A Story - "Legacy" and Petunias

 A Story

"A hundred and fifty years ago, Mrs. Marshall and her husband moved to their undeveloped land. They worked hard and managed to turn it into a sufficient farm. Mrs. Marshall had brought with her, from England, a rooted shoot of purple lilac and one of white lilac. She planted them near the house so she would be able to enjoy their fragrance.

Last week, Fiona attended the funeral of her aunt. It was a tense affair as the eulogies were forced and no one really had anything very positive to say about her. Fiona had found her to be an abrasive woman, who liked to monopolize  conversations and was critical of just about everything. She only came to the funeral to support her cousin who suffered from anxiety and was feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of settling the complicated estate. It was sad that her aunt's legacy was just more stress for her daughter.

Driving home, feeling rather down, Fiona turned on to the road where the Marshalls had lived so many years ago. Hundreds, if not thousands, of lilac bushes were in bloom in a profusion of pastel beauty. House after house had lilacs on their property. It felt like being in a Thomas Kinkade painting. It was impossible not to smile and feel happy in the joyful landscape.

Mrs. Marshall's legacy would bless people for a long time to come."

Petunias are a popular plant sold in the spring, especially in hanging baskets.

I was looking for an old-fashioned purple because I like their spicy scent.  Only the purple ones are fragrant, and the newer Wave petunias, while very floriferous and less apt to get leggy, do not have scent.

After I bought this basket, I found an all purple basket which I was happy about.  The other day, it was very windy and I brought the two baskets inside to keep them from being knocked around. The lovely scent wafted through the main part of the house. So nice.

My petunias will get leggy and bloom less in the heat of the summer.  To keep the baskets looking better, I will gradually prune them back. Every four or five days starting now (beginning of June), I will pinch a few stems back to about 4". Over time the whole basket will  be pruned but the pruning will be hardly noticeable. Using this technique, I can usually keep petunias looking decent into August. 

Of course, the newer varieties  have a tidier habit so they're a good option with less work.

Petunias are heavy feeders and need to be fertilized every week or two with a liquid fertilizer. They like to be in full sun.

I dead head every day and that also helps with getting more blooms. The whole blossom including the green sepals at the base of the flower, not just the petals, should be pinched off.

This fun petunia is called Starry Night. It's the first time I have seen a petunia with this sprinkled pattern.  Reminds me of fireworks.  It is not a new variety, just new to me.

It's an attractive magenta which isn't a common colour for petunias.

 I'm not sure what it's growing habit will be like but I can pinch it back if I have to. 

A Story - "Habitat" -Vinca (Periwinkle) and Changing Views of the Bay

A Story

Habitat

Perched on the side of the half-barrel planter filled with colourful pansies, the robin surveyed the front yard. He had a clear view all the way to the stand of lilacs that bordered the trees where he and his mate had built a nest.

Later, Sheryl noticed him and his mate poking at the front lawn finding worms and other insects. It made her happy to see them comfortable in their environment. It helped her to feel at home.  She missed the birds that she knew at her old home but this robin pair would be the beginning of new relationships.

On her usual woodland path walk, she found a large patch of wild columbine with red and yellow flowers.  They were a happy surprise.  She had tried in the past to grow columbine and hadn't had success. Here a whole swath of them were thriving in this unique habitat. 

Would she thrive in her new habitat? It would be an adjustment. Some things missed, some things gained.

 She could learn from the robins. They were content wherever they were, finding nesting spots in forests, or on a porch light in the suburbs.  Always with a cheerful song and never a bully to other birds.

Sheryl promised herself that she would start each morning watching for the robins, and opening her heart to her new life.
 

Vinca (periwinkle) can be an attractive groundcover in shady areas but it is aggressive. It should be planted where it can be contained and where it won't go over to the neighbours or invade a woodland area.  This patch came with the property.

 

The flowers are pretty at a time of year when not much else is blooming.

The bay is always changing.  Interesting patterns on the water even though the sky was just clear with no clouds.

At this time of year, we get lovely sunsets.

The dark blue of the water stands out well against the yellow green of the new leaves.

A Story - "Ripples" and Wild Violets

 A Story

Ripples

The fisherman, by the side of the lake,  reeled in his line and stowed his tackle. Glancing back at the water, he smiled at its smooth surface.  He picked up a flat stone and expertly sent it skipping  over the water, each tap making gentle  circles of wake.

The noisy teenagers, excited by the thrill of jumping off the bridge, took turns plunging into the water.  Some good divers hardly rippled the surface;  others cannonballed with maximum splash making waves that shocked the fish.

Under the ocean, far from eyes, magma filled a hidden chamber increasing pressure on the rock. Suddenly  it exploded with volcanic force sending a tsunami wave ten meters high crashing into coastal towns.

Her words dropped into the water of his heart, triggering expanding rings of pulsating love.

On the path down the hill behind our house, lots of wild violets are blooming.  They are so pretty. So much lovely colour without an ounce of work!

