Walking around in my garden this morning and touching up some of my garden signs, I decided that I should take you on a little tour.
Welcome to my Garden
Tag: gardening
My Garden Awakens
As days become ever warmer in Michigan, my dormant garden is waking up.
Slowly at first, the small amount of grass snaking between the flower beds “greens up”. Too early to do much, I spend a day doing clean up of stray leaves, pruning and picking up remains of last years annuals.
Soon after, the first flower appears – a miniature iris.
Following that pale pink snow glories planted in an old fire pit burst into bloom.
Pink and purple hyacinth and multi-colored daffodils emerge, seemingly overnight. Winter creeper and violets, reliable thick ground cover are bringing forth green with their tiny purple flowers.
Walking around, I observe beginnings of hostas and lily of the valley sprouting, my peony tree, iris and bachelor buttons are showing their greens, blooms are weeks away.
Tulips are above ground though tightly closed, holding back blooms until temperatures are more favorable. A sign of spring is my small patch of bluebells which are just blooming, returning briefly but faithfully each year.
I spy the first tiny buds on my clematis and lift the sprouts up to the trellis that they will climb spring through fall. Several bleeding hearts (white and fuchsia when they bloom) are out of the ground and double in size each day. My poppies are making their presence known as their prickly greens fill in the flowerbeds.
In my herb garden, only chives are showing themselves however if past years are an indicator, cilantro and thyme will follow. Flat leaf parsley, rosemary, basil and sage will be planted as soon as there’s no danger of frost.
The last few days I’ve been spreading pine bark nuggets and mulch to cover areas that will fill in with perennials. I fill the bird bath and bring out my “garden art”. I’ve added eight new solar lights along the little pebbled path that borders the largest flower bed.
At this time of year, my palms get itchy in anticipation of gardening. I can’t wait to feel the soil as I dig bare-handed into the dirt, without concern of bugs, worms and toads. With warm days (and soon warm evenings) our home seems to double in size as we spend more time on the deck, enjoying the beauty of nature. Lilies, sweet peas, columbine, sedum, hydrangeas, roses and other perennials will join this bloom fest. The palette is ever-changing.
It is my haven, my sanctuary.
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Writing 101 Assignment: Day Nineteen: Don’t Stop the Rockin’. Today is a free writing day. Write at least four-hundred words, and once you start typing, don’t stop. No self-editing, no trash-talking, and no second guessing: just go.
I did 400 words – on the nose – but had to add pictures as I don’t see how I could talk about this beauty and not share it. I hope you enjoy it!
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Spring or Fall in Michigan
“I’m the best season” claimed The Spring, “Everyone loves those first signs of life after a long winter”.
“I respectfully disagree”, The Fall replied, “People love the fall after the heat of summer, those first cooler days, the way I change the landscape into an array of colors”.
“Humbly, I must deny your claim of being the best season” countered The Spring. “I turn grass from brown to green, make the trees bud then flower, push up tulips, crocus, daffodils and hyacinth. The air smells sweet with apple and cherry blossoms, the soft spring rain, the warming days and cool nights. What say you to that Fall?”
“I can’t argue that you put forth a good show Spring” said The Fall sincerely, “But I bring forth mums, pumpkins and gourds, the smell of apples being harvested and pressed into cider, the telltale smoke of chimneys as people can enjoy their fireplaces.”
At this point, I can no longer hold back (as the author of this imagined dialogue), “You are both equally lovely. Indeed, after a long bitter-cold winter, I’m thrilled to see my garden coming to life in The Spring, the promise of getting my hands in the dirt and planting. To open my windows, enjoy sitting on my deck, sipping a glass of wine on those first warm-enough-to-not wear-a-jacket evenings”
“But then comes The Fall. Those first days when it’s just cool enough to start wearing layers, the smell in the air of leaves wet with dew and the profusion of color that changes them into a vibrant palette of orange, yellow, red, gold and green when the sun lights up the trees. That crispness to the air on a fall mornings and evenings. Wine tasting as our vineyards bring forth the new harvest.”
Having listened thoughtfully, The Spring and The Fall agreed that they each were special in their own way and decided to applaud, each the other.
Meanwhile, The Summer sat back silently knowing that she’s the best season. The Winter just sat sulking, as cold as ever.
Today’s Prompt: “Give and Take”
Write a post based on the contrast between two things — whether people, objects, emotions, places, or something else.
Today’s twist: write your post in the form of a dialogue.
