***TREES***
This is our neighbor's house that's under construction.
I have spent the last four months trying to figure out the name of this tree.... Hours on Google, the Sunset Western Garden Book cover-to-cover, about fifteen nursery people and every dog walker in the neighborhood who wondered why I was taking pictures of this tree. The tree belongs to a neighbor who doesn't know the name either.
We had one in our yard just like it, but it up and died for no apparent reason about six moths ago and has since been removed. But it was a great tree that smelled sweet in the springtime and I want to replant with the same kind.
To say finding the name of this tree was nearly a full-time job is an understatement.
But finally, I wondered into the local hardware store on Friday that also has a small nursery so, since I carry tree pictures and a hand full of dead leaves with me all the time, I asked the nursery guy if he knew and HALLELUJAH! It's a Pittosporum Undulatum. I can't pronounce it, but I've got the name and the tree is finally on order.
So stay tuned, one of these Sundays I'll have a tree of my own to show you.
***ELEPHANTS***
e my mailman on Saturday-- He brought my gift from Margaret at Nanny Goats In Panties' White Elephant Gift Exchange... And what a gift it is!A brand new Touch-Free Sensor Soap Pump from Simple Human. Classy, huh!?!
It's one of those dispensers that all you have to do is place your hand under the spout for soap to magically appear. Cool gift but it will definitely be rotated into the next White Elephant exchange I participate in. Why?
Three simple words.... "Batteries Not Included".
I have a ton of batteries on hand, but I do not have time to keep track of battery levels for a soap dispenser.
So thank you Redhead Ranting, this definitely qualifies as a White Elephant in my book, albeit it a nice one. And, thank you Margaret for organizing this very fun party. It's been a hoot seeing all the gifts bloggers have received. Click here to see them too.
***DOMINOS***
A million thanks to Lisalulu from The Davis Dialogues for sending me her Domino Necklace. It's so fun and was so nice of her to send it to me "just because". Thanks Lisalulu. If you don't know her, she's a great cook, has a wonderful family and a terrific sense of humor. Click here to say hello.
How's your Sunday?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Posts
So glad you solved the case of the mystery tree.
ReplyDeleteI was once given one of those soap dispensers too. I donated it to the Goodwill.
Love the domino necklace and I'm not just saying it. I have a scrabble tile necklace, but had never seen a domino one and I think it looks great.
I had a patient who had that soap dispenser.
ReplyDeleteEvery time they walked by, it squirted soap into the sink! It seemed to have a mind of it's own! Then the cat would jump onto the counter to activate it!
Cool tree story!
So glad you finally know the name of the tree it was killing me :) Can't wait to see the pictures!
ReplyDeleteAnne H's comment is so funny. We have a toy horse I bought my daughter for Christmas that goes off anytime anyone goes near the thing. It's funny!
We love trees and I've never heard of that one. I hope it does better than your other tree did. Congratulations on finding the name.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like something Harry Potter could pronounce and the tree would be in your yard.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday Joanna.
You're a serious Sherlock Holmes, JJ! I love that you carried photos and dead leaves with you!
ReplyDelete"Batteries not included" is turning out to be the death of me. I swear I can't keep enough of them on hand and I mix up the rechargeable ones with the non-rechargeables.
The necklace is cute. A nice take on the scrabble tile necklaces out there.
That tree has quite a name! Glad you solved that mystery. My sister has that soap dispenser and really like it, but I would have a problem with the batteries too.
ReplyDeleteLove the necklace!
Argh, tree mystery solved :) That would have driven me stir crazy
ReplyDeleteI laughed you and your picture of your dead tree and leaves! Im happy you found the name.....tell me did you get the bean jar open or is that still with you everywhere too! JJ you are a hoot!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
Also called a mock orange, which is a little easier to pronounce. :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you finally found out the name of the tree. Loved the story from Anne H about the soap squirting into the sink when someone walks by. Made me LOL.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of your newer followers, and I see some of my old friends here in the commenters. Now I can't remember how I ended up here, but you are already sending me on journeys to other blogs, so before you know it, I will have run out of hours in the day to read everyone! :-)
ReplyDeleteI also wonder about those soap dispensers. It's a PERFECT white elephant gift, though.
Oh my goodness! That is so exciting about the tree! I can't wait to see how you grow it : ) I know what you mean about batteries. WE have a zillion in the house, but never the kind we need : (
ReplyDeleteI love your new necklace! Wishing you the happiest of weeks Joanna!
glad you found a name for your tree. I have one in my backyard that I will likely never know it's name. I've tried.
ReplyDeleteGlad your tree now has a name. The white elephant exchange sounds like it was fun! Wish I'd known about it!
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Joanna. You can now add tree detective to you list of skills.
ReplyDeleteI like the domino necklace...very unique.
I'm glad you solved the mystery of the tree name. That's the kind of thing that drives me crazy, when I can't get an answer .
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found the name of your tree.;) I have had the same problems before with many plants and it is so nice to finally discover what they are.
ReplyDeleteThe necklace is lovely.
xoxo
I love really old, mature trees.
ReplyDeleteJoanna, hi so glad you got your tree on order. been missing popping by here. I am a big Yul Brynner fan. I am going to catch up on some porevious posts. thanks for always stopping by, hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you mean about the batteries. Thankfully, my gift in the NGIP exchange didn't need them!
ReplyDeleteWord of warning to next year's recipient of the soap dispenser: We used to have one, but it only worked for a couple of months before it just stopped dispensing soap. And changing the batteries didn't really fix the problem.
Glad you solved the mystery of the tree! And it's a very pretty tree.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're... haha... branching out!
