What does my garden grow?

[libby]

I have a small townhouse front and back yard. In front I have a rock garden sloping down to the sidewalk. I have mostly perennials, with rosemary and lavender, and whatever else catches my eye. Sometimes I think something has died, and then the next year it shows up again. Whether inspiration or just plain luck, I 've had good luck in choosing things that bloom or change color at different times.

About a month ago, something new appeared almost overnight -- some tiny white flowers with yellow centers on stems about 2 inches long, kinda like miniature daisies. The neighbors commented about how pretty they were, asked what they were. I didn't have a clue so cut a few and took then to a nursery just minutes away. The lady looked at them and said yes, she was familiar with them, but couldn't remember the name. But, she said,"they're weeds."

I was surprised and disappointed, but left them where they were, and even though we've had some very cold nights (looked like frost yesterday morning) there they are, still blooming. 

[duke jupiter]

Heck Lib,

Weed is beautiful, I mean weeds are beautiful. 

Best regards,
Duke ( let the weeds grow) Jupiter

[libby]

Heck Lib,

Weed is beautiful, I mean weeds are beautiful. 

Best regards,
Duke ( let the weeds grow) Jupiter

LOL!  Good to see you checkin' in here, Duke.

As for my garden, there for a while I had some sage  and morning glories growing with the  flowers and other herbs and plants.  I thought the morning glories were beautiful and I use sage to cook, especially for Thanksgiving turkey dressing.

libby (I keep the neighbors guessing)

[duke jupiter]

Ole' Duke just brought home a few pansies today. They sure brighten up things for Ole' Duke.

Best regards,
Duke (pansies are tuff) Jupiter

[libby]

Ole' Duke just brought home a few pansies today. They sure brighten up things for Ole' Duke.

Best regards,
Duke (pansies are tuff) Jupiter

flowers sure do brighten things up.

Funny thing is I used to grumble when I as a girl had to help daddy in the garden. I must've gotten a gardening gene or two from him. Although he was a coal miner, he always had a garden and planted flowers -- and had grape vines (some of the grapes went into a crock for his homebrew). 

[duke jupiter]

Me Dad retired in 1992 and surprised all of the family by planting many different flowers, shrubs, trees and such. He later told me his Dad loved to plant not only a garden which was required for food back in the day but he also had a love for flowers of all types. Over the years me Dad along with me Mom brought the family much joy as we viewed the scenery of the beautiful flowers and the panoramic view of the mountains behind them. Planting became me Dad's hobby and still continues through this day on a slower scale as he is 85.

Best regards,
Duke ( a pansy for flowers) Jupiter

[libby]

Ah yes, the flowers and mountains. I love those mountains, especially the ones in McDowell County and Tazewell and Bland.  And of course, Bluefield and East River Mountain. When I drive there, I usually get off of I-81 and follow 460 all the way,up  and down and around, to Bluefield.

[Palehorse]

Me Dad retired in 1992 and surprised all of the family by planting many different flowers, shrubs, trees and such. He later told me his Dad loved to plant not only a garden which was required for food back in the day but he also had a love for flowers of all types. Over the years me Dad along with me Mom brought the family much joy as we viewed the scenery of the beautiful flowers and the panoramic view of the mountains behind them. Planting became me Dad's hobby and still continues through this day on a slower scale as he is 85.

Best regards,
Duke ( a pansy for flowers) Jupiter

What a priceless gift Duke! Simply priceless.  And to still have him around is beyond measure.

Enjoy it my friend, and spend every single second you can with him. It may take some effort and perhaps a bit of inconvenience at times, but believe me when I say to you that one day when the inevitable does come to pass, you will look back on that time as precious.

I was fortunate to have made the extra effort just weeks before my own father was gone. No warning, no illness, and he was only 63. But we enjoyed our time together that last visit I made, and we had several conversations that, though long overdue, I am happy beyond measure that both of us opened up to each other over. And we had those conversations with the ease and a surreal level of comfort / trust that amazed me later on looking back upon them.

