Winter Flowers

June 17, 2006

One of the things I focused on when we had to move south was the "year round gardening". Recently I read an article by a "native" saying that eventually transplants learn that its not year 'round' here, but that we have that resting time just like other parts of the country. There is a brief rest during the coldest months where only cold hardy plants survive. The main resting time is the dead heat of summmer. There are a few plants that manage and even thrive in the relentless heat, but there isn't much gardening to do except maintenance. Its too hot to be out gardeing and newly planted things stand a chance of not making it.

During a time when physical activity wasn't really possible I started 'making' gardens with a paintbrush.. on everything in sight, or as my husband says "nothing is safe from her paintbrush'. As I sat at the computer I saw two small river rocks on which I'd painted flowers.. one a basket of flowers from a rock painting book and another life most of my flowers. I start with one plant and just add to my garden till I'm satisfied. Much like one would plant outside.

Its not quite the same as having beautiful plants that surprise you with their first blooms, or veggies you can pick and serve, but somehow it satisfies that creative something inside. For so many years I envisioned gardens, and now that I actually have a place for these gardens I no longer have the physical ability to carry them through. I can do what I can, when I can, and find other things to do instead... like paint.

Its really funny when you get ollder and unable to do things how long it takes your mind to 'catch up' with your body. Your mind still plans ahead when there isn't that much ahead of you.. and you think you can do the same things you used to do. There are certain things that my mind has finally accepted that I can't do and no longer feel badly or guilty about it. I am still upset about not being able to handle paperwork like I used to, but don't feel badly that I can't handle physical activities. I've learned to say no when its a bad day and make the most of good days. God has given us a wonderful place to live and I make the most of the pictures out of our windows.

A lot of my plants continue to blaze with color. One of my white crinum lilies bloomed this past week - much too hot for it and its blossoms only lasted a few days. This is the second year with the duranta repens.. and after some fairly hard shaping pruning, its just covered with those beautiful purple flowers. The butterflies and I love that bush. My cassia has still not bloomed. Its hard to tell whether the buds are blooms waiting to happen or simply more leaves. Its looking like simply more leaves !! The salvia has always performed well and this year, no exception. Even the impatiens are covered with bloom no matter what. I planted some 4 o'clocks and they have surprised me by not being mixed colors, but only yellow. In our old yard I have them in several places in such a riot of colors. I especially loved the salmon colored ones and deep pink ones. The one section with just white seems to be the most fragrant, though. The ones here seem to be ALL yellow. Lisa's house is a very fresh pale blue and yellow looks wonderful with it. She said "you know, those are going to have to live at MY house". So they will be relocating shortly. I did put a few in very large pots so that they could be moved for the perfect spot. She has a yellow clethra.. I believe. Its been treated very badly and still is beautiful. It wilts, revives and blooms on. Some plants are just wonderful.

The sago seeds are ripe and ready to be planted. Hans collected about one hundred last December and we put them into moist sand.. flat side down, half exposed. The majority of them sprouted, but we never did anythng with them after reading the article saying they are such a carcinogen. Still the seeds sit there.. The squirrels 'harvested' our first batch that I put on the back porch. Two have come up and one now has two 'fronds'. Their plants did much better than ours !! I have so many seeds and it seems to take me so long getting around to planting them, that they just sit there with the promise that ONE day they will bloom.

There are so many thing in my life like that.. things that one day I'm GOING to do. Flylady is a great help with beating procrastination. Perhaps this is a good day to start once again... I can do anything for 15 minutes, including garden in my yard. I think the stairs to get to the yard are a deterrent. Hans has asked if I'd like sliding doors through my 'office onto the back yard. Perhaps its time to say yes since there is a large knoll just outside those windows and with a removable 'stoop', it would only be a step or two, compared to several in the front. I think life is like the garden... seasons. You just have to learn to recognize the seasons and go with the flow.