ReplyDeleteAnytime you have a plant related question go visit Salsa Pie (She follows my blog). She knows all about plants and stuff. She is a horticulturalist.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty tree. Does it grow blossoms on it during the spring?
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you with the soap dispenser. I have the same problem with things that need batteries...fire detectors included. :)
Ooohhh, hope you're patient. Pittsoporum is a shrub in most folks books, you'll have to diligently train to get that tree shape and wait quite a bit (unless your purchasing a big one set to go). San Marcos (really respected grower amoung the gardening croward) does list it as hardier than I thought. And mock orange scent is to die for. I tried a small one when in the Bay Area but managed to kill it by not gettig it on a sprinkler right away in the summer. Best of luck - it is suited to your area adn should be easier than it was for me.
ReplyDeleteOoohhh, hope you're patient. Pittsoporum is a shrub in most folks books, you'll have to diligently train to get that tree shape and wait quite a bit (unless your purchasing a big one set to go). San Marcos (really respected grower amoung the gardening croward) does list it as hardier than I thought. And mock orange scent is to die for. I tried a small one when in the Bay Area but managed to kill it by not gettig it on a sprinkler right away in the summer. Best of luck - it is suited to your area adn should be easier than it was for me.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the battery front....smiles...
ReplyDeleteYou are a great detective, Joanna!! You kept at it until you succeeded and the tree will soon be a reality. Congratulations to you.
ReplyDeleteI laugh at reading all the commnts about the soap dispenser. I guess certain things just shouldn't be automatic. If it can go off randomly or if a cat can trip it, not a good thing - unless the cat is washing its paws, I guess.
Joanna, look up Sony Holland
( www.sonyholland.com ) and see her if she's ever playing in your area. She is a fabulous jazz singer - I hated it when she moved to L. A. - and a dear friend. Her husband, Jerry, often accompanies her on the guitar and he is an incredible songwriter
Happy Sunday, JJ! Wish I knew more about trees, too. Either way, the sun is shining, finally, on the bare branches of our woods here in Michigan. For our Sunday outing, Doug and I visited the "Forgeries" exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Very interesting, and a nice chance from hanging out at the hospital or the nursing center. Art always inspires us here!
ReplyDeleteI can totally understand your growing obsession with needing to know the name of that dang tree!
ReplyDeleteAnd you got a COOL white elephant gift! I would have totally kept that. I have Simple Human garbage cans and swear by them.
(Thanks for the shout out)
:)
I'm thrilled that you finally found someone who could identify the tree so you can replace yours. Woohoo!!!
ReplyDeleteThose soap dispensers are possessed, they truly have a mind of their own. They scare me...
I adore the little domino necklace that Lisalulu sent ya...she's the best!
God bless ya and have a wonderful day sweetie!!!
I think that soap dispenser looks like fun. Then again, I've never had one ;)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to a "Tree Grows in LA"!
ReplyDeleteWe have the Morton Arboretum near us so it would have been easy to check out the tree type.
ReplyDeleteI would have fun modifying that auto soap dispenser to do other things when activated. Not sure what - maybe play a jingle.
Nothing like playing detective with nothing but a picture at your disposal. Glad you solved the mystery!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found the tree name! What a chore!
ReplyDeleteWe were at people's house recently and they had one of those soap dispensers. SO confusing for me. Kept trying to "pump" it when I used the bathroom. Every dang time it took me by surprise.
It's great that you found out the name and that soon you will have one of your own!
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the fun my little's would have with a soap dispenser like this...lol...we go through enough hand soap the way it is...I can just imagine them in the bathroom every other minute washing their hands because of the soap dispenser...lol.
I really like that neckless...very cool idea...I've heard of the scrabble tile necklesses but never the domino. Enjoy!
Hope you had a great weekend! XX
Hurray for finding out about the tree. I'm still on tenterhooks though to know whether you've finally managed to open that big jar of beans!
ReplyDeleteYour tree sounds nice, especially the scent. I looked it up online and it is all over Australia and Maui and not native to California. It is also called Mock Orange. So that gives a better idea of what the scent is and what it looks like. No wonder you like it.
ReplyDeleteSo what is the story on the jar of beans? Open and eaten?
so glad you found the name of the tree!! good luck in growing it : )
ReplyDeleteI sorta like your gift..I could use one of those when Im baking and my hands are covered in dough. I HATE using the pump when trying to wash my hands,.
Awesome necklace aswell! Have a wonderful week : )
Looks like you never give up!!! I love the way you were determined to find out the name of the tree!! Good luck in planting and will be looking forward to more updates about the tree!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the fab gifts!
ReplyDeleteHave no idea what type tree that is but I understand your fascination as I have a tree in our yard that I've not been able to identy in over 5 years of searching. No one in my area knows what kind our tree is either and oddly enough, it seems to be the only one like it in the entire, but small, city!
Love that tree! Wish I could help you with the name! Thanks for visiting little ol' me....
ReplyDeleteBest,
Tina
I've never heard of that tree - but congrats on finding the name! I think I'd have to 're-white-elephant' the dispenser myself. I'm just not a gadget person.
ReplyDeleteLove the tree! I've spent an inordinate amount trying to identify a tree on our property. I think it's a bay tree. I've even used the leaves in cooking occasionally and haven't been poisoned. ;)
ReplyDeleteWOW, thanks for showing off my necklace!! glad you like it. I'm thinking I need to make a tutorial of how to make them! you are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI like your gift, well kinda. Actually it would sit up in my closet.
ReplyDeleteThey are advertising a different make of electric soap dispenser on TV here at the moment and exactly the same thought occurred to me about the batteries. No thanks. I'll go on pressing the top of my mechanical soap dispenser with any free/unsullied appendage I can manage!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post. Now I have to check out the other gifts.
ReplyDelete