My dad and I were fairly close when I was young, but after a brief period of discourse between us when I was a young adult, we grew ever closer there-after. Ours became the relationship between father and son that I had always hoped it would be, and then some. And while I surely grieved at his passing, (and still do 14 years later), it is that very relationship that continues to serve me well and bring me some measure of comfort these days. And I thank the universe and our creator each day for my father, our relationship, and most of all, the comfort it still brings me.

The time and effort necessary to achieve it are both among the very best uses of my time here to date. 

Whenever I see a well tended garden of any type, it brings those memories to the forefront of my mind; for my own father was a life-long gardner himself. 

[duke jupiter]

What a priceless gift Duke! Simply priceless.  And to still have him around is beyond measure.

Enjoy it my friend, and spend every single second you can with him. It may take some effort and perhaps a bit of inconvenience at times, but believe me when I say to you that one day when the inevitable does come to pass, you will look back on that time as precious.

I was fortunate to have made the extra effort just weeks before my own father was gone. No warning, no illness, and he was only 63. But we enjoyed our time together that last visit I made, and we had several conversations that, though long overdue, I am happy beyond measure that both of us opened up to each other over. And we had those conversations with the ease and a surreal level of comfort / trust that amazed me later on looking back upon them.

My dad and I were fairly close when I was young, but after a brief period of discourse between us when I was a young adult, we grew ever closer there-after. Ours became the relationship between father and son that I had always hoped it would be, and then some. And while I surely grieved at his passing, (and still do 14 years later), it is that very relationship that continues to serve me well and bring me some measure of comfort these days. And I thank the universe and our creator each day for my father, our relationship, and most of all, the comfort it still brings me.

The time and effort necessary to achieve it are both among the very best uses of my time here to date. 

Whenever I see a well tended garden of any type, it brings those memories to the forefront of my mind; for my own father was a life-long gardner himself. 

Ole' Palehorse thanks for those kind and true words. I like you bumped heads a few times with me Dad when I was in me younger years but we grew close again as Ole' Duke sorta grew up so to speak.
I only live 3.5 hours from Dad and I do need to visit him more than I do although we do converse on the phone more than ever since me Mom's passing.
Dad is truly me hero and I truly do cherish each moment we spend together. I respect him immensely and appreciate all the hard work and sacrifices he made to make a better life for me and me siblings. He has been (and continues to be) a
great mentor and father. Ole' Duke only hopes to become 1/2 the man me Dad is.

Best regards,
Duke (truly blessed) Jupiter

[Purplelady1040]

I enjoyed reading this! My father is almost 87 and lives 2 hours away from me. We talk once a week and he has always been my hero!

[duke jupiter]

I enjoyed reading this! My father is almost 87 and lives 2 hours away from me. We talk once a week and he has always been my hero!

We are truly blessed. Ole' Duke could not have asked for better parents.

Best regards,
Duke ( raised much better than me actions sometimes) Jupiter

[Bo D]

It's amazing how much wiser our parents get as we youngins get older.

[Henry Hawk]

It's amazing how much wiser our parents get as we youngins get older.

You said that right....

[libby]

I think I am going to grow a few vegetables in my little back yard. Yesterday I was at the grocery store nearest my home, and had trouble finding the onions I usually buy. I've noticed recently that that some seem different -- almost as hard as a rock and hard to peel -- so I looked for a Vidalia, and there they were, but the sign said "sweet onions." Didn't remember seeing Vidalias labeled like that. So looked at the very small print, and was stunned to find they, as well as the other smaller ones, were grown in PERU!  That reminded me that not too long ago I saw some garlic in a nice little package, not loose bulbs, and  couldn't believe my eyes: it was from CHINA!

[me]

My daughter and SIL made a box and used one of the windows we took out when we remodeled last summer for the top and she planted onions, swiss chard, a couple of other types of greens, and some leaf lettuce and is getting cuttings daily from it.  They are going to enlarge it this summer and try potatoes and a couple of other cool weather things for next fall.  She is just tickled pink that it worked.  They fixed it so all they have to do is open either part of the window or the whole thing to harvest what ever is ready.