Good things:

I received a surprise parcel this week from my long-lost friend Herr von der Goltz-
it contained a disc- Music of the Tatar People and a book from 1903,
German Wit and Humor. I love the nouveau cover! So sweet- I am cheered.

I can’t describe the joy I feel at wandering around the garden,
having a craving for blueberry- and then plucking them right off the bush!
They are perfect. If only I could wait until they’re fully ripe- a greedy Gretel am I!

Drosera kenneallyi from my sweetheart’s collection of carnivores.

I’ve trained this Aristolochia up on trellises on the porch for years,
but this is the first time I’ve ever seen it bloom! It truly took my breath away-
and the fragrance is so indescribable. Citrus, and earth and fireflies.
We also have an Aristolochia fimbriata that is wee, but smells much stronger-
like coffee, and rot and the devil’s sexy librarian mistress. Basically.

So, I think I’m developing a pretty serious obsession with these.
Can you see why they call it Calico Flower?
(aka. Aristolochia littoralis, sometimes called A. elegans)
Collectively known as birthworts, pipevines or Dutchman’s pipes-
these flowers are some of the strangest I’ve ever seen.
A really tantalizing collection of insane species can be found at
Sunshine Seeds– it’s taking all my willpower to not order most of them.

Between the Calico Flower Vines and the jasmine tangles, our bedroom windows
are nearly completely obscured. I love it- much better than curtains!

There’s a great article on Bitch Magazine about Fairuz-
the Legendary Chanteuse of Lebanon (aka. Ambassador to the Stars,
Neighbor to the Moon and the Poet of the Voice.)

Also, I just discovered that CBS has Twin Peaks archived for watching online!
Thank you Mlle. Lau for the tip- I’m a goner now that I know..
It’s owls, blue roses and cherry pie for the rest of the summer!