7 students punished at Winfrey's school for girls

NEW YORK – Seven students have been punished for violating the code of conduct at Oprah Winfrey's school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa, the second controversy to hit the fledgling institution since it opened in 2007. Winfrey representative Don Halcombe said Wednesday that four students were expelled and three were suspended last week from her Leadership Academy for Girls outside Johannesburg.Halcombe declined to say what led to the violations because there are minors involved. Lisa Halliday, a spokeswoman for the academy's foundation, said it was a confidential school matter and would not "confirm any personal information or disclose any details related to these expulsions."South African media have reported that the seven girls were accused of trying to force students into relationships and to engage in sexual contact."I'm disappointed that several of our students chose to disregard the school's rules," Winfrey said in a statement issued by her production company HARPO. "It's disheartening when any student has to be suspended or expelled and it's a process that involves serious review and consideration. We will not tolerate a violation of school policy and dishonesty."This isn't the first time events at the elite girls school have upset Winfrey. The talk-show queen said she was devastated after a woman overseeing a dormitory at the academy was accused of abuse and sexual assault months after the school opened. The woman's trial has not yet ended.The institution opened in January 2007 with about 150 girls in 7th and 8th grades. The Academy is expected to grow by one grade each year until it reaches full capacity in 2011, with approximately 450 girls in grades 7 through 12.Winfrey poured $40 million into the 28-building campus, which is spread across 22 lush acres. It has computer and science labs, and a library, theater and wellness center. Each girl lives in a two-bedroom suite.It's the fulfillment of a promise she made to former South African President Nelson Mandela and aims to give poor girls a quality education and prepare them for leadership positions in a country where schools are struggling to overcome the legacy of white-minority rule.

David Cook Idled by "Family Matters"

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Something is not quite right for David Cook.The reigning American Idol winner took a short break from his national university tour, canceling two shows earlier this week. The performances were set to take place Monday at Colby Sawyer College in New London, N.H., and Tuesday at Connecticut University in New Haven, Conn."We are canceling [Monday's] and Tuesday's shows to allow David time to deal with personal family matters," read a notice posted on his website. "Please respect his privacy at this time. David would like everyone to rest assured that we are working with the universities to reschedule the shows that are missed."The 26-year-old singer's older sibling, Adam, has been battling brain cancer for more than 10 years. Cook's rep confirms to People that the brothers spent time together last week.Several weeks ago, the crooner taped a performance of his new single, "Come Back to Me," to air on tonight's results show of American Idol. The guitar he used was adorned with his brother's initials.

Federal Authorities Seize Madoff's 2 Boats And Mansion In Miami And Palm Beach, Florida - cbs2chicago.com

