My Life In Brooklyn

Thunbergia alata Sunrise Surprise, or Black-Eyed Susan Vine is fast becoming my favorite plant this season.  This is an annual, at least in this zone, and was described by Park seed as a sun-loving prolific bloomer and climber.  I need sun/heat hardy plants in the front yard and decided to test this one in a container.

A packet of ten seeds cost $2.50 from Park – I sowed them all in two large containers.  Of the ten seeds, about half germinated and are now growing profusely, four of the plants are in a container in the front yard, climbing on the iron fence, one plant is in the back yard using the chain link fence for support. 

The foliage is interesting, the leaves have an unusual stem.  I need to research it a little, I don’t think I have seen this particular morphology before.  Today the first blossom appeared.

Looking forward to seeing the “big bounty of rosy color” Park claims will appear as it continues to grow and blossom. As of this moment, this plant will be on the list for next season. Photo by Llewellyn.

A few days ago I wrote about the drug dealers on this street and the incident of Big Guy essentially breaking into the apartment, probably not for the first time and likely for “business” related dealings.

What I didn’t mention is that I later contacted the local precinct about it.  And not anonymously. And yeah I know about anonymous, but I also feel anonymous is a free pass to nonresponse in many cases. Sad to say I have zero confidence in the precinct.  Oh, there is a lot of rhetoric about people like myself, as citizens, calling in illegal activities.  But the verbal spew we hear from the police is, in general, far different from the actual response.  Neighbors tell me this particular corner has been a drug sales location for twenty years.

I don’t really wish to point a finger here.  All I can say is I reported this to the precinct on Friday.  And yesterday when I went to water the plants there was a big fat rat with a severed head lying under the spigot located on the side of the house in the driveway.  People in the neighborhood know I alone water the front yard plants.  Most people also know we have security cameras in the front of the house.  In the four plus years I have lived here I have never even seen a rat nor evidence of a rat.  So maybe I am being paranoid, but maybe I have been warned.

No rat photos, sorry but way too disgusting.