Growth

Other than a lack of rain in the afternoons, we are really close to summer. The temps are in the upper 80's and the lows are in the low 70's. We did have some rain Sunday morning and a brief shower this afternoon, but it was next to nothing in the rain gauge. However, the plants and flowers are spectacularly beautiful. The second of our gardenia bushes is in full flower. If the scent were edible, it would be completely decadent! Our Rangoon Creeper (what a misnomer - it doesn't creep, it lunges!) is flowering also. Flowers are white in the morning when they first open and by afternoon they are pink. The second day they turn red and maybe last a third day. I have already trimmed it back once, and it will need more pruning in another week. A neighbor down the block gave us a small datura. They are in the brugmansia family and related to nightshade. The bush can get 10 to 15 feet high and has bell shaped flowers about nine inches long. This variety has a pale throat that shades into pink on the bell end. I planted it in the back yard near the west end; it's close to the laurel oak but will get sun in the morning and late afternoon. I'll post a picture when it blooms, but for now check out this site: http://www.abads.net/

The bamboo we planted in early January have both sent up new culms. The Asian Lemon culm is about 3 weeks old and over six feet high. I noticed a new 3 inch culm for the Black Timor today and it is no more than two days old. Each succeeding culm will grow higher than the older ones. Asian Lemon grows to about 25 feet high, and the Black Timor can reach 40 feet...we'll see about that!
We have 11 days of school left with the kids. They are hanging in there quite well. This is the last full week of school. Man, this year flew by quickly!
Gayle and I are hosting a Wednesday evening Bible study for three young Christians in our church. We have supper together and then look at some themes by way of verses. We're trying to get at a Christian world & life view. Last week's topic was Who is God? and this week we will look at Who am I? We had a work morning at the new church last Saturday, and a couple dozen volunteers spruced things up nicely. We still have many things to do. When a new group comes in with fresh eyes, there are a great many things that can be done...a little at a time. We will have two adult baptisms in a couple of weeks, and we continue to have new people come to our service on Sunday.

The new Black Timor culm is a little hard to see, but it's on the left side of the picture. A caladium shoot is between the culm and the two original canes.