfFBwjSos0aOcxfw9J2qyhexrA_HlQ_1MJ0OMMUUyBe_y9xqeFyTvFjlxPzyIPC11YwlvY4sIM0c/s400/bg1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264760567622003746" border="0" /></a><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/04/deja-vu-botanical-garden.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">spring visit to Botanical garden</span></a></li><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);"><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);" href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/04/botanical-garden-zagreb.html">and then some</a><br /></span></li></ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-75648510770383512632008-10-16T14:08:00.000+02:002010-08-08T14:49:52.567+02:00Euphoric about EuphorbiaA TASTE OF THE UNUSUAL<br />
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnBF9UgyDLlDPxAqNztm9yBzWsZI46VlHc7Xp432KwNOOJx0y0iO-3fmzD-oYpwXP1hkDacr2HiecHXXP-7Iw-ygqZmp65iHTxu7-R0NWlnqdVPfb3wTW-fcN8el8CBSTjmbuSoa5K20L/s1600-h/platammosspurge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnBF9UgyDLlDPxAqNztm9yBzWsZI46VlHc7Xp432KwNOOJx0y0iO-3fmzD-oYpwXP1hkDacr2HiecHXXP-7Iw-ygqZmp65iHTxu7-R0NWlnqdVPfb3wTW-fcN8el8CBSTjmbuSoa5K20L/s400/platammosspurge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253368195078408018" border="0" /></a><br />
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dT7R42-igUyJMpUu2zy-gDdKKt3pZEApp_FoSCAZ2_6jmnzrDjvzex55UAPad4B0QXENzHI9f3zti3_ZVXPhTw6hAMVx69ZoBgORfrLoeY-RkPac4JfnAdH0BuUY3a_Vy30VQcSDY6rO/s1600-h/spurgeionian.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dT7R42-igUyJMpUu2zy-gDdKKt3pZEApp_FoSCAZ2_6jmnzrDjvzex55UAPad4B0QXENzHI9f3zti3_ZVXPhTw6hAMVx69ZoBgORfrLoeY-RkPac4JfnAdH0BuUY3a_Vy30VQcSDY6rO/s200/spurgeionian.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253379751022870818" border="0" /></a>It is no secret that the majority of people get attracted to plants whose colorful display of strikingly wonderful blooms just can't go unnoticed. Being yet another odd person, I always loved to go astray and find delight in all those neglected, out-of-the-ordinary specimens which were doing their best to draw someone's attention, but were obviously poorly informed on the current trends in the world. Followed by my kinky needs, years ago I stumbled upon this uncanny plant and was instantly drawn to its alien strangeness. While climbing up the ruins of an old Venetian fortress, these strange, weird 'naked' shrubs caught my eye. Why 'naked'? They had exquisitely red bark (such a lovely burning color that would make even the Red-barked Dogwood feel cheap) and no foliage at all. But were still worth of all my admiration. To be honest, I haven't had the faintest idea of its origin. But one thing was sure, it wouldn't let me sleep until I had at least one of me own ;-) I noticed a beautiful, solitary specimen on the high cliff overlooking the beach that was closed due to rock-slide. And amid all that earthquake waste material, I found little babies popping out underneath the mother plant. A gentle pull and I had two of them ready to be 'processed' and balled. Thanks to impeckable airport luggage control system, nobody noticed these two extraterrestrials cramming inside.<br />
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjWPbYxPorYfuV-ovJpeFaPV7ojpT9TBShHX5YNLY7WZ-4aVTYk_BichjtWXN16sMfq6vLVEqO3PvPywk9BGt9VO15a47LvHQHiSEm5g3RAbZpj2FoWLcc7qx11yPAVvOjp_6sS26uoWu/s1600-h/trspurge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjWPbYxPorYfuV-ovJpeFaPV7ojpT9TBShHX5YNLY7WZ-4aVTYk_BichjtWXN16sMfq6vLVEqO3PvPywk9BGt9VO15a47LvHQHiSEm5g3RAbZpj2FoWLcc7qx11yPAVvOjp_6sS26uoWu/s400/trspurge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253368598590274386" border="0" /></a><br />
The first thing I noticed about them living in their new habitat (pot), and constantly having sufficient amounts of water, was the leaves that started popping out. I figured out that the plant must be really extremely drought resistant, so in periods of great droughts which can last for months on Kefalonia, they discard the leaves and thus their uncanny summer-look. I was worried about not knowing it's ID and its needs so again, I turned to my friend Jackie, who is an excellent connoisseur of the island's flora (be sure to check her extraordinary <a href="http://www.kefalonia-photos.digizaz.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">albums </span></a>of Kefalonian flora). She went back to the place where I have first seen them, to take a shot at what they looked like at the moment (spring).<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir68PAx-k5iHiyL2n7z1Ix1P5q2g_KobZpv4CQhrnJTJS7ytDLcaxpVsbFEXhpMRMgwpVQQswBO3UVGnNUAaNQP7n3rF8CGIFxnVAlw0DBVASXH6UupZt2jKa95Z4Qti5zMjMehgLD8FXR/s1600-h/jackieassos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir68PAx-k5iHiyL2n7z1Ix1P5q2g_KobZpv4CQhrnJTJS7ytDLcaxpVsbFEXhpMRMgwpVQQswBO3UVGnNUAaNQP7n3rF8CGIFxnVAlw0DBVASXH6UupZt2jKa95Z4Qti5zMjMehgLD8FXR/s400/jackieassos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253369257316986290" border="0" /></a>(<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">photo by <a href="http://www.kefalonia-photos.digizaz.com/">Jackie Banham</a></span>; many thanks for not falling into the sea<br />
and taking this shot, it has made all the difference)<br />
</div><br />
It was this very shot that started all the turmoil in my restless mind. It sure as hell looked like a type of Euphorbia and I was now determined to find out which variety it was. And the clues lead us to one particular variety - Euphorbia dendroides / Tree spurge. The funny thing is, the next thing I did, I googled up the photos for this plant, and found out that many of them were shot at the south of Croatian Adriatic coast. Shame on me for being so poor on my country's flora!<br />
This summer I discovered entire areas where these plants have colonized the rocky cliffs and took a closer look into their enigma. Since I can remember, I've had a thing for Euphorbias, never mind them being small succulents, grass-like or huge trees. That's why, ultimately, my infatuation with this beauty came as no surprise to anyone. Even though the fact that I was constantly on about this insignificant, bare, lame bush did cause a whining avalanche...<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XKhlzL4L2QK36roFVqlPA9o_jAb-UiC3pw_whuWM63mERHrxoiiY7xCI3il4b4Ttr_Ql7NZ7uJcpmnJW-JpJia7_rJ734YtLm9jVMamW1UJQn5qUhbjfNDcel6rliFaVueIQF4sHnve2/s1600-h/euphorbiadend.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XKhlzL4L2QK36roFVqlPA9o_jAb-UiC3pw_whuWM63mERHrxoiiY7xCI3il4b4Ttr_Ql7NZ7uJcpmnJW-JpJia7_rJ734YtLm9jVMamW1UJQn5qUhbjfNDcel6rliFaVueIQF4sHnve2/s400/euphorbiadend.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253385437212161746" border="0" /></a><br />
To reduce my babbling, let me introduce the plant properly. As it bloody well deserves.<br />
<br />
Venue: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kefalonia</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Ionian islands, Greece (</span>for a change ;-)<br />
Specie: <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.trigoso.it/Le%20nostra%20flora/Euforbia.htm">Mediterranean Tree Spurge</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(<a href="http://www.trigoso.it/Le%20nostra%20flora/Euforbia.htm"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Euphorbia dendroides</span></a>)<br />
<br />
</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjlSNUF2hW5FMQD2M0MA8alZQ3K7jchO3Xt6lt6A8qmBZx_ACAodSKZlbNk_pdWR62jPEncv2Ku3-0eVwuR-s3pdVN5hbwvAatbk-5jPfaL4yjX05wuYnloF0FVUG7AIuWc7GBSZbHmey/s1600-h/ed1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjlSNUF2hW5FMQD2M0MA8alZQ3K7jchO3Xt6lt6A8qmBZx_ACAodSKZlbNk_pdWR62jPEncv2Ku3-0eVwuR-s3pdVN5hbwvAatbk-5jPfaL4yjX05wuYnloF0FVUG7AIuWc7GBSZbHmey/s400/ed1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253381689873019746" border="0" /></a><blockquote>''(200)cm, <b>Mediterranean Tree Spurge</b> is a beautiful, semi hardy, densely branching, woody shrub like species with showy orange red leaves before plants start their summer dormancy. Native of coastal areas throughout the Mediterranean. Easily grown in pots in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot throughout the year. In winter keep drier at a minimum of some 5°C. USDA climate zone 10. III-VI.''<br />
(from<a href="http://www.rareplants.de/shop/prodtype.asp?strParents=75&CAT_ID=422"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> Rareplants.de</span></a>)<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fxko3QLbt6kUkA0phPGMwZx8SPQ5c6egavpXfUYgA6ygD9Ei7uQOCPnq43tiSPmC9zkObpZ1ySCDfPYjo1U_0F3qTI84M3Molu4fCl2r8xzD-i4fRiHCErqkKcCM4ACmpw01Jp43Juut/s1600-h/euphorbiadendroides1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fxko3QLbt6kUkA0phPGMwZx8SPQ5c6egavpXfUYgA6ygD9Ei7uQOCPnq43tiSPmC9zkObpZ1ySCDfPYjo1U_0F3qTI84M3Molu4fCl2r8xzD-i4fRiHCErqkKcCM4ACmpw01Jp43Juut/s400/euphorbiadendroides1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253404362081619842" border="0" /></a><br />
''Euphorbia dendroides L. (Euphorbiaceae) Native of the Mediterranean region, from the Isles de Hyères in S. France, southwards, and eastwards to Israel, growing on rocky, usually limestone slopes and cliffs near the sea, at up to 400 m, flowering from March-May. An evergreen shrub to 2 m; leaves 2-6.5 cm long. Glands shortly 2-horned. Seeds 2.5-3 mm, pale grey. Dry, well-drained soil, without water in summer. Full sun. Hardy to -5°C.'' (<a href="http://www.rogerstreesandshrubs.com/gallery/DisplayBlock.asp?bid=10264&gid=">Rogers Trees and Shrubs</a>)<br />
</blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtK_7AIEOOjqyY_kgg9mda8CUBfQxsJd3oSt1tgfyLLGZgTzHbUnwyWrtx6oUXhT9PIVr9_gThL7NFR6YFkltLb4LLAUTjBRd5jOZEjpaTDTnAnYnfSwHiTMpG78TRzT3W10G3PVzFZB9/s1600-h/babies3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtK_7AIEOOjqyY_kgg9mda8CUBfQxsJd3oSt1tgfyLLGZgTzHbUnwyWrtx6oUXhT9PIVr9_gThL7NFR6YFkltLb4LLAUTjBRd5jOZEjpaTDTnAnYnfSwHiTMpG78TRzT3W10G3PVzFZB9/s200/babies3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253406220950157874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJYKiY0mxYzPbdh9jmJJevgk_ie5Gg2Z73gB4cDuBfWmaKj-DBc7upLQt4HJg-39bgSgAs-AzDu7po9dCAPvq2qp2v3Uzh2CPJv8YDe8yZIdnnsGGkiCTuHzt0w-QkiKgjL7ZMLtEALlR/s1600-h/babies2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJYKiY0mxYzPbdh9jmJJevgk_ie5Gg2Z73gB4cDuBfWmaKj-DBc7upLQt4HJg-39bgSgAs-AzDu7po9dCAPvq2qp2v3Uzh2CPJv8YDe8yZIdnnsGGkiCTuHzt0w-QkiKgjL7ZMLtEALlR/s200/babies2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253406603861157586" border="0" /></a><br />
<br />
So far I have smuggled three of these beauties and intend to try one as an outdoor plant next year, against the dry, south wall.<ul><li> a <a href="http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:ITBrdKVsEKYJ:www.maltawildplants.com/EUPH/Euphorbia_dendroides.php+tree+spurge&hl=hr&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=hr&client=firefox-a">monoecious</a> plant</li>
<li>fleshy skeleton during summer (accumulates water in its remaining tissues)</li>
<li>with the arrival of fall rains, the foliage reappears <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_G1Q773A1qxkA6w2sWWEqzCUkrfXx_KsEsbmhgUYhRPGkEc8DGCi5CJx3Nmp9mWKCzez49rFhB0i12FI34XNHl53m7XqzNQv5N4uV16KOI8_2PCjmQe5LzGN8_W6fkibPBjy_2J7wVoA/s1600-h/snapshot18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_G1Q773A1qxkA6w2sWWEqzCUkrfXx_KsEsbmhgUYhRPGkEc8DGCi5CJx3Nmp9mWKCzez49rFhB0i12FI34XNHl53m7XqzNQv5N4uV16KOI8_2PCjmQe5LzGN8_W6fkibPBjy_2J7wVoA/s200/snapshot18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253404980843251346" border="0" /></a></li>
<li>as all of the Euphorbia genus, has a white latex which can give you a nettle-like rash</li>
<li>in the past: Tree Spurge latex was used for illegal fishing - poured into streams to stun and more easily catch fish and eels </li>
<li>also called <a href="http://www.adriatica.net/common/destinations/story_en__6p6ki3j3k__.htm"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">'wolf-milk' bush</span></a> in Croatia </li>
<li>finally, one mystery remains - these unusual plants are very difficult to find commercially, but have not been adopted by nurseries<br />
</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrCGPMeTGTmKksKO7rnV6XD4Lo_wgzBSOQBjpd1LmYgqnJWOhl4phAvb1ZUBF30smJf20RnPFjIN3Au6JuOgXdFJTzu0z1gaYpJ6W_3IfKCuHfMuVONLFCSiKri3FDotbT30nVinvMwKR/s1600-h/driftwood+euphorbia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrCGPMeTGTmKksKO7rnV6XD4Lo_wgzBSOQBjpd1LmYgqnJWOhl4phAvb1ZUBF30smJf20RnPFjIN3Au6JuOgXdFJTzu0z1gaYpJ6W_3IfKCuHfMuVONLFCSiKri3FDotbT30nVinvMwKR/s320/driftwood+euphorbia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253407779884085506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Driftwood Spurge</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">For many, yet another maquis plant, </span><br />
<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">for me - pure Euphoria !</span><br />
</div><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br />
</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1o6WSQ332Gac0w3H7eQuUoBuXAWomx0YwOZ8oq-qgaB2_apMiMmwpR0zWwyCnHFRNMxd3L8_91KbyJwcwd3HSmbbUr_2QSmYBN8tgWYc87Sd9KjrIxvnjYSCm0hm_1LfUmu0rlCt46b4/s1600-h/abovepammos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1o6WSQ332Gac0w3H7eQuUoBuXAWomx0YwOZ8oq-qgaB2_apMiMmwpR0zWwyCnHFRNMxd3L8_91KbyJwcwd3HSmbbUr_2QSmYBN8tgWYc87Sd9KjrIxvnjYSCm0hm_1LfUmu0rlCt46b4/s320/abovepammos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253570919126745810" border="0" /></a><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-2253709525823450702008-10-15T16:15:00.019+02:002008-10-16T09:40:01.989+02:00Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October '08<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8xtXZS5eIcjB2POY83CKbCRZigvUkcquLl3vWJMhy60AXRdS2J0qBGa-NodyPgaO3pSDR26vwVQabqdgk6lpUf0UAJ4gls2N1l0C7-fTmDv2n0xAPFO058CFgEwWgvmKQcJ5p_flpzgv/s1600-h/myrtleleaves1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8xtXZS5eIcjB2POY83CKbCRZigvUkcquLl3vWJMhy60AXRdS2J0qBGa-NodyPgaO3pSDR26vwVQabqdgk6lpUf0UAJ4gls2N1l0C7-fTmDv2n0xAPFO058CFgEwWgvmKQcJ5p_flpzgv/s400/myrtleleaves1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257397420396447794" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br />Thanks to Carol of<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </span></span><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/">May Dreams Gardens</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">, I'm delighted to both share and enjoy the blooms from all over the world. If you want to join in this extraordinary feature hosted by Carol, all you have to do is simply create a GBBD post of your own on the 15th of the month and then post a comment on </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/">M</a><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/">ay Dreams gardens</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HJg-W1vBAH3ycYLBcVKNkHArTic6fSv2UNTxrhACLbwPCNKz2HdDS_VH7IFrAAP987MrS4-K0qqixqR5wAW-XCUL-n_Ox61UazAOSkrjasNzyoRsCEV5xkKrJQMUEiZ2AXceQajf9_7V/s1600-h/aster001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HJg-W1vBAH3ycYLBcVKNkHArTic6fSv2UNTxrhACLbwPCNKz2HdDS_VH7IFrAAP987MrS4-K0qqixqR5wAW-XCUL-n_Ox61UazAOSkrjasNzyoRsCEV5xkKrJQMUEiZ2AXceQajf9_7V/s400/aster001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257398715926583458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKchyphenhyphen4z-iY6Q6PkePwbf4eTNaqmP1LXTPCmGQbARAo9BupylYvJxsDayyKnf3lQap2ShuQfUu0lACgQV5eFCHfy83EZikqZ7CN_6Z3l6-Ryi1Cjyous6dHBIE_MFv3x8EsEi_QIMKycXF/s1600-h/asters02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKchyphenhyphen4z-iY6Q6PkePwbf4eTNaqmP1LXTPCmGQbARAo9BupylYvJxsDayyKnf3lQap2ShuQfUu0lACgQV5eFCHfy83EZikqZ7CN_6Z3l6-Ryi1Cjyous6dHBIE_MFv3x8EsEi_QIMKycXF/s400/asters02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257398376899292706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPmZ_GOCX22jBzW__RzhN1jrYp0IKnAcZKuB2CMhOFUiI__xTPaIPfcIf1WL7fRDox6C1airCxNFZ9fXeX0i8LY2Ax5D0bm65z3Z3RnC8CQFdu4-q1zyMDhlEDaWQFAdEN7-NZBKLaQ4z/s1600-h/aster000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPmZ_GOCX22jBzW__RzhN1jrYp0IKnAcZKuB2CMhOFUiI__xTPaIPfcIf1WL7fRDox6C1airCxNFZ9fXeX0i8LY2Ax5D0bm65z3Z3RnC8CQFdu4-q1zyMDhlEDaWQFAdEN7-NZBKLaQ4z/s400/aster000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257399496573760002" border="0" /></a><br />What have we here in the lovely month of October? Aster galore, defiant Cosmos, witchcraft gadgets, and perhaps the loveliest blooms of the month - vast array of burning foliage colors...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mJ_YGxgbQeMznZLbkfNK54LmvYz34Ak7d_kKZ94CW0qzfzPsEsrybHYvKrClP1n8vaO3vt_SapLue92DWfpGx6XNGP3L3izVNMsN1wNpzEwgP8O2dPJW3Ex2mCZVTfu71HWcgWIi_8cv/s1600-h/parthenocissus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mJ_YGxgbQeMznZLbkfNK54LmvYz34Ak7d_kKZ94CW0qzfzPsEsrybHYvKrClP1n8vaO3vt_SapLue92DWfpGx6XNGP3L3izVNMsN1wNpzEwgP8O2dPJW3Ex2mCZVTfu71HWcgWIi_8cv/s400/parthenocissus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257400067643517538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW9cn60s1lKpmjisNw3AFc_71U1UOYGBabt_yn5i2jCsLjAFL-jW4oY078T4U9vBHA3lCw5eHsFqmAQOfoUe_BzAtSGBPTlJXy44wxp1V4s8eI7PHNTu9RgpQuzme4dej6vQHeBHykgV_/s1600-h/crapemyrtle1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibW9cn60s1lKpmjisNw3AFc_71U1UOYGBabt_yn5i2jCsLjAFL-jW4oY078T4U9vBHA3lCw5eHsFqmAQOfoUe_BzAtSGBPTlJXy44wxp1V4s8eI7PHNTu9RgpQuzme4dej6vQHeBHykgV_/s400/crapemyrtle1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257407058766643186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8AFkSoRc28qCeqcJhhAMygqUOIlzP5Q_qleIPrhOVUU9r1dNoBGKIoeLTGji-emBG8Ui_coyOxjTkLXxX9VVTrshpe0vyJvN0RQftK1FnaM53HA5ccQCQEXd6qN9iDTil6MAhHptnv0Y/s1600-h/cosmos0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8AFkSoRc28qCeqcJhhAMygqUOIlzP5Q_qleIPrhOVUU9r1dNoBGKIoeLTGji-emBG8Ui_coyOxjTkLXxX9VVTrshpe0vyJvN0RQftK1FnaM53HA5ccQCQEXd6qN9iDTil6MAhHptnv0Y/s400/cosmos0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257401114479675474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_93x19lF2f-ZoZyqtyX__wZoeeCphDo1SkvtDvHJDPuw3oh6JiHnSLm-Fp6yyPFhqMdNprS0cVgsfBbR58Bl-8tE47TYBr4uYig3tiuwmXgdg4gDJCRNE2wqQhcF1ISaGqtCKKKl0RKo/s1600-h/cosmos11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_93x19lF2f-ZoZyqtyX__wZoeeCphDo1SkvtDvHJDPuw3oh6JiHnSLm-Fp6yyPFhqMdNprS0cVgsfBbR58Bl-8tE47TYBr4uYig3tiuwmXgdg4gDJCRNE2wqQhcF1ISaGqtCKKKl0RKo/s400/cosmos11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257400777924136626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9mlqqzItMqh2iOHxH_vJzqwtgVBc2_cY7AsxjHggwpwmGyqV3sm04MPUCOKLgI8JW2nr4ybOl11Qvkq7nJTwbZtNVfT3-kbi5Bb3mm-25zKySdNRQb4YjEf8WhhdawaC7uzV5iTg1wRZ/s1600-h/calluna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9mlqqzItMqh2iOHxH_vJzqwtgVBc2_cY7AsxjHggwpwmGyqV3sm04MPUCOKLgI8JW2nr4ybOl11Qvkq7nJTwbZtNVfT3-kbi5Bb3mm-25zKySdNRQb4YjEf8WhhdawaC7uzV5iTg1wRZ/s400/calluna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257403664976236626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAOBwkXYuzGktKs5_g-Uk4wuYocmS3aglMWHBHestEfdhxGtMcbslTrOoD6j364-ol6n-OIEdOHBXGWdCVU4lIwEAmVQWK9KaWUFkZ-BPBbfgoJzVsIg1WpIgk8O1OCKiQxVP7HfoZqwZ/s1600-h/ruza.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAOBwkXYuzGktKs5_g-Uk4wuYocmS3aglMWHBHestEfdhxGtMcbslTrOoD6j364-ol6n-OIEdOHBXGWdCVU4lIwEAmVQWK9KaWUFkZ-BPBbfgoJzVsIg1WpIgk8O1OCKiQxVP7HfoZqwZ/s400/ruza.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257405649634373826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwLKV7FJfNvENRKH3ZUkNnhiU0kwehjDjqSSAK_3bvCKsbp60TgTzEpjMWwNApxPAZTn4AHS-G8YN0RF739D-d945ybIN4tsOwzYo_UbYkRpfuc7esiJIgt2wmnfb-3hfXAjOVnvHeNK9/s1600-h/droplet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwLKV7FJfNvENRKH3ZUkNnhiU0kwehjDjqSSAK_3bvCKsbp60TgTzEpjMWwNApxPAZTn4AHS-G8YN0RF739D-d945ybIN4tsOwzYo_UbYkRpfuc7esiJIgt2wmnfb-3hfXAjOVnvHeNK9/s400/droplet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257403924047403202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTaINhn9CmY-1v2ulCu2JUdd181BfpiL7ZKG1I06GJcVXTLXzvGsJjVJQ0VTuqPPzAlsrhcFPMOfnXAE_gAlF8MlQ98SfVET5kG_wfeMKiXVZBkEf-CJuUFXaf_4samz_1pj5fSUurr8f/s1600-h/puffy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTaINhn9CmY-1v2ulCu2JUdd181BfpiL7ZKG1I06GJcVXTLXzvGsJjVJQ0VTuqPPzAlsrhcFPMOfnXAE_gAlF8MlQ98SfVET5kG_wfeMKiXVZBkEf-CJuUFXaf_4samz_1pj5fSUurr8f/s400/puffy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257403479418670354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYQ5yLD5EkgFEyrcMNMtnzZPm1wbvB0R_w7ghYHynfWt3e7b7UY2YsnV6SpGDsO2QiHU16sWivglHafDNVDSgfaFjAhq6PXso5O_sGvGwcXPX6kECptVw_l1Hy9KZjA5wbpPOB5to5dUa/s1600-h/asters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYQ5yLD5EkgFEyrcMNMtnzZPm1wbvB0R_w7ghYHynfWt3e7b7UY2YsnV6SpGDsO2QiHU16sWivglHafDNVDSgfaFjAhq6PXso5O_sGvGwcXPX6kECptVw_l1Hy9KZjA5wbpPOB5to5dUa/s200/asters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257401845389599074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPjpIj76rdSS_D2plCEwT0bYC0P1mKt4TT2cWbM6DR2zv3V2xqFjJq_U-7G0O3trPW1JgrM1zQGugA4tt1yReWXANqTCSGAaU_Jx4f62AtE0i_wcf6bQy_N3HauES7yKlidnNc86torAR/s1600-h/liriope.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPjpIj76rdSS_D2plCEwT0bYC0P1mKt4TT2cWbM6DR2zv3V2xqFjJq_U-7G0O3trPW1JgrM1zQGugA4tt1yReWXANqTCSGAaU_Jx4f62AtE0i_wcf6bQy_N3HauES7yKlidnNc86torAR/s200/liriope.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257402314371021266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQbcSKL6xcv0rJUa-Ju60cYJC0VP-AZIVLg1goNQNgGNjc1hVGieJNeByXkBu6w_cc9jlewkgqqwcssVHcgDeR_x-W_kvZJyWkzJJYjjICjacvpLTi9t9jqgC6BZUps0pK01JSDB1PSyD/s1600-h/pampas1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQbcSKL6xcv0rJUa-Ju60cYJC0VP-AZIVLg1goNQNgGNjc1hVGieJNeByXkBu6w_cc9jlewkgqqwcssVHcgDeR_x-W_kvZJyWkzJJYjjICjacvpLTi9t9jqgC6BZUps0pK01JSDB1PSyD/s200/pampas1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257402697380352498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQde6reXTNgxZlFapXw2v7nybBTSl3cIYI7YisW1KDneVxYFd_-e1e6xjXFQaYZvCpAFBQqeWB0kNyBhO18kQO4ZPinF-KeEH-xrtwsc7H3sDTdysLc1G5t2s2mV94IBMczhHPiegJs4Bs/s1600-h/flsh1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQde6reXTNgxZlFapXw2v7nybBTSl3cIYI7YisW1KDneVxYFd_-e1e6xjXFQaYZvCpAFBQqeWB0kNyBhO18kQO4ZPinF-KeEH-xrtwsc7H3sDTdysLc1G5t2s2mV94IBMczhHPiegJs4Bs/s200/flsh1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257402965709844418" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-65571227154804080292008-10-14T12:16:00.004+02:002010-10-06T22:31:32.516+02:00Gossamer trails: Zagreb<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAQhlzokgqUmGxBYrM74vkvNgTK-wQ4MXN8ykLDs4ghNzAET853qY6Pimn2iyyuqSeaoyrAUh_InWXMO_2u7-zJELNcrPcj1aUrbafRW5F33KKfwMXSAymNqE41pGnnfSP25gnWA7uolV/s1600/jesenpz3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious<br />
as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">So I spend almost all the daylight hours<br />
in the open air.</span><br />
</span><span style="color: #ffcc99;">- Nathaniel Hawthorne</span></blockquote></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAQhlzokgqUmGxBYrM74vkvNgTK-wQ4MXN8ykLDs4ghNzAET853qY6Pimn2iyyuqSeaoyrAUh_InWXMO_2u7-zJELNcrPcj1aUrbafRW5F33KKfwMXSAymNqE41pGnnfSP25gnWA7uolV/s1600/jesenpz3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAQhlzokgqUmGxBYrM74vkvNgTK-wQ4MXN8ykLDs4ghNzAET853qY6Pimn2iyyuqSeaoyrAUh_InWXMO_2u7-zJELNcrPcj1aUrbafRW5F33KKfwMXSAymNqE41pGnnfSP25gnWA7uolV/s320/jesenpz3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"> <span style="color: #fce5cd;">(</span><span style="color: #fce5cd; font-size: x-small;"><i>photo by Barbara Bertovic</i></span><span style="color: #fce5cd;">)</span><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAQhlzokgqUmGxBYrM74vkvNgTK-wQ4MXN8ykLDs4ghNzAET853qY6Pimn2iyyuqSeaoyrAUh_InWXMO_2u7-zJELNcrPcj1aUrbafRW5F33KKfwMXSAymNqE41pGnnfSP25gnWA7uolV/s1600-h/jesenpz3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
</a><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #ffcc99; font-family: georgia,bookman old style,palatino linotype,book antiqua,palatino,trebuchet ms,helvetica,garamond,sans-serif,arial,verdana,avante garde,century gothic,comic sans ms,times,times new roman,serif; font-style: italic;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffffcc; font-size: 130%;">The long, hot summer is now long gone, and the autumn, 'the artist's muse', has entered the city through the main gate. I figured it would be about time to share with you a walk through my beloved home town,</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.zagreb-convention.hr/?id=174&l=e&nav=nav22" style="color: #ffcc99;"><span style="color: #ffff99; font-weight: bold;"> Zagreb</span></a></span><span style="color: #ffffcc; font-size: 130%;">. The laziness that has once again overpowered many of us could be associated with the wonderful gossamer days that serve as a one-way ticket to delightful afternoon strolls through the medieval streets and parks that have enriched both my childhood memories and my present life. You will not encounter photos of the small threads spun by baby spiders, that carry them through the air to their new lives... but perhaps you will breathe in that famous autumn spirit that Zagreb is well known for, both to its citizens and long-time visitors... a flimsiness barely visible... just like gossamer.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofR5csLrRsY2a0psTehELPucHAZRpM8MMO5_0oQHpjorGov5G-Te0q1AOG7q9k6C_M6LlZNoIJrJPNFcLfxsKotl2BzVAGCQ9QGg5-WJj0hB21XvwX-vMOuQsGo7zkuNGCRHDsF7tSt2W/s1600-h/zagreb01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256958743091472674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofR5csLrRsY2a0psTehELPucHAZRpM8MMO5_0oQHpjorGov5G-Te0q1AOG7q9k6C_M6LlZNoIJrJPNFcLfxsKotl2BzVAGCQ9QGg5-WJj0hB21XvwX-vMOuQsGo7zkuNGCRHDsF7tSt2W/s400/zagreb01.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>one of many medieval stairs and<br />
secret pathways of the Old town<br />
(<span style="font-style: italic;">Kapucinske stube</span>)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66VUZUR453uWSknPhNbubwVFha1-OUofK0UCgCuojKxj8RwdPMu8-lRvi16fvQFqr8k9wfdVbwRgfhnS4080D0t2QnVLALQCARLUPcHP73Fzr5JA8c_2K1xth8DzwnIuDpg1rSuI59EdA/s1600-h/Kapucin.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256960009337793762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66VUZUR453uWSknPhNbubwVFha1-OUofK0UCgCuojKxj8RwdPMu8-lRvi16fvQFqr8k9wfdVbwRgfhnS4080D0t2QnVLALQCARLUPcHP73Fzr5JA8c_2K1xth8DzwnIuDpg1rSuI59EdA/s400/Kapucin.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(an old photo by a famous photographer</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span><span style="font-style: italic;">Marija Braut, ''Kapucinske stube'')<br />
<br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A161-lbgrKPc0fURZIlC1qUI6CcMe75j3n4DyHrITQCb2tLIvxbPohY1-ggV12V6GP7NXnowlQY7S8QHq3R0Vj9pca-EzPWHpbrvPc4DbD7IaES2jLpBzBaW4mFVHPCp9C-QN2IdqLKM/s1600-h/zaglp.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256963632747850866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A161-lbgrKPc0fURZIlC1qUI6CcMe75j3n4DyHrITQCb2tLIvxbPohY1-ggV12V6GP7NXnowlQY7S8QHq3R0Vj9pca-EzPWHpbrvPc4DbD7IaES2jLpBzBaW4mFVHPCp9C-QN2IdqLKM/s400/zaglp.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Zagreb Upper town still has gas lamps<br />
which have to be lit before the dark<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(</span><span class="body" style="font-style: italic;">Berlin is the European city with the most gas lamps — cca 40,000.<br />
London, Dublin, Kraków, Warszaw, Zagreb and a handful of other<br />
cities have retained them or retrofitted their streets as well)<br />
<br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHkAecDGcaGXCWTMG3YLBSXXysH2ziVQ54rtMvvisjLtPkX-yqVSgMBQOTlfrwF8F5DSoBcUjAnuJJ9R5BiY704y2wuUcODWCpB8z5A8AVz2t6nAYbCWzXNBwHwRlUWoANMq9wwNqTATk/s1600-h/zagreb09.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256967149953774306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHkAecDGcaGXCWTMG3YLBSXXysH2ziVQ54rtMvvisjLtPkX-yqVSgMBQOTlfrwF8F5DSoBcUjAnuJJ9R5BiY704y2wuUcODWCpB8z5A8AVz2t6nAYbCWzXNBwHwRlUWoANMq9wwNqTATk/s400/zagreb09.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><big> <b style="font-weight: 400;"></b></big><blockquote><big><b style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ffcc99;">"On such a day each road is planned</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">To lead to some enchanted land;</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">Each turning meets expectancy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">The signs I read on every hand.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">I know by autumn's wizardry</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">On such a day the world can be</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">Only a great glad dream for me--</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffcc99;">Only a great glad dream for me!"</span><br />
</b></big><span style="color: #ffcc99;">- Eleanor Myers Jewett, </span><i style="color: #ffcc99;">An Autumn Day</i></blockquote><i></i></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WXUSAxktdIy2kpF7ZiflFVMrk6r5tUy0m9zOKYJx8yzzWP1kNUu65GFSuvCFPtN7-UpIWNppoCtXECtBYvng8kf99xqGgvHRuxcwL5w3mf3efJ-thopFJ5_FBKGtXwDBOdgG1LiTgoaU/s1600-h/zagreb02.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256968193014135778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7WXUSAxktdIy2kpF7ZiflFVMrk6r5tUy0m9zOKYJx8yzzWP1kNUu65GFSuvCFPtN7-UpIWNppoCtXECtBYvng8kf99xqGgvHRuxcwL5w3mf3efJ-thopFJ5_FBKGtXwDBOdgG1LiTgoaU/s400/zagreb02.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPSMnYlyFWYhocWTqxuk90LVNkQDmU_TevHVHE1ALntEdCPVP2YKoVWuw6gTkn-xZ9r-NA1bhPacEmKQ3O5haK10ZYoLTLmqWXBGso9g_VRJWDRulFarbiOGXFo8XolOxhuL0ntsV4g_I/s1600-h/zagreb04.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256969305578003490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPSMnYlyFWYhocWTqxuk90LVNkQDmU_TevHVHE1ALntEdCPVP2YKoVWuw6gTkn-xZ9r-NA1bhPacEmKQ3O5haK10ZYoLTLmqWXBGso9g_VRJWDRulFarbiOGXFo8XolOxhuL0ntsV4g_I/s400/zagreb04.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>the famous <a href="http://www.fivestars.hr/did_you_know/MTY2/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lotrscak Tower</span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfPJ0nDKWcFKJm2ZIbhIgQp43CcTDczxReNkjhSX3H5239l7vt5X_emBE5KZfC9cy38hzJjTg8XC-hkC4DOGivhNDjtd7KduZHbTKsuaTgSmq94CtZfsS8Mrnp969doYaMJ-pU1XcpfpL/s1600-h/puddle.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256970436577537970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfPJ0nDKWcFKJm2ZIbhIgQp43CcTDczxReNkjhSX3H5239l7vt5X_emBE5KZfC9cy38hzJjTg8XC-hkC4DOGivhNDjtd7KduZHbTKsuaTgSmq94CtZfsS8Mrnp969doYaMJ-pU1XcpfpL/s400/puddle.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Zagreb has an interesting way in which it marks the noon hour. Other cities may mark the hours including noon with chimes, tolling bells or melodies, but Zagreb is rather unique in announcing the noon hour with an ear-shattering burst from an artillery cannon placed on top of the very Lotrscak Tower.</span></span> ( <a href="http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/category/cannon/" style="color: #ffff99;">Noonday 'Chime' Video</a>)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrHVbN3hsONi8g8YJUxKk7di4UC4_IwomZiM_MCXu7Y-koyeeLKGCY0bKDJzStntWT6s_MnyH-lkHdgetjDMwwC9pua0TU-Cz4XvbPzmVhiSz6275YAFBHBfG_ogiwCYROdVxEjpCcC_x/s1600-h/zg1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256971410852337778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrHVbN3hsONi8g8YJUxKk7di4UC4_IwomZiM_MCXu7Y-koyeeLKGCY0bKDJzStntWT6s_MnyH-lkHdgetjDMwwC9pua0TU-Cz4XvbPzmVhiSz6275YAFBHBfG_ogiwCYROdVxEjpCcC_x/s200/zg1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 190px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 141px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaNCCND1ThfQ9L3pYCgQ4bbErATQX2VyYp0ij7sRE2n2_CfSs5sZqWT1hSbOmkWFusS2ns63YbmfrdkpyYIaQ7Xex8iACtOzDk5Jx4q5WUmgOUFvKRzQlR3Xh2UC8UhApnObFpuLlIwuP/s1600-h/katedrala1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256972450998843442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaNCCND1ThfQ9L3pYCgQ4bbErATQX2VyYp0ij7sRE2n2_CfSs5sZqWT1hSbOmkWFusS2ns63YbmfrdkpyYIaQ7Xex8iACtOzDk5Jx4q5WUmgOUFvKRzQlR3Xh2UC8UhApnObFpuLlIwuP/s200/katedrala1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 192px; width: 144px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9wFbsxvAY5UwbXDRCd9KS7awkqw_KJ0sryLnUWQyDLU-MQmX02udN7XgLGvlZDx57766bHSkKtfnQjOhBd-bsst2bGkYckSDAFErdY84EdzlQwBD3iaR8L7SFsixgnjrN_0jpcjNU-ir/s1600-h/ZAGREB11.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256975263886195218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9wFbsxvAY5UwbXDRCd9KS7awkqw_KJ0sryLnUWQyDLU-MQmX02udN7XgLGvlZDx57766bHSkKtfnQjOhBd-bsst2bGkYckSDAFErdY84EdzlQwBD3iaR8L7SFsixgnjrN_0jpcjNU-ir/s200/ZAGREB11.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 189px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 142px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUJ52n2MFXA4E9oqM7lYCfuLlDQV1FWPcK9MNefShkXyjfpmRSFOrEKF-GCLivKX22ZuTSGh4tMOKqPGLXDWW4quRVDqQIDFk1vSU3DA6hmRBjoDi1WCGGsasZUPiqSIFplXfTZSlh06d/s1600-h/zg5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256976244224310002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUJ52n2MFXA4E9oqM7lYCfuLlDQV1FWPcK9MNefShkXyjfpmRSFOrEKF-GCLivKX22ZuTSGh4tMOKqPGLXDWW4quRVDqQIDFk1vSU3DA6hmRBjoDi1WCGGsasZUPiqSIFplXfTZSlh06d/s200/zg5.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 189px; width: 142px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDPqG0i3BP4Jm8hya03p_omRri8W_P__5eToHQ7CXY7sA85D1bNSyNQrjV_SkkI47fYmlCy5manYTwBVkPKi-TuZIpAmLXsOviPCLuLDo5q50Hg4zSDvCET6h7ovsGfcOHRrUGzKAwXuU/s1600-h/zagreb05.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256977056565995266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDPqG0i3BP4Jm8hya03p_omRri8W_P__5eToHQ7CXY7sA85D1bNSyNQrjV_SkkI47fYmlCy5manYTwBVkPKi-TuZIpAmLXsOviPCLuLDo5q50Hg4zSDvCET6h7ovsGfcOHRrUGzKAwXuU/s400/zagreb05.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>the most prominent feature of the<br />
Old town: Cathedral's twin neo-gothic<br />
spires built in 1899<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l9DQgkT2lPo4r0HLSlCPgWqBr30ETY_oT5aw1JDZdlreh0ztgRdBPDdMKVRiNvIIWmfxa4SDNJHhxsffASjARbtyCYquRQ_weFStmUw1z_VI1j20ucr2CQUOm6CTfnAjXn60Qx8-GkBj/s1600-h/zagreb71.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256980269517321714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l9DQgkT2lPo4r0HLSlCPgWqBr30ETY_oT5aw1JDZdlreh0ztgRdBPDdMKVRiNvIIWmfxa4SDNJHhxsffASjARbtyCYquRQ_weFStmUw1z_VI1j20ucr2CQUOm6CTfnAjXn60Qx8-GkBj/s400/zagreb71.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>another medieval path<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06Lb1OsTw8SdmlCdHaMOf4sfixnq1kDsa6wCrTvg71dmGCOdfMdTX8Bz1FFdjjBgUSpIWp92Lp-QMYdvlw_e6jrBKMv4meQWlxaj5tKgVvOLc-h3x9jfe_G-KHLLKz6c6-p0eB3-sRS3K/s1600-h/gumiflex1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256973090425171890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06Lb1OsTw8SdmlCdHaMOf4sfixnq1kDsa6wCrTvg71dmGCOdfMdTX8Bz1FFdjjBgUSpIWp92Lp-QMYdvlw_e6jrBKMv4meQWlxaj5tKgVvOLc-h3x9jfe_G-KHLLKz6c6-p0eB3-sRS3K/s400/gumiflex1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Town's legend: this guy has been doing</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">his<br />
gymnastics all over the Upper town</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">for decades<br />
<br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80vCEyuwQBpCKlWCQZJAzls3M94Wf_-7JUDvuCKE1RMAnFoyohK6QfuM_pgn9pcQdDyCnJ6GCu41EsoX6gzweCwAxkNQRNzosS5_I9GFn8rjA5mszvrkx9j9Iek2qTQXHICWtVXfVcV6J/s1600-h/zg10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256978087238092706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80vCEyuwQBpCKlWCQZJAzls3M94Wf_-7JUDvuCKE1RMAnFoyohK6QfuM_pgn9pcQdDyCnJ6GCu41EsoX6gzweCwAxkNQRNzosS5_I9GFn8rjA5mszvrkx9j9Iek2qTQXHICWtVXfVcV6J/s400/zg10.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>The town center is surrounded by a"green horseshoe"<br />
of wonderful parks, creating an "intriguing blend"<br />
of busy squares and leafier areas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRTBf5J2ILhyphenhyphenC7Kc_GzkBY9rUl5-u6ieWA64Ha9gesNqn6hVwS01U3fsBQuz408H1eo163OnqduSCSS3eQ0b5ZOvXTRdijNoVGJTicl7JYf-bwX3mlyEp40zx4G6WeNNolcx-er03QTIp/s1600-h/zagreb07.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256979756750316402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRTBf5J2ILhyphenhyphenC7Kc_GzkBY9rUl5-u6ieWA64Ha9gesNqn6hVwS01U3fsBQuz408H1eo163OnqduSCSS3eQ0b5ZOvXTRdijNoVGJTicl7JYf-bwX3mlyEp40zx4G6WeNNolcx-er03QTIp/s400/zagreb07.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.inyourpocket.com/croatia/zagreb/sightseeing__culture/category/54689-offthebeatentrack.html">from the tourist's point of view</a><br />
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUtja8aqK2yXzFKTazWhQH_DV3JcP07gtg9ca8Q06BGm0VRceXxEskJbmCOQf-MNQE7HT0vInY3mMAKc852yGslZ58W36MeziG-BJ77ECWjLZYw1lfNmfHW8hbDFFcWli_q3doZ-U8S66/s1600-h/ZAGREB10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256981012178713058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUtja8aqK2yXzFKTazWhQH_DV3JcP07gtg9ca8Q06BGm0VRceXxEskJbmCOQf-MNQE7HT0vInY3mMAKc852yGslZ58W36MeziG-BJ77ECWjLZYw1lfNmfHW8hbDFFcWli_q3doZ-U8S66/s400/ZAGREB10.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.courant.com/topic/am-croatia0401,0,2699324.story">a story of Zagreb </a><br />
<br />
</span></blockquote></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-8050628540535736072008-09-19T16:43:00.036+02:002013-05-02T13:00:45.053+02:00Travelogue: Quest for Ithaka<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSryIdSmcP_pOcGNVi0fUgCj_IP1EynXHf_IFdsQh4AqzbeTBVerSyCaZulpfqrn4dtbAidO5gUJuvKevm5yvOR2NCUFELYU4pnGM-FuZR_1erXjJe7EBfN381JUAfHVk2pmNedNf8dS0N/s1600-h/ithakahouse1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSryIdSmcP_pOcGNVi0fUgCj_IP1EynXHf_IFdsQh4AqzbeTBVerSyCaZulpfqrn4dtbAidO5gUJuvKevm5yvOR2NCUFELYU4pnGM-FuZR_1erXjJe7EBfN381JUAfHVk2pmNedNf8dS0N/s400/ithakahouse1.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247776595069542322" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;">Thanks to my good blogger friend Jackie of <a href="http://visions.digizaz.com/blog/" style="color: #ffccff;">Visions of Kefalonia</a> who also happens to be an extraordinary guide and a true credit to her profession, during my Kefalonian spell, I was voluntarily sweet-talked into visiting the homeland of the epic hero Odysseus (Ulysses), the neighboring island of<a href="http://www.ithacagreece.com/" style="color: #ccccff;"> Ithaka (<span style="font-style: italic;">Ithaca, Ithaki</span>)</a>...<br /></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSI0onlNmzxGzJi5t4wiybSX1hQufXZEYmxS9CwpKbUGDMKWKGAW8EruoESwU_WXJU-IzZl1O8GleH7BKqjF7mWwYHOqgHXEMZUYXW-O3Wak0dVuOBiAgF2KeInDG88maDpaqGPaLRfEQ/s1600-h/2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSI0onlNmzxGzJi5t4wiybSX1hQufXZEYmxS9CwpKbUGDMKWKGAW8EruoESwU_WXJU-IzZl1O8GleH7BKqjF7mWwYHOqgHXEMZUYXW-O3Wak0dVuOBiAgF2KeInDG88maDpaqGPaLRfEQ/s400/2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247777157757476322" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;">Though only divided by a channel, at the first glance, not much to catch your eye other than the mysterious green mountain tops that embrace the island as well as many of its long forgotten secrets. I embarked the ferry to Ithaca, hoping to retrace some of Odysseus footsteps with the little help of our wonderful guide.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2DPwxRgetN587-iUdYVrqzzwqU4Bnj8D2b4TOe73cahRM4-YY0wWNIw0gbfibGqrA_a6oj_y6RmLfDcnPUv7tM1ZtduEC62qHZYXBP8jNd7x8qUMRJBDXjNRdFRmSQe4rWV-YGCHwY0d/s1600-h/vathi3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2DPwxRgetN587-iUdYVrqzzwqU4Bnj8D2b4TOe73cahRM4-YY0wWNIw0gbfibGqrA_a6oj_y6RmLfDcnPUv7tM1ZtduEC62qHZYXBP8jNd7x8qUMRJBDXjNRdFRmSQe4rWV-YGCHwY0d/s320/vathi3.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247811919703071218" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbZ5DdwkbW2I6kCe3MhJI8yp957rTYsr-f3OufKBpM30CWTxpRlD5dGlyMUhmq2MmKEuXsw7AEAXHY97JjqX6MOA6RKBXW4murdNBEe3CMIrNic0vNpui_wvOUS0Cn9cgPiQW3cV40Dzr/s1600-h/ith77.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbZ5DdwkbW2I6kCe3MhJI8yp957rTYsr-f3OufKBpM30CWTxpRlD5dGlyMUhmq2MmKEuXsw7AEAXHY97JjqX6MOA6RKBXW4murdNBEe3CMIrNic0vNpui_wvOUS0Cn9cgPiQW3cV40Dzr/s200/ith77.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247778465492282210" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 142px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 189px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJpp1v8Lgxvb07EP81GqKRS5nECpWRGDRNey-7VotmEIYXEMB27_FzyQqy4wbCoG_tmZrh0gSUT2Ne6qT_zjRKo3suVQsoU1j7YmqFyyrEmLrOQ6Hp-nhzDintqQ7OCndvUWpPMuykMoR/s1600-h/ith12.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJpp1v8Lgxvb07EP81GqKRS5nECpWRGDRNey-7VotmEIYXEMB27_FzyQqy4wbCoG_tmZrh0gSUT2Ne6qT_zjRKo3suVQsoU1j7YmqFyyrEmLrOQ6Hp-nhzDintqQ7OCndvUWpPMuykMoR/s200/ith12.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247781130450337986" style="cursor: pointer; height: 142px; width: 190px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;">Little did I know, that after the first few minutes of the bus ride I was about to discover that Ithaka was much more than what it is credited for in the world, the home of Odysseus.</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">To make it short and simple: in my humble opinion, this magnificent island is everything Kefalonia should have been, had it not been scarred by tourism and the ignorance of the local authorities. First of all, it has luckily been spared by many great fires that had raged through its sister island. Probably why the first thing that strikes your eyes is : green, and more green.</span><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONIs6eAvZC5q2QK7zdxBQlh3yjMI5Y7fs875pFeQ-lWNLo8aSd_D-AdeMbl3xjBzRTMKwWRLxQWdP9OcjX4Oy8mzonTsj6JDcWZEpOd9XZLMwRjM5Qkfd1DibuCik7D2q4Qj7ODGni_Eu/s1600-h/ithaca2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONIs6eAvZC5q2QK7zdxBQlh3yjMI5Y7fs875pFeQ-lWNLo8aSd_D-AdeMbl3xjBzRTMKwWRLxQWdP9OcjX4Oy8mzonTsj6JDcWZEpOd9XZLMwRjM5Qkfd1DibuCik7D2q4Qj7ODGni_Eu/s400/ithaca2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247781555140159538" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;">Along with Kefalonia, Ithaka has been loved by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lord Byron </span>of 19th century while modern poets like Kavafis and Christianopoulos have gifted Greek literature with great poems symbolizing the island with journeys and passion.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV59H0-o845jaistBI3Y1Z1IKSSOUfrg4nIHQ_Wyk8MJ6gEVcv9BXR4ARjHfK-nPuhukXiDC20JAmtDS3das3HYG-L4Rxy7u6eCSBA7jvRMRFZkWCXj6QffQ2Ve7mn4rf5vTfmgZJVyKgk/s1600-h/angel.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV59H0-o845jaistBI3Y1Z1IKSSOUfrg4nIHQ_Wyk8MJ6gEVcv9BXR4ARjHfK-nPuhukXiDC20JAmtDS3das3HYG-L4Rxy7u6eCSBA7jvRMRFZkWCXj6QffQ2Ve7mn4rf5vTfmgZJVyKgk/s200/angel.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247777741246120306" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;">F<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">urthermore, they have strongly conserved the architectural authenticity and unspoiled beauty. The </span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;">little picturesque ports are dotted with yachts</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfsz8RT2EzayGnRH9mWRxOsZOd5VAbJ9t0xD0JL899allfNQWrl1ifZwSa8cPrh64F0QO16SswO3-pOvXp8g72EwrhY2x8N5u_OvpbMPEf_wKTpI66nEvUmbp6nXNOnyVy49NuKJ-PNSe/s1600-h/ithnets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfsz8RT2EzayGnRH9mWRxOsZOd5VAbJ9t0xD0JL899allfNQWrl1ifZwSa8cPrh64F0QO16SswO3-pOvXp8g72EwrhY2x8N5u_OvpbMPEf_wKTpI66nEvUmbp6nXNOnyVy49NuKJ-PNSe/s200/ithnets.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247800839560402818" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"> yet even during high season, the island remains as peaceful as back in the times of Ulysses. Having no water sources of its own, you'd consider it to be quite a barren island, but quite the contrary, you can't help but be mesmerized by the vast diversity of flora and so many charming villages</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%;"> harmoniously in bloom. There's no long, sandy beaches stuffed with umbrellas and Mitch Buchanon wannabes, just a great number of tiny, beautiful, intact, sparkling coves adorned with lush greenery.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;">Unfortunately, that's as far as I got out of a one-day bus tour around the island. Fortunately though, it has surpassed all of my expectations. A small island, but a great memory!</span><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5Tm7phu7c5hUIu3cKRdqZTv-oR7Ot-ZM5CUHd1PPevBApOzSR4VBTy_Toq3ItMg5rQlx2xWFZki5zFQTqDvNER8xQ1FZXT2IR09F_gIhRIA4D2l1l5EY0QLtiXNQDdt7_6BhvcxwIFKp/s1600-h/ithisthmus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5Tm7phu7c5hUIu3cKRdqZTv-oR7Ot-ZM5CUHd1PPevBApOzSR4VBTy_Toq3ItMg5rQlx2xWFZki5zFQTqDvNER8xQ1FZXT2IR09F_gIhRIA4D2l1l5EY0QLtiXNQDdt7_6BhvcxwIFKp/s400/ithisthmus.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247782495407764866" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>
