Last Saturday the Z Boys worked on painting Mel's 280Z. It has been a long process up to here but now for the glory job. 

Six hours later............................We finished the painting the undersides of several parts plus the motor compartment.............. 

We have a lot of mice at work. At home we just have Kirby - the armadillo. He was busy all day yesterday in the yard. Must be confused by the time change. 

One final shot of the Tithonia. It is really a bright and cheerful addition to the landscape. However, it tends to be bare around the bottom so it needs a companion plant to fill in down there. I some some good ones in mind. 

Here's the Tithonia in bloom

The Tithonia heterophylla has flowered......

My Tithonia heterophylla had its first open blooms on 10-22-06. They are looking really nice and I will upload a photo tonight. The bumble bees seem to enjoy the blossons too. Anything that helps the bees is worth growing.

You gotta love the matergardeners........

It has been a couple of days since I posted regarding the mystery plant. Now I not ony know what the plant is but I have cuttings rooting and it is all thanks to the mastergardeners' network. Between the internet, extension agents and mastergardeners anything is possible. This must be how the FBI works -- only better.

Subject apprehended and case solved. Or as little Mindescape would say "disaster averted". Wonder what the next mystery will be.

Here it is........the start of another propagation drama...... 

Megaskepasma erythrochlamys is what it is.......

Also known as the Brazilian Red Cloak.............
Soon to be mine..........

Here is a closeup of the mystery plant........... 

I hate obsessions..................

Just driving around minding my own business and WHAM.....There it is........Another damn plant that I must have.......It would be so spectacular in my field or along the road....Cannont get it out out my head....Of course, eventually I will have it...but another one will take its place on the most wanted list....the cycle never ends....and thank God for that.........and for plants.....

Does anyone know what this plant is...??? 

What am I......? 

Went Surf Fishing Yesterday......

Just had to go -- the mullet were running and hopes were high. Was able to net several hundred mullet with my little cast net. Only kept a few to fish with and put the rest back. This was the first time I was able to catch them in the surf in large numbers since the hurricanes changed the beach structure 2 years ago.

The wind was bad (15-20 mph) and made fishing not much fun. Did catch a couple of 5-6 pound jacks and some blue fish. Without wind it would have been a perfect day.

At 2 hours before high tide the sand fleas showed up just like usual. Was able to catch several with my magnum sand flea catcher. Tossed them all back as there were no pompano or whiting around due to the blue fish and other nasty predators chasing all the mullet. It is always fun to catch the sand fleas though.

The Barlerlia hybrids are starting to flower again. 

Committment.......and review of week..........

This past week in reverse.........

Ordered a new plasma cutter today - sculpture committment.

Went fishing yesterday - pleasure committment (I think). The sand fleas appeared like clockwork just before high tide. The blue fish chewed off by rigs just like clockwork too and the sea weeds tangled the line as usual. The whiting were scarse and the pompano were elsewhere. The sun got hotter and hotter just like clockwork and I came home and slept just like clockwork.

Some animal (or human) drug up some of our drip irrigation at home and it had to be reinstalled.

The mice are rampant at work so I keep my crackers in the refidge.

It has been a month and the tear in the shade over my reserch house is still not fixed.

The greenbean keeps running as smooth as clockwork.

The golf cart is a life saver for getting all the odd jobs done at home since they are spread over 10 acres. Zeus now begs for rides on the cart compared to being completely scared of it initially.

The Thithonia had visible flower buds on October 1. They should be opening in another week if it stays warm.

I ordered some lumber to make more puppy watering stands and some more drippers for future plantings along the highway. That is because it is never going to rain again.

Dug ponds around all the citrus and filled with water. Also laid out double drip irrigation under each tree for watering and cold protection.

Moved a full sized pool table 15 feet without affecting the slate - that was really amazing.

Three of my favorite things............

Anthurium 'Orange Hot'.... 

Aglaonema 'Golden Bay'.... 

Dieffenbachia 'Star White'...