Under the Solano Sun

I inherited a Nerium oleander (Oleander) when I bought my house three years ago. At first, I did not know what it was much less pay attention to it. It never needed any water, and it produced these lovely pink flowers every year. To me, it was just a bush on the crowded south side of my house.

What are you planting?

I never understood why some people hug trees. Until today. As I stood on the lockdown side of my kitchen peering through dirty window panes at a drab flowerbed, I recognized something was missing in my spirit that closet cleaning and Zoom meetings can't reach.

The abutilon belongs to the Mallow family-like hibiscus and Rose of Sharon-you can see the similarities. Other names for abutilon are Chinese Lantern, Chinese Bellflower, and the Flowering Maple but do not belong to the Maple family. They got their common names because of the shape of their leaves.

Stop for just a moment and think about where you are reading this blog.