MIAMI (AP) ―[Click to zoom.] Click to enlarge The 'Bull', left, a boat belonging to the familly of Wall Street fraudster Bernard Madoff, taken on March 26, 2009, in Antibes, south eastern France. Stephane Danna/AFP/Getty Images1 of 1ClosenumSlides of totalImagesRelated Stories * Student Wins Court Order Against Madoff's Brother (3/27/2009) * Madoff Victims Line Up For Partial Refund (3/21/2009) * Madoff To Stay In Jail, Denied Bail (3/20/2009) * Madoff's Lawyers Try For Bail (3/19/2009) * Prosecutors Charge Madoff's Accountant With Fraud (3/18/2009) * Madoff Victims Get Relief From IRS (3/18/2009)Federal authorities seized disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's Palm Beach mansion, his vintage yacht and a smaller boat Wednesday, part of an effort to recoup assets to pay back investors he swindled.Barry Golden, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service, said about five U.S. marshals arrived at the 8,753-square-foot, five-bedroom mansion late Wednesday afternoon, hours after marshals seized the boats. Authorities planned to enter and secure the mansion, change the locks and conduct an inventory of the property, which Palm Beach County records show had a taxable value of $9.3 million last year.Golden said marshals will spend about three to four hours filming and photographing items in the house that might be removed at some point. The mansion was unoccupied when federal authorities arrived."It's not an April Fools' joke," he said.Palm Beach County property records show the mansion was purchased in 1994 under his wife Ruth's name for $3.8 million. The 2008 property tax bill was $157,298. Golden said the estate would be "monitored and maintained" and is no longer considered Madoff's property."Once the judge signed the order, it stopped being Bernie Madoff's home," Golden said.Earlier in the day, Golden said Madoff's 55-foot yacht named "Bull" and a 24-foot motor boat were taken from marinas on Florida's east coast. The yacht, a 1969 Rybovich, is worth $2.2 million."A lot of money was put into maintaining this boat," Golden said. "This boat was extremely well kept, extremely clean. Engine compartment was spotless. It looked like somebody took a bottle of 409 and scrubbed it every day."Madoff, 70, is in jail in New York awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to swindling billions from investors in what could be the biggest scam in Wall Street history. He faces up to 150 years behind bars.Prosecutors are seizing as much as they can of Madoff's personal fortune, and have begun demanding millions of dollars in payments from his relatives. Roughly 6,700 people have filed claims for a share of whatever is recovered. Thousands more — some who lost in excess of $1 million — are expected to come forward.Court documents filed by Madoff's attorneys indicate Madoff and his wife had up to $826 million in assets — including the boats — at the end of last year.If prosecutors get their way, Madoff and his wife, who has not been charged, will have to give up all their assets, including a $7 million Manhattan penthouse bought in 1984, the Florida home, a $1 million home in Cap d' Antibes, France and a $3 million luxury home on New York's Long Island. The government also wants Madoff and his wife to forfeit $10 million in furnishings for all the homes and luxury cars, among other items.Defense attorneys have indicated they may try to keep the Manhattan apartment, as well as about $62 million in securities, for his wife."We have no objection to the seizure or to the assets being sold," lawyer Ira Sorkin said in brief remarks Wednesday. "The proceeds of the sale will be put aside for discussion at a later date."Also Wednesday, Massachusetts' top securities regulator accused a major feeder fund for Madoff's investment scheme of misrepresenting its lack of knowledge about Madoff's operations.Secretary of State William Galvin accused Fairfield Greenwich Group of Connecticut of civil fraud charges, saying company officials were coached by Madoff on how to answer questions about his investment practices and misrepresented how much they really knew.As far back as April 2008, Galvin said, Fairfield Greenwich principals began discussing the risk that Madoff would "blow up," but didn't disclose that risk to investors. He also said that Fairfield Greenwich kept a database of standardized responses to investors' questions, designed to reassure them that the firm had adequate controls to supervise assets at Madoff's company.The administrative complaint seeks restitution for Massachusetts investors for losses from Fairfield Greenwich.Fairfield Greenwich said in a statement the allegations are false and misleading and it intends to "vigorously" contest them. "FGG is appalled by the Madoff losses suffered by its investors, including its employees and the three investors who reside in Massachusetts," the statement said.

