There is
something inherently cathartic about getting your hands down in the dirt to
plant flowers. Don’t you agree? All my life I have been partial to impatiens
and geraniums. At this time of year, my yard usually bursts with their colorful
blooms, brightening my days well into autumn. Because... once placed in the ground,
these pretty flowers usually last until the first snow flies. Their longevity
rewards me for my efforts. Getting down on my hands and knees, to garden, is a
tedious task… and now that I’m older, I do not do it. As a result, this traditional rite of spring
is sorely missing from my world. But I have the memories of my days in the sun
and kneading dirt. When I was a little girl, I used to help my mother fill the
hillside outside our house with HENS & CHICKS. They caught my fancy, early
on. And when I see them today out in the garden shops I am filled with delight.
They look primitive, yet have a modernistic shape that fascinates. I like the
texture and feel of these succulent beauties too. Is there a flower or plant
that is your favorite at planting time?
