Like Cousins

A couple weeks ago we visited with Kate - who firstly I work with. And then she started a blog, and I thought it was so interesting. First we submitted some content to her blog, but now as it works out we are fellow bloggers together. She lives pretty far away (Park City, UT), and we don't see each other very often, despite invitations to visit etc. But we collaborate on a few work projects, and periodically communicate through our blogs, such as these...
Butterfly photo
Sunflowers
Zinnias
Gardening

So spending a little time was so nice...just whiling away part of an afternoon (OK, I should have been working, but so what?), chatting about the garden, hearing about her garden (the BIG ROCK among other things). I don't know, but to me it kind of felt like when you get together with your favorite cousin. You may not see each other very often, and maybe they live far away, but you easily catch up once you can get together, and it is something that you look forward to.

I had a smile on my face (and a nice little warm feeling in my heart) for that whole day.

Here we are by the clematis...

One Lone Foxglove

My garden is mostly shade. Our backyard is ALL shade (not even dappled really) -- a great challenge for someone who longs to look at beautiful, colorful blooms during our short growing season.

I had THREE foxgloves last year. We only have one remaining foxglove that over-wintered...sad. Not enough snow to insulate the perennials, despite one BIG March snowstorm.

And a couple weeks ago we had a little mishap with the garden hose, so one of the spires of the one remaining foxglove that over-wintered got chopped. I carefully detached it and took it inside, scornfully chiding anyone and everyone that could have been responsible (but really, everyone does this!), and with hope, put it in a vase to see if the tight tiny not-ready-to-open buds would bloom. Ah, and after over a week, they didn't.

So here is the one that is left...one lone foxglove. I love the spire, and the little speckles of color inside the bell-shaped blooms.

Creeping Jenny Munched!

Some weird little gray caterpillar thingies chomped all my Creeping Jenny!! Same thing happened last year. I just didn't have the heart to do anything, like spray pest-killing poison on the little varmints. Last year it did come back and bloom.

It's hard to tell from these photos, but Creeping Jenny is a beautiful, rich carpet-like groundcover, very easy to grow, with almost succulent-looking leaves and small bright yellow flowers. I am an eternal optimist, so I am confident that it will revive and survive.

Yikes!
Mine:
Here's what it's SUPPOSED to look like:

Gardening & Family Love

Gardening, especially beautiful plants and flowers, has a lot to do with family love. Just think for a moment: do you have a special perennial, Christmas cactus, or other plant from a family member? For years, we had my husband's grandmother's Bleeding Heart, and after my wedding, I rooted and potted the ivy from my bouquet and gave to my mom and mother in-law (I don't even have one of these ivy plants any more!).

Is there a flower that reminds you of a loved one? One of my dad's favorite flowers is zinnia, so I think of him when I plant them. My mom is very talented with African Violets, which I kill readily every time I try.

My husband's aunt drives from Michigan to visit several times a year. She is the oldest of my mother in-law's 4 siblings, and she is one of the most spritely and active people that I know! This May she came bearing plant gifts -- 2 Autumn Joy sedums from her garden, and hollyhock seeds. The sedums are exactly like 2 others that I have in the front yard! Look, they are practically identical.
I hope they like their new home! And I will think of her often, as I am tending them and enjoying them this growing season.

Thanks Auntie Val for the special gifts! (that's her in the front...)