...the world very much alive in the bright light and wind, exultant with the fever of spring, the delight of morning... ~Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness, 1968
Spring, the great motivator, launched me into action and has me sowing dozens of flowers, sweet peppers, basil, tomato seeds, potting up dahlias (to give them a head start), digging holes for roses and scouring the garden for spots to plant the ten new ones I ordered. I'm adding two varieties of dwarf delphiniums, and salvia, violas, peach colored hollyhocks...I started from seed. More catmint, hardy geraniums, Oriental lilies, clematis, and lavender have gone into the Memorial Garden, or soon will. And the list goes on of roses, bulbs, and plants I've specially ordered or started from seed. I'm also putting in a salad/vegetable garden. It's downsized from before but will still produce plenty of greens and veges. Mixing flowers with vegetables and herbs is a favorite of mine and is good for attracting beneficials to the garden. I'm sprinkling seed around like a flower fairy.
Yes, I get quite tired, but after a good rest I return to the garden, digging, planting, dividing clumps of asters and phlox and, and. It's truly a magical place, apart from our crazy spring weather that seems bent on wreaking havoc. After several days of ridiculously warm days, we're windswept with a cold bluster and threated wih frost. This is a recurring garden challenge in the Shenandoah Valley in spring.
I've gardened forever, but my endeavors really took off when I decided to create the Memorial Garden after my dad and younger brother, Chad, died. This living memorial is also for my mother-in-law whose garden this was before me and who passed soon after my father. I got really serious about taking care of my plants and went stark rose mad. Once you catch rose madness, there's no return, so take care. I'm now committed to caring for dozens of roses with more on the way. Can you have too many bulbs or roses? Nae. I'm also taken with Oriental lilies...
Stay tuned.
A little madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King...
~Emily Dickinson
Up north in Central PA, we had another hard frost, and it's the end of April. Most of our "about to bloom" plants are lost like the lilac. Your pictures are beautiful! I, too, love to play in the dirt.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to hear that. We came uncomfortably close to the same frigid outcome last night. And thanks!
DeleteI cannot get this site to recognize me, so this is Beth. We dodged the bad frost bullet last night. I'm very sorry about your loss. And thanks.
DeleteI love your garden pictures. I have a plot at a community garden for vegetables. The cool-season stuff will be finished at the end of May and I am planting warm-season stuff now. Gardening grounds my soul.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it does.
DeleteYour flowers are beautiful--and I agree with Emily.
ReplyDeleteAh yes! Emily is wise. Thanks.
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