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Saturday, May 08, 2010

May Showers


Gloriosky, the first rose in my garden. Cecile Brunner, my dainty sweetness who greeted me this morning. Not that I've caught up but I finally couldn't ignore the great goings-on outside any longer and so I traipsed outdoors with my camera today and took a few shots for you. These messages from nature uplift me more than I can express. That I can still see, smell and caress the beauty that surrounds me. Deep joy.


I've turned to the journal more than usual as I've navigated recent loss and disappointment. Talking to myself gently. Encouraging myself and coaxing myself to get up and go on. It's been up and down.


Here is my hero, planting tomatoes in the garden. He of the rough, dry hands that never passes by without an encouraging smile and kiss. He just came in and peeked over my shoulder to see what I was doing and he smelled like fish fertilizer. That's my man. I like anything he smells like.


Earlier this week we had a whacking good hail storm that punched holes in the spinach and flattened the heads on the irises.


But here they are this morning in the sunshine, no worse for the wear. These are the irises that smell like grape kool aid that I brought to this house eleven years ago from Orenco. From Mrs. Sharp who gave them to me who has passed on now. She brought me freshly baked bread and pie when we lived next door. She was a good woman to visit and I miss her more than I would have expected. She lives on for me though in these irises.


A school friend who found me on Facebook sent me the photograph from when we were in the Brownies together as young girls. I was so happy to have that photograph again. I wish I still had my beanie and my Brownie pin. I still remember the songs we sang and the girls in my troop. (Troop 19, remember Virginia?)


Last night I pulled a big tub of greens from this planting and tonight I'll make a pasta dish that calls for 4 cups of spinach. I'm thinking if it worked for Popeye it can't hurt me.


We have columbine in every color and shape imaginable. I love how every season brings new surprises in the garden. I don't plant anything myself any more. I just wait to see what Mother Nature brings me.


The leeks and fava beans are powering skyward. Is there anything more tender and mouth watering than baby favas stirred gently in hot olive oil with shallots? Oh, heavens, soon we'll have them!


One of my goals in Cincinnati was to sample Goetta but the occasion did not present itself. It sounds like the way my mother used to make meat loaf. She always added oats to the ground beef and spices. Maybe based on some Illinois version of Ohio's famous dish. I don't make meat loaf myself but I'd eat some now if I had it.


It's so easy to think that the things you look at every day are common but we have to remember that readers of blogs are often in hemispheres outside our own with different seasons and zones. So anyway, this is what's happening at the 45th parallel in the Pacific Northwest. Juicy rhododendrons.


New Zealand spinach. We love this variety. It's quite hardy here and yummy in a Wilted Spinach Salad with bacon and hot vinegar. Gee, how does one talk about one's garden without getting hungry?


The Siberian irises are beginning to pop. I just gave a ball of this variety to my friend last week. I hope hers are blooming now too. This is one of my favorite irises (I have lots of favorites).


This is a very shy and delicate rhody. She must have a name like blushing nymph or such like. 


Busy busy.


Mountain Bluett. Thank goodness it's hardy as it's competing with evil blackberries.


I thought this was a good thing to leave you with today. We just have to hitch up our britches and try. And oh, the joy when we surprise ourselves and discover that we can make things happen and that we have powers beyond our expectations. That we can do the things that bring us joy. 

24 comments:

Teddi said...

the way u write is like poetry, such beauty n ur words

katie said...

i love the last lines you wrote in the post - i think i'm going to put them up on my "wall of reminders".

i find beauty here once again, for the body, spirit, and soul.

doors keep opening, layer upon layer is discovered and revealed, and veils drop and float away one by one...

xoxo

Jacky said...

Oh you're blog post bought me joy. The trip around you lovely garden...I particularly love your "blushing nymph" rhododendron (you have named it so perfectly) and that Mountain Bluett.
Wonderful journal pages and wise words.

Enjoy the sunshine and nature.

Jacky xox

Patty said...

I know what you mean about a dirty
smelly man coming in after working in the garden. Mine is too.

All those July tomatoes are the work of those hands, and the beans
and the cukes and the potatoes.

