Summer Planting

Dianthus in pots. One ended up in a bed
along the side of the house.

Officially, it is spring. At least in the calendars widely published. In nature it is the cusp of summer—a fulcrum of transition. I planted a few petunias and dianthus.

Officially, I've given up on the seed thing because I can't make it work anymore. I think of my grandmother standing in my teen room, indicating a pot of hard soil, and saying, "What's that growing in cement." I had no clue on how to grow plants. I am mildly improved after 45 years of trying.

I reached my apex a few years ago when half of the impatiens seeds I planted grew into viable flowering plants. That was when I realized I took no joy in the labor any more. And my policy is to avoid (as much as possible) activities that do not bring joy.

I'm not experienced in growing in this kind of climate, a sort of half-desert. It can be 80 one day and then drop to 39 by morning. This is spring. I'm told in the summer it's unrelenting heat punctuated by tornadoes.

Looking forward to it.

Petunias and a survivor of my seed experiment.

Flower 46

Flower 14

Today's flower is more about posting a flower a day instead of creating a flower a day. Once I decided to make flowers, I knew I had to slip this flower in somewhere. It's a photo I turned into stained glass (back in 2010) following this tutorial. It's very time consuming. No shortcuts! I did make the gold lead shown in the tutorial, then decided I really wanted gray lead and so made this one.

You don't need to be an Illustrator expert to do this. You just need a good photo and a lot of time. Oh! And you have to be able to figure out the tutorial. If I remember correctly, there's a tiny step missed. There usually is.

Flower 1

This may be the best idea I've had so far. I feel like making a million flowers already. Good thing I only have to make 365.

field of snow

Those of you who remember my Janurary summer post will wonder where it is I am exactly. I know I do. Am I really in Richmond VA? Yes. And does it normally have this kind of weather. Sometimes. As in this year, for example. My poor forsythia, one of the last to bloom, is now covered in snow. There is definitely something not right. The temperature is supposed to rise to 51 tomorrow (after sinking to 30 last night). Even now the sky is blue and the sun is out. I hope my blooming cherry tree keeps its blooms. I will try not to be depressed and angry if it doesn't, but no promises. And I was so looking forward to a luscious pink Sunday.

wishes can come true

I wished for nicer weather to garden in and no sooner had I finished the post than the sun came out! See! All you have to do is wish. I got both rhodedendrons planted, some of the daisies and the rest of the bedding plants.

There's a folk song about diseases. —The Smothers Brothers
Everyone's got something wrong with 'em. Just be glad yours is something you can see, said my Nan. —Woman in Earl's Court

My particular disease is wishing. Wishing I could drift through the days doing what ever comes to mind. Comes from years of being organized and planful. Yikes! It's Sunday night! ... and tomorrow is ... ARRRGGHHH! Can I wish for a month of Sundays? Should I?

Song of the Day: The Story in Your Eyes

Before My Door

Every evening this week I've been coming home to this scene
... and it looks much better in person that in this photo. The daffodils are huge and have a light, clean scent. There's something so hope inspiring about daffodils. The crocuses have turned out a lot more splendid than I expected. Breck's sells these super crocuses. They are huge and beautiful. I love bulbs. I plant them everywhere I go. They are so reliable and virtually maintenance free – happy, energetic volunteers. Breck's makes the best. Here's one of the crocuses.
Current Fads
Listening. Playlist Recent Purchases (unpublished); lots of singing birds
Watching. Kate and Leopold (2001); Men in Trees; the sun coming up and those ruddy red clouds that transform into a steely blue and then become white languid wisps as if they were stretching out as they wake
Activity. wishing
Gadget. G4
News Source. the multiverse
Reading. The Secret of Platform 13 - Eva Ibbotson; A Wish Can Change Your Life - Gahl Sasson and Steve Weinstein; Writing the Breakout Novel - Donald Maas; GD USA; MacWorld; Fortune (Yes, I really am reading them all right now – I'm a reading addict. What can I say?)
i can't speak
i can't sleep
i'm a dumb waiter stuck between floors
waiting
waiting
waiting
pull really really hard and i will come crashing into you
ready to be filled