The main port on the island of Ithaca is a secret place, invisible from the sea. Experienced mariners know which inlet to take to find its principal anchorage, a large bay with a simple name: Vathy, meaning "deep". It is an island particularly loved by sea captains, many of whom come to retire here. There are said to be 400 of them living on Ithaca today, many spending their days on the harbour front, drinking coffee and telling yarns. (<a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2008/03/odyssey-hall-ithaca-odysseus">Elizabeth Speller</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EPptVqMb2xXghwn04Ltyyndv8TAwYKfYwKv-6bVgDz438kqqfu7k5P6684ENK5u07frDZgonveztQKwMCS8CldCxl5sWyCVHbV0DxESgibvT3lY9SIxOoLrLZsaaDWqXY3_vZFpqHIox/s1600-h/zvz.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EPptVqMb2xXghwn04Ltyyndv8TAwYKfYwKv-6bVgDz438kqqfu7k5P6684ENK5u07frDZgonveztQKwMCS8CldCxl5sWyCVHbV0DxESgibvT3lY9SIxOoLrLZsaaDWqXY3_vZFpqHIox/s400/zvz.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247806443632669138" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">the crystal clear waters<br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj3gTjasm1bpKiwbH2kSwOEZF1Ic9mHLoYudvMkYSncDP0nZKxpYLFowZ90vWo19j8Xid1NS14Yoe5Hsl9Xxgb51TtUiQvgJ6sUtVKeGPdz3cMxxqmXllE6p705AWj6bBl-ZfdBcW6e8v/s1600-h/ithsparkle.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj3gTjasm1bpKiwbH2kSwOEZF1Ic9mHLoYudvMkYSncDP0nZKxpYLFowZ90vWo19j8Xid1NS14Yoe5Hsl9Xxgb51TtUiQvgJ6sUtVKeGPdz3cMxxqmXllE6p705AWj6bBl-ZfdBcW6e8v/s400/ithsparkle.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247806077185100450" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">A story told by the poet Homer created a mystery<br />that has taken 3,000 years to solve.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ccccff; font-weight: bold;">'' I T H A C A ''<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1gFn36CI9SluWkFxoJCLpNjpTMV5ntdak4qocHd8R9GPSPCKp0FuRqv5YnAGsC7xBMPZ8YnAyZ69HQhyphenhyphenp6fxqnO7PUNXtuaVh28HDdFPns6Qt-IY6PhF6hWJIJDMQYkfpnRpXCYuTeuB/s1600-h/dog1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> As you set out for Ithaka</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> hope your road is a long one,</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> full of adventure, full of discovery.</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> Laistrygonians, Cyclops,</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> angry Poseidon-don't be afraid of them:</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> you'll never find</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;">things like that on your way</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> as long as you keep your thoughts</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;">raised high,</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> as long as a rare excitement</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> stirs your spirit and your body.</span>..<span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1gFn36CI9SluWkFxoJCLpNjpTMV5ntdak4qocHd8R9GPSPCKp0FuRqv5YnAGsC7xBMPZ8YnAyZ69HQhyphenhyphenp6fxqnO7PUNXtuaVh28HDdFPns6Qt-IY6PhF6hWJIJDMQYkfpnRpXCYuTeuB/s1600-h/dog1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1gFn36CI9SluWkFxoJCLpNjpTMV5ntdak4qocHd8R9GPSPCKp0FuRqv5YnAGsC7xBMPZ8YnAyZ69HQhyphenhyphenp6fxqnO7PUNXtuaVh28HDdFPns6Qt-IY6PhF6hWJIJDMQYkfpnRpXCYuTeuB/s400/dog1.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247810074133716706" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"> Keep Ithaka always in your mind.<br />Arriving there is what you're destined for.<br />But don't hurry the journey at all.<br />Better if it lasts for years,<br />so you're old by the time you reach the island,<br />wealthy with all you've gained on the way,<br />not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.<br />Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.<br />Without her you wouldn't have set out.<br />She has nothing left to give you now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeBhJalZvtDjQxE0Q4avg3BJjJe8bYoBYQnZM4EevRy0ZjMCijuq4YzsAsQq5V3N4v9MD_HfQOmgzf6RsJbYSmw0cMDJFXVlBT9ks50AC-QSl2_CvdgRmR_j8bxcg63IjIgmQ5cfwr0Xt/s1600-h/dog.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeBhJalZvtDjQxE0Q4avg3BJjJe8bYoBYQnZM4EevRy0ZjMCijuq4YzsAsQq5V3N4v9MD_HfQOmgzf6RsJbYSmw0cMDJFXVlBT9ks50AC-QSl2_CvdgRmR_j8bxcg63IjIgmQ5cfwr0Xt/s200/dog.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247807742936626850" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 191px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 155px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx719Jcksk2YAJ2gCH-VXKdHpyz5BkPUJZleA6032lVVirWEZ-IfdLh6DNFitCxVeqtMn8_W16RqkxuQzaBt8J0DKhQfUjQpoLhNHCwQeRYf9cSolnpYWE5KW-cI7EaD4aPQD93uA8LXn/s1600-h/ith4444.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx719Jcksk2YAJ2gCH-VXKdHpyz5BkPUJZleA6032lVVirWEZ-IfdLh6DNFitCxVeqtMn8_W16RqkxuQzaBt8J0DKhQfUjQpoLhNHCwQeRYf9cSolnpYWE5KW-cI7EaD4aPQD93uA8LXn/s200/ith4444.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247808088584009538" style="cursor: pointer; height: 192px; width: 146px;" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ccccff; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"> And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"> Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: #ccccff; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%;"> you'll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.<br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;">(C.P.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Cavafy / Kavafis</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;">, ''Ithaka'')</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"><br />(one of the most distinguished Greek poets ever)<br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Now, the quest for Ithaca, in the eyes of many, has not yet been solved. There's recent rumors that the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3897847976073903921&postID=805062854053573607" style="color: #ffffcc; font-family: trebuchet ms;">mythical home of Odysseus actually stands on the very island of Kefalonia</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">, and there's actually a couple of destinations that perfectly fit the descriptions set in Homer's Odyssey. Does it really matter? Politics and tourism alone will always choose just the next best and most convenient truth. And mind you, the Greeks being one of the most welcoming hosts in the world will make up the most amazing stories just to feed it to your desperate wandering souls. But what you see with your bare eyes is a mystery that will hopefully never evaporate. The mystery of nature at its best ...</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCN2uVmzDoXBqFYMCq9w8UPzI6H2z0NjxHFUc2Y4VedT0hLps7ngq8rG5ueuYh2Buy11Ai9IIWSK7eUmX0mXVm3DX7b45WYI0G6ImhV8fWqTe84hF04T8wvrBtaHbkKtIBJrNkPcAC93Y/s1600-h/ithaki51.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCN2uVmzDoXBqFYMCq9w8UPzI6H2z0NjxHFUc2Y4VedT0hLps7ngq8rG5ueuYh2Buy11Ai9IIWSK7eUmX0mXVm3DX7b45WYI0G6ImhV8fWqTe84hF04T8wvrBtaHbkKtIBJrNkPcAC93Y/s400/ithaki51.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247782851751674386" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;">And to finish my short tour,<br />what better than Lord Byron's famous quote:</span><span style="color: #ccccff; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;">'' If I am a poet, the air of Greece has made me one. ''</span></div>
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<span class="unnamed2"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-27286205056787313122008-09-09T20:39:00.069+02:002011-07-31T15:02:47.070+02:00Kefalonia : Back to the Future<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro_X5Sg3IDpBZmU1Y2nIg51vKCZkqoEtFMtYFNG4ijJxisTRasic_1cB9BxRjNEDu2_0jyTH9CA5b_JoBKSiY1QShErhcd3Tno14DXHSw7yxp0XGk5Has6CAinhtEm4gUWFqvWTT94R2A/s1600-h/plammos2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244127078359818914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro_X5Sg3IDpBZmU1Y2nIg51vKCZkqoEtFMtYFNG4ijJxisTRasic_1cB9BxRjNEDu2_0jyTH9CA5b_JoBKSiY1QShErhcd3Tno14DXHSw7yxp0XGk5Has6CAinhtEm4gUWFqvWTT94R2A/s400/plammos2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Hi all, back and out of the doldrums. Hopefully you've all been overly productive both in your offline & online gardens. I'm about to recompensate my absenteeism but first I've got to share this effusion of sentiments and pixels from my latest Homeric crusade... (raised eyebrows and grumbling welcome as usual !)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvqRIiJMdzp58pQx_pP78010uol_IvytaPMQIrJtfGRhj2n9SPevaYK_GG8sH-A0RZN5IHlz6NPumY0tb_pN5rzpSGuFs5t9jQZfMhLeZ117UeqjEbIMrqZcK0tIs84X_PGyPylJr58kU/s1600-h/mirtou.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244127712981038482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvqRIiJMdzp58pQx_pP78010uol_IvytaPMQIrJtfGRhj2n9SPevaYK_GG8sH-A0RZN5IHlz6NPumY0tb_pN5rzpSGuFs5t9jQZfMhLeZ117UeqjEbIMrqZcK0tIs84X_PGyPylJr58kU/s200/mirtou.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 191px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 143px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Vz6cXSaqfTHiM4mib_5LuJalDdIRQsYlRHz_G5zzehlzIpJ4D6gQFw9isQBBbj_3Dv5FICRfSI6pw6QhnIn2I0lKHX18qw2vYW2pK-W6dLrJsh7SBATCIGtWUPaDGKpFJa1DhHXbN_Ej/s1600-h/agiaeleni1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244311974696813794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Vz6cXSaqfTHiM4mib_5LuJalDdIRQsYlRHz_G5zzehlzIpJ4D6gQFw9isQBBbj_3Dv5FICRfSI6pw6QhnIn2I0lKHX18qw2vYW2pK-W6dLrJsh7SBATCIGtWUPaDGKpFJa1DhHXbN_Ej/s200/agiaeleni1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 192px; width: 144px;" /></a><br />
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Even though I have only just returned, the sentimental lust is forever blooming. I will let you enjoy some idyllic Mediterranean landscapes and many of the easily missed and often unappreciated plants which have illuminated my wanderings and followed me as I left some more footprints on this marvelous island. 'Cos there truly is more to this delusively barren land than just my 'engaging' balderdash...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxuLkVqkkfji9zZ83n9VD3npJ4q4qiK345NEkaBHk06U07VVffmHgRd_AK7OiS_59znqSHckknJ0qF9Mtc6Ew9QAkQzAhsIxk6Xdcvx1OXEGe9bYjz-zmJfWhHE4EP7S2yEx-NCpDylKG/s1600-h/bug.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244318351854917106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxuLkVqkkfji9zZ83n9VD3npJ4q4qiK345NEkaBHk06U07VVffmHgRd_AK7OiS_59znqSHckknJ0qF9Mtc6Ew9QAkQzAhsIxk6Xdcvx1OXEGe9bYjz-zmJfWhHE4EP7S2yEx-NCpDylKG/s320/bug.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Old, charming villages dotted with bougainvilleas, rose laurels and century old olive trees ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfBHSmLSyVLPvOHarRGYWY8SVYqAej5HqQPm6jWF0YuwW5oMAU-zSq-AeF01ysbSh6SbPTwPNXLrQe7pTCaj162s60y-jB5OBW9HOImuMmYsKrx8Xl3tOdcIRUouIBBXC-fB-TdEUglQX/s1600-h/bougassos.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244319452318111234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfBHSmLSyVLPvOHarRGYWY8SVYqAej5HqQPm6jWF0YuwW5oMAU-zSq-AeF01ysbSh6SbPTwPNXLrQe7pTCaj162s60y-jB5OBW9HOImuMmYsKrx8Xl3tOdcIRUouIBBXC-fB-TdEUglQX/s400/bougassos.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITJ1WY22DcwRIsZwYRaPcjvEdqea4ITIRJ_SF-c6u0AB90tp1X72_NtuuJdDy2YoDmKJSkqNi5tjizrg4nMoRiKDpBofzEfMH5QO7-u6Ds9sdtIU6IMxYY7Q6YILYunIsLIOoeFvP2U3M/s1600-h/assospalm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244320169172293522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITJ1WY22DcwRIsZwYRaPcjvEdqea4ITIRJ_SF-c6u0AB90tp1X72_NtuuJdDy2YoDmKJSkqNi5tjizrg4nMoRiKDpBofzEfMH5QO7-u6Ds9sdtIU6IMxYY7Q6YILYunIsLIOoeFvP2U3M/s400/assospalm.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Under the Mediterranean Sun</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8JY8ryIh2ZkGIPHF0TVrVUrf8HD0R0YcO8ARglvPeu6R_GDh_zz_RVIIC15vuCbM5NmMC2hwqUg1lTF23gZimGvgLV0siQ1ezjiFMAGji5s2KZQLhTwDbPk3i8AD16jbVaj-OhDjwXEu/s1600-h/3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244104348316581106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8JY8ryIh2ZkGIPHF0TVrVUrf8HD0R0YcO8ARglvPeu6R_GDh_zz_RVIIC15vuCbM5NmMC2hwqUg1lTF23gZimGvgLV0siQ1ezjiFMAGji5s2KZQLhTwDbPk3i8AD16jbVaj-OhDjwXEu/s200/3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">"<span style="font-size: 130%;">The half-forgotten island of Kefalonia rises improvidently and inadvisedly from the Ionian Sea; it is an island so immense in antiquity that the very rocks exhale nostalgia and the red earth lies stupified not only by the sun, but by the impossible weight of memory… The dark green of the pines is unfathomably and retreatingly deep, the ocean viewed from the top of a cliff presents azure and turquoise, emerald, viridian and lapis lazuli. Even the seawater is easier to see through than the air of any other place; a man may float in the water watching the distant sea bed, and clearly see the lugubrious rays accompanied by diminutive flatfish."</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">From<i> '<span style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Corelli's Mandolin</span>' by Louis de Bernières</i></span></div><span style="font-size: 85%;"><i><br />
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</i></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9PISHFGhollPCqLUBk4Eigkww-3u2ZVmpOkhaa7HR9ZgQWg3z9_HTVP54HZUj0w6DoMW1JXVEDRZ9zRUFbD0eHdLdxeeDhT3wtGgSgAm8Ll3Y_gROq1AqACZKPdjClJb5c5Ga1VWhWBW/s1600-h/plammos111.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244117807983023858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9PISHFGhollPCqLUBk4Eigkww-3u2ZVmpOkhaa7HR9ZgQWg3z9_HTVP54HZUj0w6DoMW1JXVEDRZ9zRUFbD0eHdLdxeeDhT3wtGgSgAm8Ll3Y_gROq1AqACZKPdjClJb5c5Ga1VWhWBW/s400/plammos111.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Regrettably (or not), no longer forgotten, but remains as overwhelming and intoxicating as ever.<br />
As far as tourism goes, Kefalonians should consider naming Mr <a href="http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth2" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">De Bernieres</a> their other patron saint. For it was his book ' Captain Corelli's mandolin ' and then there's the year 2002 with the homonymous film which definitely introduced the magic and beauty of the place to a huge audience and widened the horizons of many more nature lovers and adventurers. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU8iTiuvJwAHYqz8NRKfIx7U__WFM_jh5uJ0jNeBluLziUvvphgZbZuDVE5xvdwnkpap2h7necDAvU6iOAVThGe3Ng5YKWb8CrOomDTng5bwc2D5NB7YpSFRHeAKy_x8mTUm8E3_bpaja/s1600-h/fisc1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244314030592431282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU8iTiuvJwAHYqz8NRKfIx7U__WFM_jh5uJ0jNeBluLziUvvphgZbZuDVE5xvdwnkpap2h7necDAvU6iOAVThGe3Ng5YKWb8CrOomDTng5bwc2D5NB7YpSFRHeAKy_x8mTUm8E3_bpaja/s400/fisc1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The far north colorful village of Fiskardo - always in bloom</span></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWy7dgxqqY3PtowTss3EvngLRHt4_rmu1ekN47bDfQnfG3CCRa6BVelpbbFgXMQ48p-yN_w7ZlaTXNBzjws_ml1aCZVE3QjHlT2NIcAJnogxOUuGKSksvYZQCPNa3tytTkDdMOIegWdir/s1600-h/fiskardo2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244128754426903490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWy7dgxqqY3PtowTss3EvngLRHt4_rmu1ekN47bDfQnfG3CCRa6BVelpbbFgXMQ48p-yN_w7ZlaTXNBzjws_ml1aCZVE3QjHlT2NIcAJnogxOUuGKSksvYZQCPNa3tytTkDdMOIegWdir/s200/fiskardo2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>An island 35 kilometres by 45 kilometres...<br />
Insane but ingenious islanders...<br />
Vibrant colours even during the scorching summer days...<br />
Breathtaking and dramatic scenery...<br />
Venetian ruins, Mycenian tombs, Nymph Caves, Odysseus and Lord Byron's footsteps...<br />
Dreamy, turquoise Ionian sea...<br />
Cypress trees, Umbrella (Italian stone) pines, Greek Firs, <span style="font-style: italic;">Robola</span> grapevine, olive groves, Ainos mountain with many more endemic species...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbe38NJZNdBG2gqZ2GHMPCAy7kV_A9TBitnQGR9OczGOwouLGgGzXZ_IIEGVHmnsfJckcMQpZ46EjESfWTqclcsCF4BhBA_OfAkT-SPdVhqw6E69saML5oI6gHxQxJOFaFNMinHvRBx35/s1600-h/unginea.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244120585998808258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbe38NJZNdBG2gqZ2GHMPCAy7kV_A9TBitnQGR9OczGOwouLGgGzXZ_IIEGVHmnsfJckcMQpZ46EjESfWTqclcsCF4BhBA_OfAkT-SPdVhqw6E69saML5oI6gHxQxJOFaFNMinHvRBx35/s400/unginea.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;">Sea Squill <a href="http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsTake/0,3927,4121%7CSea%2Bsquill,00.html" style="color: #ffffcc;"><span style="font-style: italic;">( Urginea maritima )</span></a><br />
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<br />
</span></div>Many tragedies have befallen this beautiful island, but the following two were disastrous. One natural and one man-made. First, what happens to the little people when megalomaniacs get busy a.k.a. the Second World War. The island was occupied by Italian troops. When Italy capitulated to the Allies in 1943, the Italians handed the island over to the Germans, who massacred over 5000 Italian troops on the island. Then another tragedy struck Kefalonia in August 1953. A cataclysmic earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale reduced the island to ruins to the point that virtually every building/house was destroyed. Several hundreds died. Thousands migrated. Many abandoned, dreary old villages remain today as a monument to the 1953 disaster. Mostly for these two reasons, Kefalonia is deprived of the rich architectural legacy that many other tourist destinations display so lavishly. Nevertheless, God has been very generous when it comes to natural beauty and overwhelming landscape.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86NQLEQUrr4i4xFstbdSCjak1JSlAV1IVfVPaLH-IGhPF940laQ7tAypOYX1ORpwIAWnl_pHomD8v-jJ6WiKlnHeI2nby9HwuJVKTS4PRUN5sc_w_useHXbfhl_G7yM7eB25ZuDTcCOgH/s1600-h/spikeyP8221439.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244119581141579298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86NQLEQUrr4i4xFstbdSCjak1JSlAV1IVfVPaLH-IGhPF940laQ7tAypOYX1ORpwIAWnl_pHomD8v-jJ6WiKlnHeI2nby9HwuJVKTS4PRUN5sc_w_useHXbfhl_G7yM7eB25ZuDTcCOgH/s400/spikeyP8221439.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Spikey Reichardia...</span></span></div><i>Once more the unsettled giant in the bowels of the earth slammed a mighty fist vertically upwards, so that houses leapt from their foundations and solid stone walls rippled like paper in the wind, and suddenly there was a stillness like that of death . The earthquake changed lives so profoundly that to this day it is still the single greatest topic of conversation.</i><b> <span style="font-size: 85%;">Captain Corelli's Mandolin</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBrA7O1cvpWi7_sbdQNFIitJV2fEEuSLZRHx6UG2IME6SEJcSEX_ldTfgwWOmLzyzBxCPpgdApBNpGxLfEQ7nH_QUqYUxEcU-8mwnXDUpkt3kjShuBXResbsnkWczwT-eHg7r4ymAkAHT/s1600-h/kastrocafe.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244316647936560322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBrA7O1cvpWi7_sbdQNFIitJV2fEEuSLZRHx6UG2IME6SEJcSEX_ldTfgwWOmLzyzBxCPpgdApBNpGxLfEQ7nH_QUqYUxEcU-8mwnXDUpkt3kjShuBXResbsnkWczwT-eHg7r4ymAkAHT/s400/kastrocafe.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Beautiful Mediterranean vistas</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0nYCAJzAhEXwnjdD0R2VT_b7SSM-IDcnKEuEi5_Ma6L2TCWAXF_Nnr_sV94RGamSXf0W09jMFYjOJpl1fZ2_1YSiych868PFdpHXv-oePqXZG9j07orX_H9WbG_yJFf4PwgelgtMx_h8/s1600-h/horgota.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244345940702609058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0nYCAJzAhEXwnjdD0R2VT_b7SSM-IDcnKEuEi5_Ma6L2TCWAXF_Nnr_sV94RGamSXf0W09jMFYjOJpl1fZ2_1YSiych868PFdpHXv-oePqXZG9j07orX_H9WbG_yJFf4PwgelgtMx_h8/s400/horgota.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Kefalonia definitely being a typical example , with vast areas of forest cloaking the rugged limestone landscape and ten peaks exceeding 5,000 feet. Voted 10th in a World Scenic Beauty League, Kefalonia's coast is dotted with hundreds of secluded white limestone coves, caves and steep cliffs. Against the white glow of the coast, many inland areas of the island are blanketed by green plains, Kefalonian fir, olive groves and vineyards.<br />
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</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEH0fTodTL0FYqqktg3v-wCY9ZGd9-P5qkEXkUCeT2JqFDZjXiPaGJ-FcLTSFExjMvHeRgdmGGQn22umsmYUMuWLmpNltFfakd3khHmxfnqNzr2ydpby2aHInY3YZE8IRMwk5IighobmJ/s1600-h/landscpainos.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244322026180965698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEH0fTodTL0FYqqktg3v-wCY9ZGd9-P5qkEXkUCeT2JqFDZjXiPaGJ-FcLTSFExjMvHeRgdmGGQn22umsmYUMuWLmpNltFfakd3khHmxfnqNzr2ydpby2aHInY3YZE8IRMwk5IighobmJ/s400/landscpainos.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Mount Ainos, the island's highest mountain(1,628 m), a giant that suddenly emerges from a thick forest of black Greek fir with uniquely upreaching branches that exist only here - <a href="http://http//ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/04/greek-fir-abies-cephalonica.html" style="color: #ffffcc;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Abies cephalonica..</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fFsb1apnGk1fzd-0zjhhcy_FD1YiDltMZF2eHrP_cJJ6WLmFWxiAoS4iioGhbZdYVaKPJRmX9n9pdPbuaDVL4Y3KOg8oT-wOnYbLsBvbrPXv3d9zGcW5E-DHVxRKZDBoC2X-mgDsWWBr/s1600-h/ammos33.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244322670312458354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fFsb1apnGk1fzd-0zjhhcy_FD1YiDltMZF2eHrP_cJJ6WLmFWxiAoS4iioGhbZdYVaKPJRmX9n9pdPbuaDVL4Y3KOg8oT-wOnYbLsBvbrPXv3d9zGcW5E-DHVxRKZDBoC2X-mgDsWWBr/s200/ammos33.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 142px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 188px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdB0l7wyvMk6ZBKQIHXmJU3-mwaV8uuDC-g_DpHhkzKWwWV5kuTaGwNBgx0SfurGIp9LHJi-NNqJ5v8mcH4oAaELv_dXDIYXU0OvO8kdrYWCuVj6Yym1w4OGday-jERMm5DD5ChJ69EGnI/s1600-h/fnl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244323077101071042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdB0l7wyvMk6ZBKQIHXmJU3-mwaV8uuDC-g_DpHhkzKWwWV5kuTaGwNBgx0SfurGIp9LHJi-NNqJ5v8mcH4oAaELv_dXDIYXU0OvO8kdrYWCuVj6Yym1w4OGday-jERMm5DD5ChJ69EGnI/s200/fnl.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 142px; width: 190px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCBGHMP4JoFSVfL8r5F58JvZo3BWaz3v2bXA8I6kMSfoBKsO_wJBVNHOTAzUNjdaqYuC4yj7ZIriO8IVaKSMyTtZPdgbOcqtk-5oCRlDyPv_mgyjPtp0RAOOP-i7khuknnf-CPGq8uc_2/s1600-h/tinyrock.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244332811735331026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCBGHMP4JoFSVfL8r5F58JvZo3BWaz3v2bXA8I6kMSfoBKsO_wJBVNHOTAzUNjdaqYuC4yj7ZIriO8IVaKSMyTtZPdgbOcqtk-5oCRlDyPv_mgyjPtp0RAOOP-i7khuknnf-CPGq8uc_2/s200/tinyrock.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 141px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 189px;" /></a><br />
<div style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhZGA_PfNqr0PBLpFPy1hbSmOLDoBwLxxgFY7bE19YT1gBCtVU49fNklpg9eyZBSOHsSwteXlwh6XtjFnVwiwQHRkUZg-GpMsdwx-r3p5k9aIa184eYJcVzPFuaDd-XhLzJxCXzQRvQXN/s1600-h/kipouriaplant1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244333638081792770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhZGA_PfNqr0PBLpFPy1hbSmOLDoBwLxxgFY7bE19YT1gBCtVU49fNklpg9eyZBSOHsSwteXlwh6XtjFnVwiwQHRkUZg-GpMsdwx-r3p5k9aIa184eYJcVzPFuaDd-XhLzJxCXzQRvQXN/s200/kipouriaplant1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 142px; width: 189px;" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNl0Ti_RNZx-O9ePsbAdHvGREo99XNq-DlbGf8wnruyhOW6sg-kFE4u7biz91_VnBLlygw1ZcXDIbnkJOn2QiAmBPTZkVWjrbWg1jgsGO2-udfr_NPWfOE9Cl9t-ji4vjbJQEDzMHjZHU/s1600-h/locals.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
