Office plant found at ground zero a symbol of rebirth - CNN.com

Office plant found at ground zero a symbol of rebirth - CNN.com:

'via Blog this'

isn't this a wonderful miracle?

I think this plant might be a creeping dwarf myrtle

Ground Zero: September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2011 - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Ground Zero: September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2011 - The Big Picture - Boston.com

best photographic documentation I ever came across AND you can translate the pictures' text into about any language

9/11 remembered

9/11 remembered

*the* symbol of 9/11 to me is the survivor tree - beaten up by the fire, nursed back, again beaten up by forces of nature and still

standing tall, very much alive and flowering

9/11 to me wasn't just an attack to the USA - it was an attack to what the US is standing for, and this is applicable to ALL people worldwide:

freedom of speech, freedom to vote, freedom to think(!), freedom to live in peace and have your representatives listen to you, freedom to pursue your way of finding happiness and worship the way you believe (as long as this will NOT hurts anybody else)

a long long time ago a German poet rendered a very very old poem of unknown origin (I'm citing the original 6 strophes and those that got translated have their English translation right behind die German original), and Pete Seeger made it a song:


from about 1800:

1. Beleget den Fuß
Mit Banden und mit Ketten
Daß von Verdruß
Er sich kann nicht retten,
So wirken die Sinnen,
Die dennoch durchdringen.
Es bleibet dabei:
Die Gedanken sind frei.

2. Die Gedanken sind frei
Wer kann sie erraten?
Sie fliehen vorbei
Wie nächtliche Schatten;
Kein Mensch kann sie wissen,
Kein Kerker verschließen
Wer weiß, was es sei?
Die Gedanken sind frei.

Thoughts are free, who can guess them?
They flee by like nocturnal shadows.
No man can know them, no hunter can shoot them
with powder and lead: Thoughts are free!

3. Ich werde gewiß
Mich niemals beschweren,
Will man mir bald dies,
Bald jenes verwehren;
Ich kann ja im Herzen
Stets lachen und scherzen;
Es bleibet dabei:
Die Gedanken sind frei

4. Ich denk was ich will
und was mich erquicket,
Und das in der Still
Und wenn es sich schicket;
Mein Wunsch und Begehren
Kann Niemand mir wehren;
Wer weiß was es sei?
Die Gedanken sind frei.

I think what I want, and what delights me,
still always reticent, and as it is suitable.
My wish and desire, no one can deny me
and so it will always be: Thoughts are free!


5. Wird gleich dem Gesicht
Das Sehen versaget,
So werd ich doch nicht
Von Sorgen geplaget.
Ich kann ja gedenken,
Was soll ich mich kränken?
Es bleibet dabei:
Die Gedanken sind frei.

6. Ja fesselt man mich
Im finsteren Kerker,
So sind doch das nur
Vergebliche Werke.
Denn meine Gedanken
Zerreißen die Schranken
Und Mauern entzwei:
Die Gedanken sind frei.

And if I am thrown into the darkest dungeon,
all this would be futile work,
because my thoughts tear all gates
and walls apart: Thoughts are free!


[added later]
Drum will ich auf immer
den Sorgen entsagen
und will mich auch nimmer
mit Grillen mehr plagen.
Man kann ja im Herzen
stets lachen und scherzen
und denken dabei:
Die Gedanken sind frei!

So I will renounce my sorrows forever,
and never again will torture myself with whimsies.
In one's heart, one can always laugh and joke
and think at the same time: Thoughts are free!

my blue coneflower opened

isn't she pretty?

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler

Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler aka Paulchen about 4 years old in my Ohio-garden:

From Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler

Common Name:.............Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler

Classification:..........Hybrid Musk, Rambler

"born":..................1916

Color:...................light pink - white

Average Height:..........20" - 30"

Average Width:...........n / a

Number of Petals:........double

Cold Hardiness:..........zones 4 - 9

Resistance to disease:...yes

Fragrance:...............very, musky

Foliage:.................small-ferny

Growth:..................climbing

Bloom:...................once in late spring / early summer

History:.................?

and:.....................avoid pruning, very thorny stems

as I just couldn't do without this rose, I ordered Paulchen bareroot from David Austin roses (VERY strong plants you get there!)

and now photos of Paulchen in spring 2011 - he's nearly 2 year old now:

From Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler

From Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler

From Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler

From Paul's Himalayan Musk Rambler

Poulsen Parade white - Freya

last year I found out, these darling miniroses sold at the grocery store were Poulsen roses! I was so thrilled to see these Danish beauties grow in my yard, and this year they are just stunning!

