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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Rainy Day Post and SP Wednesday

Okay, this is cheating. It is me but I'd forgotten what day it was until moments ago. It will have to do.

John likes to give his onions a haircut. I like to eat the tops he cuts off on my morning eggs. We're like Jack Spratt and his wife.

I'll give you a real garden tour this weekend when it's supposed to stop raining. For now this is all I could get from the porches without getting doused. This is typical of Oregon in May. We wait and wait for sunshine. But oh, the rain and mist is lovely.

The peony is covered in big, slatternly blossoms. Tree peonies bloom about a month earlier than the herbaceous ones. I like it that we get two waves.

Such a wanton flower normally. This one's shy.

Then we have peppers galore. Lots of kinds. John's head is full of pepper varieties; which ones grow where, which ones are so hot they'll knock your socks off, which ones to use in the various moles. (moe-lays, not those furry animals) Hot ones, stuffers and mild pimentos. Full of good vitamins. I hope in this economy people are putting gardens in. Some to eat, some to share.

The rhododendrons are busting out all over. Our yard is an explosion of color every May thanks to the couple who lived here before us and planted so many varieties.

I brought the grape irises from our previous home because they are heavily fragrant (like grape kool-aid) and because my neighbor Dorothy gave them to me. She passed away a couple of years ago but her spirit comes in strong during the iris visitation.

I wrote poems in the Minneapolis airport between planes by writing down snatches of conversation and making observations about the fellow passengers. It was amazing how the words flowed out. I think I wrote 11 poems in 2 hours. Airports are great places for evesdropping and word catching. Everyone's yakking on their phones, talking louder than they realize and then there's CNN going on and pretty soon you have a great montage flowing onto the page.

Our neighbor has a zillion varieties of columbine that have migrated past the walnut orchard and into our flower beds. Every year they come up in different sizes and colors. Always something new.

And every day I write. I have so much to say. It's as good as cheesecake.

My thoughts have turned toward Asilomar and the road trip I'll be making there to teach. I'll also be visiting friends who live in the area - so much to look forward to. I'm putting together fat packets and packing griddles and pans of wax and pigment and beautiful watercolor paper that will be made into magical books. Cutting lace and whispering a blessing on each bundle of promise. My journal is nearly filled now after 8 months of tee-niney writing and pasting and painting and the next one is ready to take over where the last one left off.

Nurture your dreams and treat yourselves gently. 'Til next time then. xo

22 comments:

kecia deveney said...

love the rain on the peonies and iris! my peonies haven't opened yet, but i've got one iris going so far! so let's make allegra host me and you teaching at her place for each other!she's always trying to get me to come visit!

A.Smith said...

Allegra would always be happy to host you and you, lol! Once the sunroom is done all 30 feet by 16 feet with more light than I can dream of, we will have great classes here when the spirit move.

Judy dear, I suspect you have gotten none of my mail, and I want you to tell John that I have a couple of San Marzano plants that will be ready to go in a couple of weeks. He must try these tomatoes, they are to die for. I got all seven "black" tomato plants ready to go into the raised beds this coming weekend. Can't wait, and here is hoping we got all the sunshine we could want and then some.

Meri said...

You are such a busy bee! The "little you" is adorable. And your words write a portrait of you, too. It amazes me how different yours is from mine and mine is from Beth's (moredoors.blogspot.com). We're all unique! Hip hip hooray!

Candace said...

There are flowers all over this page here from the worried looking kid Judy to the journals to the real flowers that hold so much promise of this wonderful returning season...
And have a wonderful time at Asilomar -- that name sounds like a faerie tale place.
Candace x

Anonymous said...

Love sneakinly sketching travellers too, but yes thier convo is intruiging. Best heard on phone: "you have such a dysfunctional relationship... yes I think so.."

Yeah, I bet the person on the other end of the phone was thrilled with that.

LissaBee Creations said...

What a glorious garden you have! Thank you for the beautiful photos this morning.

deb did it said...

I love your SP....not cheating at all. and oh my how lovely your garden grows.

Chris said...

Oh, is that peony precious?!?


I realize this isn't done, but...

would you mail your journal over to me?

thanks.

xo

Stephanie Lee said...

I'm singing a sultry siren song to my peonies...hoping they'll bloom for me in this, their first year on this new land. They've been moved and moved and moved, I wouldn't blame them if they didn't bloom just out of protest!
You're like the queen of some ancient land with your own personal flower show and a sinewy, quiet gardener growing a bounty for the table just for your pleasure. No wonder you love your life!!! :)

Lynn Cohen said...

lovely garden shots...don't you just love raindrops on iris and all flowers and leaves really? I do. Wish I could read some of your MN airport poems.

Tara's Art Camp said...

lovely photos....
just curious, why does John cut off the tops of his onions?

Amy Stoner said...

I have some grape irises that were a gift from a fellow gardener as well...and I love them each year! Thanks for sharing such lovely pictures!

Judy Wise said...

To answer Tara's question about why John cuts the tops off his onions: he says it makes transplanting them easier. They dont flop over and get tangled up with each other and top heavy. He says the tops keep growing so you won't miss the cut off part.

Colette said...

Hi Judy I love your child art SP. Mine is also a journal styled SP. Hope you come see.

femminismo said...

Your peonies are lovely. Rhodies too! Hasn't it just been too, too rainy? My white tree peony blooms are resting on the ground. (sniff) I miss them when they're gone, but others flowers will show up. Hey, you got an iPhone and I got a Blackberry! Aren't they fun? I downloaded some music and felt so very, very not-yet senile. - Jeanne

MB Shaw said...

I am so behind in reading of your adventures. Specially loved all the VR shots and can't wait till I am there in September, yippee!! Lovely spring garden shots too :-)

And so it goes... said...

I'll have to get a magnifying glass and read your teeny-tiny journal entries! It was fantastic seeing your journals in person. Inspiring to the point I'm in the process of making one to record the life and times of Debbie Heiken. I know, I know...it won't be as exciting as the life and times of Judy Wise, but perhaps with a great amount of embellishment....and lots of drawings...and wild color...

Jennifer White said...

I so wish I could make the roadtrip with you from Oregon down to Asilomar...I know we'd have more fun then we probably should.

It absolutely inspires me to peek inside your journals..I need to throw all caution to the wind and let it all go down on paper like you...amazing.

Tina Cully said...

Love your self portrait(and all of your journal pages for that matter)! How lovely your garden is! I bet all of Oregon is green and lush this time of year. How I wish I could go to Asilomar... even the name sounds so full of artistic potential!

Ro Bruhn said...

Wow Judy, such harmony in your life, your garden, good food, your journals and teaching, just the way life should be.

Holly Loves Art said...

Hi Judy,
Just popping in to say hello and look at your beautiful blog and all your gorgeous artwork! Always fun to come here!
All my best,
Holly

misty said...

your garden photos are gorgeous! they makes me dream of having our own garden again one day, until that day i will be living vicariously! ;)
looking forward to seeing you SOON! safe travels.
xoxoxoxox