Around the Corner

Time is speeding by, whether this is due to my age and me moving somewhat slower or whether everyone else has sped up, but regardless the days are not marching but racing toward . . . something! Goodness, it seems only yesterday we were celebrating the beginning of a new year and now we are in the middle of the month.

We are just a couple of weeks away from starting our indoor seed beds for those plants yearning to be given a chance to flourish and produce. As I have stated before February is my month of depression. Not yet the end of the cold, wet and windy weather that keeps me inside and not yet the beginning of the warm spring temperatures that so heal my mind.

I have tried in the last few years to save some of my more interesting projects for the month of February to keep me busy and my mind stimulated. Planning my garden is probably foremost on my mind. I actually have two gardens - one for vegetables and one for herbs.

As I have aged, I have searched and researched methods to reduce the physical labor needed for a productive garden. As much as I enjoy neat and clean rows, mulching reduces much of the labor and results in happier and healthier plants and saves my back from much bending and pulling.

March is my month of renewal. The later part of the month always brings the first warm days as we start our turn toward the sun. I watch the temperatures change as we slowly make our turn back to the sun and the warmth motivates me once again. I probably should just hibernate from December through March! Spring cleaning come early here as the outside starts calling to me around the end of March when everything must be prepared for the spring days. My anticipation grows as I wait for my hummingbirds to return so I can watch their antics. I scour the garden for the first peek of green shoots hoping that I haven't lost too many plants over the harsh winter that has been so rough on humans and animals alike.

April arrives awakening all living things and I smile from inside. The month of showers doesn't bother me as I know God is watering his plants and bringing joy to my heart. The ground has warmed and the air is refreshing.


And then right around the corner . . .


Happy reading!

Belle

In A Funk

Yeah, I am in a funk. My thoughts are a bit scrambled right now, and my energy level is at a 5 on a scale of 1-10. I think maybe the ups and downs of the heat are the major cause.

The garden is like most mid summer gardens - just growing - not anything spectacular, but still producing squash, cabbage, okra, tomatoes, and peppers. Cucumbers are not doing a thing and I blame that on the erratic rain fall. The ground is drying out too much between the showers and the sun is hot as hades. I am waiting till late afternoon to turn some dirt for the late summer greens and decide on a spot for the potatoes. It is time to get them in the ground but as we have a real late frost, it will be okay.

It is really sad that we let the joy of the first shoots breaking the ground dissipate and the garden flourishes and we become apathetic in the harvest and maintenance. Melancholy, that is what I am today. Yesterday was a day of joy and today - melancholy.

The summer flowers are beautiful and all but the weakest are blooming with gusto. I can hardly see my gazing ball as the cosmos has grown so tall and thick as to shade it from view. The sunflowers are reaching for the hot sun and getting taller and taller. I know it is not the time, but I moved 2 elephant ears to a spot in my backyard garden. They had almost died from lack of sun and are not a deep green and putting out new growth. Right time or not, that was a good move.

I dropped by a local store the other day and they have dropped the prices on all seeds to a dime a pack. Good time to pick up some, put in the freezer and have ready for that early garden next spring. There were lots of different varieties of lettuce which can be container grown throughout the winter. I have a nice section of porch on the north side of the house that is protected from blowing winds and rain. It is the perfect place to winter the plants (covered of course) and to keep some nice winter container crops. Doesn't get any sun though so I have to move them during the week to the east side to keep them going.

On another subject-
My grandchildren are growing up and developing wonderful personalities. I have had such a pleasant summer with my grandchildren. The oldest girl ask me on Saturday why they were called grand children. My reply - because you are so great! On her last visit, she kissed the top on my head and told me I was beautiful - and everyone wonders why I love having them around! Can't wait till they come back!

Belle

July Flowers

My first Lantana bloom this year, looks very delicate!















Finally, the Althea has started to bloom. My deep rose colored one hasn't opened yet.












I have been told this is Pipsissewa, however it doesn't look like any of the pictures in my research. Can anyone identify?







Thank you! Teresa Schrum, master gardener confirmed this is Pipsissewa via email with the following link.
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/chma.html