A Story: "Wedding Bells" and Primula

A Story 

Wedding Bells

"Weddings: great places to meet guys."

Sandy had her eye on a guy when an attractive young woman came up to her.

"Hi, I'm Lily.  I love your dress.  You must work in a creative field."

"I do.  I'm a fashion designer."

"Fabulous! I'm a visual artist."

The conversation took off like a mustang galloping over the range.  Sandy felt like she'd known Lily for years.  They exchanged phone numbers and hugged before Lily finally dashed off to find her boyfriend.

When Lily reached Sandy's chosen one, she gave him a big kiss.  Sandy's heart sank.

When was the next wedding?



 

Primulas are one of my favourite spring flowers.  My zone 4 garden is just barely warm enough for some of them. They are considered a short lived perennial even where it's warmer.  Ones I have bought in stores will only make it through one or two winters.

However, some that I have started from seed have come back for many years.

This lovely yellow one was given to me as a plant several years ago and it is very hardy and vigorous.  I have split it a number of times so I have quite a patch of it now.  It's a bit of mutant, though, because it has multiple crowns that all bloom.  Most  plants have one or only a few crowns.

Primulas like to have spring sun and summer shade like a lot of spring blooming flowers.  They do well in the shade of deciduous trees.  They need to be fed compost every year and should be watered if it's been dry. Apart from that they are pretty easy and not prone to pests or diseases.  They are easily split into more plants.  In fact, that will keep them vigorous for longer.

This year I bought Primula Lighthouse Mix from William Dam Seeds in Ontario.  I have been happy with their seeds in the past - they are never treated and they all germinate well. The package of primula seeds contained 12-15 seeds according to the package.  13 have sprouted so that's great.  They are slow to grow so they likely won't have time to bloom this spring.  I will pot them up and leave them on the deck where they will get morning sun and maybe they will bloom in the summer.  If not, then next spring. I'll plant them in the ground at the end of the summer so they can settle in before winter.

A Story -"The Boring Conversationalist" and Bougainvillae

A Story

The Boring Conversationalist

Barbara felt lonely a lot of the time.  She knew she should get out more but it was challenging facing people.  She felt self-conscious because she was such a boring conversationalist.  She didn't have much energy because of her chronic condition; her brain brain fog made remembering things difficult.  If someone asked about her week, she usually drew a blank.  Later she would think:  I showered, I did laundry.  How pathetic is that.

One day a widow called, wanting to discuss some problems.  After their conversation, she thanked Barbara.

"You're such a good listener.  I feel so much better."

The Bougainvillae is blooming again.  Not as well as other years. I need to repot it and give it more fertilizer.   It has another bunch of blooms higher up but it is definitely looking scragglier this year.  I was looking online to see where you can buy bougainvillae plants.  Home depot lists them but not available right now.  Pick Ontario, an umbrella site for Ontario growers, says they become available in March which makes sense because that's when they are blooming.  You probably won't see them with the spring plants at garden centres because by then they have stopped blooming.  It doesn't have the prettiest plant habit because it is actually a tall shrub but the bright flowers are a welcome sight in February.

 

A Story -"Indolent" and Easy Orange Chicken with Pecans

A Story:

Indolent

"Indolent!" his wife exclaimed.  "How does that word in any way apply to me?"

He looked at her slim body toned by regular trips to the gym, her stylishly cut hair and her tailored suit perfect for her position as partner in a progressive law firm.

"Definition of indolent: lazy, careless, slow-moving.  That is so not me."

"He didn't mean it as an insult."

"Well, it sure felt like one."

Her husband tried to look supportive but found it hard to dampen his smile.

"The doctor was just describing your cancerous thyroid tumour.  Be glad it's not ambitious."

 

Easy Orange Chicken with Pecans

1 cooked chicken breast cut into chunks

1 chopped onion

1 cup orange juice

2 tbsp molasses stirred into 1/2 cup warm water

1 tsp ground ginger

 

1/2 tsp black pepper

2- 3 tbsp chopped pecans

Saute the chopped onion in butter or oil.

Add the orange juice, molasses with water, ginger and pepper.  Salt to taste.

Add the chicken chunks and simmer together for about 30 minutes to allow the chicken to absorb the flavours.

Serve with rice and top with some chopped pecans. 

This makes two medium size servings.

A Story - "Election Game" and mini African Violet

A Story:

Election Game

The spectators wiggle impatiently in their seats.  Finally, the incumbent makes his first dramatic serve.  The opposition zings it into the far corner out of reach.  Fired up with moral outrage, the incumbent slams an ace.  In a new volley, the opposition suddenly lobs a short ball and the incumbent falls trying to catch it.  The pace of the game picks up.  Blasting forehands and fiery backhands send the ball criss-crossing, zig-zagging over the court.  The spectators have difficulty following the play.

At last on Election Day, the winner is announced.  

The spectators are already restless anticipating the next game.

I bought this little African violet on impulse at Walmart the other day. I've never seen such a small one in bloom.  Must be some special potion they give them at the greenhouse. 

The pot, which is only 3" at its widest at the middle, is very clever.  The top pops off the bottom half so that you can water from below.  Lots of good drainage holes. At a quick glance when the pot is together it looks like it is ceramic.  I like this little plant because it can sit comfortably on the windowsill.  Right now the sun is a bit too bright (I think some leaves got a bit of sunburn because I left it on the windowsill) but it will work well later in the season when the trees leaf out and block some of the sun.

African violets do not like to sit in water.  You can wait until they wilt a little and then give them some water.  Fertilize monthly when they are blooming. Bright light is good but not direct sun.  They do fabulously under grow lights.