Tag Archives: pitcher plant

Jun14

The Oslo Botanical Gardens

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Wednesday, 22-May-2024


My first day in Oslo, I wandered.

My goal was the Oslo Natural History Museum, or the Naturhistorisk museum in the Norwegian parlance, but I wasn’t locked into getting there in any rush. Oslo was still new to me, and I was enjoying the opportunity to wander.

I’d had a coffee, sandwich, and smoothie earlier in the day and was feeling well fortified, so I set up directions on my phone, grabbed my satchel, and headed out the door.

Nearly to the museum, I realized that it was guarded by one of the most effective barriers in existence against a member of my family… a garden. An expansive garden, full of beautiful flowers and interesting greenhouses. Those clever devils, they knew how to distract me from my destination! How was our hero going to get past this blockade??

I mean, I wasn’t in a rush.

I got past the cleverly-placed blockade simply by walking something like 5 miles, wandering into every corner of the gardens that I could find. Through outdoor pathways, paved and gravel, I wandered and appreciated the views and the smells. Through greenhouses, I ogled massive lily pads and sweat in the heat of a simulated Arizona desert. I saw a pineapple, and the biggest pitchers I’ve ever seen on a pitcher plant.

It was awesome.



I even found a cool “Viking longship” educational sculpture!

Apr28

A Wilsonville relaxation – The start of a Garden

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March, 2023


While I was away in Dublin, my garden was busily growing and sprouting! I’d left some planted seedlings and dormant hops, and came back to stalks reaching out of the dirt by nearly two full feet… not to mention my indoor plants happily sprouting upward (though looking a little thirsty, I’ll freely admit…)

My first few evenings back in the States, I took it easy. I unpacked, organized all the fun things I brought home, caught up with friends, and cared for the growing things in my care. I watered, I fertilized, and I pruned where necessary.

Mostly, I appreciated the greenery, being in my own home, and the quiet of living outside the city.

Jun21

Gardening in an apartment, Part 2 – Summer, 2021

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Late spring, 2021



A bit ago, I posted a couple pictures of the garden that I’ve gotten going on my balcony. It’s not the biggest garden I’ve cared for, but it’s not the smallest either… and what matters is that it’s mine, and that it’s still growing beautifully.

So far I’d been mostly just keeping things moving, but earlier this week I felt my thumb starting to itch in that “Hey, maybe it’s actually a little bit green!” sort of way. Not that I was 100% confident, but… my confidence interval was enough that I headed to the garden store and picked up some new friends to take home.

Specifically – A new Sunflower plant, and some peas!


See, my pea plants had been doing gloriously. Brian had been enjoying foraging, and he, Laurel, and myself had gorged ourselves on every little pea we could find this last weekend. Which… honestly wasn’t a huge number of peas, but you know what? That’s totally okay! There were enough for a few each, and that’s what matters.

Now, I had more!

Of note, I feel really sneaky and smart about one specific setup that I’ve gotten going – the sunflower that I picked up? I planted peas all around it! Hopefully it’ll grow up quickly enough to be a stalk for them as they grow too… but even if not, it’ll be a super cool setup, won’t it?