Summer 2015

Another essay I forgot to finish.  Since this writing, the zinnia has given up.  The tough Artemisia that comes back year after year may not. Had moved a number of sprouts to pots and the pots got so hot, I think the roots cooked?

Tiny tough zinnia are about the only blooming thing in garden

 The good thing is; the house inside is clean because too hot to work outside.The bad thing is; the house inside is clean because too hot to work outside.  Texangardener.

 I just came inside from what remains of my gardens.  I am fighting a losing battle and still cannot seem to just let it all die.  Maybe this morning, a bit more of my brain woke up.  Here I was, sweating 80° and not a breath of air stirring.  Coughing from allergic reaction to one of many dying weeds. The air feels thick with dust or pollen?

"Why am I even out here?"  came to mind when I stood up with a heavy watering can in my hand and felt sharp pain in lower back.
"This is hopeless."  So I wiped the sweat from my eyes and came inside.  Even though it is overcast this morning and easier for me to work out there, other things are waiting to be done.  All the crafty things unfinished, all the sewing waiting, all the mending waiting.

All gardeners face this situation at some time in their lives.  It can be anything from hail, flooding, insects, rodents, and even a tornado or illness.

We get sad, we get mad.  We rail at nature, critters and sometimes God.  The garden is still dead.

My plan before it gets to hot (106°  this afternoon), I am going to go to Hobby Lobby and buy some pretty artificial flowers for a basket.

Butterfly weed survived spring rains, lost all its leaves and came back.  Losing its leaves again.

 “Summer has set in with its usual severity.” » Samuel Taylor Coleridge

If I was smart, I would just raise zinnias.  This is one small plant and still has buds

Time to do some planning for garden design.  Who knows, I may even look at the garden magazines for ideas.  Unfortunately most of the magazines I have are for northern climates.  We cannot even be called desert here in North Texas.

Heat, ma’am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. ~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland’s Memoir

Rainy garden - reverie

I wrote this a week ago and didn't publish.  It is nice to read at this time when since that day, every day has been dry, hot with temperatures hovering in the high 90's.

It has been 40+ days without rain and most of the time temperatures in 100's or high 90's and most mornings in the high 70's or 80's.

It is 64° and rainy.  Not heavy downpour, light, blissful rain.

What is so amazing?  My depression is gone!  I am enthused for the first time in months.  Excited to plan next year's garden.
I know in my mind that it will hit 85° this afternoon and hot again tomorrow and on and on.

There is still today!

“Can't you see that it's just raining?
There ain't no need to go outside.” 
― Jack Johnson

My mind is racing with things to do for next year.  The plan I have occupying my old brain is containers.  Think small, think build soil, think move bird houses, think move garden mailbox, think fencing the persistent bunnies out. Most of all, think containers. Well, there is always the mole..........................Can't stop em.
I just pray God gives me another glorious spring with flowers!

It is a Great Day!