I will be praying/thinking of you on May 18. It will go fine. It will be
successful and helpful and heal you.

Kate Robertson said...

What a lovely post. I loved seeing the garden and flowers and especially love the Picasso quote.

kathyd said...

thank you for a wonderful post.
i miss having a garden .

Ro Bruhn said...

I love seeing your garden Judy, it's lovely to see all of your spring flowers and new growth as we approach our winter. Glad to see you writing again.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing the beautiful flowers. We don't have rhododendrons here in South Dakota. What a beauty! Diane

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

Beautiful. I now love Siberian irises with those blues! Hungry now, for fava beans and greens from my favorite Italian Restaurant. Your garden is perfect! Peace and joy to you, and Happy Mother's Day!

Sharon said...

Thanx for sharing this beauty on Mother's Day. Wonderful!

Stephanie Lee said...

It's so good to see all that your man is busy with and also so good to see how much you love all that he does. I'm thinking he might be the most appreciated man in the whole U S of A (and deserving of it)! :)
The irises are blooming, yes. So beautiful. I have them in a sunny corner of the garden - safe from any hungry animal.
thank you....

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Dear Judy,

This post made me smile. Cecile Brunner is one of my favorite roses. I collect the newly opened blooms, dry them on a rack for a day and then layer them in my teas, in sweet butter, in honey, and in sugar. They impart their dear scent to everything. I love them and I love how undemanding they are.

I don't cook meatloaf, but heck, if it would make you happy I'd go to it.

All love and joy to you,

Sharon Lovejy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post, your garden looks glorious, mine
is just starting, we have a ways to go yet. Enjoy your spinach pasta, sounds good to me. Keep you head down and keep moving forward... xo

amy said...

thank you for your words and images. they always calm me. make me feel less alone in the world. and more inspired. peace to you, judy.
-amy

Maria said...

Great post!! Thank you.

Lisa MB said...

Whooo-weee! The garden looks marvelous... such generous helpings of color. It reminds me of a Tom Robbins line I read, where he was describing the sweetness of jasmine, and what it would say if it could speak: "I'm sweet, and if you don't like it you can kiss my sweet ass."

Glad to hear your voice. Keep chugging along, sweetie. :o)

Kim Mailhot said...

Thanks you , Beautiful Judy, for the feast for the senses. I can almost smell and taste those bounties as you describe them.

Seeking and holding on to and abosrbing those moments of joy - that is what we are here in this bittersweet world to do I think. So glad you have so much to fill you cup with...
Big Love to you, Willing One.

Jill K. Berry said...

I think of you often, and wish my biggest most powerful wishes for your voice, the one that kept me up so late in Cedarburg! Your garden and your man are stellar. Thank goodness for that! Big hugs to you Judy.

Peggy said...

Beautiful post. Your garden is beautiful and makes me impatient for more progress in my own high altitude Colorado garden. It will be June before I see Iris and July before I have leafy greens. Need to stay in the present.

mary lawrence said...

like your irises after the hail storm I think you will spring back up to radiate your sunshine after the next surgery. sending you warm and healing thoughts for a successful surgery and speedy (and pain-free) recovery.....and thanks for reminding us all through your words and lovely photos to stop and appreciate the beauty around us each and every day.
xoxo
mary

Lynn Cohen said...

I am just home from my flight to Portland for the weekend with family there. I saw all those gorgeous flowers everywhere. It was incrediable. What an array of color and spring!!!! And all that sun too, just like California! ;-)
Checked out where the Art and Soul Retreat hotels are...which one are your workshops in I wonder? I felt this was a practice run!!!! ;-)

Diana said...

Oh what beautiful flowers, Judy! I must admit the Cecile Brunners are my favorite. Love their soft pink hue and their luscious fragrance. Thank you for sharing your garden and man with us. Hoping you are feeling better with each passing day.
Hugs
Diana

Laura said...

We have never met, but I know your voice. Your real voice. And it gives me huge pleasure and comfort. All good things to you, my dear.

Anonymous said...

So many beautiful full of life images, So much magic and livelihood...so wonderful and wondrous to visit you here.
XOXOrly