Hi Marg,
We will get our daffodils but there will be a delay until
winter passes. We plant them in the fall so we can see the
first green shoots coming up, bravely breaking through solid
ground, undaunted by the still cold weather.
They are of the Narcissus family and in the Western Garden Book
they are called the most valuable spring-flowering bulbous plants
for most regions of West. They provide a fascinating variety
in flower from and colr; and the gophers won't eat them. :)
Hooray for daffodils.
(here look up poem by Wordsworth - "Daffodils".)
For now they will have to flash upon your inward eye and be
the bliss of solitude.
The tulips that often accompany them are a mite too fragile
for my taste, so I use hyacinth and there are many new colors
of this plant that I have grown to appreciate more and more.
A spring-flowering garden with the bulbs is very pretty.
But for now, all is preparation. Why those poor people down
souf never get a rest.
If we skipped right to spring, we would be "snowbirds" that
fly down to Florida for January and February. Even so,
we would return like salmon going upstream to our own natural
habitat, because nothing equals the Spring here after the long
absense of her. She returns like a maiden in full dress
with a watering can of renewed hope for the barren countryside.
She moves gracefully with the sun behind her awaking the
daffodils, weeds, lawn, and puts forth flowers without leaves
for the bees.
On the south side of my house there are forsythia bushes
and mine flower a bit later than those further inland because
my property is lower and cooler. But all my flowers last longer.
If we fast-forwarded to that spot we would miss the gradual
reawakening of the earth around us and that is beautiful too.
This is our time to curl up with books, get the housework done so
we can stay outdoors all summer :), and see the clearest sunsets
with no haze to dull the blazing colors.
We do have only six more weeks to do this.
We must celebrate Valentine's Day.
(Send me your best Valentine cake recipe.:) )
Harry will let us know when he sees the redbud trees -
George will turn on his A/C-
You will put your seedlings out each day to harden off-
I will prepare and fertilize the soil, enjoy my azalea and
apple blossums, cut back some brush, and stomp around the
yard. I will find the first Quaker Ladies under my willow tree.
Best,
June
June, you are my savings grace. Thank you. You write so beautifully.
Marg
"june m. dean" wrote:
