So hot in fact that I took off my farm trousers half way through the day and dug out my short farm skirts. It was delicious to free my legs again.
Daisy made no comment, other than politely asking for sunglasses to protect her delicate eyes from the blinding white of my pale legs.
The shadowy areas of each field were once more populated by panting sheep.
And the barn flock sought the shade of the big mulberry trees.
Charlotte smothered herself in suntan lotion.
And the Big Dog retired to his favourite cool sheltered corner in amongst the drying firewood under the cherry trees.
And the peony began to bloom.
Good morning. The old people tell me that the pioneer women brought the peonies across in the wagons. This root is so hardy that they would wrap a plant in damp fabric and it would survive for months in the back of a wagon. What they carried in the wagons was only what was absolutely essential so I have always smiled at these beautiful scented cherished plants being carefully carried across this vast landscape by those courageous women. The plants are very hardy and once established will last for years and years, decades. I have seen quite a few planted in the very old graveyards around here. In the old days the woman’s relatives would bury her and then plant her favourite peony from her own garden beside her. Every single one I have is from someones garden and can be traced back through the generations.
Good morning. When I was a young woman my aunt gave me a root of rhubarb that her grandfather had brought out to New Zealand from Yugoslavia, I grew his rhubarb in every single house I lived in (shifted along with all my roses) until I left the country. If I were to smuggle something out it would have been that plant. The rhubarb I have now comes from the garden of an old lady who died in a town close by. I heard that the new owners were going to get rid of the garden and did not mind if I came in and took what I wanted. I dug for days, as you can imagine, bringing home buckets of treasure. So I don’t know the story of the rhubarb I have now. But it is delicious. And I often think of the old lady I never knew who left it for me.
Have a lovely day.
your friend, celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
62 responses to “Hot right to the bones”
Our weather here is not cool enough to raise peonies or lilacs. Mom misses them from the Midwest where she grew up. This spring we are swinging back and forth between windy hot days and cool, foggy ones. We need rain, but rain in May and June is unusual.
I smuggled a few soil-less plant cuttings from Ohio to Ireland – some survived nearly two months in a shipping container and I now have a Christmas cactus grown from a plant that was grown from a plant that my grandmother had – she died in the late 70’s.
I can’t believe it – it is like yesterday that all the inhabitants were freezing their … er … wotsits off.
I can’t remember when last I had rhubarb. *craving sets in*
It may have been hot but the day looks lovely, and all the plant stories just made me itch to get into the garden… but that’s not going to happen anytime soon, so I’ll dream & plan. I have a common aloe vera in a pot from a cutting Dad gave me, which makes it special, yellow iris I have moved from house to house, and cuttings from my MIL’s garden… it’s a nice way to garden, and I hate to see old gardens trashed & good plants lost.
The old lady whose rhubarb you now grow would be chuffed to hear how you’ve rescued it, I’m sure.
I love peonies! My grandma had them around her house and I used to always go and collect them to put in vases for her. I was thrilled when we bought our house and discovered that it has peonies too. Makes me think of her every spring. And it reminds me I need to go see how they are doing. I don’t think they’ve bloomed just yet. 🙂
Haha – Daisy wanting to shield her eyes 😉
Neat stories about where certain peonies and rhubarb come from. I don’t think we often ponder such things, but it’s amazing to know their histories.
Love your rhubarb story! I bet the lady had lots of stories to tell about her patch if only you had had the chance to know her and talk to her. But you are starting your own story with your plants! And a wonderful one that you share with all of us. Thank you!
Your warm weather sounds nice. It has been just above freezing here in New Hampshire the last two nights. The apple blossoms have been spared a hard killing freeze like last year…that is a good thing.
My friends in college used to call me “flashlight legs” saying that when I went swimming, it looked like a pair of flashlights turned on and jammed into the legs of a pair of swimming trunks. Friends! My legs still look like that.
Your peony photo has naturally been pinched! Daisy would look quite something to photograph also with a pair of sunnies . . . . And I hated the term ‘happy as a pig in shit’ for ages, but Charlotte sure proves the reason for the term 🙂 ! One month to motherhood!! Oh, and five of my blogs back behaving: about twenty to find and reregister . . . patience supposedly is a virtue of which I am sadly short at the moment 🙂 !
I am so glad you found the problem, I am not a patient person either.. especially now when I am longing for my house back!! My builders are lovely, but.. welll .. you know.. c
I can remember 😀 !
What a wonderful story about the peonies. My father’s bluebell bulbs went with me from house to house and are now happily growing out at the bach. I love the tradition of passing on plants. Rhubarb is another that has been passed on in our family, so I enjoyed hearing your rhubarb story too. Amazing to hear of the warmth in the air – it seems no time at all since you were waiting for spring.
the season is short but fast,.. but Oh i am so glad to be warm! i am a summer girl.. c
Beautiful post, Celi! Is curious that these women thought about bringing their flowers with them…well, beauty is important too after all, just like those photographs of yours.
Have nice day 🙂