All's Well with Tall Pots, Plants and Insects

Yesterday I was on pins and needles waiting to open up the bisque load of tall pots. Looks like all's well with tall pots. I decided to leave them in the kiln till I'm ready to glaze them because I don't have much room in the studio due to other work drying on the shelves. Now I'm wondering how to glaze several of these tall and narrow topped pieces. Gary keeps saying spray them but I've never sprayed glazes only dipped or brushed them. Not sure how I to spray inside a narrow pot; what do you think?

Meanwhile in the garden butterflies and bees seem to be in a feeding frenzy with the approach of colder weather. This poor golden butterfly, probably great spangled fritillary, has a tattered wing but he can't let that deter him. He is probably storing enough energy to lay his eggs before he succumbs.

 Bumble bees are gathering as much nectar as they can on late blooming plants.

This bumble bee fell asleep on the stevia he was so tired or perhaps the natural sweetness lulled him into a slumber. Sometimes I go out early in the morning and see a bee sleeping on a flower. They wait till the sun warms them up enough to fly away.

Last month silk worms defoliated my young crabapple. Later it put on blossoms perhaps thinking it was Spring again. Glad it survived the onslaught of the worms.

A hollyhock was fooled by the cooler weather, new blossoms bursting forth. Every day I can find much solace in nature. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order. - John Burroughs

Crabapple

When I was in the fourth grade I lived in Maryland. Near our home the center road divider had the most magnificent crabapple trees growing. In the Spring they bloomed in profusion. In Summer they produced two inch sized green and blushed red crabapples which I loved to eat. In the Fall their leaves turned beautiful colors. In Winter their symmetrical branches held the snow.

 Ever since then I wanted to grow a crabapple tree in my garden but never have; that is till now.

Much to  my delight a tree I thought was a decidious holly is actually a crabapple tree and it's growing in our yard. This particular variety produces tiny almost pea sized red apples but I'm sure the birds love them.

Our tree had a couple of sucker branches at the bottom which we cut off but they wilted immediately. I guess crabapple blossoms are meant to be enjoyed on the tree and not in a vase. I think I'll search out for a pink flowering variety of a crabapple to add another tree to grow beside this one. Do you have any suggestions as to a variety I might choose? Oh, I just discovered this list of varieties compiled by the Colorado Extension Service. Looks like Prairiefire might be a good choise. Now to see if I can find one. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Pink Blossoms and Studio Plans

It's been in the upper 70s F during the day and we've really been enjoying the weather. We hope this peach tree we planted sets some fruit. It's a wee bit of a tree but even one home grown peach this year would be wonderful.

When we moved here this small tree had red berries all over it and I thought it was a deciduous holly. Now it has leafed out and is getting pink blossoms, I think it's a crabapple. What do you think?

Here's another stacked bottle form.

I've been thinking about my studio. As you can see everything is still in boxes and there is no organization at all. That's my slab roller in the middle of the room with stuff piled high on top.

Here's what I plan for the back wall of the studio. Once I get the cabinets installed I'll be able to keep the tools I use daily in the drawers closest to me. The tall cabinets on the either end will store my greenware while it's drying. With cats I have to keep everything out of their reach when it's drying. I expect to get the cabinets at the end of next week, so hopefully I'll be more organized soon. Perhaps I'll find a picture with some depth to place in the center as if there's a window. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.