</a></div><div style="font-weight: bold;">Kefalonians & other living beings</div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNl0Ti_RNZx-O9ePsbAdHvGREo99XNq-DlbGf8wnruyhOW6sg-kFE4u7biz91_VnBLlygw1ZcXDIbnkJOn2QiAmBPTZkVWjrbWg1jgsGO2-udfr_NPWfOE9Cl9t-ji4vjbJQEDzMHjZHU/s1600-h/locals.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244335679581248610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNl0Ti_RNZx-O9ePsbAdHvGREo99XNq-DlbGf8wnruyhOW6sg-kFE4u7biz91_VnBLlygw1ZcXDIbnkJOn2QiAmBPTZkVWjrbWg1jgsGO2-udfr_NPWfOE9Cl9t-ji4vjbJQEDzMHjZHU/s200/locals.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 141px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 189px;" /></a></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rPS-ep_njZ5xaGigkHDYXWx7CVjOTZWA8TvHx_KMVED08LdZT2CcK4RIi0jJT-uCOi9nFQ93KkOVFuxvSNnRzyy0IIaEluk2avL2D447XA-VW1sJ8xJUeA-PgvjoEuWam6W8NoYbDXk_/s1600-h/honey.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244336248643793170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rPS-ep_njZ5xaGigkHDYXWx7CVjOTZWA8TvHx_KMVED08LdZT2CcK4RIi0jJT-uCOi9nFQ93KkOVFuxvSNnRzyy0IIaEluk2avL2D447XA-VW1sJ8xJUeA-PgvjoEuWam6W8NoYbDXk_/s200/honey.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 142px; width: 188px;" /></a></div>To spoil the fairytale, through the years of my continuous enchantment with this place, I have also been forced to notice some things that people just turn their heads on. Having in mind that some of the Kefalonians truly belong to a breed of demented people, and that coming from a person who has met and won so many beautiful friendships there. You probably guessed, I'm talking animal cruelty.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtAUgD5WoZ_mP0Rn3y2ph4VKnYPAPDflMA9RDz-7HcUjhwQaQPk-IstDu7LCcnjQFv2DkWqJONDyE9A_58Zb2f3sSnQcieuzR9j2cYqz9Y1ApfzX2_AKDQqdgbVw4IsRyGK-7UddrM0Qb/s1600-h/dogainos.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244329180047497650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtAUgD5WoZ_mP0Rn3y2ph4VKnYPAPDflMA9RDz-7HcUjhwQaQPk-IstDu7LCcnjQFv2DkWqJONDyE9A_58Zb2f3sSnQcieuzR9j2cYqz9Y1ApfzX2_AKDQqdgbVw4IsRyGK-7UddrM0Qb/s200/dogainos.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 143px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 187px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLcIF_-j9SQY9MvULU_87GV-DpUYTPoUgQyrUCz7tXt8x7UVMwUK-K_YUwgxKSx4wdl5_oZ3wnujZFBzxRMvOBtA6def4Jq-yyh-DbQRHkt9t5BZ0fTwEumnu3k2cCC-MlRrKmbqJC6Po/s1600-h/magnet1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244330905093112274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOLcIF_-j9SQY9MvULU_87GV-DpUYTPoUgQyrUCz7tXt8x7UVMwUK-K_YUwgxKSx4wdl5_oZ3wnujZFBzxRMvOBtA6def4Jq-yyh-DbQRHkt9t5BZ0fTwEumnu3k2cCC-MlRrKmbqJC6Po/s200/magnet1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 143px; width: 191px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2btHHyU4npDhvZqqD8dJGbdIeJOffZty4otSX5Eux5r7PrHRC7Swxkd7BO7SUOe5dx8zmNoHE_oTW-wnYd18lmDVTHFklbO2OrEtosnyCwSg9V8s9pZyimnZu9Gpk9utY8hyphenhyphenNOASUnga_/s1600-h/maca.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244350441437825730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2btHHyU4npDhvZqqD8dJGbdIeJOffZty4otSX5Eux5r7PrHRC7Swxkd7BO7SUOe5dx8zmNoHE_oTW-wnYd18lmDVTHFklbO2OrEtosnyCwSg9V8s9pZyimnZu9Gpk9utY8hyphenhyphenNOASUnga_/s200/maca.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>I can't seem to turn a blind eye on this and usually come to think of myself and friends as magnets for stray animals. There's good and bad just about in every place around the globe, but through the years I have unwillingly created the image about animal abuse on Kefalonia and mind you, I don't even live there, I have never seen hundreds of cats and dogs that get poisoned at the end of the tourist season each year. What I have seen in periods of about three weeks was enough for my stomach. Dogs abandoned in the middle of nowhere, chained to a massive piece of rock, with no food or WATER at all, with summer temperatures scorching the place at around or above 40C each day, with no rain for months. And nothing or no one nearby, just a few stranded tourists per week. Dehydrated puppies dying scattered along deserted dirt tracks...My dear friend who lived there for 9 years also rescued her dog, that she had found hanged on a piece of linen cord. I will stop there. The general conclusion is that some of the locals are too stiff and hardheaded to neuter their pets but they openhandedly tag their furry friends as vermin. Thanks to many local friends and tourists who have fallen in love with the place and have chosen it as their future home, many of the doomed ones have been saved through their <a href="http://www.kefalonia-animal-trust.org/" style="color: #ffcc99;">animal welfare</a><span style="color: #ffcc99;"> </span>program.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tOgGe7xEsRhhEkGZqDRN42v6XWTsMf_4WxnmmDCLqKKeWut4_ncFn86DNF4JmE-J0dB1isw4gYZ5oQY5-gH0jOBL7_kw0YVMOuAD0O29SDaiSRs1gezjgtm_p43V82jCt7owbTUqCInM/s1600-h/donkey.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244334171995350610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tOgGe7xEsRhhEkGZqDRN42v6XWTsMf_4WxnmmDCLqKKeWut4_ncFn86DNF4JmE-J0dB1isw4gYZ5oQY5-gH0jOBL7_kw0YVMOuAD0O29SDaiSRs1gezjgtm_p43V82jCt7owbTUqCInM/s400/donkey.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Unfortunately, the island of Kefalonia is not alone in this. Neither is Greece. Neither is Europe.<br />
The things is, though, that some countries governments are just as cruel as the people in question when it comes to anyone outside their (pardon my French) fat-ass circle of trust. <br />
You sometimes can't help but wonder, does God hear the cries of those who do not communicate in human language? !<br />
<div style="color: #ffcc99; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kefalonia-animal-trust.org/"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b><span style="color: red;">ALL GREEK ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETIES ARE UNDER ATTACK</span></b></span></a></div><div style="color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: #ffffcc;">The Greek Government is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to avoid both its responsibilities to the animals of Greece, and the international embarrassment that this causes. The government prefers to increase the suffering of innocent animals by attacking national and international animal welfare societies and innocent Greek and foreign animal lovers in a pathetic attempt to cover itself for its appalling record on the treatment of animals in Greece. </span>(<a href="http://www.greekanimalrescue.com/Leo/leo.htm" style="font-style: italic;">Story of Leo...</a>) </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq01E6_7yg_nU79VnpGqIxc0QpAvybtgDY9G-XBZlG32f7e36M4WJfWJYrK4RYZ6AMxW1nnTrE4Z9V0LtDkdR0mME2TzJtmQCFIoTk8F-r3dQcqnvW26yGMGX6XIp8lrX_edDxSsqk2ac/s1600-h/koze.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244331601311150578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq01E6_7yg_nU79VnpGqIxc0QpAvybtgDY9G-XBZlG32f7e36M4WJfWJYrK4RYZ6AMxW1nnTrE4Z9V0LtDkdR0mME2TzJtmQCFIoTk8F-r3dQcqnvW26yGMGX6XIp8lrX_edDxSsqk2ac/s400/koze.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Before I spoil my little travelogue, here's a few more to get that frown of your faces...<br />
and nothing does it better than Greek road signs !<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5qTcqfATrQkqKvaUXn3wg-H_c3ENxJN8mVtBKU69vSq7lCCa0BymGUBZfDJTmhZ5X7QVy4Asc-WumKDK_9eLU00bqpTxe01lcZipxswtSg2LmD2Ieq-Z9-FFu06wN9cUG_SsOoPJ5AFs/s1600-h/slicingDSC00368.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244351214775081986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5qTcqfATrQkqKvaUXn3wg-H_c3ENxJN8mVtBKU69vSq7lCCa0BymGUBZfDJTmhZ5X7QVy4Asc-WumKDK_9eLU00bqpTxe01lcZipxswtSg2LmD2Ieq-Z9-FFu06wN9cUG_SsOoPJ5AFs/s320/slicingDSC00368.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">I wonder which tools they're using?...<br />
<br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4Iq0RmC-K8xY6NeUiSyIRybp2i20tNTw-YqqQeMr8eHHyJD5LAXk1YLlJQG_x5qqItg352wOe_qJXt6ml3tjBiHBVNzds7KONmlnf9syNpq5JI2b7u5yp4LMKKhKdjHq6Ci0zRLU7XUJ/s1600-h/sissia.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244352747304874514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4Iq0RmC-K8xY6NeUiSyIRybp2i20tNTw-YqqQeMr8eHHyJD5LAXk1YLlJQG_x5qqItg352wOe_qJXt6ml3tjBiHBVNzds7KONmlnf9syNpq5JI2b7u5yp4LMKKhKdjHq6Ci0zRLU7XUJ/s400/sissia.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></div>I will forever remain a captive of this wonderful isle, even with having to learn that no place is perfect, doing something about it is soul-rewarding and heart-mending to some extent, but doesn't change the world. And just when you thought that people have really lost their marbles, there's <a href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/03/kefalonia-greece-part-2.html" style="color: #ffffcc; font-weight: bold;">papas Efsevios</a>, as modest and benign as ever, Kefalonia's true saint and one of a few good souls to frame down in your memories.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjX_AOLg1IjlEef2Lt7oSkKDm_Uh-oLceI1pj8uPhPTuQReb4h2xlw08zyIR_798wOdQf000rVMf_gaAkV1nAJW1kF7sWBwmKXuqk2XVDJoCrk2fc81qpeFBW6GHme8O3vNhAiw4cN1MY/s1600-h/KEF7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244355340079247298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjX_AOLg1IjlEef2Lt7oSkKDm_Uh-oLceI1pj8uPhPTuQReb4h2xlw08zyIR_798wOdQf000rVMf_gaAkV1nAJW1kF7sWBwmKXuqk2XVDJoCrk2fc81qpeFBW6GHme8O3vNhAiw4cN1MY/s320/KEF7.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MYu6-IjCqXkEtObaDpeV3ibBhgArVuLyymBhgMdC4QQ612VRF4dth6FNuz1Y11KZ4bhBmNY2Ki8MYfnhyVfbZYZiOm7kQQqqYg6raP_6eGKxZwpsNYGM4bvQBvLtEbENo52JrJahK7aI/s1600-h/massivewasp.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244356519002300210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MYu6-IjCqXkEtObaDpeV3ibBhgArVuLyymBhgMdC4QQ612VRF4dth6FNuz1Y11KZ4bhBmNY2Ki8MYfnhyVfbZYZiOm7kQQqqYg6raP_6eGKxZwpsNYGM4bvQBvLtEbENo52JrJahK7aI/s320/massivewasp.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Having to share your chicken souvlaki with a massive hornet is not the worst thing you may experience. A mild earthquake every now and then (Kefalonia and the neighbouring islands being one of the most seismically active in Europe). Being dragged out to the open water by strong currents and 2m waves, what a thrill. Being cheated and fooled by your rent-a-car rep and getting a lovely car with flat tyres & necrotic gearbox fits in the image as well . Locking-in your keys in that silly car, in the middle of nowhere, makes your day for sure ! LOL Here's a special thanks to a hilarious Italian dude from Rome who helped us wind down Fiat Punto's rear window from the outside and thus saved the day.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBB-yca6Rrs4ih2eI6SOuulX0qOC0NaIFkEJViUFc0AKMHlpvpjQhWuDKPPVjetPHD6Snv3VbLwn_TdId0loL-TphWYqT72-m0rc24vHdNSV4TEk6oTQLlGZshKBOszO8Aylzr_yjsK-b/s1600-h/wilson.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244317291064085266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBB-yca6Rrs4ih2eI6SOuulX0qOC0NaIFkEJViUFc0AKMHlpvpjQhWuDKPPVjetPHD6Snv3VbLwn_TdId0loL-TphWYqT72-m0rc24vHdNSV4TEk6oTQLlGZshKBOszO8Aylzr_yjsK-b/s400/wilson.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic;">Wilson was there too... ;-)<br />
He had lost Tom Hanks somewhere along the way...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;"><br />
</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsKpb5jXCdbMjQocq0pUc5vBBhN-JJ9XjBV0gOadxQuni57xP5xwg6Gdg1RZ1OXjadG8RL2kxj5fDq0xvv4ILggw4dwqO6TZxP_uGSDN8QSUEQ7QznHELPifb1t9pTF3MdHtvGzVhXQTx/s1600-h/kefaloniasunset.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244122208380143954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsKpb5jXCdbMjQocq0pUc5vBBhN-JJ9XjBV0gOadxQuni57xP5xwg6Gdg1RZ1OXjadG8RL2kxj5fDq0xvv4ILggw4dwqO6TZxP_uGSDN8QSUEQ7QznHELPifb1t9pTF3MdHtvGzVhXQTx/s400/kefaloniasunset.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
I will get back soon with more photos of the island's lovely flora and a few plant conundrums of my illicitly imported newbies, for my dear gardening friends to help solve.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-4785191740724132892008-09-08T20:10:00.000+02:002009-12-04T12:48:53.130+01:00Joys and Woes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG2elLurpB-v38GOEsjhWR3r7FaKPcTDmZe-DiboAjxGogaE2enlFdBPghsB3Lc1b6Y56cZNPIX9iWORquOcBj3hFIwD5kaz15iVp54mJSPaYhRGuuSo80AylA7ag2ytzI1BYU-yG9Mdq/s1600-h/pampas3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG2elLurpB-v38GOEsjhWR3r7FaKPcTDmZe-DiboAjxGogaE2enlFdBPghsB3Lc1b6Y56cZNPIX9iWORquOcBj3hFIwD5kaz15iVp54mJSPaYhRGuuSo80AylA7ag2ytzI1BYU-yG9Mdq/s400/pampas3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250774936223407202" border="0" /></a>Week 1: DAYDREAMING<br /><br />No matter how beautiful a place could be, no matter how overwhelmed it should leave you, how could a gardener resist not being nostalgic? I get homesick just thinking how flattened my lawn will be after being neglected and scarcely watered while I'm away. And how brilliant the sight of all the new treats nature has planted while you've been away. The first thing that caught my eye was the Pampas grass, which now turned from a seemingly modest lump of grass to a lavish cluster of prideful brooms. Usually lasts until Halloween, when the local garden witches pop up for a new model of their flying gadgets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIemgrBUDMesO4vn3j_WVNVnJBBRJTA94KeEFOiWaQWaYwLH0WgC1oe2rgbxa5BK1Apjc9EmIghWh0-VJKfg0tr3DsEhA-M1rSXBCqj_kKXZ82HjRd347mop_JQAqeoYQ07qA5geh70Za/s1600-h/pampas2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIemgrBUDMesO4vn3j_WVNVnJBBRJTA94KeEFOiWaQWaYwLH0WgC1oe2rgbxa5BK1Apjc9EmIghWh0-VJKfg0tr3DsEhA-M1rSXBCqj_kKXZ82HjRd347mop_JQAqeoYQ07qA5geh70Za/s400/pampas2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250782331925393538" border="0" /></a>Apart from witchcraft, I took some time to wobble around and just delight in the most insignificant treats that nature (and my green thumb) have planted and breathe in the wonderful scents of another few lovely, cozy summer days. The garden monkeys boldly offered their modeling services for yet another photo shoot.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfRfSlt2uwSnEp80Cme4Cws4SMYp2V53CK6ufCP427ABJa9mG1RYXDuYPNedkkyMir3bkOZtydU__RiG6pAZV8KsrytqjuaADLPV-Tnae9C-NNwz0oDlfuFgVVBVYFAx3b-Hk95d9OEoZ/s1600-h/pipa2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfRfSlt2uwSnEp80Cme4Cws4SMYp2V53CK6ufCP427ABJa9mG1RYXDuYPNedkkyMir3bkOZtydU__RiG6pAZV8KsrytqjuaADLPV-Tnae9C-NNwz0oDlfuFgVVBVYFAx3b-Hk95d9OEoZ/s400/pipa2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250786594843784418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwL7gnAQwwytOzhaLHs4QvHTqPp_uqDwrdjLN30b6hl0bUozlvC3r9bxeIJvgI9u2RHRL1z5HGc0cYf1dG9i_jwqx76CHxdHm5M1MBoWyzcz8c10djhsPLApnhWEewUG03WpTaegvamIh/s1600-h/cosmosunder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwL7gnAQwwytOzhaLHs4QvHTqPp_uqDwrdjLN30b6hl0bUozlvC3r9bxeIJvgI9u2RHRL1z5HGc0cYf1dG9i_jwqx76CHxdHm5M1MBoWyzcz8c10djhsPLApnhWEewUG03WpTaegvamIh/s400/cosmosunder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250787479766876162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zdUuLtkVeRHnOStX4fyuT7UD4UFXRq00iNCfi7Gh1DickeQP8xEQwfwg1X8FntD7urxaSUN5LUDBmRCI_RwleSS4hx1FV7c7FfrZKOsJz9v-QD2HGzjhHdesy13mlUjs2dwtAt0_UtnT/s1600-h/zuti1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zdUuLtkVeRHnOStX4fyuT7UD4UFXRq00iNCfi7Gh1DickeQP8xEQwfwg1X8FntD7urxaSUN5LUDBmRCI_RwleSS4hx1FV7c7FfrZKOsJz9v-QD2HGzjhHdesy13mlUjs2dwtAt0_UtnT/s400/zuti1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250787709157939938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3yJkq5tko_xolpBdT8-UgFkpbkPhv8z778dd1n2lxKv97JSOpJGdHvfmgORuUiZUf-zWBXdhanXEPLdM0ZvnZdEKH8DV7WySqBCapeNG6x6FEhhyWc-G4PWSp6XVvbLqCfNrfyvG2ck_/s1600-h/pauk1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3yJkq5tko_xolpBdT8-UgFkpbkPhv8z778dd1n2lxKv97JSOpJGdHvfmgORuUiZUf-zWBXdhanXEPLdM0ZvnZdEKH8DV7WySqBCapeNG6x6FEhhyWc-G4PWSp6XVvbLqCfNrfyvG2ck_/s400/pauk1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250786889723048882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mGO92OtbIaXoJtZwmK7oBXOgbEdsMEkZlb_dCnb3C0y94_cwTvpDZe69ATpNOHuRhhzwViR21hnWkJo_FJv7A384pD0s0JsxKr9W7LGEPi2Kk5UwR6el_4jCPV7v1C6KTJTbMKBvjHCn/s1600-h/spider2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mGO92OtbIaXoJtZwmK7oBXOgbEdsMEkZlb_dCnb3C0y94_cwTvpDZe69ATpNOHuRhhzwViR21hnWkJo_FJv7A384pD0s0JsxKr9W7LGEPi2Kk5UwR6el_4jCPV7v1C6KTJTbMKBvjHCn/s400/spider2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250787178451646562" border="0" /></a>You'd almost think 'What a lovely day'. But then, there's someone up there who will make sure a touch of reality casts a shadow on your daydream ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYdkFfYnMAfJRi_GecG3fCdix1Z0gTfNmESyf5W-a_1aL5McXEw7snXdKs6P9ZMCbVtIuA-1nM4XM7f9O6COnF0MOZ1K0-scIqQmSGBDkOEV6TOslrEpe7hGbC69muTaM4HLjXI7EeRJb/s1600-h/pipa1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYdkFfYnMAfJRi_GecG3fCdix1Z0gTfNmESyf5W-a_1aL5McXEw7snXdKs6P9ZMCbVtIuA-1nM4XM7f9O6COnF0MOZ1K0-scIqQmSGBDkOEV6TOslrEpe7hGbC69muTaM4HLjXI7EeRJb/s400/pipa1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250786015439765442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Week 2: THE WOES or WHEN A BELOVED PET IS GRAVELY ILL<br /><br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Viooltje/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/vrt/vrt/kriistina.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz66ifB_7JcUlsE2AFeLxTmIyYrxAMG7yqNMoG7P7KD-2ihyphenhyphenSKXS1GrHsHtXLWlZy3lzjXn36TtltWzfp0wX761Vy6ZcCIQCj5vXlGDNnQW5S_kTOCEqyOMRLCxIAkqzShOxE7nW52K5-p/s1600-h/kri.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz66ifB_7JcUlsE2AFeLxTmIyYrxAMG7yqNMoG7P7KD-2ihyphenhyphenSKXS1GrHsHtXLWlZy3lzjXn36TtltWzfp0wX761Vy6ZcCIQCj5vXlGDNnQW5S_kTOCEqyOMRLCxIAkqzShOxE7nW52K5-p/s400/kri.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250792050362001698" border="0" /></a><br />After a playful day and lots of cunning misdemeanors, <a href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/03/garden-crew.html"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Kristy the cat </span></a>woke up Monday morning, to both her and my shock, with a disfigured expression and a massive edema under her left eye, as if she's just had a stroke. After two days of antibiotic+vitamin+atropine shots, Kristy's condition was not improving, apart from the eye (which nearly popped out due to edema pressure) which was treated with drops. Obviously the vet's therapy was wrong, as she was getting more and more lethargic to the point where her body just collapsed and went stiff. Early Wednesday the poor thing nearly died. Over an hour laying on the vet's table, receiving some IV, she developed a sever hypothermia and I could see on the vet's face, they've had no bloody idea what was wrong with her. I was so distressed with her silent weeping and suffering, I can't even remember all sorts and colors of shots she got. The vet said she has only a glimpse of a chance. When we got home, she was already one foot in the cat heaven. Her eyes went glassy as we were trying to warm her up with a fan, hot water bottles, warm massage chair and tons of blankets. And then, just like that, that poor, agonizing face just looked at us as if saying: 'I've only got about 8 lives left now'. But really, she must have heard our prayers and figured out that our world would definitely be a shattered place without her joyful presence & matchless personality. Anemia and apathy have then taken hostage of her weary body, but who would of thought that such a tender little feline soul was such a fighter. Even in her worst moments, she was desperately trying to get down to her litter box and not make any mess. The vet first suspected it could be a severe reaction to a <a href="http://www.vetclick.com/forum/read.php?7,5017"><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Cat's Frontline</span></a> applied 3 days ago to protect her from fleas, but was now sure that <a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://www.petplace.com/cats/rodenticide-poisoning-in-cats/page1.aspx"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);">rat poison</span></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://www.petplace.com/cats/rodenticide-poisoning-in-cats/page1.aspx">(symptoms)</a> was to blame. How and where she would find any and especially knowing she hasn't been out for days due to this sudden cold and drizzly weather, I have no idea. Whatever it was, it was one hell of a toxin. Only yesterday she finally got some energy to start drinking water, and eating still boils down to licking away her favorite gravy and nothing more. But today, after a night of trying to sleep on my head, a significant boost of spirit. I was never as happy to see my cat grooming and purring away with pleasure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J5y-QOYjCN2Fi9wcre0k_umScVKgkgn2lz_RpiSNBCv40VN5dsD-_zdmJS0Uf6z3n_od8o_dNUIgQ6YaK9C2Wve1SC9S3Zw5Lu3rciZMyHN8EYPkGTVusbvMRjHhLBFeA31vD-gnCUUv/s1600-h/kriistina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J5y-QOYjCN2Fi9wcre0k_umScVKgkgn2lz_RpiSNBCv40VN5dsD-_zdmJS0Uf6z3n_od8o_dNUIgQ6YaK9C2Wve1SC9S3Zw5Lu3rciZMyHN8EYPkGTVusbvMRjHhLBFeA31vD-gnCUUv/s400/kriistina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250802362747547282" border="0" /></a><br />I'm still in so much shock and utterly afraid to be optimistic. But knowing what she has survived, I really hope she will be back to her usual wonderful, divine, cheeky self.<br /><br /><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I'm only a cat,<br />and I stay in my place...<br />Up there on your chair,<br />on your bed or your face!</span></p><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">I'm only a cat,<br />and I don't finick much...<br />I'm happy with cream<br />and anchovies and such!</span></p><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">I'm only a cat,<br />and we'll get along fine...<br />As long as you know<br />I'm not yours... you're all mine!</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><blockquote><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g39Vh4VSXQQ"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">A FEW GOOD MEN</span></a><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EFJVPPFbRpuj9zVyQcvZvXRDcLtUGafwQYxFKhoLeOS2jTjDjyPCeh9yT5Zgt_hfjF5wIQPq9FSEN0DchZqRvtsubRJbGMkIXhLPSyBouu78S36xTRl94P4PbW8254Zt0KGYKECiAc_C/s1600-h/paul2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EFJVPPFbRpuj9zVyQcvZvXRDcLtUGafwQYxFKhoLeOS2jTjDjyPCeh9yT5Zgt_hfjF5wIQPq9FSEN0DchZqRvtsubRJbGMkIXhLPSyBouu78S36xTRl94P4PbW8254Zt0KGYKECiAc_C/s200/paul2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250821275884308898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-style: italic;">And one last thing,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-style: italic;">a final salute to a great hero, IMO perhaps one</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;"> of the best actors ever, and an extraordinary man in every respect, one whose humbleness, charm, humor, but most of all, humanity could hardly be replaced ...</span><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></blockquote></span></div><p face="trebuchet ms" style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p face="trebuchet ms" style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g39Vh4VSXQQ"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LAlFx8vCZa4XC0KULRHqIccDgqpYPEfH2UziBdw4uFBqwTpRNrxZxR9Fon1vtDf3KOBFa7VPT0xtrKptQcp9iQZDJ0qvQFFBCF9um1sTPJalnBMVR4ApG-0lhMhGajWG0CeH0TNDURCn/s320/paul3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250957623795741890" border="0" /></a></p></blockquote></div><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-41111069350804278102008-09-07T20:15:00.000+02:002008-11-24T17:09:38.488+01:00Ghosting it forward ...<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><br />The charming lady Ewa of<b><a href="http://ewainthegarden.blogspot.com/"> Ewa in the Garden</a></b> has tagged me for a game of <a href="http://www.ghostingitforward.org/">Ghosting It Forward</a> in which the rules are:<div><br /><blockquote>1) Have a Ghostly Image to pass along.<br />2) Tag three people on your blog, with links to their blogs. Tell about what great folks they are, or offer to send them a Ghostly Treat.<br />3) Include a link to <a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://ghostingitforward.org/">Ghosting It Forward</a> in your blog.<br /></blockquote></div><div><br />The Spirits are about to speak!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MS09buG_p52-I2sig8UQffb8p7vrPBGHpO9XaGPya-1LP_y8VD23W9Gii73fqzkQH44oJt2jKsvSy1yXQQvd6mlnW7-Ae8JWYhoSo16tru2AOk0f_ZWFbIoKs7fZ9qC-fCQSFmutjSLw/s1600-h/agthekli.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260371377693180226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MS09buG_p52-I2sig8UQffb8p7vrPBGHpO9XaGPya-1LP_y8VD23W9Gii73fqzkQH44oJt2jKsvSy1yXQQvd6mlnW7-Ae8JWYhoSo16tru2AOk0f_ZWFbIoKs7fZ9qC-fCQSFmutjSLw/s200/agthekli.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px;" border="0" /></a>Now, if you have read my previous <a href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/03/gardening-tagaholics-ive-been-tagged.html"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">meme outbursts</span></a>, you would have read that Lady Greenthumb is not a particularly religious person in terms of Church not being an institution of God for me. Nevertheless, I know my deity/ies are somewhere up there, and I rather prefer to find them in Nature and any living being that shares this planet with me. I also know my own deities do not require me to cherish them with lavish cash donations towards their new BMW with personalized license plates reading ' Don Angelo ' (a true story from Croatia's very finest clergy), in order to demonstrate just how orderly devout I am. I don't have a firm opinion about ghosts or anything 'ghostly' but will believe whatever I find 'goosefleshy' enough. And speaking of the Unexplained and Supernatural, you've got my attention! So since the lovely Ewa has given me an opportunity to ghost it forward, here goes another story from my most favourite mythical destination - Kefalonia. I'll try to make it short this time...