Root for Pirates wherever you are. Let’s Go, Bucs!

After recovering from a seven-game losing streak, Pirates has since become a wild card contender, 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee Brewers and Atlantic Braves.   Yesterday Pirates lost to Phillies, but so did Brewers and Braves; no harm done.

Atlanta Braves has beaten Washington Nationals today; Pirates is leading 6 to 3 against Phillies at the bottom of 8th inning as I am writing.

With 16 games left for the season, the stake is getting higher; I need to mobilize all the Pirates fans, wherever you are.  When we sent the green tomatoes to our daughters in Boston, it went with one of these photos, reminding them to root for the Pirates.

I always root for Yankees unless they play with Red Sox, and root for Red Sox unless they play with Pirates.  The occasion will come up next week; Boston Red Sox will come to the Steel City, I expect Janice to root for Pirates, not forgetting her root.  Besides, at the bottom among two leagues, Red Sox has nothing to lose on September 16-18 even if they are swept by the Pirates.  Let's Go, Bucs!

Mild summer is not conducive to the growth of the luffa (菜瓜)

This mild summer is not conducive to the growth of the tropical luffa (菜瓜 or 絲瓜), which requires 150-200 warm to hot days to grow and mature, which is a luxury the western Pennsylvania weather cannot afford.  Our success is attributed to our planting of the seeds indoor in late February/early March and the loving tender care when they were young and vulnerable.

We shouldn’t complain as we have had enough to share with some friends.  The yield would be much higher had August been as hot as in July.  We gardeners resign to the fact that we’re at the mercy of the All Mighty.

The glorious canna has reached their full majesty in our garden

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Canna;

. . . . . . .

Her beauty is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

The glorious canna has reached their full majesty in our garden;

 

Our good friend gave us this rhizome (tuberous root—see photo) of canna a few years back. We dug them up when the harsh winter came; they are now more than two dozens; these tall, flamboyant and vibrant tropic splendor will last until the first frost.

Good garden workers

A garden this size needs garden helpers.  Might as well put them to work!  Ben and Gabby are good garden workers; well trained by Gloria and Tom, I presume!

The hidden garden needs a 360º camera

All visitors are impressed by this spot in the garden—a hidden garden within a garden as one cannot see it entering the garden from the back porch.  A very nice place to relax among the beauty and colors; Jason said he would eat dinner here.  Sean took a picture and sent it to Tom, who was responsible for the beginning of this garden.

Look at Gabby who was checking it out the beauty surrounding her.  Jo brought me a Flight 360º suitcase for our forthcoming trip; I need a 360º camera so you can see the surrounding beauty and colors as if you were here.

Same gardening tradition, a generation apart

Same gardening tradition, a generation apart!

The most precious visitors brightened our garden

It  was either overcast or drizzling or raining for his Labor Day weekend, but the precious visitors in the garden brighten the day and the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

福倒了。 福到了

For my Chinese/Taiwanese “FB friends”, no need to explain why this “Hu-Lu squash” with a “luck (福)” engraved on it was posted upside down.  But, I need to say something for my American “FB friends”.

When my Chinese/Taiwanese friends see this, they would say “福 (luck) is upside down” (福倒了), which is pronounced very similar to “福到了 (Luck has arrived!)

Judging from what we have harvested this season, luck has arrived (福到了) in our garden, indeed.