PK's Iris comes to the forefront

Several years ago a friend at work donated some Irises which she had divided and dug up from her garden. I planted them behind the greenhouse and for years, it was a treat for the few of us who happened to be in a far corner of the school's campus at this time of year. Then I decided to be nice to the rest of the campus, so the students and I did our own digging and dividing.

This week we had five sunny school days during which we concentrated on the flower garden, which is now nearly set to do its thing. Our seedlings may be small, but I have learned that soon enough we will have a burst of color. For now the flower that got the most comments by staff and students passing by as we gardened were PK's Irises.

I recently read a comment at a blog where someone said her favorite gifts were perennial flowers, for each year when it blooms it reminds them of the gift.

after this week at work, in which I told many a folk of how these irises made it into our lives, I fully agree with the blogger...

great great grandmother tries to flower

The great great grandmother of which many of the aloes in my room have come forth from.... is trying to flower again. This is its second attempt. Last year we celebrated the bloom, then sadly it did not open in any kind of glory. The flowers were dry and brown. Anybody know why?

Not a glorious orange, which I had hoped for. But the bud is way cool...

The Mighty Assistant fights entropy

In my geology class, I write ENTROPY on the board. We speak about great forces causing the not to be expected consolidation of elements. Gravity taking iron and nickel to the core. Intense heat leading to fractional melting and thus creating silicon rich granite. Life's energy taking it's high share of phosphorous. Volcanism releasing carbon into the system so it can be consolidated in limestone.

But first we talk order vs chaos. My classroom leans toward the land of disorder. I start talking about the amount of energy it takes for it to be as neat as it is, but pause. Then give credit where credit is due. Sitting in the background keeping data on my students is The Mighty Assistant (blogs need characters), who battles entropy and the chaos that I have a hard time slowing down.

She came in having to fill some mighty big shoes left by my previous assistant, and said something like, "I know nothing about growing plants. I kill them all."

I say, "We do a lot in the kitchen too."

She says, "I don't know much about that either."

I don't think I was impressed by her resume. But her honesty was in fine shape.

She saw I needed help fighting entropy and has become a force in consolidating materials in my classroom just as gravity, heat, life and volcanism do it for the planet. She has gotten her hands dirty (in soil and bread dough) and leaped into working with the plants and students.

And let it be known that the Phillies ended the drought of championships we had experienced in Philadelphia by her idea of making "Lucky Phillies" bouquets on the day they won the world series. On that day all else stopped and we sent students out to cut zinnias, mums, cosmos, dahlias, snapdragons..... And then the students delivered arrangements to loyal fans around campus. No training in horticulture could have led to such a wonderful idea, fun day, and world championship. This summer she took on the project of collecting strawflowers and thought of a cool idea then in her compassionate ways, she made one for me to take home to my wife.