<br /><br />So here is my ghostly shot:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDdwfkT2SIxHiz7__afohl0tQvsxGoyeRRTMImPXULyki-Va04zx7Pm4_jzE9a_rJVrwFFnXx8lJXW-EewkRpgdo6Rb-A4hdzzEuwIcxHYRQ6WmVJmVa6JLvUCRLLQNouZ9OYxkpsI8gu/s1600-h/thekliagia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDdwfkT2SIxHiz7__afohl0tQvsxGoyeRRTMImPXULyki-Va04zx7Pm4_jzE9a_rJVrwFFnXx8lJXW-EewkRpgdo6Rb-A4hdzzEuwIcxHYRQ6WmVJmVa6JLvUCRLLQNouZ9OYxkpsI8gu/s400/thekliagia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260414229756515746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Location: Agia Thekli, an old, atmospheric,eerie but beautiful little mountainous village famous for it's extraordinary water sources and the homonymous church.<br /><br />I never enjoyed the worn-out tourist routes, but rather took pleasure in forgotten old village roads and dirt tracks. Taking the road less traveled by was always my cup of tea. It included getting lost in pitch dark, losing both the orientation and the road underneath which unexpectedly turned out to be one of many dead ends overlooking a deep chasm. But somehow we'd always find a way to one of these old villages. You couldn't drive through the picturesque Agia Thekli and not notice the strange looking statue in the churchyard. More for its disproportional figure than its exceptional beauty. And the fact that it had magnetic powers. There wasn't a person who traveled along with me that didn't want at least one memorial photo of the statue. So I would stop the car, people would take out their photo-capturing gadgets and<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7xFIWJsbe6BlUZ-Rp3mFYM41KGuE0YPtdff5sriYvfKX_TQmDScsxMp2lp29qr7BnljeVLieT31fxgNBC0bojHz2ih_gWKRwg_2TEV6mXmlYe-nfxxJj32qf5tmqjS2uqIsNs3_P3XlX/s1600-h/stthekli.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 104px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7xFIWJsbe6BlUZ-Rp3mFYM41KGuE0YPtdff5sriYvfKX_TQmDScsxMp2lp29qr7BnljeVLieT31fxgNBC0bojHz2ih_gWKRwg_2TEV6mXmlYe-nfxxJj32qf5tmqjS2uqIsNs3_P3XlX/s200/stthekli.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260416025078185186" border="0" /></a> try to take it from the car, but suddenly none of the devices worked. A camcorder got stuck, someone's camera batteries died and my camera went 'wicked'. So I though this lady out there obviously wants some serious attention. So the slothful crowd decided to step out of the car, walk over to the churchyard and pay some respect to both the statue and all the fallen local heroes she so proudly gave publicity to. That's when this shot originates from. I wondered through many photo shops and forums, but none of the experts could confidently say what the little circles represented and neither did they fit the definition of orbs. The strange thing is that they showed up on all of our cameras, so we have quite a few of these, taken with different camera models but with same ghostly circles. I always loved to speculate that it was the souls of the fallen heroes and in my head, it will forever represent those poor agonizing souls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqJ-Hnnb7UDriS_cEbzQ6Fe6mWEsOau_1TaQvJyT2IGjddIpOrqCye-cI2ToaMR1LRLxuBHoRqKtZfnShVcAvNFD2isE41kkgzsEUSnZx-1tIwUi3g6PzFNneRZOg3_3Usl3hO7CLjE9N/s1600-h/thekli1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqJ-Hnnb7UDriS_cEbzQ6Fe6mWEsOau_1TaQvJyT2IGjddIpOrqCye-cI2ToaMR1LRLxuBHoRqKtZfnShVcAvNFD2isE41kkgzsEUSnZx-1tIwUi3g6PzFNneRZOg3_3Usl3hO7CLjE9N/s200/thekli1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260417445821516642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The history reveals that during the 1940’s (World War II) many were those who participated and dropped dead in the battlefield. During the Resistance period the village hosted EAM's headquarters and that resulted in many executions by the Germans. In the yard of St.Nicolas Church there is a memorial with the names of all the executed</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">heroes.</span><br /><br />The village has remained a favorite stop during our further wanderings, especially after discovering its beautifying water spring. So much about Agia Thekli and another of my many fits of Kefalonia reminiscence. But to end this in style, I just have to share this poem with you. It opens the book 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' by Louis de Bernieres, and could have easily been encrypted underneath my ghostly statue, or any other whatsoever...<br /><blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >THE SOLDIER<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">by Humbert Wolfe (1916)</span><br /></span><br /><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" ><span class="style3"> Down some cold field in a world outspoken<br />the young men are walking together,<br />slim and tall,<br />and though they laugh to one another,<br />silence is not broken;<br />there is no sound however clear they call.<br /><br />They are speaking together<br />of what they loved in vain here,<br />but the air is too thin<br />to carry the things they say.<br />They were young and golden,<br />but they came on pain here,<br />and their youth is age now, their gold is grey.<br /><br />Yet their hearts are not changed,<br />and they cry to one another,<br />'What have they done with the lives we laid aside?<br />Are they young with our youth,<br />gold with our gold, my brother?<br />Do they smile in the face of death, because we died?'<br /><br />Down some cold field in a world uncharted<br />the young seek each other with questioning eyes.<br />They question each other,<br />the young, the golden hearted,<br />of the world that they were robbed of in their quiet paradise.</span></span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="style3" ><span style="color:Black;"></span></span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwL8rjogy-7BkpfCNAZBTAOOkHwvo4zSwPI5KdQf0rB41_Vg4UAp5Y9nNr-RgBLYmBlYH9UHPuOTNHuiuAukFsQzCkosoMnxHhZvAM1WPDQEmEAVGxp6iUvqTy0K9wNBdlKvDz5VqiW8c/s1600-h/greekflagkef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwL8rjogy-7BkpfCNAZBTAOOkHwvo4zSwPI5KdQf0rB41_Vg4UAp5Y9nNr-RgBLYmBlYH9UHPuOTNHuiuAukFsQzCkosoMnxHhZvAM1WPDQEmEAVGxp6iUvqTy0K9wNBdlKvDz5VqiW8c/s320/greekflagkef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261466425490929682" border="0" /></a><br />I find myself privileged to have encountered a pile of people who write fascinating blogs that I enjoy reading, and when meditating about eerie stuff, the following 'crackpots' spring to mind:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Shauna of the</span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://gardenbrae.blogspot.com/"><strong>GardenBrae</strong></a><b> - </b><span style="font-weight: bold;">a Scottish lass whose writing guarantees a great time and an abundance of laughs; before you start thinking she's another geezer like me, well no; more of a true artist, a lady full of intrigue and an overwhelming photographer; roaming the lovely braes somewhere in BC</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Joy of the</span> <a href="http://gardenjoy4.blogspot.com/"><strong style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">GardenJoy4Me</strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><strong> - need I introduce Joy who is probably an expert on Halloween and who would tell a better story than her very self so I can't wait to see what she has for this tag<br />3)<strong> <a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);" href="http://trescanis.blogspot.com/">HundeHaus</a></strong> for being a fabulous person who always gets me thinking and has made my day on more than one occasion. With her groovy sense of humor, and a kindred soul, that is simply inevitable.</strong><strong><br /></strong><b><strong><b><br /><em>Dear friends, you have all been adoringly ghosted! </em><br /><br /><br /></b></strong></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-66863970105943294812008-08-09T21:33:00.009+02:002008-09-06T23:31:44.545+02:00Holidays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiU2uq4Ee6dIgHurxoedURlaVZqiszK0zr0N-n3MgRRgh7JSncbXPUb8uP2Q05gHvFSZAuSNmBgVTFdnNRyd32dOur2Z1xjjlK648sTgm8oA2j_tMnGV4Kc_br9-9sIxS46UHKndisXdss/s1600-h/myrtos2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiU2uq4Ee6dIgHurxoedURlaVZqiszK0zr0N-n3MgRRgh7JSncbXPUb8uP2Q05gHvFSZAuSNmBgVTFdnNRyd32dOur2Z1xjjlK648sTgm8oA2j_tMnGV4Kc_br9-9sIxS46UHKndisXdss/s400/myrtos2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232605053891617266" border="0" /></a><br />Well, it's finally time for some relaxing and Ouzo. My green thumbs are off to Kefalonia, Greece to recharge their chlorophyll and restore the mental balance which they have lacked so evidently during these awful, scorching summer days. Days of cursing at fallen magnolia leaves and the stenching pond beneath are behind us. The only hard thing is having to part with our garden and the crew, and leave it in the hands of a mischievous, involuntary gardener and his wicked associates, the garden monkeys. Hopefully they will not use their brutal, bulky lawn mower on my front lawn, hopefully they will not overwater my plants as they usually do, hopefully they will follow the breadcrumbs trail towards the fertilizer, and remember to water the hanging baskets... Right, Dad? ''Hope for the best but prepare for the worst''.<br /><br /><br />Happy gardening to all our gardening friends out there and may the garden fairies bless you with some exquisite growth, blooms and fertile weather! See y'all in 2 weeks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Cheerio!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-17183741743399431912008-08-04T20:21:00.018+02:002008-11-13T18:24:30.593+01:00Garden walk ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeV0wTub4bbKQVLT4t0WcImWF99e5C3klbsj4Qr8Z0I4m0x7di6sK65uiYFKV83pygYbncBATGBjKm2QeH0uj0a33C2IO-ZqmEV3yKoZsxVXmoBG7KRFBNeguJk6Wb8VXbZYRniD9hhbr/s1600-h/hibiscus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeV0wTub4bbKQVLT4t0WcImWF99e5C3klbsj4Qr8Z0I4m0x7di6sK65uiYFKV83pygYbncBATGBjKm2QeH0uj0a33C2IO-ZqmEV3yKoZsxVXmoBG7KRFBNeguJk6Wb8VXbZYRniD9hhbr/s400/hibiscus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230737022979043746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hibiscus syriacus</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4kAbrp0cOxTwUdvHDA64athcS-XkcLXmrR6EC5HxPmewW6nt9JODzc0YmvpUELMumrlzOsru4r5nVr8I-QmkbbUYdanmHG3AzM1ZQHtyyrFyTlLNR8PRp-_c85NSsiM4NSdGo9iXkj7w/s1600-h/lagerst4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4kAbrp0cOxTwUdvHDA64athcS-XkcLXmrR6EC5HxPmewW6nt9JODzc0YmvpUELMumrlzOsru4r5nVr8I-QmkbbUYdanmHG3AzM1ZQHtyyrFyTlLNR8PRp-_c85NSsiM4NSdGo9iXkj7w/s400/lagerst4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230730518415784210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lagerstroemia indica<br /><br /></span></div>It's that time of the year! My crape myrtle is blooming. Crape myrtles are not very common in my area as they don't do well in this continental ambient. Not hardy enough, I was told. Mine lives in a protected south corner of the garden, wears a winter coat and few layers of soil and compost and has survived 3 winters so far. For a low maintenance that it demands, it is definitely one beautiful, rewarding tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr38PZhQnLh57DkWPDLWm-lYRHL16_k1bFoS8u1zw7hxv7ATubBOPycSiIzPzzcfpT5TrrFjo3tkNzo5-TamBgqk1J7y2ARs4wFizTWYhzcMlGg5jEYAbOCy0WuNMQxKZhrhHB5YOp3K6W/s1600-h/lagerst2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr38PZhQnLh57DkWPDLWm-lYRHL16_k1bFoS8u1zw7hxv7ATubBOPycSiIzPzzcfpT5TrrFjo3tkNzo5-TamBgqk1J7y2ARs4wFizTWYhzcMlGg5jEYAbOCy0WuNMQxKZhrhHB5YOp3K6W/s400/lagerst2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230732383101429298" border="0" /></a><br />I've been really busy lately and it's for a while now that I have hardly done any gardening as well as blogging. Even when I had the time I was either too tired or it was too hot to anything else but soak in the A/C.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GfFpPO4txQVJJQnw0wtBSGKbtOatmdjBfBhWivRkJUiMCUflLyl864YBBckljLgse-3U5TELSlGfWvdIwLZthggSevafyVT7EhwdRD2jMHuSCbLPcuwFYFNz6_2v7-L9n0HK6jQ9ZNWA/s1600-h/aureanana.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GfFpPO4txQVJJQnw0wtBSGKbtOatmdjBfBhWivRkJUiMCUflLyl864YBBckljLgse-3U5TELSlGfWvdIwLZthggSevafyVT7EhwdRD2jMHuSCbLPcuwFYFNz6_2v7-L9n0HK6jQ9ZNWA/s400/aureanana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230734167296302994" border="0" /></a>Newest garden addition: Thuja orientalis 'Aurea Nana' (a.k.a Platycladus orientalis A.N.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjddA3uwjbEHLrD6d2DMA6F-n0u7NqLPn1Px9AQ2f5qRfw_TVaQLgSp5QsTDr3DW8PgpitPoODT28Qc-X4nFAOt8h7yRmMcKVHTJQotxYyCkuR0AL3eba9L3fgh15vzieadbkEGoeEy7p/s1600-h/aureanan1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjddA3uwjbEHLrD6d2DMA6F-n0u7NqLPn1Px9AQ2f5qRfw_TVaQLgSp5QsTDr3DW8PgpitPoODT28Qc-X4nFAOt8h7yRmMcKVHTJQotxYyCkuR0AL3eba9L3fgh15vzieadbkEGoeEy7p/s400/aureanan1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230735735004828162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Di1gE9qZutxF7_pIVVHt4GFw_zrqBjPskcKtVO02NeW7PSabmVxvb7LtkWNGe2LciI70G4em2NHFsMnwh25O4rHTT4muyxbk6xyDJesL6sHBMcWjNJyr-4IQfv5eaNsKIY0CClXAmT0w/s1600-h/pampas1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Di1gE9qZutxF7_pIVVHt4GFw_zrqBjPskcKtVO02NeW7PSabmVxvb7LtkWNGe2LciI70G4em2NHFsMnwh25O4rHTT4muyxbk6xyDJesL6sHBMcWjNJyr-4IQfv5eaNsKIY0CClXAmT0w/s400/pampas1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230736077849939170" border="0" /></a>Pampass grass ('Pumila' variety') is about to expose its many brooms...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodbKvcxrVSOgJtE8ib3m6nyKlYPAHYol-JoFHdw7L_NgbcqLiU1NeQ7qoC_0dHdwVOJNYvojCM16jN-b4XNmVXdO3MJD-7GePH8WRTy82iLPmxccePWpXFWRVZ9PERImNDGmUcLNvctfw/s1600-h/cott1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodbKvcxrVSOgJtE8ib3m6nyKlYPAHYol-JoFHdw7L_NgbcqLiU1NeQ7qoC_0dHdwVOJNYvojCM16jN-b4XNmVXdO3MJD-7GePH8WRTy82iLPmxccePWpXFWRVZ9PERImNDGmUcLNvctfw/s400/cott1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230738785296982626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA74lyBLexZJv9fHJRjQe4DYcreziS-GyOMXBy87rofpbVLLtb69MdfHXB-9DfK4SnovZbeYBJ7QF74ZBiNJv9E4WKSFayeBLcwzLNkruz17HHjUimNdOgs33qCCZGDkBTeDJKlKxg8Muv/s1600-h/flbutterfly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA74lyBLexZJv9fHJRjQe4DYcreziS-GyOMXBy87rofpbVLLtb69MdfHXB-9DfK4SnovZbeYBJ7QF74ZBiNJv9E4WKSFayeBLcwzLNkruz17HHjUimNdOgs33qCCZGDkBTeDJKlKxg8Muv/s400/flbutterfly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739054084838674" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6pPz2UcyZAHe9VyYyhPPg4GzIZm2QAOOah8vuLyQw7K6muHcqZker4v2IxxJ7FZtRECGSH8pkDTN1waefRUySXZEK94xp4_Dy0R3CXKiv8nvGiwMeOo9Yo2zemlSpqQ7h0f9BgT5qzqc/s1600-h/pet3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6pPz2UcyZAHe9VyYyhPPg4GzIZm2QAOOah8vuLyQw7K6muHcqZker4v2IxxJ7FZtRECGSH8pkDTN1waefRUySXZEK94xp4_Dy0R3CXKiv8nvGiwMeOo9Yo2zemlSpqQ7h0f9BgT5qzqc/s320/pet3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230743941125258930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">hanging baskets</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcdecQz8KSOyO5mkqMBuzAE1DBL0R-NyHiJusnc-LM9ahEVWG87q2EwaYBgT6cDh5FYTfwQ8N2qy-vnW-vyaQEWQo-F1gxbe5hifTl7mmTtW_5-0vyTzhw3DcyPCHLwD8TpXrw21QXFsJ/s1600-h/pet2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcdecQz8KSOyO5mkqMBuzAE1DBL0R-NyHiJusnc-LM9ahEVWG87q2EwaYBgT6cDh5FYTfwQ8N2qy-vnW-vyaQEWQo-F1gxbe5hifTl7mmTtW_5-0vyTzhw3DcyPCHLwD8TpXrw21QXFsJ/s400/pet2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230743532291132578" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOMzVbhv-RR2tCEXnF8R6xS6FumooxSCjodMnPnF_hiA33bcCy34lfysAg7seQfa1MLv1BNcyyq2MmWKCGvaYTUZ4C2ZtDWnmg0tc1ssV0xD5WpNmcC_omPKJi86TeO-UIbL9MLne74Ky/s1600-h/wasp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOMzVbhv-RR2tCEXnF8R6xS6FumooxSCjodMnPnF_hiA33bcCy34lfysAg7seQfa1MLv1BNcyyq2MmWKCGvaYTUZ4C2ZtDWnmg0tc1ssV0xD5WpNmcC_omPKJi86TeO-UIbL9MLne74Ky/s400/wasp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230742760331698274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN4XgprQJtrDmMrJKauSrlXMwkE31rIGpDuCcKHp8ho2I6417i9ZlLQFFcxMl1rM75BOZXWBWT-7Sz_fN96-0yWA595lambCOS7CFu47VgAQhpCp2EM8kQ9Gsde0HnjaSYGH1DenF2Mwq/s1600-h/liatris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN4XgprQJtrDmMrJKauSrlXMwkE31rIGpDuCcKHp8ho2I6417i9ZlLQFFcxMl1rM75BOZXWBWT-7Sz_fN96-0yWA595lambCOS7CFu47VgAQhpCp2EM8kQ9Gsde0HnjaSYGH1DenF2Mwq/s400/liatris.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739207868773986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNV9mHRAj4Wf4P9tu_RBqgChFg79p-ZsR5ypaj14wHSxENE3UTqxnvdxrtn_Lvu3XnDi6Oz6Sq-Dlz4ggLcHtf4jO8Y5zHmDclIExgP18kCxPA8nM78HfyyVAtNA0I4K7RLY-DPr4qhDS/s1600-h/liv1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNV9mHRAj4Wf4P9tu_RBqgChFg79p-ZsR5ypaj14wHSxENE3UTqxnvdxrtn_Lvu3XnDi6Oz6Sq-Dlz4ggLcHtf4jO8Y5zHmDclIExgP18kCxPA8nM78HfyyVAtNA0I4K7RLY-DPr4qhDS/s200/liv1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230737812180429442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwHoZrrK_1EBekJp9lB8lXISui67ndjtSGyFvh4KQbVvScFwKMwT8aG4enRds4E8z6VRY045gWNMzl5EUgMOIwU3BCTts5hBFeZxhwBnBolwsGS50hGRPA5DrWVGiuYChbssbr9vXkiDm/s1600-h/liv2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwHoZrrK_1EBekJp9lB8lXISui67ndjtSGyFvh4KQbVvScFwKMwT8aG4enRds4E8z6VRY045gWNMzl5EUgMOIwU3BCTts5hBFeZxhwBnBolwsGS50hGRPA5DrWVGiuYChbssbr9vXkiDm/s200/liv2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230738160545079922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Newest garden toy: Solar dragonfly lights ( sadly enough, the real dragonflies don't find my garden, ponds or neighbours to be attractive, one or two per year is the best it gets; and since I couldn't have the real ones, I planted these lovely dragonfly lights in the shade of a pine tree)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IwF3nwsL3Uy79N4oRdhnMgPubuL6bddb_JOwy7eVvjVvd0845_f20z825NzikJik_biqPYQm-ETHTN7bN7ziZNobcSqKActfL14dsLfouaP2aXFPmRQFYbba6Mo7ZdvtopkP8FcOopnS/s1600-h/dragonfly1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IwF3nwsL3Uy79N4oRdhnMgPubuL6bddb_JOwy7eVvjVvd0845_f20z825NzikJik_biqPYQm-ETHTN7bN7ziZNobcSqKActfL14dsLfouaP2aXFPmRQFYbba6Mo7ZdvtopkP8FcOopnS/s400/dragonfly1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739829143139586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHIl34WIZr4yBmBoEZH21dLnNPxnjP_cIHHx44fXDhpzm8VP4VU5UHgtnQsDft9F-FhC6IMTyn6Pp5t5NUZgzMQrPQhGtmkqp6LuFeb_JXEcJ1X0HQVxaFo-GrrBGzaEx-TWwpsyJPtwN/s1600-h/dragonflies2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHIl34WIZr4yBmBoEZH21dLnNPxnjP_cIHHx44fXDhpzm8VP4VU5UHgtnQsDft9F-FhC6IMTyn6Pp5t5NUZgzMQrPQhGtmkqp6LuFeb_JXEcJ1X0HQVxaFo-GrrBGzaEx-TWwpsyJPtwN/s200/dragonflies2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230740853413384802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgye0aUM15qLvUpJTGVroS1WsXLsU0EuiqaLVkN_qDZxzclrOTxCCF1Dlovk7bPtYW9TccPtCrqIASykj46HtKQNYmnEuaCoKXJrRRd7mdoWXoP24lJL8d19YTbU8_Hq4w9CkGJAJenWpc8/s1600-h/dragonflies4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgye0aUM15qLvUpJTGVroS1WsXLsU0EuiqaLVkN_qDZxzclrOTxCCF1Dlovk7bPtYW9TccPtCrqIASykj46HtKQNYmnEuaCoKXJrRRd7mdoWXoP24lJL8d19YTbU8_Hq4w9CkGJAJenWpc8/s200/dragonflies4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230741370892245186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3FobLl4IuDFzNppXW4OPKtI-EfmhlwESshTZtHwhzZcz5FSSsVN69zpEi2Vqf6XHkW4re6WaKIaIf0VU6KtOXE0mOLpRXDzSa3GAiQZMIR5umoQdY8-P9RH__ZnCcRkcmNoyAjhoNehl/s1600-h/dragonflies1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3FobLl4IuDFzNppXW4OPKtI-EfmhlwESshTZtHwhzZcz5FSSsVN69zpEi2Vqf6XHkW4re6WaKIaIf0VU6KtOXE0mOLpRXDzSa3GAiQZMIR5umoQdY8-P9RH__ZnCcRkcmNoyAjhoNehl/s400/dragonflies1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230742420177129442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4w-pEn2rt389OIp9s7EQcHj9dnivw_pavBcgEoOV5FNrh66S-GDig4ON0wtiMhEr3JDMzLQqwKYxNrpmrISF_0voawQDFt8M39j3hUrnNH6EPZflEbYX4F38Zi3TqiUA0nOfyClU6uQ6/s1600-h/dragonflies3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4w-pEn2rt389OIp9s7EQcHj9dnivw_pavBcgEoOV5FNrh66S-GDig4ON0wtiMhEr3JDMzLQqwKYxNrpmrISF_0voawQDFt8M39j3hUrnNH6EPZflEbYX4F38Zi3TqiUA0nOfyClU6uQ6/s400/dragonflies3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230741807719073554" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-488907664471927182008-07-14T18:09:00.013+02:002008-11-13T18:24:31.544+01:00Magnolia disease<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirxVOPTXOwpplQ_YBtHJZhHK7mY3SXKZkLMu-45LlpumdVTVLqPN47ODCDn5EPs2wg3tGh-Xa-KzsUghCpF5jFo1_gcCSBh1NgBOdklW4vtoz2yrlOGkiESFXbgwiR9vh91Pzr2LEOGIi/s1600-h/magnolia1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirxVOPTXOwpplQ_YBtHJZhHK7mY3SXKZkLMu-45LlpumdVTVLqPN47ODCDn5EPs2wg3tGh-Xa-KzsUghCpF5jFo1_gcCSBh1NgBOdklW4vtoz2yrlOGkiESFXbgwiR9vh91Pzr2LEOGIi/s400/magnolia1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222926766327956226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Many shade trees are prone to one or more fungi that cause scattered, rather definite, round to oval or irregular spots on the leaves. The symptoms usually occur from late June through August.<br />Few spots on the leaves here and there do little or no significant harm to the tree and are far more unsightly than perilous. Nevertheless, leaf spots that start early in the growing season usually lead to premature defoliation. This is the first year ever I have noticed such occurence on my beloved Magnolia tree. Apart from it's age (its over 30 years old), it has an unusual and interesting trunk shape and a foliage that brings shelter in times of mental summer weather. It is surrounded by old Pine, Fir and Cedar tress, but through the years and many battles for a better share of sun rays, it has positioned and formed its lavish crown in the best possible way so that it gets its</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> fair share of afternoon sun. Since I could remember, it has always displayed a lavish</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86Sp5C6NeeTQJNTxJlobtppndt2VndliCCiMmKzLKTWpFkixMxUhzvwmjvs58h0WuhFZYKmnefnWEaS8AkB-4GXs-T6PL-L936mTrE3W3uQg1IjPZZ7vMB3kxVAqpVkJpS1490u-TQ8Cd/s1600-h/P1010312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86Sp5C6NeeTQJNTxJlobtppndt2VndliCCiMmKzLKTWpFkixMxUhzvwmjvs58h0WuhFZYKmnefnWEaS8AkB-4GXs-T6PL-L936mTrE3W3uQg1IjPZZ7vMB3kxVAqpVkJpS1490u-TQ8Cd/s200/P1010312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222928175509740626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> show of blooms each spring and the rich foliage that followed, creates a sort of a</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> towering umbrella above that particular part of the garden and enough shade for a garden table, some benches and a pond, making it a unique place with a refreshing climate even during the hottest days. These days it all boils down to removing excessive</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> foliage loss and cleaning the pond underneath clogged with dead leaves. The only lucky nuggets making profit in this story are the floating pond plants finally getting some reasonable amount of light. I don't mind any of that as long as my Princess Magnolia stays safe and sound. Losing such a relic tree would be inestimable.