Full moon update...

OK...the ant pondering is behind me, and I am focused on this beautiful full moon we just had. Jeff has been watching it rise over the horizon as we watch TV in the evening. And with our coastal fog out to sea the past few nights, I've been awoken in the middle of the night by the exceptionally bright moon through the window. I took a couple of shots on the balcony, just to show off the magical glow.

But more importantly, let's talk about how this freakish kumquat plant looks on our balcony! (It really struck me in the moonlight...you can see it in the 2nd picture above and again during daylight below.) Let me explain.

We bought our kumquat this spring, and it had a normal ball-topiary look. It really makes a striking addition to the variety on the balcony: orange kumquats, green olives, purple potato bush flowers, whispy lavender. Back to the kumquat...sometime over summer, a mutant branch formed near the base of the plant, and before we even noticed it, this spike was poking through the top of the leaves. Now, the spike/branch is well over 7 feet tall, and showing no signs of stopping.

In the picture below, you can clearly see the top of the spike/branch, and if you look closely, you can make out the start of the branch down near the lowest green brace. Impressive.

Nature can sure do some amazing things. Especially under the light of a full moon.

Mother Nature timed this show nicely, I might add. Now that the full moon has passed, the coastal fog returned this evening. The fireplace makes us cozy though...and the cats are sprawled out in front of it.