Agoraphobic Wannabe

I had to drive down to Beverly, Massachusetts this morning as I was a presenter at the second annual Encaustic Conference at Montserrat College. I had hoped to take pictures but it just didn't happen. So instead I am going to regale you with beautiful pictures of the highway coming back home. This is Route 93 or maybe 95. They sort of look alike. They are loaded with cars weaving in and out and generally behaving badly.... unlike certain drivers who take pictures while commandeering their vehicles. At least I waited until I was off of 1A or whatever it was which was like trying to drive through the food court in a mall.

This is the split at 93 and 101 to the seacoast. Lots of orange highway barrels that say "Danger, Danger, put down your cameras now!"


Ahhh.... This is 89. I take this route every night to get home from work. This is my favorite corner and to me it says "home." Route 202 has split off and we leave the bedroom communities of Hopkinton & Contoocook behind. The highway empties out and the mountains start to scootch together so they can give you a hug. The mountains get more and more demanding like that the farther north you go. Always asking for a hug, or a kiss or a cuddle or something. I don't mind- they are good huggers.

This is my road... that is my stone wall on the right. Perhaps I have been away from the city too long, but this scene lets me unwind. I don't mind driving here so much. It is far less stressful. I would even go so far as to say, I prefer it.

Except for the ticks.

Salvation In A Bottle

I don't normally consider myself a dainty blossom when it comes to the great outdoors. Weather? I love it! Cold, rain, snow, sleet, fog- bring it on! There is no such thing as bad weather- just bad clothing & bad attitude. So who knew that I could be brought so low by something that barely registers in an atomic scale?

What is this beast that brings the mighty Sarah to her knees you ask? Pollen. More specifically Pine Pollen. And what can something as innocuous as yellow dust do to the mighty Sarah? Better ask- what can't it do? My headache is as big as Wisconsin, maybe even combined with South Dakota. My post nasal drip has given me a sore throat and earaches. I cough all night so I am sleep deprived. If I am sleep deprived, so is le boyfriend, which causes general crankiness at Chez Casino Gardens. Then there is the pollen complete makeover including dripping nose and dark, dark eye bags. Not a pretty sight.

But le boyfriend, who is smarter than le Sarah, suggested a saline nasal spray to cleanse the sinus passages. Being a poo-pooer from way back, I thought this would do nothing to alleviate my suffering and all the whining that goes with it. But in an effort to shut le boyfriend up I did as he suggested. Oh my goodness, revelation and conversion! I woke up this morning with only a minor headache & sore throat. So I have found salvation in a small plastic bottle and may be able to make it through this hellish season with a smile. Yippee!

Sometimes I am so funny I could just die....

This is a thought that will never see the light of day so I figure I would at least put it out there. Perhaps someone else can use it.

Le Boyfriend is a library trustee in town. They are trying to come up with a float for the Fourth of July parade, which is a really big deal here. They have usually done a float which plays up the summer reading program's book which everyone has to read, but liability has finally caught up with it. No more children are allowed to ride on tractors going 5 mph through town. The librarian has decided that instead all the trustees will carry large plastic buckets which they will beat with sticks to make noise. I am still trying to figure out the connection between 5 retired people beating drums and promoting usership of the library... but whatever.

Then! It popped into my head full blown like a Donald Trump Tower. Why couldn't the trustees just march in formation with their noses buried in a book, paying no attention to the parade and audience around them? And the cherry on top will be the librarian carrying a big placard that says "SHHHH." I laughed so hard I could hardly stand it.

Le boyfriend said it would never fly and that I would be the only one in the world who would catch the humor and irony. Really- isn't humor and irony what librarians are all about?

Well, I am still giggling at the thought of it. I hope someone out there can use this idea for a parade .

Sunshine & Purple- What Could Be Nicer?

This is the late day sunshine coming through one of my Purple Palace Heucherea yesterday afternoon. From across the yard I could see it hitting the leaves just right- like a beacon calling me in to admire them. I have five of these plants but this is the last one to be struggling along. The deer come in and nibble them back to their roots every fall. They make a valiant effort every summer to rebound, only to be kicked while they are down in October. I have resigned myself to enjoying this beauty in nurseries or friend's gardens. Sigh.....

This is a purple sorrel house plant. It is likewise glowing from being back lit by late afternoon sunshine. I normally consider house plants to be weeds, but this one doubles as a garden ornament. I move it to the front garden for a spot of color when all danger of frost is gone- which it is not. They predicted one final frost (I hope) this past Thursday. It still dips into the 30's at night which makes le boyfriend worry about his peas. Today is May 30 so I am going to throw caution to the wind and deliver the window boxes to the local library this morning so people can start to enjoy them.

Things Are Blooming!

Just to show you what a weird year this has been- I still have daffodils blooming and my rhubarb around it is ready to be harvested.



The creeping phlox is looking lovely surrounding my Gary Haven Smith sculpture. The pinks beside it are getting ready to burst.
















My Giant Solomon's Seal is gorgeous. I have always coveted it and I finally have a patch of my own. I just planted it last July and it looks pretty settled already.









The rhubarb's big heads are about to burst too ... they add some drama to the border garden.



The dainty Heuchera buds are getting ready to add their two cents soon.

Planter

I am pleased with how the planter came out using perennials. Although, there is a certain sameness about it because I am using things from my garden.... lambs ear, dragons blood sedum, hens & chicks. I suppose it is a different combination.

The real test will be to see if I can get it to last over the winter. Tips from anyone?

It's a Dirty Job....

.... but someone has to do it. I edged two of my gardens today which involves going around the edges with an edger ...... stating the obvious. The encroaching grass and black eyed Susans (which are weeds in my neck of the woods) need to be beaten back yearly as they vie for real estate with my beloved plants. After going along the edge with the aforementioned tool, all the clumps of nicked off grass/black eyed Susans/weeds need to be shaken to death to get off all the precious soil from the tangle of roots. Sunny days are best for baking the offending clumps to turn the soil into bone dry dust. This photo shows all the clumps drying in the sun along the border garden.

While dirty and hard, physical labor, it can be a very rewarding job. The garden looks extra tidy. Being mildly compulsive, I walk back and forth after the job is done to admire my handiwork.