<br /><br />This year the bloom quantity was noticeably in decrease but I thought it was to do with the crazy and unusual weather that seems to surprise and affect just about everyone these days. Which is definitely one of the favorable factors for such a disease. For over a month now it has been losing its lush foliage. Considering the dry period that we've had, that wouldn't surprise me either, as most magnolias are intolerant of drought conditions. But then the following symptoms would alert even a nonchalant and unexperienced gardener like me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSU3ikqS2K-Yg9YGGK-i6oZOBRQPgfOxu6vgjqxKydV55mxkDyG5Ez_ny5LopuMa8Nr5WmTbI82Pbej5LW1R9TS36IH5TXJbXtuF1906am41vtPSzeUlwS8vmP73Qu_lFjOEFoEw7Klrv/s1600-h/leaf1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSU3ikqS2K-Yg9YGGK-i6oZOBRQPgfOxu6vgjqxKydV55mxkDyG5Ez_ny5LopuMa8Nr5WmTbI82Pbej5LW1R9TS36IH5TXJbXtuF1906am41vtPSzeUlwS8vmP73Qu_lFjOEFoEw7Klrv/s400/leaf1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222912054661640706" border="0" /></a><br />As far as the leaf spot goes, if it occurs for over two or more successive years, it can seriously weaken the tree, minimize its growth and increase its liability to winter injury and other diseases. </span><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-US" >Leaf spots commonly increase in number and size in late summer and early autumn<o:p></o:p><br />as the leaves begin to fall. The occurrence of a leaf spot disease late in the growing season generally<o:p></o:p> does not seriously affect the health of a tree. From the many varieties of the leaf spot disease, I believe I have uncovered the one in question here - PHYLLOSTICTA LEAF SPOT (if you think I might be wrong, do not hesitate to broaden my horizons ;-) I'm sure if Gil Grissom was here to help, he'd say <span style="font-style: italic;">There's always a clue...</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-US" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms9Cj3uwXQJhxMD7rfogUH0euXD1H0hwl7U2kYPYctG0d3OGJxFqf14bl574UzQMQUMKUqBXclONK2_Dt_QqFeL9zyCDHXw9aUJRM8BOJeopVcCfdEHliaYB89Hfbvcvb8K0gmuHWN57b/s1600-h/leaf2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms9Cj3uwXQJhxMD7rfogUH0euXD1H0hwl7U2kYPYctG0d3OGJxFqf14bl574UzQMQUMKUqBXclONK2_Dt_QqFeL9zyCDHXw9aUJRM8BOJeopVcCfdEHliaYB89Hfbvcvb8K0gmuHWN57b/s400/leaf2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222916960455436770" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ho/2005/fs0547.pdf"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:130%;">I have found some useful info from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ho/2005/fs0547.pdf"><span style="font-style: italic;">the University of Nevada factsheet,</span></a><br />where they studied the effects of such disease on </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Maples</span><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">SYMPTOMS</span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i><span style="">Phyllosticta</span> </i></span><span style="font-size:130%;">leaf</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> spot symptoms range from a few round spots or lesions<span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >that do not affect the overall tree, to early loss of leaves by mid to late summer from a severe infestation tha<span style="font-family:georgia;">t, </span>overtime, can debilitate the tree.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);" class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"> </p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBo7QkDP1OyNzBCGErxnnfbosf-9x82IzSwZm0Ezy-3ExCIWvIRl5Yz46P78X20qinnhasrhL6NfvEY3-0VKz3VJRr5ScK_pcuVQ9J2hXBYxiGoj0Q_6IA4NlCg13Uli7UWIAc9h0gouy/s1600-h/leaf3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBo7QkDP1OyNzBCGErxnnfbosf-9x82IzSwZm0Ezy-3ExCIWvIRl5Yz46P78X20qinnhasrhL6NfvEY3-0VKz3VJRr5ScK_pcuVQ9J2hXBYxiGoj0Q_6IA4NlCg13Uli7UWIAc9h0gouy/s200/leaf3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222922004375890002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The irregular, round, yellowish brown lesions are usually less than 5mm in diameter. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Under the right conditions, tiny black fruiting bodies of the </span><span style="font-size:130%;">pathogen (which can be seen with a hand lens or microscope) are produced, usually they form </span><span style="font-size:130%;">a circle. The center of these spots is dead tissue that easily breaks away leaving a hole.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p face="georgia" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">DISEASE CYCLE</span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204); font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wet weather in spring and early summer in successive years contributes to infectious </span><span style="font-size:130%;">development and growth of <i>Phyllosticta</i> <i>minima </i>leaf spots. Infection occurs on wet leaves by </span><span style="font-size:130%;">water-splashed spores. Black fruiting structures (pycnidia) develop in the center of the spots. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Infection is most severe in the lower third of the tree, where there is more moisture, as well as </span><span style="font-size:130%;">on soft tissues of newly emerging leaves. A severe infestation of this <i>Phyllosticta </i>species kills </span><span style="font-size:130%;">a large portion of the leaves which leads to premature leaf loss. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">CONTROL & DISEASE MANAGEMENT</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;">There are many strategies to minimize or eliminate damage from this disease. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">These include:</span></p><ul style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Removing </span><span style="font-size:130%;">and destroying leaves from </span><span style="font-size:130%;">trees infected with leaf spot disease prevents fungal pathogens from overwintering in fallen </span><span style="font-size:130%;">leaves on the ground</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Maintaining uniform soil moisture by regularly irrigating and mulching around young trees to prevent stress</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Avoiding overhead irrigation. If it is necessary to use overhead irrigation, water when foliage can dry quickly</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Spraying the tree, when necessary, with appropriately labeled fungicides to curtail or </span><span style="font-size:130%;">prevent further disease spread. Fungicide sprays may be used to control diseases of trees with </span><span style="font-size:130%;">a history of the disease. Fungicides must be applied before or during the early stages of </span><span style="font-size:130%;">infection, in early spring and summer, to obtain the best results. Fungicides act as protectants.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Little control can be expected after symptoms develop. If fungicides are </span><span style="font-size:130%;">necessary, use a product containing mancozeb (Dithane) or chlorothalonil (Bravo, Daconil) </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Removing, as a last resort, heavily infested branches to reduce the number of spores</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> available to infest the nearby healthy foliage</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0AhHzrmhpeRpDHIUU9b-C8Piqu-VDM9VDh2Y2AU6I5IMNNxi7NB8px6JkgBrzYndvXFMH11tYWdd4C4HnEO_xyorFDO61HYVIpN4DsWH4K69LRkDjiK3RM4BXtjkTyw54X_2q_qO7FPJ/s1600-h/magnolia2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0AhHzrmhpeRpDHIUU9b-C8Piqu-VDM9VDh2Y2AU6I5IMNNxi7NB8px6JkgBrzYndvXFMH11tYWdd4C4HnEO_xyorFDO61HYVIpN4DsWH4K69LRkDjiK3RM4BXtjkTyw54X_2q_qO7FPJ/s200/magnolia2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222928610457371378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">If the spotting caused by <i>Phyllosticta magnoliae</i> warrants control, periodic applications early in the growing season with copper fungicides would aid in controlling this disease.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">So then, early next spring, I will try with good old copper sulfate spray before the tree puts out the new growth and we'll see how it goes. If anyone's got a piece of advice or experience with such an issue, that odious blogger spell check shouldn't stop you from kindly helping the Princess Magnolia vs Leaf spot ;-)</span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Viooltje/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-1789887884540660222008-07-13T14:03:00.011+02:002008-11-13T18:24:31.842+01:00SAVING GRACE - SURPRISE PLANT<span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Surely there isn't a gardener who doesn't, from time to time witness a mysterious surprise plant on their premises. Whether it's the wind, the chopper seeds, the birdies, or any of the many garden monkeys, it stuns you when you bump into something that is not a product of your prolific green thumb, even if it's the most insignificant, misplaced weed. However there's one plant I surely wasn't expecting to find growing alongside my arborvitae hedge or anywhere else whatsoever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVEw2wwSd5ao41V7PE0u8o0Wv_tNvRTJiZm0iYMIagNl4TNmbqdOtyidtV1oOV-pk7EktAUgajyO7YtmcEwt6w9BFPCbtvcsB2T7FBusaCWS0-j5LnxBpxUrOnAN10Y-g1tspGXZAAE6D/s1600-h/csiplant1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVEw2wwSd5ao41V7PE0u8o0Wv_tNvRTJiZm0iYMIagNl4TNmbqdOtyidtV1oOV-pk7EktAUgajyO7YtmcEwt6w9BFPCbtvcsB2T7FBusaCWS0-j5LnxBpxUrOnAN10Y-g1tspGXZAAE6D/s400/csiplant1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222473043227491346" border="0" /></a><br />I was shocked at first, for there's nothing much growing in the far backyard apart from the side hedge and the rest is in a deep shade of old walnut trees. And I pass by every day with the Happy Paws crowd and blimey!, I can't believe I haven't noticed such a big specimen. It's gotta be about 80 cm tall and it's growing on the inner side of the arborvitae hedge. I stood there puzzled wondering how it got there. My dad spotted it first. And went on to show me something he discovered with a cheeky grin on his face. I said: ' Good grief Dad, have you been puffin' the magic dragon or what?' And he said in mischief: ' How would you know what this plant is anyway?'<br />I didn't plant it and there's obviously no hemp farms anywhere in the neighbourhood. There's a street though, alongside our property, and one of the houses, which I picturesquely call 'the Green house' by its facade, is full of students who are renting rooms. And quite often there's hysterical bouts of laughter and uncontrollable coughing fits coming from that direction accompanied with that general sense of euphoria. So that's what I see as a potential 'point of departure'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhEvspZaSP5Nykpd5nxdCTcrHao_2mzJ0LgtcGZeu3lC5eBxtyFO6kWT2S-g7MrNj7HFNCEeX9PHFtXAEegaN-KkdWkNDyHvrGRNMMXeCktFf7te3K3AvibdtDrErD3z8G2YfkvPtvZCz/s1600-h/csiplant3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhEvspZaSP5Nykpd5nxdCTcrHao_2mzJ0LgtcGZeu3lC5eBxtyFO6kWT2S-g7MrNj7HFNCEeX9PHFtXAEegaN-KkdWkNDyHvrGRNMMXeCktFf7te3K3AvibdtDrErD3z8G2YfkvPtvZCz/s200/csiplant3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222478461058510898" border="0" /></a>Unlike my ma and many people that I know, my dad didn't find it all that disturbing, after all, he always proudly points out that his hippie generation years have broaden his horizons LOL. I'll say!<br />Now before you get me all wrong, we are not a family of potheads! What would you do if such an 'interesting weed' just showed up in your garden? Would you pull it out like any other weed? Would you transplant it to a safer location, away from the prying street passersby? Would you call in your neighbours for a tea party ;-)? Or would you reluctantly dispose of it before Chief Wiggum drops by only to find out this is a serious felony?<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Anyway, this recent discovery has reminded me of a great motion picture I have seen several years ago, and although many gardeners have seen ' <a href="http://www.saving-grace-movie.com/cast_flash.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saving Grace</span></a>', not many people I know have even heard about it. Which is a shame, for it's a truly fabulous movie, it has been filmed at some great locations in the UK, has a significant gardening theme, abounds in great humour, great acting, and Craig Ferguson is both an awesome director and actor. I have watched it again last night and I was crying my eyes out.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The synopsis: A small-town English widow (</span></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Brenda Blethyn)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">, fa</span>cing financial troubles after her husband’s suicide, turns to agriculture of an illegal kind.<br /><br /><br /><object height="260" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AEX2mqdi-As&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AEX2mqdi-As&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="260" width="300"></embed></object><br /><br />There's much more to it, but if you haven't seen it yet, I strongly recommend it. It has got to be one of my favourite comedies and it's quite amusing to find out where Phalaenopsis hybridizing could take you...<br /><br />And of course, your comments on any other garden-themed movies and shows are very welcome.</span><br /><br /><object height="260" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JBg96UIXKQI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JBg96UIXKQI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="260" width="300"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-2179673724359521632008-07-12T15:37:00.017+02:002009-03-21T16:03:52.596+01:00Tagged again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXem-MtC6t2nMoxjlC1MJAWAwHScuTG2v2dWPp7QPz1Kofi9ZI-colv1XO2x2eyOgjgBWQWWQBdjpjMJa0YpeSfNF9Iz_TpBcgETDDK6So9pAZApuBwlr-oWNLpdsd5vIBduXujbUBUUs/s1600-h/sunflfield.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXem-MtC6t2nMoxjlC1MJAWAwHScuTG2v2dWPp7QPz1Kofi9ZI-colv1XO2x2eyOgjgBWQWWQBdjpjMJa0YpeSfNF9Iz_TpBcgETDDK6So9pAZApuBwlr-oWNLpdsd5vIBduXujbUBUUs/s320/sunflfield.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222152764614367154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />I thought one day or the other the<a href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/03/gardening-tagaholics-ive-been-tagged.html"> GTA diseas</a>e would strike back at me. Only a while ago, I was one of the many victims of the tagging plague. I boldly tried to fight back and key out the main symptoms. Little did it help, for the next thing you know, I was already spilling the beans. <a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/03/gardening-tagaholics-ive-been-tagged.html">That was back in March</a></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> This time the plague had disguised itself as the hilarious lady Irena of</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://myrootsrundeep.blogspot.com/">My Roots Run Deep</a> blog. You should visit her splendid blog for more juicy details. The guidelines are as follows:<br /><br />1. Link to the person who tagged you.<br />2. Post the rules on the blog.<br />3. Write six random things about yourself.<br />4. Tag six people at the end of your post.<br />5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.<br />6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinks5uH3_0RZ8C4JDz5-a7zdsTCWqwbdlx22fkAB83CB3MCyesZxNE16ZmEFsdDBzCikv49Ar11T-QaBwbF6WXAOQ9d0GOIy0toBDZ_0z2NZOHwkVFqkQrdhsWQsbibubtnkfTCeTnrDE6/s1600-h/old01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinks5uH3_0RZ8C4JDz5-a7zdsTCWqwbdlx22fkAB83CB3MCyesZxNE16ZmEFsdDBzCikv49Ar11T-QaBwbF6WXAOQ9d0GOIy0toBDZ_0z2NZOHwkVFqkQrdhsWQsbibubtnkfTCeTnrDE6/s320/old01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222155079600284210" border="0" /></a><br />Without any further antics, I yield to GTA once more and here are another six things you didn't and needn't know about just another renegade gardener:<br /><br />1. I have the Restless Legs Syndrome (<a style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" href="http://www.alive.com/712a2a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=114">RLS</a>). Millions of people can't sleep at night because their legs tingle and itch in bed, forcing them to get up and walk around until they are utterly exhausted. The symptoms I experience are only of a mild nature and occur from time to time, at night, when I lay still. In the recent years, having a garden of my own, I often get so tired, I don't even have time to think about restless legs, never mind experience the symptoms. The cause of RLS was hitherto completely unknown. Combined with my fidgety spirit, here's what springs to mind...<br /><br />2. ...now that the summer holidays are coming up, let me just mention how much I hate beaches, not as in landscape features and stunning views, but as in umbrellas and sunbeds. I hate the whole idea of laying down for hours, even minutes, just barbecueing yourself, amid hundreds of other think-a-likes, packed like a can of sardines. I live in a beautiful Mediterranean country, with breathtaking landscape and coastal area, and thousands of picturesque beaches and coves, but beaches as means of rotting on a piece of sun bed - not my cup of tea! I'll rather climb up the rocks, hills and mountains looking for wildflowers and breathtaking vistas, and will roam as far as my fidgety feet will take me, looking for hidden coves, secluded bays and untamed beauty.<br /><br />3. I love cars and the smell of gas oil. When I bought my first car, my dad followed me home in his car and we both got pulled over for speeding. And the officer didn't fancy donuts.<br /><br />4. I'm a big fan of Oscar Wilde's work.<br /><br />5. I have a birthmark on my left arm which</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-size:130%;">could vaguely be interpreted as '666'. I said 'vaguely' didn't I?<br /><br />6. I could never and will never be able to come to terms with animal abuse and cruelty. Nothing could ever make me as sad, shocked and ashamed of my human origin.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm going to tag the following six bloggers, mostly for the fact that I have found them to be very intriguing people and will surely enjoy reading their random facts.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >1. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://gardenbrae.blogspot.com/">The Garden Brae</a><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >2. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://thebrendablog.typepad.com/">The Brenda Blog</a><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >3. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://rosorochris.blogspot.com/">Roses and stuff</a><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >4. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://www.ewainthegarden.blogspot.com/">Ewa in the Garden</a><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >5. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://trescanis.blogspot.com/">Hunde Haus</a><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:130%;" >6. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://vegplotting.blogspot.com/">Veg Plotting</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRB2lX7fdLsyZhH0YQXT7DDBb-yMJhb0fvrQAX-W4nUiwf1kxJkVTEBAbEYUt_7EGOzCuOkTQIf-O7Z6lNdYqEqCfcGRIEJOTFnqQn2c9kR6eS67PKvCT1DBDwf5z3Qya4hia8hYdyjXH/s1600-h/stewie7wtms7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRB2lX7fdLsyZhH0YQXT7DDBb-yMJhb0fvrQAX-W4nUiwf1kxJkVTEBAbEYUt_7EGOzCuOkTQIf-O7Z6lNdYqEqCfcGRIEJOTFnqQn2c9kR6eS67PKvCT1DBDwf5z3Qya4hia8hYdyjXH/s320/stewie7wtms7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222152079926708114" border="0" /></a><br />Of course, you aren’t <em>obliged</em> to do this, and if you have done it already, my excuses for tagging you all over again - but I’d certainly like it if you did.<br /><br />Cheers everyone!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-48889422162258805712008-07-12T12:09:00.000+02:002008-11-13T18:24:33.358+01:00Happy Paws bounce back<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG1cCJu87V82e50DFNHUvWDSU0ukP_rQcXPGiw8tqoPgqfbQpglYCFsyuL9Alz60G_ETaOoonG-K6mfBPvrh56XJN0CrqRt6dJR_kCFTpu1Qe5Go5sAkWLqmh2QgXmKTLeLpfmS8hm9hk/s1600-h/maleni1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG1cCJu87V82e50DFNHUvWDSU0ukP_rQcXPGiw8tqoPgqfbQpglYCFsyuL9Alz60G_ETaOoonG-K6mfBPvrh56XJN0CrqRt6dJR_kCFTpu1Qe5Go5sAkWLqmh2QgXmKTLeLpfmS8hm9hk/s400/maleni1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222115731712485698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmv6P9-lzQmy0aoOkJjn-yE2V9V5dHzF9Ge4yL0-4bqfXIQaiFRYJVTiFqr5IT9ojpEo6wq4dQ2CckfvmPIqHEjbHvFLSC9gfj3VZEU5NdpAm8FKFbb6-Uy7XfKbu0dP1r4pN3R89uVEm/s1600-h/maleni2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmv6P9-lzQmy0aoOkJjn-yE2V9V5dHzF9Ge4yL0-4bqfXIQaiFRYJVTiFqr5IT9ojpEo6wq4dQ2CckfvmPIqHEjbHvFLSC9gfj3VZEU5NdpAm8FKFbb6-Uy7XfKbu0dP1r4pN3R89uVEm/s400/maleni2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222116141161561522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-Ktu7rSHaYdDbe4TIKFA4WBRzNQ4feJU3rwLYoVbn5PqZwtkLzj78oyiHcXcHt9TMCM9dB5s5aq_prmnICcODHKSqjftr2YT7NEy31quCla86aJecr1B8gBoz0Rs-PQIeJ0iBniLgaFg/s1600-h/bobbyP101028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-Ktu7rSHaYdDbe4TIKFA4WBRzNQ4feJU3rwLYoVbn5PqZwtkLzj78oyiHcXcHt9TMCM9dB5s5aq_prmnICcODHKSqjftr2YT7NEy31quCla86aJecr1B8gBoz0Rs-PQIeJ0iBniLgaFg/s200/bobbyP101028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222120292345245986" border="0" /></a><br />Days of apathy and anemia are long gone. Maleni is back to his usual 'higglety-pigglety' self, it's so good to see his 'wild spirit' back. He had a week of 'controlled rest' period to restore his youthful energy and he couldn't wait to run free through the backyard and do a little sprinkle here and there and alter any territorial changes Bobby might have made while he was recuperating. He wishes to thank all of you for the support and is aware of the fact how lucky he was to get away with such a serious illness with no significant consequences, unlike his other furry friends who have been suffering for weeks.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD34j-bUVDqRdBZSNMpOoFAvnweK7OZMTEwsqFy9gMaGcl8K4vVdssilFEPk7Z9g11rFvi5ZQ7ZXDmGEYb-_7WlKIJp4FNCUpjIDPllaXpV-MSrR4hI1sbTS1sxVwnXaElE2lXn1GC57ik/s1600-h/malnerw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD34j-bUVDqRdBZSNMpOoFAvnweK7OZMTEwsqFy9gMaGcl8K4vVdssilFEPk7Z9g11rFvi5ZQ7ZXDmGEYb-_7WlKIJp4FNCUpjIDPllaXpV-MSrR4hI1sbTS1sxVwnXaElE2lXn1GC57ik/s400/malnerw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222118173595066290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">... eating apples with Nera ...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpQO-wv-tFuCjHrCc8gTsWnKcXoIPrPzg1csSRKL-v2hibKWMgsLXzVhT-xfYYglVEsGtGMNVrw4u2JWZrs9CrVkuilJ6t_LtruBvN93aekQX5dR7UGo9XliH9VnSA4BqY7DW3lI2JQWa/s1600-h/malnera.