Stinky Bob

Photo: Wyona

Here is one of the wild flowers Wyona was painting

On some points, I cannot help myself.

One of them is when I am walking along the edge of a meadow, or carefully stepping over a stream that crosses a path in the forest, I am also wondering what is the name of the plant I am also looking at.

I was obsessing over the same thing with birds.

I wanted to know the name of every bird I saw flying through the air.

My birder friend, Eric Tull, said to me, "The birds don't know their names."

I have no idea why that still makes me laugh.  I guess because he so clearly unlocked my hidden desire to "know everything".  I don't think there is a way to heaven without filling that requirement.

Yes.  Must know everything.  It is the key to entrance into the pearly gates.

Photo: Wyona

This is a close-up of that flower.

Have you ever seen it as you walked

along the side of the road?

So I walk along, noting the names of the plants I know, and trying to get a fix on the look of the plants for which I have no name.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the name of a new plant.

Stinky Bob.

Wyona had been doing watercolours of a bouquet of plants that Greg brought into the house for her.

She had counted how many wild flowers he had put into one grouping and she, too, wanted to know their names.

Photo: Wyona

Photography is not the only way to capture images.

The resident forester usually has a name for a plant.  He gave them up.

Class B Noxious Weed

Geranium robertianum

Herb-Robert

Other common names: Robert Geranium, Stinky Bob
Plant family: Geraniaceae
Year listed: 1997
Native to: Europe

Photo: Wyona

The finished project, now ready to be framed.

Yesterday I was out picking up windfall apples and saw Stinky Bob for the first time.

I mean, really saw it -- on the side of the hill.

It seemed to be the only flower in focus for me.

All because of Wyona's painting project.

Arta

Wyona-Death Come Quickly or Herb Robert

While weeding at the lake I often come upon this lovely little fragrant flowering pink plant.  I went out a few days ago and picked some wild flowers to paint. This plant was one of them.

You can find this plant among the other wild flowers I picked from our path down to the lake. It is at the top of the painting.
I searched on line over a dozen websites looking for this plant. I asked the expert neighbor, Glen next door and he only could say he thought it was a weed. Too beautiful to me to be a weed.
Until I found it tonight...I took the plant over for Janet to see because she has never seen it.

Here it is up close. It is called 'Geranium robertianum, Herb-Robert', Red Robin, Death come quickly, and Stinky Bob in Washington; a noxious weed.
In traditional herbalism, Herb Robert was used as a remedy for toothache and nosebleeds. Freshly picked leaves when crushed and rubbed on the body the smell is said to repel mosquitoes. It was carried to attract good luck enhance fertility. I just love the long tapering and beaklike flower/seed.

Shopping at Hanna's

Doral asked me, "Will you be blogging while you are currently out in BC?  I'd love to see some photos of the comings and goings, the weather, the scenery etc.  We never seem to be out there when the blossoms or cherries are on the trees."

In answer, I am currently having trouble carrying my phone with me.  For others, having their cell phone in their pocket is the final thing they check when going from the house to the car.  For me, the final check still involves do I have my car keys.  So when I am in places that deserve photographing, I am without the means to do it.

For example, Wyona and I took a quick trip to see the new Winners in Salmon Arm.  We didn't get there, though.  We stopped first for a $6 lunch, and then went to Hanna's, the nursery that is just off of the highway.

Wyona went for a pumpkin seedling.  She found one that has a white rind -- her choice -- the unusual.  I took one of the traditional orange ones and began to plan where I would plant it when I got home.  Then she got a small basil plant and then some cilantro.  I followed suit.  The place we parted company was with the new item she has been looking for.  I have wanted a small clump of oriental poppies for years.  I had some seedlings in my hand when I was shopping with Moiya but put them back, thinking I would get some of Glen's at the end of the season.  Then I wondered why I was doing that to save $4.25 when I was really wanting them this year.

Japanese Maple ... small, medium or large

Wyona wants a Japanese maple and so we looked at the $89 one, the $129 model and then the $229 tree -- all are the same strain, just each one more mature than the last.

"Why did mine die, while my neighbour's to the left and right of me lived?", she asked the clerk.

Water is the key.  Water, especially in the first two years.  And those neighbours spend more Spring time hours at their home than she does.

Now by the time Doral gets here, perhaps my poppies will be in bloom and pumpkins will be on the vine.  I hear the cherries will be early this year; the blooms were early so the cherries may be gone by the first of July.  The Japanese maple?  I think she will purchase it when she has a clear window of opportunity to water it

You will miss the cherries by six weeks, Doral.  Start thinking peaches.

And no, we didn't make it to Winners.  Clearly gardening was the joy of the day.

Arta