Thursday, December 31, 2009

Chicago Peace



This is the Chicago Peace Hybrid Tea Rose, a more colorful variant of the fabulous Peace Rose, with glowing pink and canary yellow shading, first discovered by a rose breeder in the city of Chicago, my home town. Photographed here in my San Pedro garden, on the last day of 2009 in the low December sun.

The Peace Rose is the most famous and successful garden rose of all time. Well over one hundred million plants have been sold. It is a Hybrid Tea rose with large flowers and a light yellow to cream color.

It was developed by French horticulturist Francis Meilland in the years 1935 to 1939. When Meilland foresaw the German invasion of France he sent cuttings to friends in Italy, Turkey, Germany, and the United States to protect the new rose.

The rose became known as 'Peace' in the following way: Early 1945 Meilland wrote to Field Marshal Alan Brooke, the principal author of the master strategy that won Second World War, to thank him for his key part in the liberation of France and to ask if Brooke would give his name to the rose. Brooke declined saying that, though he was honored to be asked, his name would soon be forgotten and a much better and more enduring name would be "Peace."

The name "Peace" is a trade name; its formal cultivar name is Rosa 'Madame A. Meilland'. The adoption of the trade name "Peace" was publicly announced in the United States on 29 April 1945 by the introducers, Messrs Conard Pyle Co. This was the very day that Berlin fell, officially considered the end of the Second World War in Europe. Later that year Peace roses were given to each of the delegations at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco, each with a note which read, "We hope the 'Peace' rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace." from wikipedia

May 2010 be filled with Peace and Happiness.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Bird Seed Cookie



will they come?

Monday, December 28, 2009

Surf's Up



Sunday, December 27, 2009

Watercolor Painting?



Today at 12:33 PM from Royal Palms State Beach.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas Lights & City Lights



Wishing you a dazzling holiday season!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Merry Christmas



Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
Come visit the Skywatch Christmas edition here.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy Holidays!



Wilson's card from his friends at the Southern California Boston Terrier Rescue.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Faux Snow in Pedro!

This is San Pedro in winter, with faux snow & decorations.
Cute! I think it looks almost real.


But this is the real deal...
...after the big blizzard that pounded the east coast this past Saturday.

We "enjoyed" the blizzard at our friend Susan's home, in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

White Christmas in New Jersey.
Happy Holidays!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Angel Sightings





Monday, December 21, 2009

Ding Dong Avon Calling




Avon and the Pink Rambler

1954: Avon launches its "Ding, Dong, Avon Calling" advertising campaign; annual sales are at $55 million. Read more here.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Ornamental Kale


Winter Garden:
Kale requires cool weather, moist, rich soil, and at least a few hours of sunlight a day. Beyond that, they're easy to grow and can tolerate temperatures below freezing. The leaves of ornamental kale are edible. They can be used as garnish on plates provided they were not treated with harmful chemicals.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Sunrise Sunset?



Sunrise beyond the breakwater at Cabrillo Beach and the Port of Los Angeles.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Out To Sea



Cargo ships YM Vancouver (left) and Milan Express (right) depart from the Port of Los Angeles.

Skywatch around the world here!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Coming & Going



Coming: Cargo vessel APL Canada.
Going: Cargo vessel Milan Express bound for Oakland.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Gangway A



Cabrillo Marina

Monday, December 14, 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Happy Hanukkah!


Today is the first day of Hannukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, referring to the lights kindled on each of the holiday's eight nights. We eat foods fried in olive oil to commemorate the ancient miracle that occurred in the second century BCE. A jug of olive oil, which held enough oil to last for one day, burned for eight when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated.

Please come visit Taste With The Eyes for the commemorative latkes recipe.
Happy Hanukkah!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Tugs & Blimp



Sail over to other Skywatcher photos, here!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

All Better



Thank you all so much for your concern over Wilson's eye. His veterinary ophthalmologist says it has healed well. YAY!

Thank goodness, that was stressful for both of us. He's a happy camper now! And we are about to go for a walk in this nice chilly 41° LA weather before the rain comes...

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Wind Ensemble & The Bridge



At the Cruiseship Promenade, Doug Hollis, a nationally renowned artist, created a major environmental art piece that moves in the ocean breezes, known as Wind Ensemble.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Blanket Flower


Gaillardia aristata

Gaillardia, or Blanket Flower, is a genus of drought-tolerant annual and perennial plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to North America and South America. It was named after M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was a patron of botany. The common name refers to the inflorescence's resemblance to brightly patterned blankets made by native Americans.
from wikipedia

Monday, December 7, 2009

Golden Princess



Departed the Port of Los Angeles 2009-12-06 17:15

Ship Statistics
Name: Golden Princess
Registry: Bermuda
Country Built In: Italy
Ship Completed Date: 10/1/2001
Call Letters: ZCDA9
Capacity: 2600
Gross Tonnage: 109000
Average Speed: 22 knots
Length: 951 feet
Number of Passenger Decks: 7
Number of Restaurants: 9
Number of Pools: 5
Number of Elevators: 14


Sunday, December 6, 2009

bonsai sale

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Christmas Tree at Western Ave. and 9th Street



I post this Christmas tree in honor of my San Pedro neighbor "My Persian Kitchen" and thank her for her comment on Thursday's photo: 
"I love the HUGE Christmas tree they have decorated with the ginourmous presents underneath! It looks so pretty at night all lit up!"

Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Christmas Tree Lot



Western Ave. and 9th Street

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

My Dining Room



Early morning sun streaming in...

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Theme Day: Waiting



Mom and Wilson wait for everyone to get their leftovers from the buffet on the day after Thanksgiving.



We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!


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