Washington Times - Iran says no `talks' with US envoy at conference

TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - Iran dismissed American government reports that senior U.S. and Iran envoys had a cordial _ and promising _ face-to-face exchange at an international conference, saying Wednesday that no "talks" took place.The competing accounts of Tuesday's encounter in the Netherlands appeared to reflect the different approaches to overtures to end the United States' and Iran's nearly 30-year diplomat standoff.Washington has seemed eager to build on President Barack Obama's surprise video message last month to seek engagement with Iran's ruling clerics. Iran has _ in public, at least _ been far cooler to making immediate contacts, but has not fully rejected some openings in the future.Iran's take on The Hague conference was just as nuanced _ not flatly denying that senior U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke and Iranian diplomat Mehdi Akhundzadeh met at a conference to discuss Afghanistan but concentrating on the semantics of whether official talks took place."Maybe this _ the report on the meeting by the U.S. _ indicates that the other party is hasty to take advantage of the conference," Akhundzadeh was quoted by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.The statement noted that any exchange that occurred at the Afghanistan conference was not comparable with official talks, such as the ambassador-level meetings between the United States and Iran to discuss Iraq."Rest assured," IRNA quoted Akhundzadeh, Iran's deputy foreign minister, "that if there is a decision to have talks with U.S., like the talks on Iraq, all will be informed about it. There is nothing to hide."Tehran-based political analyst Saeed Leilaz interpreted the Iranian response as trying to deflect any domestic suspicions of secret contacts.The issue of outreach to Washington is particularly sensitive before the June 12 presidential elections. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is seeking another four-year term, is careful not to anger his hard-line base with the suggestion of a quick outreach to the Obama administration."Iran is carefully approaching the issue since confirmation of the meeting will have consequences inside Iran and the Islamic World. For more than one generation, Iran has portrayed the U.S. as the main enemy," he said. "Anti-American slogans by Iran will last for years even if the two countries resume ties."Significantly, Tuesday's reported meeting took place in an international conference on Afghanistan _ an issue many analysts believe is the most promising place to start in any thawing of U.S.-Iranian relations. Iran was a longtime foe of the Taliban and the two nations cooperated in 2001 in the initial U.S. invasion.Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton described the encounter as encouraging but not "substantive.""They agreed to stay in touch," Clinton said at the close of the conference on Afghan security and development.Last month, Obama offered to begin "honest" talks with Iran's leaders in a clear break of past U.S. policy to shun the ruling clerics and encourage pro-Western dissidents in Iran. In response, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected the overtures for a quick thaw in relations, but did not fully close the door on some future contacts, saying "should you change, our behavior will change, too."The U.S. and Iran have been estranged for nearly 30 years, since young Iranians stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 Americans hostage for 444 days.But envoys from both nations have met occasionally before for both formal talks _ as with Iraq _ and informal exchanges.In 2007, then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki exchanged only brief pleasantries at a conference in the Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheik. Hopes for deeper contacts where dashed when Mottaki decided to skip a delegates' dinner, apparently objecting to the low-cut dress of a violinist and a bar within view of the VIP table.___Murphy contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Obama Prepares to Enter the Lion’s Den -- Daily Intel -- New York News Blog -- New York Magazine

Tomorrow, Barack Obama takes part in his first international conference as president, the G20 summit, a big step for him as a new player on the world stage. Sitting across from him at what we imagine will be one long table are his new peers, the leaders of the world's top economic powerhouses — each of them with their own priorities, motivations, and histories. In other words, Obama will have to approach each personality with the utmost delicacy. Here are the most important ones.Gordon BrownPhoto: Getty ImagesGordon Brown: The two are on the same page about the need for other countries to pass stimulus packages, but Obama has other problems with the British prime minister. After returning a bust of Winston Churchill that sat in the Oval Office since 9/11 and gifting Brown a set of unusable DVDs, Obama has to prove that the "special relationship" the two countries have had for generations is still strong. Unfortunately, he started off inauspiciously this morning by refusing to wish the English soccer team good luck in their match against Ukraine, an act normally punishable by hanging.SarkozyPhoto: Getty ImagesNicolas Sarkozy: The French president is less concerned about stimulus spending and more adamant about international financial regulation — in fact, annoyingly so. A couple of days before the start of the summit, Sarkozy warned that if the G20 nations didn't agree to his demands, "there'll be an empty chair — I'll get up and leave." Which would not be helpful, but also not at all out of character either. Obama should have extra lollies on hand in case Sarkozy gets hissy.Angela MerkelPhoto: Getty ImagesAngela Merkel: The German chancellor has made it clear that she won't abandon strict fiscal responsibility in order to pump money into the economy, something Obama has shown more willingness to do. At the same time, she also expressed certainty that the two nations will cooperate despite their differences, just as long as Obama KEEPS HIS DAMN HANDS TO HIMSELF.Hu JintaoPhoto: Getty ImagesHu Jintao: China basically owns our country right now, so Obama must do everything he can to placate it in every way. Then again, China has been floating the idea of replacing the dollar as the global reserve currency, something Obama simply can't accede to. So he's making up for it in other ways, like accepting an invitation to visit Beijing by the end of the year, even though he's reeeally kind of busy, but, no it's fine, he'll shift a few things around — no, no, it's fine, he'd love to.Dmitri MedvedevPhoto: Getty ImagesDmitri Medvedev: Obama has already met with the Russian president to discuss a new nuclear-arms-reduction treaty and non-proliferation efforts concerning Iran and North Korea. Of course, Obama's hand has been weakened in the wake of the embarrassing "reset"-button fiasco, which diminished our credibility for years to come. On a hopeful note, the two agreed to set aside "Cold War mentalities" — but immediately narrowed their eyes and looked at each other with heightened suspicion.