These little beauties are a source of pollen for the bees when there aren't many other flowers blooming.

This shows just a portion of the violet patch. Violets can be planted in the garden but, as is evident here, they can spread a lot. An out of the way spot that gets partial shade would be suitable.

A Story - "At the Root of It All" and Walking on the Hill

 "I tried the mindfulness exercise you gave me last week," Dana shared with the therapist.

"How did that go?"

"After a few minutes, I felt more relaxed, but then reality hit again. I don't think zoning out periodically throughout the day is going to be much help."

"But you've only started. Give it time."

Dana gave the therapist a long look.  "I don't see how it is going to help my underlying anxiety. I'm worried about getting sick, I'm worried about losing my job, I'm worried about dying."

"You're a healthy young woman. You'll be fine. You're smart and organized. I'm sure you are valued at your workplace."

"That's a lot of denial. My aunt died of cancer when she was 40.  She used to run marathons. My dad was a senior executive and lost his job when the company restructured. He never found another executive position.  And guess what, my best friend died in a car accident."

The therapist wasn't quite sure what to say. She didn't have any sure answers.

"You want me to pretend that nothing bad will happen to me," Dana said, "but bad things happen to regular people all the time.  Life doesn't offer any guarantees. How can I not be anxious?"

"Well, the odds are you'll be fine."

"Somebody always wins the lottery, " Dana replied impatiently.

Back at her house, Dana felt another wave of panic smash through her. If her therapist had no answers, who did?

She got out her journal and made a list of her fears. Beside each one, she wrote out what she believed to be a deeper fear related to it.  She realized her fear of getting sick was based on a fear of pain, a fear of abandonment and ultimately a fear of death.  As she continued through her list, she began to realize that all the fears, in the end, lead to a fear of death.  So, she thought, I really only have one fear.  It was a big one. How could you not fear death? And yet, she knew some people who didn't fear death.

A new goal emerged.  She wouldn't try to stifle the myriad of fears that assailed her.  She would look death straight in the face and she would find a way to come to terms with it.

At the back of our house. the land drops off significantly. My son cleared a path through the scrubby bush a few years ago to make a walking path down the hill. It is about 300-400' long so not that long but because it is fairly steep it is a good way to get exercise.  In the middle is a short flat area where I usually take a little break. In the distance, you get a view of the bay.

Closer to the house, the land goes up sharply again. I really like all the moss that is starting to cover the ground.

When the sun shines on it, the moss is quite the electric green.  Because the topsoil is quite shallow in this area, big hardwoods like maples, birch and hickory aren't able to grow here. Unlike our old home where we had lots of native spring bulbs like trilliums, dog-tooth violets and Jack-in-the-pulpit, this spot isn't able to support those plants. 

Moss, rocks, and dried leaves make a pleasant combination.

A Story - "Time Well Spent" and Cyclamen Indoor Plant

A Story

Time Well Spent

 His hand hovered over his phone. She looked lovely. But he had experienced so many rejections on the dating app. Sometimes a couple of emails were exchanged and then nothing - ghosting. Maybe he should give up. So much negative feedback was hard on his mental health. He knew he was only average looking and he was just 5'8". He did have a good job but maybe he came across as a bit of a nerd. So many women wanted tall handsome men who were sporty and fit.

Taking a deep breath, he sent a rose and a message.

Later that evening, she replied. Yes, she would be interested in meeting up in person.

What to wear? Where to go? He decided on his well-cut jacket and a higher end restaurant.

They were both a bit nervous but the conversation flowed and she laughed easily. He was smitten.

He hadn't expected to meet someone warm and kind. Why was she still single? It turned out that her life for the last few years did not really have room for dating. She had been caring for others. Now she had the freedom to pursue a relationship.

 It was hard to believe that, like two needles in a haystack, they had found each other.  Persistence had paid off.

Cyclamen are a lovely indoor plant.  They are long blooming and will rebloom again after their dormant period if they are given the proper care.  Cyclamen have a corm and should be watered from the bottom so that the top of the corm does not get too wet.  Sit the cyclamen pot in a container with a couple of inches of water and let it remain for half an hour. Then put it back in its decorative outer pot.

When the leaves start to yellow and die back, usually in late spring and summer, gradually decrease the amount of watering. When all the leaves have gone, just water enough to barely keep a bit of moisture in the soil. Too much water and the corm will rot, too little water and the corm will dry out completely. In the fall, start watering a little more and the corm should sprout some leaves. Give it a light fertilizing and soon it should be blooming again. Cyclamen enjoy bright light but not strong direct sun.

Cyclamen leaves have interesting patterns on them that add to the beauty of the plant.

Some cyclamen are winter hardy but the ones bought at the grocery store are only hardy to zone 8 so definitely a house plant.

A Story - "Muddy Waters " and Cedar Planter

A Story

Muddy Waters

When Laura's mother died, Laura had mixed emotions.  She felt she had lost her mother years before as dementia and frailty had taken over. There was something else as well. Her inheritance. 

