Today's flower picture...

2010-03-30_03nopalxochia
Originally uploaded by lb_philly.

Just look at this! It's absolutely not fair -- it's the view the neighboring rooftops usually get. I turned the plant around to take this. Aren't they gorgeous? All that beauty to be seen only by the sparrows and pigeons...

The 2010 Christian Street Nopalxochia Show is warming my heart and filling that zone of impatience between the Flower Show and things blooming out back.

Meanwhile, the weather has turned sharply warmer, albeit breezy, and also sunny. After several days of heavy rain the sun is welcome. I plan to quit early today, create a little padded nest for Jolly Mr. Nikon in my bike basket, and ride around a little, winding up at Macy's, where Philadelphia Flower Show impresario Sam Lemheny has orchestrated Macy's Flower Show, and take more flower pictures.

For some friends who are worried about militias and Teh Craaaaaaazy

I think you'll find this interview clip from CNN very reassuring. Also very revealing about the media mindset.

Note that this young lady who has spent a lot of time with Michigan militias doesn't find them at all threatening, with a few marginal exceptions. Note also that the interviewer tries *three times* to get her to say the militia movement is riddled with crazies, with mounting frustration:

Of course, "they're just a bunch of overage Boy Scouts enjoying the cameraderie" doesn't sell very many papers...

Plant parenthood

2010-03-31_01hippeastrum
Originally uploaded by lb_philly.

I promised myself I would NOT do this! I have far too many windowsills full of juvenile and adolescent hippeastrums already. But look at these two! The gervase (on the left) has the most interesting and variable coloration but relatively small flowers. The apple blossom, right, has these monster flowers upwards of 8" across. Imagine what it would be like to have giant flowers with variable petals in the 'gervase' color palette!

The last 'apple blossom' is fading...a paintbrush was within arm's reach, and quicker than you can say "hybridization" the deed was done. But just one flower (she says dishonestly, knowing full well that four more 'gervase' flowers are about to open) because I already have more young plants than I have windowsills.

Close up of the girly bits covered with sticky yellow pollen is next in my Flickr photostream.