Yesterday a friend was in my yard scavenging plants, digging a little of ‘Fanny’s’ Aster and such. When I offered Money Plant, she said, ‘Oh no, I don’t want that.‘

At first, I thought she’d said it with contempt, since it’s old fashioned and country. But she explained, ‘It reminds me of someone I’d rather not remember.’



Associating Plants with Memories

This shocked me. I tend to associate plants with good memories.

Crinum ‘Pink Trumpet’ makes me think of Mr. Malcolm and Bill Adams– both mentors now gone. The Chicken Rose reminds me of Urbana, who was single till 88, at which time she insisted he move in, so she wouldn’t have to leave the garden. Variegated Money Plant makes me wonder about all the things I don’t remember from garden open, hippy hoe down days with an old boyfriend, who’d have “garden open’ days basically, big, on-going party days.

Ok, I have a Dioone edule that I associate with one bitter guy from Tampa and a Salvia from a woman who may still be convinced to this day that I did her wrong by giving away cuttings of it. There aren’t many more memories. Maybe some more scandalous stories, sure, but that’s for another time.

Sentimental ramblings. Why would you want to hear them? I’m not sure. In fact, sometimes I question writing anything but straight hard facts. Do you want to help me out, give me a push? I made a little poll — it’s just three short descriptions of possible topics. Take a second to let me know which interest you? http://tinyurl.com/6rwqhzs

In the Garden This Week

The coolest plant combination this week is a mass of lavender woodland phlox with orange/red Amaryllis popping up through it. Yellow Boehemeria nipononivea ‘Kogane Mushi’
(I call this perennial coleus) in the background. (pic on Facebook page got lots of comments)

We planted a giant, purple leafed crinum with a stalk as thick as my neck. Since my garden helper fellow is so sinewy and muscular, that pic on Facebook got a lot of hits too.

We also added to the garden, Chrysanthemum ‘Button Yellow’ and Tagetes lemmonii for yellow fall flowers.

We divided tons and tons of mums and spread them around. And we seeded in lots of zinna, peas, beans, basil and black eyed susan.

This week holds lots of office work, design and working with photos. And, I put out lots and lots of turkey poop fertilizer.

I’m headed to Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences in Georgia and can’t wait to see what kind of evening garden party Nectar and Company puts on! Nectar is building a national reputation for their cool garden events and for getting lots of young people hooked into the gardening world! Check out stunning cut flower, gardening and events photos on http://www.nectarandcompany.com/