Storms of Flowers

Amidst the storms in our skies – there are flowers in the garden.

When I as young and had about the same amount of time for the flower garden as I do now, I used to plant piles of annuals that  grew from seed. Riots of cool colors and white blooms.

In New Zealand my borders were legendary, wide and full and tiered.

Now when I walk my big American flower garden beds, I realise that my gardens have drifted into collections of flowering trees and bushes. The magnolias, and lilacs and hydrangeas, flowering pears and native apples and plums. Underbellies of lilies and softer ground covers.

Each year my borders here on the prairies start to resemble jungles more than country borders.  I think the vast prairies have influenced these unconscious  decisions.

Because there is just so much sky, and the eye drifts unimpeded; my Self needs more foliage and more strength to the plants to kind of anchor my bobbing balloon self in the summer. Annual flowers seem too flippant.

Have you noticed that in the winter when all the trees lose their leaves and the gardens go dormant and the house is once more exposed to the elements and eyes, my little balloon self bobs away from home. The trees anchor me.

Today I am digging up all the daffodils, many did not bloom this year, they need dividing. It is the wrong time of year to dig up bulbs but I was never one for rules. More for time. It is overcast and wet – they will be ok. I will cover the rows for  wind protection.  I will dig them and carefully divide them then line them up in one of my vegetable gardens. Like a picking garden but only daffodils.  The trees and bushes have over-grown them, they need sun and fertiliser.

And it is Saturday – so after chores I can work on my jungle beds – like a little holiday.

Yesterday everyone had a good day. The first batch of meat chicks arrived and are ensconced in the turkey house with their warm table mamas. They are nice healthy birds. Alex was working on the chicken tractor, doing the maintenance that will keep it moving across the fields for another few years.

It was warm – we had sun and only one of the promised showers.  It will be windy today and even warmer.

I hope you have a lovely day.

celi

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Weather