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpQO-wv-tFuCjHrCc8gTsWnKcXoIPrPzg1csSRKL-v2hibKWMgsLXzVhT-xfYYglVEsGtGMNVrw4u2JWZrs9CrVkuilJ6t_LtruBvN93aekQX5dR7UGo9XliH9VnSA4BqY7DW3lI2JQWa/s400/malnera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222119202178285506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-85193864999153373212008-07-02T20:43:00.004+02:002008-11-13T18:24:33.531+01:00Happy Paws are bedridden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfO0QYyiGLDSzrx_WVcFIRn-x_C79D6G75mKMCjfiBWj9kjOtPET5rkdQ0MD-_cSH2qC-H6KQ26Q8oCMcMI3QEaZdW1uu7g0X-27966Bx7w2lmqTBau54KOqiEE_BguBI7vIuTz5v3lvM/s1600-h/malenoP406067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfO0QYyiGLDSzrx_WVcFIRn-x_C79D6G75mKMCjfiBWj9kjOtPET5rkdQ0MD-_cSH2qC-H6KQ26Q8oCMcMI3QEaZdW1uu7g0X-27966Bx7w2lmqTBau54KOqiEE_BguBI7vIuTz5v3lvM/s400/malenoP406067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218417615788672946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TICK FEVER</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >We've had quite a scare! Yesterday afternoon I noticed something was wrong with my dearest happy paws, </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Maleni</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >. All of a sudden, he just refused to eat and was lethargic, actually quite lethargic for a dog of his wild temper and energy. He seemed so sad all afternoon but then we went for a walk and he was his usual fidgety self. So this morning we went to see his vet and the worst of my fears have been confirmed: </span><a href="http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_babesia_infection_in_dogs.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Babesiosis</span></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >. I suspected that when I realized he's got a bad fever and his gum was all pale. Although he's got all possible tick protection including Frontline and sprays, and never leaves his yard (unless we go for a trip or walk somewhere), and we always comb their fur into details, some of those little bastards have found their way to our garden. I've run into a few this spring and since I'm as appalled by ticks as I am by spiders, I made my dad spray the area with insecticide, as I always dreaded any of my pets getting the ' bad' one. Obviously all the good ones (butterflies, bees, wasps) have been affected by the deadly spraying but the bastards have survived. And as our vet says, there's no reliable protection anymore as there's so many mutated types of ticks that are prone to all known repellents and remedies. We have not found any ticks on the dog but that doesn't mean he didn't have one for a certain period of time. The newest research shows that only a bite is enough for this tick-borne disease to infect your pet (as opposed to 30hours or longer of bloodsucking that was thought to be needed for the disease to be transmitted). The vet treated him with Imidocarb + Vitamin B + Antibiotic shot and said he thinks Happy Paws came right on time and should probably recover without any serious problems. I so hope he's right, I would never forgive myself for not taking him there immediately as he first refused to eat, but I thought it was 'just' another something that he ate and didn't feel well on his stomach. I believe every hour is important in fighting such a serious illness, and in a weird sort of way, I'm so glad he had all those symptoms, for some dogs are known not to develop any until it's too late. I experienced that one too.<br />Even though lethargic and all, Maleni was quite unpeaceful and upset during examination and it took four of us to tame the beast. After all, he is a very strong and vital dog. After a long period of apathy, later this evening he finally had enough of food strike, got up and ate (stole) all of the cat food. And then ate a full bowl of Frolics, his favorite dog treats. I saw a glimpse of new life in those pretty eyes and very soon he started walking about and even barking at distant dog sounds. I guess that Imidocarb shot really did start to work (the vet said he should be better within 24 hours). We're going to have a little rest for now, after all, it's been one hell of a long day. Happy Paws will write back soon and let you know all about his recovery process.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://stat.radioblogclub.com/radio.blog/skins/mini/player.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" width="180" height="23" bgcolor="#CCFF00" id="radioblog_player_-1" FlashVars="id=-1&filepath=http://www.radioblogclub.com/listen2?u=18yN1MDM58iNy8iNvYDMwIzLzVGbpZ2Lt92Yu4WZkVGbpZmL3d3d/heaintheavyhesmybrother.rbs&colors=body:#CCFF00;border:#336600;button:#99CC00;player_text:#333300;playlist_text:#999999;" ></embed><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-18715724808164148322008-07-01T19:16:00.012+02:002008-11-13T18:24:36.178+01:00Wordless tuesday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWFGXZClyUt4IE_XIFgg0q2EZI_FPNsFA0fdYW9bhpY8uL40J2pZnvaitGyZUadsHjqLmW3cOjOOJzOgA_cpGJULH22p24vz7C6-mSMVLPoO_LC_JH7EQ7gyR1opDI_sCZIZk3AZa52MT/s1600-h/hemerocallisp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWFGXZClyUt4IE_XIFgg0q2EZI_FPNsFA0fdYW9bhpY8uL40J2pZnvaitGyZUadsHjqLmW3cOjOOJzOgA_cpGJULH22p24vz7C6-mSMVLPoO_LC_JH7EQ7gyR1opDI_sCZIZk3AZa52MT/s400/hemerocallisp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218095978633800466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Hemerocallis 'Jockey Club'</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqnk8cGmJpmFdf_VC0U0JO7Cbv6Vd3hVodo_EpT2_pVBVAlj6eF4qSjk6y_6Jfh8Hxp9meOjy3mvbAtXdddRX9CZRJ4vdB5WUJ8wUf0mEgr9scwrFJm_hG0FSqdJvwPDcxgxse0uFYT2i/s1600-h/hem.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqnk8cGmJpmFdf_VC0U0JO7Cbv6Vd3hVodo_EpT2_pVBVAlj6eF4qSjk6y_6Jfh8Hxp9meOjy3mvbAtXdddRX9CZRJ4vdB5WUJ8wUf0mEgr9scwrFJm_hG0FSqdJvwPDcxgxse0uFYT2i/s400/hem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218102935155937762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt5igBh1YzdCXqdw4lX4R77ohxzVODax4HVPK7l5G8RAn2KwL6UXwIpChaZkJLq4tGXmwLZUG7j-RS_FrBB3MB_Ctc7740Oxtcx2C_cClaJMnj_wKy7qeIc19_XXfsPD4tD4JYdn_kvih/s1600-h/hemerocal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt5igBh1YzdCXqdw4lX4R77ohxzVODax4HVPK7l5G8RAn2KwL6UXwIpChaZkJLq4tGXmwLZUG7j-RS_FrBB3MB_Ctc7740Oxtcx2C_cClaJMnj_wKy7qeIc19_XXfsPD4tD4JYdn_kvih/s400/hemerocal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218096381504868914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Hemerocallis fulva</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNOgejKPZ6WWsPvzMEaIhiQID286aJlmLR6PLLzXPueu1J3XL5PU0e6oTmESmg5RIxHRid-h4uRBtVoxf3LkHjg9adg_8I2Az8audOiphfz2nkDTa3v9mgI2OZdOP6lVOkNyu42emx9w_/s1600-h/passifl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNOgejKPZ6WWsPvzMEaIhiQID286aJlmLR6PLLzXPueu1J3XL5PU0e6oTmESmg5RIxHRid-h4uRBtVoxf3LkHjg9adg_8I2Az8audOiphfz2nkDTa3v9mgI2OZdOP6lVOkNyu42emx9w_/s400/passifl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218096869103071890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Passiflora ''Victoria''<br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0nJuHCwNljUcR0Fg9Gs1laLKdb_0ReAZ6XjGr-Tz0zAwNCdWp6juk3RIIlnagYzrfUMAqzm1jMJHjmXUG7-Jf1kN3Dmm7gdwzTcNrRhV99hLFPfIR3HQWueWjjVkF3FVm3zgdeKJm2TL/s1600-h/passifv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0nJuHCwNljUcR0Fg9Gs1laLKdb_0ReAZ6XjGr-Tz0zAwNCdWp6juk3RIIlnagYzrfUMAqzm1jMJHjmXUG7-Jf1kN3Dmm7gdwzTcNrRhV99hLFPfIR3HQWueWjjVkF3FVm3zgdeKJm2TL/s400/passifv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218097091902234658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGEdDmPMbwH8Gl8stymrvhfWfYqOA443UmyLXH6ZB_-Qv0EK-IoMMDknFMOGvaFVEaITTp5lBVGZhu_KnwECy0Le5acmNWyv9QanvkPQC3gaEsBFq-RS_ySU8EuizOG6NwfbygG1SZHQt/s1600-h/calla.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGEdDmPMbwH8Gl8stymrvhfWfYqOA443UmyLXH6ZB_-Qv0EK-IoMMDknFMOGvaFVEaITTp5lBVGZhu_KnwECy0Le5acmNWyv9QanvkPQC3gaEsBFq-RS_ySU8EuizOG6NwfbygG1SZHQt/s400/calla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218097864175336930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Calla lily<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAr6yb51lLKkogddsUt9Bck8-MES4gqD1aEX413l2wM9-S8UW6MmnQonGFJgIGwqHRi4cIGN2dgnqRCM7-HKSSC4dwuAvktc9J512ERap2D0ZaMt3YEOS1lzA6DoxWktbq4F5F2yavpx6/s1600-h/kriistina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAr6yb51lLKkogddsUt9Bck8-MES4gqD1aEX413l2wM9-S8UW6MmnQonGFJgIGwqHRi4cIGN2dgnqRCM7-HKSSC4dwuAvktc9J512ERap2D0ZaMt3YEOS1lzA6DoxWktbq4F5F2yavpx6/s400/kriistina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218096577355655634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Cattus domesticus<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiIAR3ck_22R5893XJ2_uCMtyo4I3qSYLTPmyZ1ic_Llodlrc5ebpkLFGnQpFkOeU_2Ecxt7PD1LuyYJ4wTgfygKUKKVn-hVuq6R9stWqlak5ztVaVqwYgOkW2Eyr_jBbezcNH15ex6rM/s1600-h/albizia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiIAR3ck_22R5893XJ2_uCMtyo4I3qSYLTPmyZ1ic_Llodlrc5ebpkLFGnQpFkOeU_2Ecxt7PD1LuyYJ4wTgfygKUKKVn-hVuq6R9stWqlak5ztVaVqwYgOkW2Eyr_jBbezcNH15ex6rM/s400/albizia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218097317958045234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Albizia julibrissin<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlstz1EEtWlDyywujGmS7v11Tf4M1Mq6VOc0_ztgYT1FqaGRPZdAfI4BWWeP-C-7-7q0ITI5XEnbIU1a3qsVNFrIeac8up6Uho6hXKj3_ta7Pkl0FMpS3gTYDrA9xv6VqrN0_sjgasU8n/s1600-h/agave.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlstz1EEtWlDyywujGmS7v11Tf4M1Mq6VOc0_ztgYT1FqaGRPZdAfI4BWWeP-C-7-7q0ITI5XEnbIU1a3qsVNFrIeac8up6Uho6hXKj3_ta7Pkl0FMpS3gTYDrA9xv6VqrN0_sjgasU8n/s400/agave.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218097660934249586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Agave americana<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywuJ_N5HysfCn6YExfzem4EGpeXI2MDilK4LYaIIDkkMPPym5lVwOQUCkHcD2vJBu4iYMprCgNYfayyNbXfEcPhsr0lLkVFXf6__WyHEag_coH552Eob5epsXIGEkX4m576JSfLXkNK5X/s1600-h/adam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywuJ_N5HysfCn6YExfzem4EGpeXI2MDilK4LYaIIDkkMPPym5lVwOQUCkHcD2vJBu4iYMprCgNYfayyNbXfEcPhsr0lLkVFXf6__WyHEag_coH552Eob5epsXIGEkX4m576JSfLXkNK5X/s400/adam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218098151258388930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Alocasia macrorrhiza<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7frFLuSS6r9K-FSUg5oc2XwhlqpLgBIXC08E34Ihf2845E1wlp4zry_XPezpjwUsvggio_v8la0Hd0Mt0BLgjjkkJXJHxAViLp2zgSE81w7T-1VWoEu8Gc9MexQyVfNHzgvqBFGaNQet/s1600-h/eucomis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7frFLuSS6r9K-FSUg5oc2XwhlqpLgBIXC08E34Ihf2845E1wlp4zry_XPezpjwUsvggio_v8la0Hd0Mt0BLgjjkkJXJHxAViLp2zgSE81w7T-1VWoEu8Gc9MexQyVfNHzgvqBFGaNQet/s400/eucomis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218099223385498946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Eucomis bicolor</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_s9-hUBXfXciCpBfDmfczKDHKR14cIy5BYTWZwgDUSNB6eSj5YG7sapEU_Qx3UZiB9SLUDQcJCr4AdfVppUjBTpcxdj2uEtELnzM6cj0gFg9u1xFrN0v1asYNl-FmFi3Zr66Pot50PHJ/s1600-h/yuccafl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_s9-hUBXfXciCpBfDmfczKDHKR14cIy5BYTWZwgDUSNB6eSj5YG7sapEU_Qx3UZiB9SLUDQcJCr4AdfVppUjBTpcxdj2uEtELnzM6cj0gFg9u1xFrN0v1asYNl-FmFi3Zr66Pot50PHJ/s400/yuccafl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218098557900026498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Yucca flowers<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi893XhXpL5fxExu_7WpJ3NX53gri6UqlsA5kLV64Pu-ZXWvhf5pOLJNIBtepxjDlmY2xst45-T_PUtkIZhDsI7Du6Io4-N7lnvQo21Gx9MZCVbVB58QpWjkBF-VoMdhkIN2EWyDSHyXgC3/s1600-h/cotinus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi893XhXpL5fxExu_7WpJ3NX53gri6UqlsA5kLV64Pu-ZXWvhf5pOLJNIBtepxjDlmY2xst45-T_PUtkIZhDsI7Du6Io4-N7lnvQo21Gx9MZCVbVB58QpWjkBF-VoMdhkIN2EWyDSHyXgC3/s400/cotinus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218103323862668706" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204); font-style: italic;">Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GxY86g8WmKdwMDXO54LTmlHH0s838EJPQBcUZWwOMZ70PfX7feAlgZj_wQgUSPkyqzJ6ZVRvXKrQizn9LyfzFyOaS4AMS4rmh77ed7bWJOr7TgZRL5MzIl3EpIU7vc909WibZ0ZDdmla/s1600-h/salvinia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GxY86g8WmKdwMDXO54LTmlHH0s838EJPQBcUZWwOMZ70PfX7feAlgZj_wQgUSPkyqzJ6ZVRvXKrQizn9LyfzFyOaS4AMS4rmh77ed7bWJOr7TgZRL5MzIl3EpIU7vc909WibZ0ZDdmla/s400/salvinia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218101189603594242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Salvinia<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b1gTWXdf9GLMOXyPvyyU0NKwsS3Vwwiwuqy3wNj3u0pae3_O91bAapWYVf_By1EMWuvtho7sBvGOZyG9yT_uArhyphenhyphenEWCdY2XzvUxdkn6moYwaEKsXo1TQUB4tBukIh1aBCzb56-Kls3Pc/s1600-h/ruza.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b1gTWXdf9GLMOXyPvyyU0NKwsS3Vwwiwuqy3wNj3u0pae3_O91bAapWYVf_By1EMWuvtho7sBvGOZyG9yT_uArhyphenhyphenEWCdY2XzvUxdkn6moYwaEKsXo1TQUB4tBukIh1aBCzb56-Kls3Pc/s400/ruza.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218102682555989282" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-34198987837260617712008-06-27T17:42:00.008+02:002008-11-13T18:24:37.941+01:00Garden crew - Gods and dogs<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Cats know how to obtain food without labor,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> shelter without confinement, and love without penalties. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">- W. L. George</span></blockquote><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/03/garden-crew.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe8TcxCaBxXJVhAKyYitlfp4Vh6F-XjgK2E12-fHR6SH91EiTmPxBe_2vh5cn2s5pX0We-7fHnXClBlSaJZrQSn2IkaK-kTY-IuPnZT4j-U4xTKbw1E6CzsmkmsseLJ2TaZdnwjK8SHgL/s400/mace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185348333868488658" border="0" /></a><a href="http://ceanothus.blogspot.com/2008/03/garden-crew.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">--> Krusty, Kristy and mummy</span></span></a><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">You have already met the Gods, now it's time to meet the Dogs.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm7VySh_qgM1232ak5G_NLdBJjV_ayi_5LnhFOwebTIfHaduYOBP2WlFRjZpOnTtYDuvKokx5ACVKZvfwVj2BYFzYUZQr_dybIpKFoS1AWlQEvQwUM_Yg6ny9TgoxlmMql_Ucn0_M5pDQ/s1600-h/neramaleni.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm7VySh_qgM1232ak5G_NLdBJjV_ayi_5LnhFOwebTIfHaduYOBP2WlFRjZpOnTtYDuvKokx5ACVKZvfwVj2BYFzYUZQr_dybIpKFoS1AWlQEvQwUM_Yg6ny9TgoxlmMql_Ucn0_M5pDQ/s400/neramaleni.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195100502573738034" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > "He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog." - </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Gene Hill</span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NERA<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSmtgby2goaZDEAJEFpeLy_Jdl-VASHxag5EzAGP9LNnluJnp_D6Ntk8gfdK7he_0gpsMPNxqv-nx_kc7sDU6MQo_LK6mxI-ZpD92HkVypcWJbgAzr7dbua44R6l2kXaDiJBvSMvMspJg/s1600-h/nera.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSmtgby2goaZDEAJEFpeLy_Jdl-VASHxag5EzAGP9LNnluJnp_D6Ntk8gfdK7he_0gpsMPNxqv-nx_kc7sDU6MQo_LK6mxI-ZpD92HkVypcWJbgAzr7dbua44R6l2kXaDiJBvSMvMspJg/s400/nera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195111781157857346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Ladies first. Nera (age: 8) is the oldest of the three. And she's the Lady of the house. She came 10 months after my first dog died. I thought I would never get over it, I kept hearing his sighs whenever I passed by his favorite sleeping spot... I will save that story for a special post. A tiny, mischievous pup named </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Nera</span><span style="font-size:100%;">( after her black, velvety fur), brought happiness and life back to our empty home. She grew to be one wonderfully good-natured and beyond tolerant dog. She's one of these dogs who think all people are alike and dog-lovers, and she would like to shake paws with each and every single one. Definitely not a watch dog as she's too friendly and naive. When it comes to dogs though, especially males, she can be quite coquettish one second and pretty harsh the next. Respect! I always thought that's one of her nicest manners (lol). Her dad was a Rotweiller (a pretty aggressive one as his owner was a total nutjob), and her ma was a German Hunt Terrier (owned by a poor, old man living in an old shabby house, on the edge of existence, but caring more for his dogs than himself). We used to help him since kids age, and found home to many of his pups. That's how tiny Nera ended up in our home. She's also one of the most voracious dogs I know. She lives better than most people, and has everything a dog could wish for yet if it was up to her cheeky self, she'd probably be too obese to walk. She eats anything from carrots, garlic, bananas, apple pies, pancakes, all the way to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDq21Aa0S8m40nuUaAxOIyn_Oh4q95QOYiQi4b0bcTDOi40ArXjlKzRTzvOmu_cQX0pFMK7H3dPIJBFoqMGw9lZWSH0qSDApDncYlszAxWPfSCF_45DpiuQ84-bLD7rG4b-0JsDIbVM2P/s1600-h/nera1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDq21Aa0S8m40nuUaAxOIyn_Oh4q95QOYiQi4b0bcTDOi40ArXjlKzRTzvOmu_cQX0pFMK7H3dPIJBFoqMGw9lZWSH0qSDApDncYlszAxWPfSCF_45DpiuQ84-bLD7rG4b-0JsDIbVM2P/s200/nera1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216577798987064034" border="0" /></a> stealing roast chicken and BBQ stakes when the chef suddenly gets distracted by a phone call. Her middle name is 'Omnivora', giving new meaning to the phrase ' You are what you eat'. Even though well-mannered (???) , she once ate my dad's birthday cake even though it was high up on the kitchen cabinet. Chocolate stuff are her favorite flavors. Although we try not to give her any sweets, every now and then she steals a cookie. Or two.She used to be the fastest dog in the neighborhood and the friendliest too. Now having a yard of her own, and proud male dogs to keep an eye on, she's just happy to show the boys who the boss is. She is quite timid when it comes to sporting and football events, New Year's celebrations and fireworks, and thunderstorms. Her usual episodes of anxiety include hiding, shaking and looking for safe places. We often try to mask the football mania and the firecrackers by playing the radio real loud, and her favourite is the ' Hound dog' obviously.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >MALENI</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5-zYWwZCkBeP9KKXgqVOvjHsxGRhVHQetd7AUq6y1EaMvYHjXv7tSzDfA7pJfPuZHnRex3xEUisQTmVTCat5p9TNpi6AmiuXgi3jZfjaOsDuLndb28BTkH9sSChr5Gnot6SP5H9elrYQ/s1600-h/maleni.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5-zYWwZCkBeP9KKXgqVOvjHsxGRhVHQetd7AUq6y1EaMvYHjXv7tSzDfA7pJfPuZHnRex3xEUisQTmVTCat5p9TNpi6AmiuXgi3jZfjaOsDuLndb28BTkH9sSChr5Gnot6SP5H9elrYQ/s400/maleni.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195129257379784786" border="0" /></a><br />Nera's younger brother, actually they had the same mother, that was run down by a car on Xmas Eve six years ago, just a few weeks after Maleni was born. He also ended up in our home, we were supposed to find a nice, new family for him but never got to that part. Motherly Nera took such a good care of him, she'd never had pups of her<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFESpbwDmZSOo4G-xxmW5jE-VO1NZJoJN3gzifJusLawf3zdDjkiHz_Hcs_o_rqHZ6mh3BcLIAaqAwmP0k9Stpo1Nv0VfHWR4GBkDahvdVDprqKGivdGKLEe6ztKfeDEKlLDoGdqIV1rWw/s1600-h/majoP4060672.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFESpbwDmZSOo4G-xxmW5jE-VO1NZJoJN3gzifJusLawf3zdDjkiHz_Hcs_o_rqHZ6mh3BcLIAaqAwmP0k9Stpo1Nv0VfHWR4GBkDahvdVDprqKGivdGKLEe6ztKfeDEKlLDoGdqIV1rWw/s200/majoP4060672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216578026958904978" border="0" /></a></span> own and I guess she finally felt like a ma to someone. If there's anyone or anything Mali loves beyond expression in his dog universe, it's gotta be Nera. He's always by her side, wherever they may go. We don't know exactly who was his father (we have a few clues, but it was most likely something that looked like a wild piglet). People used to stop me and ask what a strange sort of dog this is, and where'd I get him from. He was the last hatchling and significantly smaller than all of his brothers/sisters. He was so tiny he could fit in the palm of my hand. Thus he hardly ever got the chance to get some food and his rear paws barely had any bones in them. When he lost his ma, we took him home and he was on huge calcium enriched milk <span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9_xzDWWsrS2pWzoqsyv5-w8uxFyujObL6IVNt8rZC-yb6wnTwfdDkae0f8kHeSgNCYqHFbJk5bXMsoJskowbrpDNuO5OJTg0mBaMDJQjwW7VL0E3PuBrrybyEGLJFGUwPSO5Au57OBCa/s1600-h/majo1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9_xzDWWsrS2pWzoqsyv5-w8uxFyujObL6IVNt8rZC-yb6wnTwfdDkae0f8kHeSgNCYqHFbJk5bXMsoJskowbrpDNuO5OJTg0mBaMDJQjwW7VL0E3PuBrrybyEGLJFGUwPSO5Au57OBCa/s200/majo1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216576085150441698" border="0" /></a>doses. Some people said we should eutanize him but that wasn't an option in my world. Although he was named Maleni ( a tiny one) he grew up to be a well-formed lad, and his paws are just massive. His body structure is a bit...well, he's not reading this so I can give you a clue... </span><span style="font-size:100%;">a bit disproportiona l...</span> but in a cute way more than anything (big head, massive front paws, strong shoulders and a tiny, piglet-like, muscular body. Too cute if you ask me. And if you ever compared cats and dogs and concluded dogs had no personality - well Maleni is here to prove everyone wrong. He's also exceptionally smart, not even as a tiny pup did he ever make a mess (we used to go for long, puppy walks and he would wait and hold it in until we came home and he could do it in his box lol). When he feels like going for a walk, he opens the door, goes downstairs to fetch our shoes, brings them back upstairs and makes sure we get the point. Even though he's already 6 years old he's still as playful as always. He loves to fetch apples and eat them or chew on wood, any type, he's our very own carpenter. He jumps like a kangaroo as if he had trampoline paws. A scene you could never get enough of. He's his own little person and nobody orders him around. He is very well behaved and even though male dogs get into fights a lot, he is just so friendly with everyone until proven wrong. Then he can get quite dangerous, but the only fight he had was with Bobby, our third dog, and all out of jealousy. He's also amazingly friendly with all other animals, starting from birds, rabbits, hedgehogs to cats. Nera on the other hand proudly points out that her ma was a Hunt Terrier and the only cats she can tolerate are Kristy & Krusty ( when outdoors she can chase them through the yard but once in the house, it's a<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0DKtpqzE1uFQQrMf2DI6Hn7rT6zsk6mS5EvgUfKWms0P1ZSeXNGTyjHPafEJ_sgwZgnMZ7RgOdsiLtu928Bca8U853nW_JxpQ8Dn-ZZhNAgXtbgBKOHedE4LyOd9LItGoVUcD61-7589/s1600-h/kristyy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0DKtpqzE1uFQQrMf2DI6Hn7rT6zsk6mS5EvgUfKWms0P1ZSeXNGTyjHPafEJ_sgwZgnMZ7RgOdsiLtu928Bca8U853nW_JxpQ8Dn-ZZhNAgXtbgBKOHedE4LyOd9LItGoVUcD61-7589/s200/kristyy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216558062837502258" border="0" /></a> whole new world - Cat world - she even has to leave the comfy armchair if her feline master orders so, yes, the cat claws never feel so brutal as when she's dreaming away her dog dreams and Kristy suddenly decides that the armchair isn't big enough for two ). Maleni is also afraid of the claws, but he's too friendly to be mad at anyone. Except when it comes to food. He turns into a beast and barks away in menace, making a few square meters of his imaginary corridor that nobody is allowed to enter while he eats. A charming little multiple personality.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KwOhiCUDNAPiWGOIoZ6dn0FmNqdmN_RQbPccs9VQYax5p7jDzE7NC2X1qZ0MeF5NzlYC5LE9rsmua-fqq7fnKfHsSuABsfDbUgzpzo3q5e094YY0PI_iTB-4_tew0vAjQ5SwiuBoohkb/s1600-h/maleno.