The Buzz Log - April Fooled: NASCAR Hoax Causes Web Frenzy - Yahoo! Buzz

Sure, April Fools' Day comes but once a year, and some silly stories have been making the rounds. (Stairmasters in the NYC subway? Brad and Angelina married? Really? No.) But one thing is now clear: Keep the jokes away from NASCAR.All Car and Driver magazine tried to do was drive a little levity into the auto industry bailout with a prank. The serious publication ran a joke story that announced that Obama had ordered Chevrolet and Dodge out of NASCAR if they wanted to keep their federal funds. For a brief web-fueled moment, NASCAR fans had to imagine a future of cheering on Japanese cars. Or worse, French ones. The horror.Immediately, the Internet went crazy, with searches on "obama nascar" accelerating in Search and zooming across Twitter. Although the story was clearly marked a hoax, Car and Driver eventually pulled the fake story and apologized for going "too far."Not to worry, NASCAR fans: Nobody's pulling out of NASCAR. Yet. As Automobile magazine's blog noted nervously, "Let's just hope that the auto task force doesn't read this and get any ideas."

Michelle Obama takes London! The dresses, the jewels, AND what she wore to meet the Queen

Barack Obama and his wife departed for the UK earlier this week, and, while the president is tending to serious business-- the G20 economic summit in London and, from there, a week of meetings in five different countries--Michelle Obama is along for more jovial pursuits. She's playing high-style dress up, sitting for tea, giving official gifts, and even meeting the Queen (see image, left).
So, what is she wearing? Thus far, no big surprises: She's sticking to favorite designers Jason Wu, Thakoon, and J.Crew; her usual cool color palette; kitten heels; pearls and brooches, and as for beauty, minimal makeup and soft hair. She looks feminine, stylish, and appropriate, but also totally safe. The only outfit I found rather dull and matronly is the Isabel Toledo ensemble she chose to meet the Queen. There was something almost uniform-like about its dull black and white, the skirt is an awkward length, and although Mrs.O did cover her arms with an Azzedine Alaïa cardigan and the look is fitting for the event, I think she can do better. (See our slideshow below for more details on the first lady's European wardrobe.)

In other Michelle Obama news, recent polls show her U.S. favorability ratings are through the roof (76 percent of us like her, up 28 points since last summer). And, during this, her maiden voyage overseas, the world has continued its obsession with every facet of how she looks. On the trip so far, large crowds have gawked and chanted her name wherever she goes, reporters have asked exhaustive questions about her beauty regimen, and the press have compared her ceaselessly to Jackie Kennedy.

Let's face it, that's a lot to live up to.

More tidbits: She's getting better at giving. According to Time, the Obamas gave the Queen an iPod as a gift; it contained footage of her visit to the United States in 2007 (much better than the unusable DVD's they presented Gordon Brown last month). The Queen, meanwhile, gifted the Obamas "a silver framed photo of herself and her husband, as she does all visiting dignitaries," according to the same source.

