Change And The Fourth Of July

Looks sort of like blue fireworks

Everything in the world seems to be changing on this Fourth of July.  Things we used to be able to count on are vanishing. 
Not the typical red white and blue:  fresh and unexpected.
 A local garden center is constantly changing displays, making visits there, no matter how frequent, always different.  This vertical display changes about four times a year.  Currently it contains ferns, Caladiums, Bromeliads, and Heucheras. 

 Last month, blue and white,  this month, white, and green
 They are still working on changes here.  It's a "balcony garden" and is presented as an example of what a person can do in a small space. 
 There are often always new plants.  This is Gomphrena 'Pink Zazzle':
 This section changed recently.  It was a somewhat neglected foliage-for-shade plant area.  They rearranged things and added houseplants.  They made an eye-catching new entrance to draw in shoppers.  Those chains of rocks are actually rain chains, according to the price tags.  $300-something.  ?!?!?!
 For years all the fountains for sale were in one place.  Then for several years they scattered them throughout different areas.  Now they are all in once place again. 
Hibiscus go in and out of fashion.  They are somewhat "in" these days, but they need water and shelter from desiccating Santa Ana winds.  Also bug spray--they attract all sorts of pests. 
 Hebe in the middle, Coleonema pulchrum 'Sunset Gold' above, something else below.
They often remove plants that are gorgeous.  That can be sad.  How long before these dazzlers are gone?
  Rose 'Frieda Kahlo'
 For a long time, the 80's and 90's, hanging baskets of tuberous begonias were a trademark item, and they sold lots and lots and lots of Camellias.  They still sell some, but these vertical bags have become trendier, and Camellias are less popular than they used to be.  Camellias need garden space, and there is less of that these days. 
Change at a garden center:  they've been selling baby clothes and gourmet food.  Other plant sellers in the area have been selling more interesting plants the past couple of years.   

However, those are not the changes making me uneasy on this Fourth Of July.   "A republic, if you can keep it," said Benjamin Franklin.  Can we?  Today's holiday seems more about the past, about what was, not what is.    

Comments

  1. It's great that they keep changing them. Keeps the interest going and shows they're making an effort to freshen things up.

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    1. It's a way to get shoppers to keep coming back frequently, and it's very effective!

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  2. My dad never tired of reminding me that our country was a republic and not a true democracy, and that was the reason he was a Republican. To me, as a teenager, that was just yet more evidence that he was an idiot. I guess your mention of the past brought back a strong memory of my own past, from the 60s. Love the vertical display and the Gomphrena, but $300+ for a string of rocks -- I think not.

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    1. From what I can tell they haven't sold any of those $300 rock strings.

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  3. HB, Happy independence day! I loved the fish in the third picture with the bottles, there are so many beautiful things in garden centers over there. I didn't know the F. Kahlo rose, it's absolutely gorgeous! sadly even the biggest nurseries here have small rose catalogues. In my garden hibiscus fare very well, I've never had problems with them, they seem indestructible plants that can bloom year round and grow very fast, it's true they need water when they are young but once they are stablished they live on their own.

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    1. I was surprised at how pretty the 'Frieda Kahlo' rose was in person--better than the photos. Usually it is the other way around. The hibiscus can get by without a lot of water here, but they look awful. If you want them to be pretty they need a lot of watering or a place right along the coast where the humidity is highest. With your high level of summer humidity--they must love that.

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  4. In these parts it feels like today's holiday is more about blowing things up. Yes fireworks are illegal here, but that doesn't stop anyone who wants to get them (drive to your nearest Indian reservation) and the city can't possibly keep up. It's dangerously dry out there (less than an inch and a half of rain since mid April), with strong winds from the east and low humidity. It's gonna be a very long day...

    (love that wall of ferns, Caladiums, Bromeliads, and Heucheras)

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    1. Fireworks are illegal in my neighborhood but people still set them off. And if you think it is dry there...

      Long day, yes. At least B&N are not bothered by the explosions. Previous dogs were terrified, which was horrible to deal with.

      Yes isn't that wall awesome? Wish I could do that!

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  5. Yes, I'm finding it harder to celebrate the holiday this year too, so deeply disappointed and outright fatigued by what comes out of the nation's capital. Still, I remain optimistic that reason will prevail in the end, assuming we keep kicking and hollering at regular intervals.

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    1. Yes, some reason for optimism. Summer will be over eventually, too. 79 more days!

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  6. Yep, the Glorious Fourth seems a little less so today. Refreshing scenes from the garden center! Those excellent rain chains seem doable for a reasonable amount of work and a lot less $ if a person has access to the right kind of stones and wire...

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    1. I was wondering about a diy version myself. Most of all these outrageously priced imported things can be DIY'd, but as you work out how much it would be and how much work it would be, you wonder if you really need them after all. Have a beautiful weekend, Nell. Hope it is not too hot on your side of the continent.

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  7. I seem to thrive on change. I am always changing things in the garden. When I worked for an interior decorator that also sold items for homes my job was to change things around. Often. I enjoyed that part of the job. Change is often good even if it seems scary.

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    1. It is good, yes. Practice and practice and practice and we get better and better at putting things into an attractive arrangement.

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