BEAUTIFUL SPRING FLOWER "WEEDS"

So much intensity these days, no?  Just about everyone I talk to is overwhelmed…oh oh oh what to do?  I actually sprained my ankle on Monday and had to take a few days off to get better.  I mean, I couldn’t walk!  But, it felt so good to STOP.  Hey, maybe next time I will just be able to take off and not have to have an “accident”?

There is thankfully, Spring which has sprung, which is looking more like Summer around my neck of the woods, but I won’t go into that right now.  This year it’s nothing short of a miracle to see the grass growing and the flowers opening in my garden.

"ATHENS CALYCANTHUS"

A friend named “Buddha” once told me that I had to get a plant that had the most amazing smell of fresh cut cantaloupe.  I had never heard of it until I read in a garden book about a type of sweet shrub or calycanthus called “Athens”.  I bought three baby plants, and put them in a spot that I was having difficulty in figuring out what to do with it.  The plants thrived and just the other day, I walked out on the front porch and smelled the most divine smell of fresh cut cantaloupe!  I ran to the side to these lime-yellow flowers and took a picture so you could see.  If it grows in your area, I highly recommend having one in your yard.

You might remember that I planted a lettuce bed last fall with a mix of the remaining seeds from different lettuces that I had in my collection.  I called it “Sadhvi’s Fall Mesclun Mix”.

LAST FALLS SALAD BED

I had lettuce just about until the New Year, when the 6th frost and the cold nights of winter pretty much did them in.  I didn’t dig up the wilted and dead looking plants like I usually do to clean up my beds for spring.  To my surprise, all those dead plants came back and now I have full heads of beautiful salad in abundance.  Something that I will remember for the future.

And also because I can’t do everything that my mind wants me to these days, it seems that some miracles happen on account of that, because having these strong, full heads of all my favorite lettuce is a real treat!

NEW SPRING SALAD BED

I also planted a new lettuce bed and will soon start to thin that out for salads.  Growing salad greens is quite possible the easiest thing you can do.  No skills required.  Just some seeds and some soil.  And no store bought salad can compare to that buttery taste of greeness that you get with ones from your backyard.

What else?  Oh. The first Oriental poppy opened this morning!  I had to take a picture to share because it is magnificent!  I love poppies, and there are so many waiting to open.  I can’t wait.  The sheer delight of not knowing what color or type is really a thrill that I also highly recommend to anyone who has some seed and some soil.

FIRST ORIENTAL POPPY!

The first bearded Iris made its Spring 2011 appearance a few days ago…this is the one that smells like Welch’s Grape Juice that is really intoxicating.

THE FIRST IRIS

I am feeling so much better thanks to Spring.  I hope you are enjoying nature wherever you happen to be in this crazy world!