Authorities seize Bernard Madoff's 2 boats in Fla

MIAMI – Federal authorities seized disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's vintage yacht and a smaller boat from two Florida marinas early Wednesday, part of an effort to recoup assets to pay back his swindled investors.

The 55-foot yacht named "Bull" and a 24-foot motor boat were taken from marinas on Florida's east coast, said Barry Golden, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service. The yacht, a 1969 Rybovich, is worth $2.2 million.

"A lot of money was put into maintaining this boat," said Golden. "This boat was extremely well kept, extremely clean. Engine compartment was spotless. It looked like somebody took a bottle of 409 and scrubbed it every day."

Madoff, 70, is in jail pending sentencing for pleading guilty to charges he swindled billions from investors in what could be the biggest scam in Wall Street history. He faces a maximum sentence of 150 years behind bars.

Prosecutors are seizing as much as they can of Madoff's personal fortune, and have begun demanding millions of dollars in payments from his relatives. Roughly 6,700 people have filed claims for a share of whatever is recovered. Thousands more — some who lost in excess of $1 million — are expected to come forward.

Court documents filed by Madoff's attorneys have indicated Madoff and his wife had up to $826 million in assets at the end of last year — including the boats. Madoff also has an $11 million, five-bedroom mansion in Florida's ritzy Palm Beach Island.

If prosecutors get their way, Madoff and his wife, who has not been charged, will have to give up all their assets, including a $7 million Manhattan penthouse bought in 1984, the Florida home, a $1 million home in Cap d' Antibes, France and a $3 million luxury home on New York's Long Island. The government also wants Madoff and his wife to forfeit $10 million in furnishings for all the homes and luxury cars, among other items.

Defense attorneys have indicated they may try to keep the Manhattan apartment, as well as about $62 million in securities, for his wife.

On Wednesday, Madoff's lawyer Ira Sorkin spoke briefly about the government seizing his client's assets.

"We have no objection to the seizure or to the assets being sold," said Sorkin. "The proceeds of the sale will be put aside for discussion at a later date."

Also Wednesday, Massachusetts' top securities regulator accused a major feeder fund for Madoff's investment scheme of misrepresenting its lack of knowledge about Madoff's operations.

Secretary of State William Galvin accused Fairfield Greenwich Group of Connecticut of civil fraud charges, saying company officials were coached by Madoff on how to answer federal investigator's questions about his investment practices and misrepresented how much they really knew.

As far back as April 2008, Galvin said, Fairfield Greenwich principals began discussing the risk that Madoff would "blow up" but didn't disclose that risk to investors. He also said that Fairfield Greenwich kept a database of standardized responses to investors' questions, designed to reassure them that the firm had adequate controls to supervise assets at Madoff's company.

The administrative complaint seeks restitution for Massachusetts investors for losses from Fairfield Greenwich.

Fairfield Greenwich said in a statement the allegations are false and misleading and it intends to "vigorously" contest them. "FGG is appalled by the Madoff losses suffered by its investors, including its employees and the three investors who reside in Massachusetts," the statement said.

___

Associated Press Writer Kelsey Abbruzzese in Boston contributed to this report.

"Salvia"- Something Serious

Peace!

On this day of 'knowledge' I think it is important to emphasis such an integral principle in our mathematics. While we may become partial to other principles and degrees in 120, knowledge will always remain the 'foundation'.

Having full knowledge of something before you activate on an idea can be life saving and prevent someone from making a "fool" of themselves.

This morning I came across a Fox news link on Yahoo, for a video with a news report about 'salvia'. Of which I had previous knowledge of and experience with. Here's is a CNN video from a few months ago.



The news report talked about the concern of law makers for making salvia illegal, while it's currently legal in most states. Why? The fear that salvia is becoming the new marijuana. How so? It's cheap, 'legal' and offers LSD-like trips.