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KwOhiCUDNAPiWGOIoZ6dn0FmNqdmN_RQbPccs9VQYax5p7jDzE7NC2X1qZ0MeF5NzlYC5LE9rsmua-fqq7fnKfHsSuABsfDbUgzpzo3q5e094YY0PI_iTB-4_tew0vAjQ5SwiuBoohkb/s400/maleno.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216575750824857282" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > </span></div><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><blockquote style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">'A piece of grass a day keeps the vet away'<br />(unknown dog)</blockquote><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BOBBY</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuY4H6CoAmycdY5X1Mmpjo8gVmiNsmlAt6nGGzEy5Gvg0jNvRupUwGeXLjEYRWkHJXnAdna1RWFC3DSOMzN3qv-wFVuxlWyIqhAF2r2S-XYnXvvQjNVpJTGVvfbS6zLAV8ugROqiXfJzcH/s1600-h/bobby.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuY4H6CoAmycdY5X1Mmpjo8gVmiNsmlAt6nGGzEy5Gvg0jNvRupUwGeXLjEYRWkHJXnAdna1RWFC3DSOMzN3qv-wFVuxlWyIqhAF2r2S-XYnXvvQjNVpJTGVvfbS6zLAV8ugROqiXfJzcH/s320/bobby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216563121525936306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Now that you have met the privileged two, it's time to finally get to know Bobby. By privileged, I mean that they didn't and will never have to experience human cruelty. Bobby on the other hand didn't have that privilege. He was bought as a kid toy when he was only a pup (obviously). I didn't even try to imagine what his growing up must have been like. Eventually, and quite predictably with THAT sort of 'humans', his family soon got fed up with the dog, as the kids didn't like the notion that he will not remain a puppy to be brutally played with forever. So how did they 'dispose' of him? They threw him out of a moving car, in one of the most busiest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHiRImnok2fpRiLmTQkjAjeci6DaL0vdLN4YMMjZPOri1mtDnFbolCKsgyLiUZh9ATWkEH8taFwRpkAy62FO0AfCkKnNlurOkwuCWgi1AfqNunoK_6LGZypFsfXqQj3QCPEVbNx75IX1U/s1600-h/bobica.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHiRImnok2fpRiLmTQkjAjeci6DaL0vdLN4YMMjZPOri1mtDnFbolCKsgyLiUZh9ATWkEH8taFwRpkAy62FO0AfCkKnNlurOkwuCWgi1AfqNunoK_6LGZypFsfXqQj3QCPEVbNx75IX1U/s200/bobica.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216578546105404834" border="0" /></a></span> avenues. My mom saw all this from her window and ran down to see if the dog had survived, and luckily the nearby newsboy had saved the perplexed dog from the road. He then called the police and gave them the car's license plates, but since there are no strict animal abuse rules in my country, all they did was ' Sure thing mister, we'll see what we can do about it'. We then took him to the vet, where we discovered he also had multiple wounds and bruises that were not the product of his recent road trip. I needn't go into details; we were once again caring for one doubtful, traumatized dog and it took quite some time and effort until he could finally trust us. Since we had two dogs and were in the process of moving, our initial plan was to save him from the streets until we could find him a good home. And we did, he stayed with all of us and moved to Lady Greenthumb's garden. Today he is a prideful watch dog and he owns the yard. Both the postman and the rest of the garden crew know that ;-) At first, he preferred to stay out in the garden, his DIY dens dug out under pine trees, or in his bed in front of the main door ( I guess somewhere deep down in that innocent heart, he still dreaded the humans. He even bit my dad when he tripped over him in the dark LOL) But then he realized that Nera and Maleni were not doing so bad up there in the house, and he too decided he needed a little bit of that human touch. And warmth. Need I say he's the one with the best manners and I guess his fear of being rejected or 'disposed of' again makes him not even think of any foolish and mischievous deeds that Nera and Mali are constantly up to. He is in constant supremacy competition with Mali, but then they're males. No comment required. In their little quarrels and daily outwitting they don't even notice the female dominance.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Gqgq6ckkrH6DfxXOseOFeboVHmjMl78L7y3pOTRgUNA0xJlPpK1Pqrrlx7bjRbEb9YPu0DBx_E2xxCrTY1lZXbrlyWvMjsStEpWDAci0pJOeoxjV5ktvF3cOKX7R1EBRK3iWWHY-hkmF/s1600-h/malinera.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Gqgq6ckkrH6DfxXOseOFeboVHmjMl78L7y3pOTRgUNA0xJlPpK1Pqrrlx7bjRbEb9YPu0DBx_E2xxCrTY1lZXbrlyWvMjsStEpWDAci0pJOeoxjV5ktvF3cOKX7R1EBRK3iWWHY-hkmF/s200/malinera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216572177668422562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j1YoayVk_8YBCMnBB4Ofp7pm5WVCyevHD1SpZODwT9P3VbpdCxZi8-NjGRP2JUBDUKMndarK-QHSXk0hTBkedI6NMS2EJvuoziuWh5kEBxjQTHXx5nXwnu1pMojl23lZEIxd6pvqWVUJ/s1600-h/bobimali.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j1YoayVk_8YBCMnBB4Ofp7pm5WVCyevHD1SpZODwT9P3VbpdCxZi8-NjGRP2JUBDUKMndarK-QHSXk0hTBkedI6NMS2EJvuoziuWh5kEBxjQTHXx5nXwnu1pMojl23lZEIxd6pvqWVUJ/s200/bobimali.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216573576193213042" border="0" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 204);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >"<span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://stat.radioblogclub.com/radio.blog/skins/mini/player.swf" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#99CC00" id="radioblog_player_-1" flashvars="id=-1&filepath=http://www.radioblogclub.com/listen2?u=18yck5WdvN3Ln9Gbi5ybpRWYy9SbvNmLlNmbv5mbhJWaqRmL3d3d/Israel-Kamakawiwaole-Somewhere%2520over%2520the%2520rainbow.rbs&colors=body:#99CC00;border:#336600;button:#006600;player_text:#990066;playlist_text:#999999;" height="23" width="180"></embed><br /><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-49326720672325438342008-06-24T19:17:00.012+02:002008-11-13T18:24:38.316+01:00''Arte y pico'' award<a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAfapB1BMbUCKKFo_cPFs4WDUj8chGwAIS0v6EbkZM2nyu0cEf-folrMu0JYrwJNxpy-5sEnySOWif0JvZVU7JMq8xAfylFCpDWU1-NI-VwuNtftnOR1NhHSeVPIRrai18E4aSwy3No8Y/s1600-h/premio%252Barte%252By%252Bpico.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAfapB1BMbUCKKFo_cPFs4WDUj8chGwAIS0v6EbkZM2nyu0cEf-folrMu0JYrwJNxpy-5sEnySOWif0JvZVU7JMq8xAfylFCpDWU1-NI-VwuNtftnOR1NhHSeVPIRrai18E4aSwy3No8Y/s400/premio%252Barte%252By%252Bpico.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215507586753969922" border="0" /></a><br /><strong style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"></strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">A few days ago I got this lovely award from Brenda of the brilliant </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://thebrendablog.typepad.com/">Brendablog.</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> '<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">Arte y pico</span>' is the name. It translates as something like 'peak of art' or 'art and creativity. I will certainly not try to judge your choice Brenda :-)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">If, by some strange reason, you're not familiar with Brenda's blog, do yourselves a favor and knock on the door of her intriguing world: apart from a vast variety of garden themes, ideas, inspirations, plenty of great pixels, you will find one simple, modest, outstanding lady wearing her heart right on her sleeve, who shares both her ups and downs with an extraordinary writing style that will make you feel as if you were her closest neighbor down the street in the lovely town of Tyler, Texas and you had known her for ages. I'd surely love that. Getting an award from her very self is an honor and I'm glad that she has knocked up against the door into my own world in the first place and considered my blog worth of this award. I'll express my gratitude by spreading the Arte y pico magic. Thanks Brenda!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The origin of the </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Arte y Pico Award</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">:</span></span> "This prize has arisen from the daily visits that I dedicate to many blogs which nourish me and enrich me with creativity. In them I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain me day to day and to share this prize with those who enrich me every day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few. The people I will name today deserve this prize, as do the very long serious list of bloggers I also enjoy to read. But I will name the first 10 and leave the rest of the work to all the bloggers that visit other's blogs and are nourished by them."</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BYzBrdQeMASuG70gkb-N_24OOut7wdjk4cFHhLCp9LSaY3_BkTptPQQ8ChCib2Xza1Pmd_TRRTPtENiAW0y_PLH_GMaqOzI8gESlzFCXEjYccZCEozOBP_VKFlj2NaGEggy0LOJxIs1B/s1600-h/ladder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BYzBrdQeMASuG70gkb-N_24OOut7wdjk4cFHhLCp9LSaY3_BkTptPQQ8ChCib2Xza1Pmd_TRRTPtENiAW0y_PLH_GMaqOzI8gESlzFCXEjYccZCEozOBP_VKFlj2NaGEggy0LOJxIs1B/s400/ladder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215536254226366034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">The rules:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award through creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language. </span><p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">2. Each award should have the name of the author with a link to their blog.</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">3. Award winners have to post the award with the name and link to the blog of the person who gave them the award.</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">4. Please include a link to the <a href="http://arteypico.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">“Arte Y Pico”</a> blog so that everyone will know where the award came from.</p><p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">5. Show these rules</p><p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">There's definitely more to it than the magnificent 5, but these are some of my favorite hot spots that stood out from the first visit. In no particular order, I pass this award on to:</p><ul><li style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">the prideful daughter of Poland - </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://ewainthegarden.blogspot.com/">Ewa in the garden</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"> - I've been a fan of her blog for a long time; her commitment and consistency alone make her deserving of this award; and even through ordinary, yet distinguished, everyday posts I got to know her lovely country better than I ever would have thought</span></li><li style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">when I first visited the Garden Brae from a link on Blotanical, I never thought I would find an outstanding blog by an even more peculiar and extremely witty Scottish lass, residing in the beautiful setting of West Coast Island with her faithful companion Oberon; it is very different from any other blog I read, and her astonishing photography won my heart at a first glance, definitely a 'peak of art' - <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://gardenbrae.blogspot.com/">the Garden Brae</a></li><li style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">I remember stumbling across this blog, being fascinated by her day to day photos of her charming home in the beautiful English countryside, both of her garden, the places she visits and her adorable junior- <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://praviseenglez.blog.hr/">Zvrk</a>, the fact that we share the same country of origin has obviously not affected my infatuation in any way whatsoever ;-)</li><li style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Then there's the inevitable Linda of the <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://gardengirl-lintys.blogspot.com/">Garden girl</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span>blog; I admire her passion and zeal, and her continual support since she first visited my part of the world and the undeniable influence she's had on the garden blogging community; creativity, design, interesting material, she's got it all!</li><li><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">No garden tour ever finishes without me visiting Joy , the girls and their mischievous deeds; this lady makes me laugh out loud; her light hearted style and her posts full of humor radiate with her great passion for gardening and nature; I like her approach and I can only add once more: Canadian girls kick ass! - </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" href="http://gardenjoy4.blogspot.com/">GardenJoy4me</a><br /></li></ul><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">I hope the rest won't hold it against me for not being mentioned, there are so many wonderful individuals out there, so many intriguing gardeners, and the path to your garden is much more than a glimpse into your very own piece of heaven; I wish more of my neighbours were like you, I hope that says it all.</span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897847976073903921.post-30610172663762605522008-06-22T09:59:00.009+02:002008-11-13T18:24:39.313+01:00You'll never blog alone !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq76NCgSebJKVSMzvg_98xw2xLBfx4aW3Ygowkuu_6ChiN-2tSRVgeo6jL-qeawzZaStBMSfM1MV0ThEhj2_UD8phwVNtBDLaW85cy7N1xAcfNrckz6l5B6E5SRLBZbAA5kIkNrEsYrVZe/s1600-h/corluka5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq76NCgSebJKVSMzvg_98xw2xLBfx4aW3Ygowkuu_6ChiN-2tSRVgeo6jL-qeawzZaStBMSfM1MV0ThEhj2_UD8phwVNtBDLaW85cy7N1xAcfNrckz6l5B6E5SRLBZbAA5kIkNrEsYrVZe/s320/corluka5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214242213418673330" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Apart from being an eternal garden captive, I also, strangely enough, have many more human flaws; one of them is football being the second most important thing in the world, after gardening of course. And the national team is the holy of the holies. Some folks regard it as 'back to wilderness', as football is a primitive game and its supporters primeval. All fine, I'm still proud to be primitive. I managed not to interfere my footie ecstasy with my gardening diary so far, but after being literally heart broken the other night, I can't really share more than tons of despair. Sometimes the better team doesn't win but that's football. And the word 'better' is also often a matter of misinterpretation. </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUhcIH5JeMSLowslI4Yc5XyofehHKdaWaxk8GGs5PkUCnsvY4Sp1xZcGbrWcUQcBrALEb-clgerjZ_Pt88gshH1uNmEDEKlzXSqkVUiqH-awmRcXloDaNUgyzqiHAj8vEdz5YSZA0IVkK/s1600-h/cro4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUhcIH5JeMSLowslI4Yc5XyofehHKdaWaxk8GGs5PkUCnsvY4Sp1xZcGbrWcUQcBrALEb-clgerjZ_Pt88gshH1uNmEDEKlzXSqkVUiqH-awmRcXloDaNUgyzqiHAj8vEdz5YSZA0IVkK/s200/cro4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215185409169494786" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Although we have proven to be 'something to talk about' years in the past, our team has always been regarded as a sort of a 'black horse' of any tournament ( lets just say 'underrated' is our middle name) even though we managed to prove everyone wrong (hello Steve McClaren!) Only now after an amazing sequence of wins at Euro 2008, we have once again reestablished our underestimated name. I can't remember the la</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">st time the boys looked so harmonious, happy, proud and confident, a team that left Engerlund at home after that memorable match at Wembley. After beating Austria, Germany and Poland, our hopes were rising. And then there was <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2008/06/21/sfntim121.xml">Turkey</a>, the team also underestimated too many times, and once again they've managed to turn it all upside down in the last minutes (seconds) of the game. A coincidence, you'd think. Maybe, maybe not. After goalless 90 minutes, Miss Fortune was obviously looking the wrong way. It wasn't a pretty game to watch either, it went from boring and maddening to shocking and crazy, and after 2 extra times, 1 minute before the end, all of our hard work seemed to be paying off when we finally put the ball in Turkey's net. And then, only 74 seconds later, already in referee's very own 'extra time', when 99 per cent of Croats were still in a winning delirium, Turkey got lucky one more time and the extra time finished a tie and doomed us to an early exit. What a shock that was for everyone.</span><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd9b6qiVgQOdHFd50ZAGe_oePwGcCmymDgT6MKl2qQ_E40BRfcrgfxoeTVVMrWSVBhEe7BbXazpNBmCsxu1ek2FbKF121dQR-bAJ0T0A9u8QBKKT6-UU9K_OiVvqA-nQJSMwdMiQ_qCwb/s1600-h/corl1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd9b6qiVgQOdHFd50ZAGe_oePwGcCmymDgT6MKl2qQ_E40BRfcrgfxoeTVVMrWSVBhEe7BbXazpNBmCsxu1ek2FbKF121dQR-bAJ0T0A9u8QBKKT6-UU9K_OiVvqA-nQJSMwdMiQ_qCwb/s200/corl1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215189135769754594" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> My happiest dreams for years ended with the Turkish goal in the last second. I couldn't imagine any player, never mind the experience and quality, keeping a cool head and still foot after such a shocker. They've signed the 'capitulate' note even before the penalties. After a total mental blackout, our players succumbed to Turkey in the penalties shoot-out which was, to mildly put it, atrocious. </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" class="titlecomment"> What a pity for such a dynamic and talented squad to go out on</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRenqwEMHGJPrb_qyBIgdgdQnrnbZTijJ3sSWTIrG6hpuABcRAMLcZ9BSxZQqz5wlq403FVcf-dX0h4-pLU06nrqaQAh5jSfaejXsEHIlgItHHm8dT_BFGda2peXZzVHCqG9jK0FPoLemP/s1600-h/friedturkey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRenqwEMHGJPrb_qyBIgdgdQnrnbZTijJ3sSWTIrG6hpuABcRAMLcZ9BSxZQqz5wlq403FVcf-dX0h4-pLU06nrqaQAh5jSfaejXsEHIlgItHHm8dT_BFGda2peXZzVHCqG9jK0FPoLemP/s400/friedturkey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215187074332041426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Might have been funny,<br />but all that's left now is that bitter taste...<br /><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Turkey went through to the semis and you know they say 'fortune favors the brave', well they have certainly been brave. And I wish them as much luck in the semi-finals. I don't feel sad for Turkey going through, I'm actually and surprisingly quite glad and can't say the did not deserve it. I feel bad for our 'Bilic boys', and dreams of one golden generation being shattered in such a quick, and brutal way. Sudden death of dreams never to come true. And for the whole nation that will mourn for weeks and years. We are just that sort of loony people. Some like it, some not. After crying the whole evening like a nutjob, I will surely lament for days to come. I'm sure the German manager is grinning, for they couldn't find an antidote for the crazy Croats and they were to face us a gain in the semis had we not lost. They were the favorites going into competition, but their loss to Croatia relegated them in many eyes. They went on to prove that they were actually a contender by dispatching the talented Portuguese side. I'm afraid they're about to experience that the Turks are just as crazy and fanatic, and as funny as it may seem, every now and then, a Cinderella story does come true.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPSxLY6FKrqHt2tbBelIiszClT7QYNfWO4_T56jZ3L7xZAsGOK6gkCnNzR6IQ_PTwm0PgpMQn5DTroUGzhfJkqBIb3DyFqSrbkHahGtoUj6j6gza-Ps9jHwDfk3biXdjJdFw_Zw4ULkEi/s1600-h/cro5.jpe"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPSxLY6FKrqHt2tbBelIiszClT7QYNfWO4_T56jZ3L7xZAsGOK6gkCnNzR6IQ_PTwm0PgpMQn5DTroUGzhfJkqBIb3DyFqSrbkHahGtoUj6j6gza-Ps9jHwDfk3biXdjJdFw_Zw4ULkEi/s400/cro5.jpe" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215454109183583378" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">It's silly, almost childish, to think that every so often, at a certain moment in time, all of your life's happiness will turn around a goddamn 'footBALL'. Or any other sport you might fancy. What I can't understand is all those people moaning about lousy referees, shitty managers and silly players...just days after they have sworn their hearts to the best manager and best team on the planet, just days after they have glued all those utterly annoying country flags to their cars and then timidly removed them as soon as it got dark outside. Life is a game, so is football, some you win, some you lose. Elimination doesn't always happen to someone else. At least our boys left having nothing to regret (but fate), quality, pride, bravery, teamwork, fair play, they've done it all but it wasn't meant to be. So I give all my thanks to all of them, for we have not gone through all those qualifications with them in vain, we have not waited for another exciting summer in vain, for another quality show, all those highly exciting footie moments, it was all worth it and I'm as proud as if though they have gone all the way. I'm proud of Luka Modric, perhaps one of the best players we've ever had, although he's only to become that, a young, wirey little lad, with the brains of a genious, and the skills that leave no room for indifference. Same goes for all the rest. And finally hope that our best striker, Eduardo, will be back for the World Cup qualifiers, after he has had his leg brutally and recklessly broken in the English Premiership (shame on you Martin Taylor!) which has left him to master the art of popcorns while watching Euro'08 in front of a TV.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYKJsXpdZLRe1zU0tmxeTE4hpnzubYzLRMqug0JCinHXN_aG2yRfr-GRm52hcAxz9_TDKJbO9PDulxc185-ekLV6OHs52JWoxmsAfetnZSGIuLGtHLoeZXR0aAEtOn7tr996I6t5xtJfH/s1600-h/lmodric2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYKJsXpdZLRe1zU0tmxeTE4hpnzubYzLRMqug0JCinHXN_aG2yRfr-GRm52hcAxz9_TDKJbO9PDulxc185-ekLV6OHs52JWoxmsAfetnZSGIuLGtHLoeZXR0aAEtOn7tr996I6t5xtJfH/s320/lmodric2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215186340097259234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">So for all of you, my dear garden bloggers, raising an eyebrow and wondering if I have totally lost it, ranting about ' fussball' 'n all that bore, well, yes, I've lost it, and the weather is not helpful either, it's way too hot to garden, way too hot to open the window and turn off AC, way too hot to do any sort of mentally productive activity, thus the fiddle-de-dee was the only option to minimize the lack of my garden posts. Hopefully you'll find it in your hearts to pardon me.</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsrlY8oabjFwhAUEig6InZTsMfgPDFSjGbWjUxApd3BBod-KlQdsPGLyVotLBS8H_UFBxFV3B7MVly_GyHrblVRvjdTad_uJ_nEpcc9RzNRbrN7V7wNECBkQ_ydQPnf7eyj8MAVH_W1nI/s1600-h/SAD2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsrlY8oabjFwhAUEig6InZTsMfgPDFSjGbWjUxApd3BBod-KlQdsPGLyVotLBS8H_UFBxFV3B7MVly_GyHrblVRvjdTad_uJ_nEpcc9RzNRbrN7V7wNECBkQ_ydQPnf7eyj8MAVH_W1nI/s320/SAD2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215188281555788882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">(photos by: CROPIX, 24sata, Jutarnji)</span><br /><br /><object height="212" width="254"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_nUVjWuOOWs&hl=en&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_nUVjWuOOWs&hl=en&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="212" width="254"></embed></object><br /><br />... and as far as the fans go....who else sings their national anthem in such harmony?<br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5