The Texas Sage at work was flowering nicely due to the recent rains. 

Dieffenbachia 'Sparkles'. I said it was photo day today. 

Ahhhh.....A Nice Day.....Ernesto......Photos......

Thank you Ernesto for being a Wimp. I do not need any shows of strength by tropical storms. I like having roofs on Z shop. You certainly could have brought some rain though. Looks like I will have to irrigate tonight.

Thank you to the IT boys at work who reprogammed my messed up camera and it is working great. So today was photo day due to the nice clouds. Actually have almost all of my aroid cultivars photographed and sorted in the computer -- backed up too. That is amazing....So maybe I will have a cultivar show soon.

I love days in the greenhouse with the rain tinkling on the roof. Nothing can top the happy feeling it gives me. Do not know why but will just enjoy it. Something to do with cold rainy days in Oregon 50 years ago spent in the greenhouses maybe? I sure do not like the looks of that number 50 though....

Hope the beaches do not get beat up too much as the surf fishing season is coming soon. Of course the weeds will be there now due to the storm. At least there are no weeds in the greenhouse.

OK - have to go and take more cultivar photos now. Pictures soon....

At least the Aglaonema seem to be tolerating the August summer heat. Not sure how they will do in a hurricane though. I know I will not do well. 

The Correct Answer = "or Not"

Instead I went surf fishing.....
Hot, Hot, Hot.......
Dirty water, minimal waves.......
Medium rare by 9:00....
Well done by 10:00.....ready to quit......
Oh, Oh what was that ----- ahh a bite.....
Then a fishy.......and another.....
Suddenly it was not so hot anymore......
Water cool, spirits high.....
More fisheys on bouncing poles........
Then no bites...
Oh God not it is hotter yet...
Angler on the barby....
Add the barbeque sauce....
Quit at Noon.......
5 hours = 17 fish (7 whiting, 2 grunts, 5 cats (grrr..) and 3 sharks (3 footers)...
Gee that was better than a good day surf fishing 4 years ago...
Got home at 2:00 = sleepy boy....
Awoken at 4:00 to clean up....
Ready to go again.....

Oh, Oh...
Not today though as is anniversary (27 years)..
No fishing as want to make it to 28 years...
YEAH MosaicMom........143......

Thanks for the tuna casserole for dinner....
Maybe she is not as optimistic as she pretends.....

Surf Fishing or Not...........

I am old and tired.
The sun is bright.
The sand is hot.
The fish are not biting.
Too much traffic.
The winds are wrong.
The tides are weak.
I have no food or drink ready.
The water is dirty.
I have no bait.
It will upset my morning ritual.
Gas is too expensive.
Who cares?????????

Yep, you guessed it.......I am going surf fishing tomorrow.........

Here are some seed pods developing on an Adenium. They would not make a good substitute for green beans. 

A working Cytometer in a lab. Ours is a different color - more of a cool grey - cool like us that is. 

Cytometer Oh Cytometer........

12:45 pm and the cytometer man has arrived. He is cute ...grrr..........
He is now setting the machine up and will check it out........
We will have the opportunity to run several samples...YEAH....

So he knows where the drinks, snacks (thanks to MosaicMom) and rest rooms are, so away we go....YEAH....
Let us pray...............

One of my interspecific Adenium (desert rose) hybrids with an extended blooming period. Adenium are truly remarkable plants. 

I have had this pot of large flowered Euphorbia for about 3 years now and they are spectacular. Also, have begun planting a few seeds that occasionally develop. So far there are 10 new seedlings happily growing.  

Since I gave up surf fishing for work yesterday maybe it is time to reminsce and try to get fired up to go in another way. Of course a good day of surf fishing always starts with a glorious sunrise. 

What is Going on Here????

Sorta had planned on going surf fishing today – the first time since March.
I know the sand fleas will be plentiful but not sure if the fish would be interested. However, the trip was cancelled because at this moment work is more exciting. After 30 years, how can work be more interesting than fishing? Don’t know but am going to go with the flow as long as possible.

Besides the fall run will start just after labor day - unless some hurricanes mess up the beach. Time will tell. At least in the meantime there is always some good work to be done.

Saw some nice clouds on the way home from New Orleans. Wish they were rain clouds over our trees. Our poor little pump is starting to make tired sounds. It has been less than a wet summer so far for sure. 

View of Canal Street in downtown New Orleans from my 11th floor room in the Sheraton Hotel. A copy of my talk in on the table. 

Canal Street in New Orleans at night from the 11th floor of the Sheraton. Yes, I was still working.  

YEAH 'Stripes'. My first Aglaonema release (named 'Stripes') was growing in the Sheraton Hotel lobby. Gee, I guess my kids are everywhere and I did not even play in the NBA. 

Ground level view from Canal Street. 

Quick View of New Orleans..........

On the freeway out of town there is a faint tan line on the wall just below the top of the SUV - that was the level of the flood water. It would have been about 4 feet deep here. 

View of the refurbished superdome from the taxi. Right next to it (not in view) is an abandoned hospital of probably 15 stories with the windows broken out. It is not being fixed at this time.  

Canal street in downtown New Orleans. It is being replanted and rebricked. 

' aint't easy in the "'Big Easy"

Went to New Orleans for the weekend to give talk at national horticulture meetings.

Left 5:00 am SAT. to do the job. As traveling ain't my specialty it was not something I was looking forward to. Actually things went pretty well although I chose not to venture out in the dark (or daylight) hours. Lots of police, 'skitters, and humidity.

The meeting and talk were fine. Did not see many people I knew but was only there the last 2 days of the meeting. Found answers to the 2 questions I had so it was worth it from that standpoint. The airport is small and not kept up too well. The general feeling of the whole area is one of "stress and struggle". The difference in economy between Orlando and New Orleans is huge with Orlando seeming like a wonderland.

Went by the Superdome and it sits in the middle of a depressing area. An abandomed 10 story hospital with broken out windows sits right next to it. It will be interesting to see how the football analysts portray the area. I can hear it now: "yes fans, the return of football to the superdome shows spirit of the great people of New Orleans." Of course I am sure they will not show the pathetic grounds surrounding the 'dome. I get real sick of how the truth is rarely given on the news. Hype is pathetic.....

I have several photos to show but forgot to bring them in today. Will post them later. Summary: I love Florida...........