Flowering Daphne
The lovely Daphne is in full bloom, her scent powerful enough to knock you sideways. No wonder the neighborhood squirrels like to hide their nuts nearby. Her waxy green leaves, edged in buttercup yellow, frame the bouquet of blooms. It would be easy to envy that effortless beauty, but I know she’s been working hard since the fall, storing energy for this fabulous display. Deep pink shadows give way to a blush of pinks and creams. Effervescence, defined.
Smiling is good for you. It reduces tension, helps you relax and promotes overall good health. There is always something to smile about in the garden; sometimes I’m lucky enough to catch it with my camera.
I hope these photos put a smile on your face, too.
Sure, the pumpkin is nice, but will you look at that cat I grew!?
He’s a cheeky little fella
Look, Ma!!! I can fly with one wing!
I think there’s a pooch hiding in the tree. Dogwood???
Bottoms up!
Are you smiling yet?
Budding Sunflower
I tried something a little different with my sunflowers this year. I sowed the seeds in narrow planters and lined the front of the deck. If all went according to plan, the seeds would produce tall, healthy specimens. The towering wall of sunflowers would face the kitchen but could also be enjoyed by passersby. I was jazzed!
My son helped me plant the first crop, which promptly disappeared. Squirrels made off with the seeds. A few went undetected, but once sprouted they ate those as well. I managed to preserve three plants. Moving on to plan B, I purchased more seeds, and started them indoors. I also planted a few in the side yard hoping the critters wouldn’t notice the new location. Last summer the flowers grew as tall as the house there. Alas, those too disappeared. Poof.
Indoors, the seeds sprouted quickly. I needed a plan to keep them safe. The morning of Mother’s Day, my husband helped me assemble what I now refer to as “screen savers,” a system I created with left over screening and sliding window screens from the hardware store. They worked!
I originally planned to remove the screens from the established plants, but the stalks remained on the thin side. The soil dried out quickly, even after I added a thick layer of mulch. Eventually the stalks cleared the top of the screens and started their accent. The birds arrived, pecking away at the leaves, creating patterns as they chipped away. Every few days, the plant added leaves and the birds came back for more.
This week, ninety days later and right on schedule, the sunflowers are in bloom. The original three are the hardiest of the plants and the first to bloom. They are taller and stronger than the others. The transplants are fairly weak, with bent stalks and smaller stems. But they too have buds.
Sunflowers Line the Deck
March Winds
March winds fiercely blew.
Leaves gathered on the doorstep
I don’t need a rake!
Icy Water
Icy water flows,
fallen leaves how you vex me.
Mold in one hour.
Visiting Feline
Visiting feline
graces our garden each day.
Does your mama know?
Neighborhood Squirrel
Neighborhood tree squirrel
amassing a trove of nuts,
please spare my new lawn.
Hardenbergia
Hardenbergia
Monosyllabic flower
you’re one-third haiku.
You can learn more about the origins of the ancient Japanese poetry style Haiku here.
How to write a Haiku poem from Creative Writing Now.
About the Haiku Master From Wikipedia:
Matsuo Bashō (松尾 芭蕉?, 1644 – November 28, 1694), born Matsuo Kinsaku (松尾 金作?), then Matsuo Chūemon Munafusa (松尾 忠右衛門 宗房?),[1][2] was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as a master of brief and clear haiku. His poetry is internationally renowned, and within Japan many of his poems are reproduced on monuments and traditional sites.
I just came up the driveway and startled a pair of squirrels who were halfway up the sunflower stalks. In prior years, the sunflower stalks snapped and drooped early from the increasing weight and the seeds were quickly polished off. This is the first year they’ve remained standing, due in part to my bungee cord fix. I gathered the stalks together like a bunch of broccoli and secured them with a pair of bungees. They’ve supported each other beautifully.
Bungee Cord Fix
I ran inside for the camera and went back to check on the plants. The squirrels are pulling out the seeds in little groups, shelling them from their perch and littering the flower bed with shells. I’m reminded of friends in the past who’ve tried giving up smoking: they would leave little piles of sunflower shells in various locations, just like the squirrels. I doubt the squirrels are trying to give anything up. They’re just staying true to the genetic code that says “fall is coming; time to stock up!”
Flowers in Bloom, Seeds Will Soon Set
A Full House
A few flowers in the center and missing seeds on the outside, combine to look like the close-up of some bug.
Gardening Nirvana 