Horticulturist and plantsman, Rizaniño "Riz" Reyes, shares his thoughts, experiences and observations as an avid young gardener in the Pacific Northwest.
Another Olympic Games is upon us and with a nation of gardeners playing host to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, you can expect plantings and flowers all around the venues, important landmarks and, of course, the traditional victory bouquets presented to the athletes who stand up on the podium.
Over 20,000 flowers were precisely planted at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.
A meadow band of gold was planted on the south end of the Olympic Park.
Wildflowers by the stadium
The Victory Bouquet
I'm sure the bouquet will grow on me as I watch the games, root for my favorite athletes and teams and watch the victory ceremonies.
As busy and productive as I try to keep myself in the autumn, I somehow always fall into a funk where I'm overly analytical, emotional, and constantly worried about where things are going and what direction aspects of my life are taking. Not being able to actually work and garden outdoors as much as I'd like when daylight is cut short and temperatures become almost unbearable, really can get to me.
While I've been trying to refrain from sharing too much of my personal life for everyone to read, I feel like I need to share just a tiny bit so others who may read this can truly see that I'm just like any 20-something guy who's seeking out personal independence, professional success, financial stability, regular social interactions, and, along those lines, meaningful relationships.
Fall is when feelings seem to run deep and the desire to be with a significant other grows ever so strongly. Fall is also the time for new music releases that impact my mood:
One of my favorite music artists of all time is Darren Hayes. Many of you may recognize his voice as the front man of the former band, Savage Garden. I might have mentioned them in a previous blog post, but they're remembered for their romantic ballads and memorable melodies. Darren has continued as a solo artist and his latest release dubbed, "Secret Codes and Battleships" has been on my current iTunes playlist.
One track, called "Roses" inspired this flower arrangement you see above. I placed it on my bed stand to remind me that romance isn't as illusive as it may seem or, perhaps, I may have already experienced it and the excess flowers from my garden I used as filler represent something I truly care about.
So here's a preview of the entire album. "Roses" comes on at around 4:54.
