Planting Tutorial

Although I don't remember the year, I remember the "moment" when I first tasted the joy of casually strolling through a greenhouse and thinking, "This is actually quite relaxing, the kids are in school and I don't need to hurry." It was a relatively new greenhouse in town, they were well organized and, to add to the atmosphere, they had classical music playing. I had time to read the signage, there were beautifully made up baskets and planters everywhere to give you good ideas and the workers were friendly and helpful. What was there not to like about a stroll through a flower park and choosing which ones to take home with you?

Now, I'm far from being an expert when it comes to planting, but I can share a tidbit for anyone who has never done any kind of gardening. You, my friends who have done lots, will just have to smile at my attempts. So I learned that there are two kinds of flowering plants you can get. When looking for plants to use as borders, in beds around trees or elsewhere in your yard you probably want to get something that will come back every year. These are called perennials and they bloom for a certain amount of time, usually for a month in the Spring. The most common ones for baskets and planters are annuals, which only bloom for the season and then they are done. What is nice though, is that they bloom all summer long!

So, when I had a few hours, I pulled my old pots out of the shed. I removed the old roots and bad soil on the top of bigger planters and emptied the small, shallow ones. Often I will put some rocks in the bottom of the pot to allow water to drain, in case of too much watering. Then I filled them all to the top with fresh potting soil. Some of the pots needed a good scrub with soap and water and then I was ready.
Almost more for "old times sake" than anything else, I called my Mom and asked her if she would like to come over. Of course she did! She came carrying her little stool and rubber gloves.

I sorted the plants according to which pot and place they would end up. When shopping for plants, you want to consider whether your plants need lots of sunshine or whether they would do better in the shade, and then place them accordingly. Since my Mom used to bring me the pots for the front door, I put those in front of her as she sat down in the middle of the yard. Using the patio was out since it is still under construction, being tiled.

(In the background of this photo you can see a tiny preview of the new landscaping we've been working on.) I know Mom's planting habits well! She likes to put a geranium in the centre of the pot.

And then she adds little basket-stuffers, such as impatiens, fuchsia and lobellia. I didn't have any lobellia this time.

I did some window planters with pansies and some tiny white flowers which I don't remember the name for, but they look like lace.

I like Osteospermum, or any daisy-like flowers. If you remove the dead flowers through-out the summer, they bloom even better yet.

We also planted some ivy geraniums in hanging baskets and bright yellow dwarf dahlias in a large back yard planter.

It was quite enjoyable and felt good when it was done. Now we just need to baby them a bit, since the weather is still a little unpredictable. Most of them are being kept under cover for now.

Time for Bedding Plants

I came home with my car full of small flowering plants and I can hardly wait to get them into the soil to watch them grow and bloom all summer!

I have not always enjoyed getting my fingers into the dirt, moving perennials around the garden or planting summer annuals into pots. However, it seemed like my Mom thought that a home should have some flower pots by the front door to welcome visitors and she persisted by making up pots for me and bringing them over as gifts. Then, when she’d come to visit, I’d answer the door, only to find her poking around the pots, saying, “You didn’t water your flowers.”

I don’t know when I began to see it as a fun mother/daughter time to actually plant the pots together. It seemed that when I was the one putting some effort into planting, it was so much more fun to see the beautiful results. I began to do more and more and can honestly say that I love it now. From going to the nursery and choosing my flowers, to preparing the pots and planting my own variations every year.

We don’t always do it together any more, her back is not as good as it once was, but doing pots will always remind me of my mom.
I checked back in photo albums and noticed how flower pots and hanging baskets seem to often be used as the backdrop for photos. I noticed how the grandkids have loved checking out the blooms and how the pots and flower varieties have somewhat changed, but always bring the feeling of a happy place to be.

Caring for my flowers has become a fun summer hobby and my Mom does not need to remind me any more to water my flowers. Now she just comes over, admires my garden and I have just one more thing to thank her for.

Flowers for Mothers Day

I was just finishing up in the garden, when I looked up and saw him walking across the lawn with a smile and an arrangement of white and pink. There is something about a son bringing you flowers that makes it not just any bouquet. There is usually a bloom or a sparkle or something in there that made him chose that arrangement and I love that he mentions that. Reminds me of so many times, in years gone by, when he’d pick flowers in our back yard and come in with his prized possession! It was always like I’d never seen that particular flower before. The bouquet now is larger, professionally done, but the feeling right now, just like then, makes me feel like the luckiest mother alive!

A walk in the Park

My walks in the park these days are so refreshing! Springtime just never ceases to amaze me! Sometimes it seems like you can see the growth from one day to the next, and it's such a beautiful, bright new green!

The wild flowers, the reflection on the lake, rabbits scurrying out of the way and birds chirping and fluttering around, I'm so thankful that I can see and feel this kind of excitement first thing in the morning.

During the week I walk with a good friend, Doris, whom I've walked with for about 20 years now and on the weekends and summer evenings I walk with my Hon.

On this particular morning we noticed another family walking ahead of us.

Mother goose must have noticed us coming and made sure all in her charge were close together. She strutted about like she owned a certain area. Don't anyone come near!

Father Goose was there too! Very proud and protective. We were just lucky he actually let us go by and take pictures. He could be right dangerous by the looks of things and I wouldn't want to mess with him.

We walked on by without further ado and continued talking, sharing and solving the world's problems before heading into another busy day. Everyone should have a friend to walk with.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Julene recently sent us this photo of Tehya having just lost her two front teeth.

Have we seen this picture before? (In fact, didn't we actually take the photo?) Made us smile . . .

No Berry Festival in Indonesia, but Mom re-created the memory and showed her daughter that Mom was once a girl just like her.

On a Porch in Indonesia

Being a Grammy has its advantages.

You can pretend that you don't know anything about hospitality and enjoy watching them show you how it's done. They were both so eager to please and make sure it was done right.

I got seated and everything looked perfect!

The service was exceptional!

Oh, yes I wanted milk in my tea because it always reminds me of my own Omi (Grammy).

And she was also the one who taught me that a little sugar never hurt anyone.

It was quite the spread! We had something available from almost every food group!

Paeton wasn't quite sure about the whole pomp and circumstance. Maybe a little silly, but still fun.

Tehya was very pleased with how everything turned out.

And Grammy, who is having fun just reliving the memory,

thought it was the best tea party ever!

Thank you Tehya and Paeton!