Mother's Oleanders

Oh ... this brings back memories. When I was growing up, the footpath outside out house was covered in enormous oleander shrubs in just these colours. They're just beautiful! I haven't seen a massed planting of these in a very, very long time ... they sort of fell out of favour over here ... and now considered a very old-fashioned plant ... and shunned because they're considered so toxic.

Its beautiful and the scene.

Beautiful and I love that tall cypress, gorgeous.

A very busy pic, for such a peacful scene.

I love it Greent...:>)

Thank you for all the comments. I'll pass them on to my mother. She notice the borders of oleander there quickly and had to get some. They've come along beautifully. This town loves oleander, cypress, yucca and opuntia, and of course the utah wild grape.

Gorgeous, and what an amazing landscape:-)

Thank you Bornagain. These cliffs bring a long morning shadow and a brisk refreshing wind off the hotter exposed surroundings. Its a fascinating place, especially to a arctic man like me.

GT:

Beautiful shot!

Well, that looks very familiar! : > )

Oleander grows wild here...it's commonly seen for many of miles growing on the freeway medians.

Thanks. I love all the blooms and found strongest scent on the dark color. A thrill to have this around wild!

GT:

It's amazing there's several large, medium, dwarf and very dwarf sized varieties available. It depends on a particular plant, in my experience which ones have a sweet fragrance. My neighbor's white double flowered one has a very nice fragrance.

In Southern California there's Oleander Leaf Scorch disease which has been killing many shrubs...this disease was just discovered in April of 2008. My neighbor has lost 4 of her 8 shrub in the last year. I've only seen it attack the large variety which can grow to almost 30 feet.

I keep that in mind should mother mention any leaf scorching. Most in this area are from a similar source all about 20ft mature.

lovely GT, is this the home where you were raised? or did they move from where you are? just being nosey hahah, no i just show interest :o))

Very pretty GT!!!

Thank you Aleyna and San! :-)

I was raised in central Idaho high in the mountains. This is my parents second location since then. This lovely house is actually the nieghbors, the renters and landlord I suppose are really letting it run down. Really a shame since it has such a nice look. None of my family have been to Alaska other than my Grandmother years before I moved here. (No worries, I'd tell just about anything) :-) lol

lol GT, how can they not take the chance of going to alaska, i would if i had my son there, must be lovely when you all meet up though :o)) do you think you would ever move away from alaska GT?

It could happen, but I've gotten established in the slow easy lifestyle. Can't find that other places. And my partner has family and such here. Everyone talks about visiting, but some want to make a big tour of it, and others just have other priorities for money as well, mostly young children. :-) This is not an inexpensive place.

Gotta run, meeting folks for breakfast. :-)

thanx GT have a great day, sisters pics are lovely to, just looked :o))

Thanks San. You too. I need to send her some pics I took of her garden last year to post. Her children keep her pretty busy,

children have a habit of keeping you busy lol :o))

I can't even imagine. She has 7 still at home, one graduated last year. Whew!

GT:

The Leaf Scorch disease has only been found in Southern California for now...hopefully there's a cure for it soon.

This takes me back to Spain Gt...yet it is in the mountains of Idaho! I grew many Oleanders or Adelphis as the Spanish called them, a windbreak in the garden, then from cuttings, a hedge each side of the drive....also planted these pencil slim Cypress trees.....:o) Yes the Oleanders are toxic, so not good for grazing livestock, but we had no problems with them. We would take many cuttings, stick them in brown beer bottles and in a few weeks all were rooted..........

Aren't they something! The parents are now down in southern Utah, were the frost seldom shows even a day. These plants require that nice warmth. I love your shots of your garden in Spain. What a lovely place you had created there. A real sight with these blooming all over the place I'd bet. :-) Here where my parents now live I was surprized how italian or spanish a lot fo the garden felt. Not as southwest as the actual countryside.

I can imagine you did spend a day just sitting and staring.....I would have too!! Beautiful!!

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
~ William Henry Davies.

Beautiful Gilli........as gardeners I think we make time to stand and stare...this was the first poem my Mum learnt at school, she used to recite it to us...:o)

Thanks Gt........I hope the garden's still doing well, but I've an awful feeling it will house a huge pool now and lots of tiles...Lol!

More so even that the dark one was scented! Thanks Gilli. Thank you for the wonderful poem! It is well worth the time to just be still and look.

Ah yes, tiles and pool. Would be hard to go have a look with a suspicion like that.