the creme Poulsen Parade Minirose I identified as Freya ™ (most likely it's this rose, as she has a distinct fragrance resembling Iceberg)

below how this minirose looks like on the Poulsen website:

From Poulsen Parade white

Sale Name:.................Freya ™
Introductionsyear:.........2009
Product Group:.............Parade ®
Flower color:..............white or almost white
Flower Description:........double
Flower Size:...............small, between 5 and 8cm
Number of Petals:..........more than 25
Fragrance:.................wild Rose fragrance
Flowering:.................normal
Growth Form:...............bushy
Plant Height:..............low, 40-60cm
Foliage:...................dark shiny


Freya gracing my yard - we had a lot of rain this year, on some of the photos her flowers are just filled with rainwater:

From Poulsen Parade white

From Poulsen Parade white

From Poulsen Parade white

From Poulsen Parade white

From Poulsen Parade white

From Poulsen Parade white

From Poulsen Parade white

a still very small firefly on Freya:

From Poulsen Parade white

an unknown bug (ant perhaps?) on Freya:

From Poulsen Parade white

my blue coneflower

for about 2 years there were some bright green leaves and I had no idea at all, what this plant could be about... but this year it started to have a bud - very beautiful:

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

From blue coneflower

and thanks to google and this photo I could identify my "sleeping beauty" as a blue coneflower:

All rights reserved by loraineltai

Tornado Outbreak April 25-28-2011

there are no words to describe the devastation this tornado outbreak brought with it... .. ...


View Tornado Outbreak April 27, 2011 in a larger map


some statistics (citing NOAA as of May-02-2011):

April 25-28, 2011, Tornado Outbreak Statistics
NOAA's preliminary estimate is that there were 362 tornadoes during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 25 to 8:00 a.m. April 28, 2011.

• During the 24-hour period from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 27 to 8:00 a.m. EDT April 28, The National Weather Service (NWS) estimates there were a total of 312 tornadoes.
• The NWS Storm Prediction Center issued severe weather outlooks five days in advance and tornado watches hours in advance.
• NWS Weather Forecast Offices issued life-saving tornado warnings, with an average lead-time of 24 minutes. NWS issued warnings for more than 90 percent of these tornadoes.
• NWS decision support for this event has been extensive. NWS Weather Forecast Offices in the affected areas of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia advertised the potential for severe weather in the Tuesday through Wednesday timeframe since late last week. Local offices provided direct decision support services to meet the specific needs of local emergency manager partners and the general public. NWS Weather Forecast Offices issued Hazardous Weather Outlooks up to six days in advance noting the greater threat of strong, long-track tornadoes was expected.
• The largest previous number of tornadoes on record in one event occurred from April 3-4, 1974, with 148 tornadoes.

Expert analysis by NOAA Research and the National Weather Service of the fatality information indicates that at least 350 people were killed during the entire outbreak from 8:00 a.m. EDT April 25 to 8:00 a.m. April 28. There were 340 fatalities during the 24-hour-period from 8:00 a.m. April 27 to 8:00 a.m. April 28.

• The April 26-28 period had the most people killed by tornadoes in a two-day period since April 5-6, 1936, when 454 people were killed, mostly in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Gainesville, Georgia.
• April 27, 2011, is the deadliest single day for tornadoes since the March 18, 1925, tornado outbreak that had 747 fatalities across 7 states (including the Tri-State Tornado).
• The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado during the April 2011 event caused at least 65 fatalities. This tornado had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and a track 80 miles long.
• These are the most fatalities from a single tornado in the United States since May 25, 1955, when 80 people were killed in a tornado in southern Kansas with 75 of those deaths in Udall, Kansas.
• The deadliest single tornado on record in the United States was the Tri-State tornado (Mo., Ill., Ind.) on March 18, 1925, when 695 died.

Ongoing (preliminary) List of Tornadoes by EF Rating (EF3 to EF5):

• EF5: 2
• EF4: 11
• EF3: 21

Note: All numbers are based on combined NOAA and historical research records and current fatality estimates. The historical research records extend back to 1680.

Month of April 2011 (and record monthly) Tornado Statistics
NWS’s preliminary estimate is that there have been more than 600 tornadoes thus far during the month of April 2011.