Being an advocate and pracitioner of herbal medicine, I decided last Spring to look into salvia, after hearing about it from a friend. Salvia Divinorum is a plant, an herb, and is a form of "sage", related to common sage used as a spice in cooking and in incense. What makes this kind of sage so unqique is it's hallucinogenic and psycho-tropic properties.

Salvia is native to Central and Southern Mexico and has been used by the Original people for thousands of years. It is used by shamans in Oaxaca to induce vision quests and to heal. In that arena, the leaves are chewed and swallowed gradually and there is always a designated 'sober' guide to care over the participants. Salvia is very similar to the 'cohoba' used by the Taino and the 'ayahuasca' used throughout the Amazon by Indigenous tribes.

The difference with the 'over the internet' doses of Salvia and it's use/abuse by people is that it;s sold in concentrated form- 5x, 10x, 20x, even 75x the normal botanical chemical composition.And it's being smoked, which allows it to hit the participant much harder and suddenly. There are tons of videos of people on Youtube smoking it and flipping out. Being a scientist and herbologist, I thought I should check it out for my self. So I did.

Let me say that, in all honesty, I was not prepared. Even with my previous stint with mushrooms and moments of being black-out drunk. I did, however, do the "knowledge" and strive to gain as much information about it as possible before I entered into that cipher. Still, while we say knowledge and understanding are one in the same, they still have their distinctness in being seperated by wisdom, or experience. To know something and to 'experience' is another. I decided to use it as just any regular person on Youtube would, at 15x. I took two seperate and deep pulls and then.... BANG! Alice in Wonderland meets Apocalypse Now. I will say that it was a life changing experience. Horrible. But life changing. As should have been, considered that I used it as a 'westerner' and not within the mindset of the Original people. The experience only last for 4-5 minutes but the 'come down' can linger for a few hours.

Substances of that degree can be very dangerous because the basis for the journey is rooted in the self. How balanced are you as a person, mentally, emotional, and physically? Substances like salvia, ayahuasca etc, truly all one to tap into that 90% of brain power we don't use. And if you aren't prepared than you won't know who or where you are, nor what's happening to you. While me hear shamans and medicine men say that it allows them to heal, talk with spirits, ancestors etc. It's true. It's that's your preception of reality. Whatever you think and have learned will become magnified and it is the shaman's responsibility to guide the person through the 'trip' and interpret the kaleidoscope of images, sounds, and thoughts, within their cultural framework. Without that good orderly direction, the person could be reasonably end up committing suicide.

A drawing inspired by Ayahuasca- showing a degree of the visual aspects of a ayahuasca vision.


I won't go into the details of my 'vision quest' except that everything that 'is' real in my life became a distant thought and my inner thoughts become my actual reality. That means EVERY inner thought, from cartoons to whatever. Those whom I shared the details with know what I am referring to. I then pondered on how our people used them and why? To open up their minds to the mysteries of the universe. To gain knowledge. Recognizing that all things must change and that history must be renewed, I also recognize that there isn't a need for such methods of obtaining knowledge. We live in the information age with so much readily available to us through the internet and other avenues. We have to re-write history and not repeat it, in thinking that substances alone lead to higher consciousness. They can, but only within a specific cultural framework. Likewise, there are many methods or manners of accessing and directing that untapped brain power.

There was a reason why, in Otisville, Allah mentioned how he had experiences with various substances before and that he wouldn't mess with LSD- "I ain't taking none of them trips!..." In my understanding, it's because they can make you other than your own self, beyond what marijuana or alcohol may do to you. Let's reflect on the fact that substances like Ecstasy and LSD were developed as 'mind-control' drugs, as part of the MK Ultra program during the 1940's and 50's. A program run by the C.I.A. and headed by ex-Nazi scientist Sideny Gottlieb. The drugs were devised as proto-types for an ultimate 'truth serum' to be administered to enemy spies or operatives. The C.I.A. was brought before the U.S. Supreme Court, when George Bush senior became it's director, after the agency released the drugs to the public and experimented on masses of unknowing and unwilling citizens. Especially prisoners. Yet, salvia, a natural substance, rivials and surpasses them. Now, taking into consideration, that even amongst traditional tribal use of the herb, an unintoxicated guide is present to care for the participants, which means the need to be watched over because they have no control over themselves. This is counter to being the master of self and being in control, let alone 'wise' with what one will do and say under such circumstances.

