Nature is Full of Surprises

An unexpected encounter right on my deck

Image of a Great Horned Owl at sunset by Author

Most of the time, after work, I like to sit and write. I like being out on the deck if it’s not bone numbingly cold. This first year here, I created what turned out to be a colorful flower bed/container garden on the deck. The honeysuckle has been in bloom since May, and I’ve been inhaling their sweet scent for my chosen high every time I come out. I’d also gotten a tiny little passionflower vine. It was practically dead, discounted at the local nursery. 3 months later, it’s standing at about 5 feet tall and has numerous artsy blooms. Have you ever seen a passion-flower bloom? It’s another one of Mother Nature’s mind-boggling beauty exhibitions — petals and colors burst out from the white center, encircled by a perfect lineup of black seedlings, looking almost like a clock sitting on top of a white star.

Then it’s hydrangeas that look like I’ve been pumping them up with special steroids. Ok, well, I have. It’s called coffee, and thankfully I don’t have that kind of reaction to my morning joe. It was less than 12" wide and had 3 blooms on it when I got it. Now it’s just these blue balls of wonder spreading over 3 feet! Who knew?

There are also wisteria vines. I love vines, and seems I might have a collection soon. Though with the wisteria, I know to be wary of the roots. They can…