Inia

Click to enlarge

So many names for one tree, Melia azedarach is a member of the mahogany family;

• Pride-of-India,
• Persian Lilac,
• Bead Tree,
• White Cedar,

• Chinaberry,
• Indian Lilac,
• Umbrella Tree,
• and it is called Inia in Hawaii.

Inia is comfortable in USDA Zones 7 through 11, it is both deciduous and will tolerate an occasional hard freeze. Although it is fairly short lived it is a good shade tree. The flowers have quite a strong fragrance. Everybody's sense of smell is different but to me it smells like Buddleia which also has a lot of names

I grew this from seed, it is about 7 years old and this is the first year it has flowered heavily. Yesterday it blew down in strong winds.
I am sad, but all is not lost, sometimes Inia will grow back from a stump and I have another one which has grown through the bottom of its pot.

Y'all come back!

Peacocks On The Roof & The Old Avocado Tree

A young peacock on the roof of our lean-to shed. He and his wife visit almost every day because somebody throws yummy lay pellets up there. Isn't he just gorgeous? I particularly like his little white pantaloons. I am not sure when the tail feathers grow but will be sure to take pictures if I am here. Click pictures to embiggen.

The shed is attached to the garage directly opposite the deck and shaded by the same incredibly messy avocado tree. Not to say that this particular tree is messy, they are all just messy in general. The cycle is as follows starting in February:

• All the leaves fall off. There are lots of leaves.
• Flowers form, many flowers, then 98% of the flowers fall off, you can see flowers behind the peacocks head on the right.
• New leaves grow and baby fruit. Shoots to make new branches.
• All summer the tree provides dense shade which cools about half our house. Dried up branches & twigs fall constantly,together with immature fruit
• Generally around November 'Green Bomb Season' starts. Large avocados hit the tin roof with a thunderous crash and rumble roll noisily down to drop with a thud on the ground.
• We all eat avocados until we can't stand the sight of them. Humans, dogs, chickens, sheep and Mr Quigly the pig.

Y'all come back!

Design Wall April Fools Day

Saturday it was almost 70º, I sat on the porch, the birds were singing and little green things were visible in the garden. Yesterday it snowed, and froze, hard.

Last week was the unpicking week. Don't ask .. a border I didn't like, another one that was so wavy it was seasick, a sashing strip that mysteriously moved 1/8" over and wasn't noticed until I went to press it.

Domiciles is done and on the design wall so I can admire it. See many other quilter's design walls at Patchwork Times.

No two house blocks are alike although some fabrics have been used several times. The blocks with tiny houses were done 'freestyle'. Some are short and stout, others tall and skinny. There is a barn with a tall grain bin. Very tiny scraps were used and that part was fun.

Only the bias binding to make and the backing to piece, then it goes into a bag to wait it's turn to be quilted.

Y'all come back!