Scabiosa 30 October 2019

The common name 'scabious' comes from the herb's traditional usage as a folk medicine to treat scabies, an illness that causes a severe itching sensation.

Wikipedia

Today my Rosemary and I continued in what we call our fall clean-up. This involves removing dead leaves from our flower beds and pre-pruning some of the roses. We are taking advantage of the sunny day, But because tomorrow is also supposed to be sunny we tend to be lax and do just enough to no feel too guilty and then go inside. But while outside and especially in our back lane garden Niña and Niño accompanied us.

In spite of an early breakfast it seems that the day goes quickly and before we know it we are watching Rachel Maddow on TV at 6 and somehow we find ourselves in bed and the day is gone.

This is the fate of many (at least us) of the retired. We have to plan trips and invite people to keep our brains buzzing. If not one of us or both will find ourselves in one of those places for assisted living.

Of late I have been listening to the latest Neil Young including his last record which I bought as a CD on Main Street. I believe he is three years younger than I am but he gives me hope that I might still have something useful to share with those who are around me but are rapidly disappearing into the ether.

One pleasant surprise (and plants have a habit of doing that) was to notice that this Scabiosa (commonly called the pincushion flower) was in bloom today. Rosemary cannot find its plant label so we do not know what its cultivar name is.

My only knowledge of scabies as a word was the fact that Rat Scabies was the drummer with the Johnny Thunders band.