• The previous record number of tornadoes during the month of April was 267 tornadoes set in April 1974.
• The previous record number of tornadoes during any month was 542 tornadoes set in May 2003.
• The average number of tornadoes for the month of April during the past decade is 161.
• The overall monthly average number of tornadoes for the past decade is 106.

2011 Year-to-Date (and record annual) Statistics
NWS’s preliminary estimate is that there have been 881 tornadoes so far this year.

• The previous yearly record number of tornadoes was set in 2004 with 1,817.
• May is historically the most active month for tornadoes.
• The overall yearly average number of tornadoes for the past decade is 1,274.

American Robin 2nd week

little Robin is one week old today and look who it grew since 2 days ago:

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

Mummy Robin working on food (earthworms) for her little one:

From Mummy Robin

Tornado Preparedness

What To Do:

1. get a NOAA weather radio
2. turn it on if the weather is favorable for strong Tstorms

What To Listen For:

• Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible in your area. Remain alert for approaching storms.
• Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. If a tornado warning is issued for your area and the sky becomes threatening, move to your pre-designated place of safety.
• Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Severe thunderstorms are possible in your area.
• Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Severe thunderstorms are occurring.

Keep in mind, tornadoes occasionally develop in areas in which a severe thunderstorm watch or warning is in effect.
Remain alert to signs of an approaching tornado and seek shelter if threatening conditions exist.


Environmental Clues to look out for:
about 1-2 hours ahead of a possible tornado:

• all birds gone, deadquiet with no singing and tweeting (of birds)

minutes ahead of a possible tornado:

• Dark, often greenish sky
• Wall cloud
• Large hail
• Loud roar; similar to a freight train

if you see or hear any of these, immediately get into a safe room:

• if you have a basement, rush into your basement,
• if there is no basement, move into a windowless room or closet or under a sturdy piece of furniture at the lowest level of your home,
• if you're living in a mobile home: get out there and hide in the next ditch/ low lying area as shown in the image below (NOAA)
• if you're in a car: get out there and hide in the next ditch/ low lying area as shown in the image below (NOAA)

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

AccuWeather.com - Weather Video - Busting Tornado Myths

a must watch about what to do and more importantly what not to do when a tornado hits your home:

AccuWeather.com - Weather Video - Busting Tornado Myths

Historic Tornado Outbreak

The tornado outbreak on Apr 14-16 led to a total of 241 tornado reports in 14 states.

View Larger Map
This tornado outbreak already ranks as the most deadly outbreak since the Super Tuesday tornado outbreak on Feb 5-6 2008.

the NOAA-Storm-Report graphics for Apr-14 to Apr-16,
and below each image the link to the full storm-report of the corresponding day:

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

Apr-14-2011 report

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

Apr-15-2011 report

From Pawgang's roses and weather-rollercoaster

Apr-16-2011 report


read more here:
AccuWeather.com - Weather News | Historic Tornado Outbreak: 3 Days, 241 Tornadoes, 14 States

American Robin

in February our American Robins built - as they did every year - their nest in the tree trailing it's branches over the back of our trailer... but it got snowed on and soon after abandoned... our Robins now have a very nice and save place: they chose a wreath on the backwards deck of my bird-loving neighbor :)

first nest snowcapped:

From Mummy Robin

a save haven to raise little Robins :)

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

and on April-14 the first little Robin hatched (photos taken Apr-15):

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

little Robin growing real fast - Apr-17-2011

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

little Robin 5 days old (wondering if or when the 2 others might hatch) - Apr-19-2011

From Mummy Robin

From Mummy Robin

Celebrate Arbor Day on April 29, 2011

Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, it's celebrated on the last Friday in April.

What is Tree City USA?

The Tree City USA program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 135 million Americans call home.

The many benefits of being a Tree City include creating a framework for action, education, a positive public image, and citizen pride. Read more about the benefits of becoming a Tree City.

Did you know?

• There are more than 3400 communities that are currently a Tree City USA.
• There are more than 500 communities that received a Growth Award.
• Over 135 million people live in a Tree City USA.

Delaware has 13 Tree Cities:
City............Years...Population
WILMINGTON......17......73135
DOVER...........21......36359
NEWARK...........9......29992
SMYRNA...........7......10429
MILFORD..........7.......6500
DOVER AFB.......18.......6089
LEWES............9.......3000
DELAWARE CITY....8.......1500
REHOBOTH BEACH..20.......1495
FENWICK ISLAND...5.......1400
OCEAN VIEW.......4.......1114
DAGSBORO.........3........750
ODESSA...........8........300


Tree City USA is supported by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program.