With the recent news coverage and the contraversy over salvia, it is likely that it will become banned in more and more states. At the same time, it is becoming more and more popular. Salvia is NOT legal marijuana. I know, as I'm no stranger to 'bhang' and it's many strands. Over the internet concentrated salvia, is some ol- other shit.

Of course, there will be those super-men and rebel scientist's amongst us who think they can handle anything and who will read this and want to naturally try it for themselves. At least I gave you the knowledge, which was the purpose of this post. Be safe. Hide any/all weapons in your living space. Turn off any music or television. DON'T have your kids around and PLEASE don't go out in public. And no matter what some people say about "just keep telling yourself, it's not real" when the topic of hallucination and psycho-tropic images comes up, it's easier said than done. You think you've seen people trippin' off that 'loveboat' or that 'wet'?

In short I'll just say, leave it for those of that said ability- shamans and traditional healers 'trained' in that specific science. A science of which has been in practice for at least the last few thousand years.

Be informed. Make intelligent choices.

Here's an article from the NY Times- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/us/09salvia.html?fta=y

Salvia Plant in the Sun and the Drooping Cherry Tree

I'm planting some summer bulbs and one I found was a salvia bulb. I've never really used salvia before in my garden and frankly I didn't know it was a bulb, apparently after checking up on salvia there are a few species that have rhizomes or tubers. I'm pretty interested in bulbs so this was new to me. It surprised me to find this bulb so of course I had to have it. This purple salvia bulb is planted near the porch behind the heather bush, between the pink jasmine climbing up the porch railing and the pointy cypress like tree, one of two which are standing guard on either side of the gate. This is a barren area I've had trouble planting in and I am hoping the salvia plant will do the trick to fill the area with some extra color. Its a semi-shady area with a reasonable amount of sun tucked in the corner of the porch and this salvia can take partial shade. I'm eager to see if this salvia will grow well there and can't wait until it blooms in summer.

The drooping cherry tree is starting to bud now as spring is getting closer. This is still a young tree but from everything I've read about them they are a smaller tree of ten to twelve feet in height. I certainly hope so since having a larger tree won't work well for the front yard. I don't want to cover up too much of the Victorian facade as its so beautiful, the garden should compliment it rather than be the star of the property. I've had problems with the cherry tree having infestation of fly larvae, little black larvae that ruin the beautiful leaves on the tree every year. I've read that this is a common infestation for cherry trees. If you don't rid the tree of the first infestation then multiple infestations follow with the result being tattered looking leaves. I tried using Neem which is a natural oil that is supposed to kill them off, unfortunately it really didn't work to get rid of all of the fly larvae. This year we turn to pesticides. I rarely if ever use them in my garden preferring natural means but in this case its the only method that will work. Next garden nursery visit I'm finding something that will work to rid the tree of these pests.

Spring in Eureka is really more like fall weather, the blooming season seems to be delayed a good month or two for all my plants compared to the warmer climate in Petaluma in Sonoma County. Generally the warmer weather of 65 to 70 degrees doesn't kick in until May or June. I don't mind it a bit, I love the cooler coastal weather and my favorite plants do well here. As the weather starts to warm with the coming of spring the bulbs in the front yard are starting to bloom, among them yellow daffodils, peach colored tulips and purple dutch iris. They are forming a lovely pattern surrounding the flower beds and walkway leading up to the front porch. It will take a few more years to achieve the effect I'm working toward in the garden but eventually the colorful bulbs will cascade throughout the front yard with spring color.