It’s September in Florida. Eventually a hurricane is going to take aim at my garden. We spent the weekend watching weather models, called spaghetti models because the paths on the models look like cooked pasta. I am on the east coast of Florida and currently out of the area predicted to be affected by Hurricane Ian. Thus far, 35 mph winds are forecast here as the hurricane passes on the other side of the peninsula. The feeling is relief mixed with concern for my fellow Floridians and a certain trepidation that no one really knows what Ian will do.
Here is the current spaghetti:
Back to the flowers, this does look a bit like a spaghetti model with the linear stems of the flowers.
The purple berries are from Beautyberry (Calliocarpa americana); blue flowers are Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicaensis); white flowers are Sweet Almond Bush (Aloysia virgata); and a few sprigs of Muhly Grass (Muhlbergia capillaris) in pale pink.
Late season Tropical Gardenias (Tabernaemontana diviricata) grace the edge of the vase. The cobalt blue vase was a gift from my brother.The Gardenias and Sweet Almond flowers add a nice fragrance to my foyer.
Time will tell which piece of pasta was the path Ian takes. Until then, no garden cleanup will be attempted.
Happy Gardening!!!
The Shrub Queen 
Good luck! There seems to be bad news wherever we turn. I love the purple berries.
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Thank you.
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A great title for your post. I found a Beautyberry with berries growing in one of my beds. A bird must have dropped it there.
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Thank you. I have been throwing the berries around the garden for years – to no avail.
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Is each coloured line a potential path of the hurricane, Amelia? There is so much in the world that humans do not yet have control over, isn’t there? Love that chunky squat blue vase of yours – it’s almost as if a bigger vase has been truncated (do you remember those 1960s glass cutters that you could cut bottles down with? I love all the contents too – very striking, as always!
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yes, there is an worldwide ensemble of meteorologists who work together on the forecasts, the Euro models are considered the most accurate. The storm was forecasted to hit about 400 miles south of where it is now late last week, so you really have to keep an eye on things. I remember the cutters, thank you.
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With the potential impact, the forecasting is such an important thing, even if the path can’t be predicted exactly. I have been wondering how your part of Florida fared this week, Amelia…?
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Thanks for asking, Cathy. My SOS post yesterday has pictures.
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Thanks for the prompt 👍
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I thought of you when I heard about Hurricane Ian. I’m glad it shouldn’t cause you too much grief – but I’ll keep my fingers crossed that that prediction holds anyway. Hopefully, your wonderful beautyberries won’t be stripped from their stems by the winds. Take care and best wishes!
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Thanks, Kris. I was wondering if the berries would hold on til next week when I cut them.
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Love those beautyberries, yours always look so robust compared to my measly ones. Glad Ian will miss you but it doesn’t look good for the west coast, alas.
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Thanks, I cannot figure out why the birds don’t chow down on the berries? When you were a florist (probably) I was designing landscapes in downtown Tampa – at that time they were talking about what a disaster a hurricane would be if it hit there..they never stopped building and it looks like a direct hit right now, giving me the chills.
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Yikes, I hope the evacuations are getting folks out of harm’s way. I had a friend whose house was obliterated by Katrina and sensibly didn’t rebuild. No one seems to think it’ll happen twice, but storms are predicted to get worse, so there should be limits on building close to waterfronts. But no one wants to do that, it’s big money. 😦
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So much foolish development here..
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It is everywhere, NJ couldn’t wait to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. It kind of irks me that our tax dollars pay for a lot of the damage… and these are mostly houses for the very rich. What is wrong with this picture??
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Yes very aggravating.. FEMA has paid to have some very high end houses raised out of the flood plain here..
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The white sweet almond flowers caught my eye today. How delicate and pretty they are. I read your comments with Eliza – the same happens here and in the UK; building on flood plains, diverted river beds etc. And then they wonder why the water always wins…. Stay safe Amy!
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Thanks, I love the fragrance from the Sweet Almond and yes, the water always wins.
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Take care Amelia…( & lovely callicarpa berries !)
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Thanks, Fred…currently forecasted to get 30 mph winds.
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Hope it won’t be worse. Result in a few days (and maybe in your next Six)
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So do I. There are usually some higher gusting winds. I am always amazed by the size of these storms. This one is 500 miles wide and the bands got here yesterday.
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Wow, you are having wind and rain. Your arrangement on the other hand looks strong and steadfast but that is inside your home before any damage. Take care.
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Thanks, Noelle.
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Nobody grows finer Callicarpa berries than you, Amy. Lovely vase. Hope Ian doesn’t behave too badly. Never a dull moment these days, is there?! Take care
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Thank you, Annette. The berries amaze me. It started raining from Ian last night.
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are you okay?
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Yes, I live on the opposite coast and south of the storm.
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Oh my! I had not watched the news for a few days. I am in Los Angeles now, so am out of my regular schedule. I will be looking at the news presently.
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