 For quite a long time, Laura had been frustrated and annoyed at her husband. He didn't like to communicate, he didn't like to travel, he spent most Sundays watching sports.  Videos online said she deserved better. Why be miserable for her years of retirement? Her inheritance would give her the financial independence she needed to leave Lazy Len.

"Len, I'm not happy," she began. "I think I'll move into Mom's house."

"You want a divorce?" he answered sharply, more alert than usual.

"Well, a separation, I guess to start with."

Len studied her.

"You have been mopey lately.  Maybe time away would make you feel better."

That was it? He didn't care if she left? After 40 years this was all she got?

The next day, she began the process of moving into her mother's house. It was exciting to be stepping out on her own. She couldn't wait to be queen of her house.  Len didn't comment on the move.

Living  in the new house was glorious.  Laura decorated it in her style.  None of Len's mess got in the way.  She invited friends over for dinner and served the wine that she enjoyed.  She imagined that Len was probably eating frozen entrees.

One of her friends invited her to travel to Portugal with her.  They had a blast driving to small towns and sampling the local food.

The next year, her friend suggested they go to Portugal for two months.  She readily agreed. This time, however, the weather was rainy and they were stuck in their apartment for much of the time.  Her friend had an annoying habit of humming and expected Laura to do the cooking. Her friend, out of boredom, started online gambling and pressured Laura to join in. When Laura refused, it made for an uncomfortable tension. She decided not to travel with her friend again.

Back home, she saw Len once in a while at family gatherings. He even showed up with a girlfriend at one of them.  She wondered where they had met. Online dating? Laura didn't think she could brave that quagmire, but she wouldn't have minded finding someone. But looking around, no one seemed at all appealing. Where were the men that women like her deserved? She noticed her single friends weren't having much success either.

One morning, about three years after moving out, Laura lay in her bed and listened to the silence. It wasn't a peaceful silence, it was oppressive. She remembered how Len used to clang around in the kitchen making his breakfast and how the noise had bothered her. Now she missed it. Not that particular noise, but the noise that someone else living in the house makes. Had she made a mistake by moving out? Len wasn't a terrible person, just annoying and sometimes inconsiderate. She thought about what it would be like as she grew old. Lots of silence. Some people liked silence but she wondered if that was really what she wanted.

Living on her own had been refreshing at first, but now she wasn't so sure that she was any happier than when she lived with Len. 

When her daughter called to ask if Laura could stay with Len for a while after his hip surgery, she actually smiled.  She would test the waters.

My daughter gave me this cedar planter made by Cedarcraft, which is a US company, but this particular planter is made in Canada. It's 48" long and 22" wide.

Super easy to put together as the sides just slide into the dovetail slots of the posts.  No tools required.  I put it together very quickly. The top of the posts have black plastic covers to protect the posts from the rain.

A cute watering spout with a little floral float to tell you when you've watered enough.

The bottom of the planter is two plastic trays, one on top of the other.  The top tray has lots of holes so that excess water will drain into the lower one.

I'm excited to plant in the planter as soon as it warms up which probably won't be before early May. I plan on putting in herbs, a couple of lettuce plants and a bean plant.  I have a rabbit that frequents our yard so it will be great to have a waist height planter that he (she) can't access.

A Story -"Masterpiece" and Cheery Tete-a-Tete Miniature Daffodils

A Story

Masterpiece

 Doom and gloom, woe and worry, darkness and dread.  

Still the sun was coming up in the morning.  At least, Monica believed it was somewhere behind the clouds. The air was still puffing breezily.  Water was sparkling out of the taps.

Time for a little art. Monica lay on the couch and pondered different colour schemes. Yup, we'll start with brown.  Maybe a little beige.  Always good to have bright light for a project.

The creative process takes time so this would be a gradually evolving endeavour.

She mixed the brown with water, dotted it with beige. Quite abstract really.

Green was added a few days later.  Paisley shapes evolved.

Finally, after a few months of intriguing effort the masterpiece was revealed.

Tomatoes: yellow, red, dark purple, orange ranging from the size of a grape to the size of a softball. Some were smooth, some wrinkled, some striped. Some were pear-shaped, some were flattish, some bulging out in all directions. The tomato patch was a glorious expression of wild abandoned growth with a promise of delectable tastes. 

"Ah," sighed Monica. "Life is good."

A charming pot of tete-a-tete daffodils. What a welcome sight in early March. These little cuties grow to 6-8" inches tall and have one to three flowers on each blooming stalk. Like any daffodil, in the garden they like to grow in a situation that gets lots of sun in the spring but can tolerate shade later in the season.  I will be planting these out in the garden when the soil is workable.  They may not bloom again next year but should be revived enough to bloom the following year.  A little bulb fertilizer will help. Daffodils are great in areas where squirrels and chipmunks have a taste for certain spring bulbs like crocuses.  The animals never eat the daffodils.