Pink Flamingos

Several years ago a friend said she never knew what to get me, that I had everything. I told her I wanted a pair of pink flamingos, the good old plastic kind. She thought I was kidding but I assured her I wasn't. She exclaimed, "But they are so tacky!" and I said, "Exactly. But they are a classic and I do love the classics!" Thus issued a hunt for the eclectic hot pink birds. At the time the "original" plastics were not to be found but she did locate a pair of plaster ones. They were placed lovingly by the pond but the raccoons were not fond of them. They knocked them over every night and eventually just dragged them off. True story. Now I do have a pair of the plastics that my friend Sherry got me--Albert and Eliza. I did not put them by the pond--no need to irritate the raccoons again--no, they live in the vegetable garden. [Since they are vegetarians. No fish or frogs for them. Again--true story.] And now there's Madeline. Brought to me by my friend, Debbie. I don't think the raccoons will drag her off. She's got a little height and weight going on. So now for the moment you've been waiting for........the flamingo poem!

Pink Flamingo

I'm a pink flamingo
and I'm here to plead my case
that one can own a pink flamingo
and Still be a person of culture and good taste!

Oh, I admit I've fallen by the wayside
Garages, attics, and such--
But let me tell you the flamingo
Even Elvis the King can't touch!

White go-go boots, leisure suits
These fads have gone up in smoke
But I guarantee the flamingo
Is as classic and long lasting as coke!

I have graced the lawns of royalty!
White trash, middle class, and then some!
And in my pink flamingo heart
I feel my revival will come.

Oh, I know I'm a bit eclectic--
Peptol Bismol pink and tacky as sin.
But I swear on my plastic exterior
The pink flamingo will rise again!!!

Generations of Larkspur

My grandmother grew larkspur. She grew a little of everything but larkspur was one of her favorites and I remember walking in it as a child and thinking it was so beautiful. Mother continued to grow it from seed she originally collected from her mother's garden. Now I do the same. And every year I collect the seed [that originally came from Grandmother] and resow it in the fall. Larkspur is an annual that behaves as a perennial, it reseeds itself, so even if I didn't throw seed out it would come up wherever the wind took it. I just like some to come up in designated spots. Plus I like the gathering. It's an inherited thing. When I look at this picture do I see the larkspur blooming by the herb garden? No. I see it in Granny's back yard. And one of these days when Megan and Sarah grow it I hope they will see it here.

The Entrance to the Vegetable Garden

So I am finally seeing progress at making the vegetable garden "pretty". This would not be at the top of the list of worries to most people about their vegetable gardens. No, I would venture to say that getting the soil ready, worrying about what and where to plant, preparing in every way would be at the top of most lists. My worry was "making it pretty". And I'm getting there! My wonderful brothers on John's side built and painted the fence and arbor for me. I did the beds in front of it. I now have flowers complete with a little sitting area where I can sit with my wussy rascal coffee [coffee with milk And mocha flavored Splendor--no cowboy coffee for me!] and plan the next addition of the garden to my heart's content. The vegetables will be fine. Really. If you plant them they will grow, that's my motto. The flowers--ahhh, that's where the planning comes in! You want some for their color, some for their scent, and some just because you want them! Vegetables are a bit simpler. Grow the ones you like to eat. If they smell good or bad it doesn't matter if they taste good to you. Are they pretty? Doesn't matter. If you don't like to eat it you won't grow it! So now that we have our priorities straight we can go on. The next addition will be the lilies and iris lining the sides. But that will take another year or so. No matter. I have patience and perseverance and the anticipation is half the fun!

Chippy in the window

This morning I had Three chippies in the window but they scampered every time I got the camera out. This is the reason that I had speed bumps put on the road--the chipmunks. That's the truth. I love these little creatures. Their cheeks bulge with sunflower seed and I will have little clusters of sunflowers coming up everywhere they bury them.

The Magic Doors

These doors are by the pond for a reason but I can't disclose it just yet. It's a surprise. I promise I will let you in on the secret later. For now we just call them the "Magic Doors" and Honey seems to agree with that. Sam, my brother on John's side, put them up for me. I look right out my kitchen window and there they are and Honey Girl loves to sit right there in the middle of them and stare at the pond. I actually took the picture from inside the kitchen. Doesn't the lighting make them even more mystical and magical? Like you could walk through to Neverland? They will look a bit differently in a few weeks [there, that's a hint but I'm not saying anything else!].
Given my love of arbors this could be dangerous. I'm envisioning doors all over the place now! Sam may have created a monster! But is it not the coolest idea for an arbor? I've already planted an autumn clematis on the back of it and it is taking off. I must have another. Or several. I do love obsessions! So now I will be on the quest for more old doors. In fact, a frame work with the old doors and a few old windows hanging around would make a fabulous outside garden room. And I have just the place! Thank you Daddy for buying this farm. It is my love and my playground. It inspires me, thrills me, and challenges me. It really is my Neverland because I never want to leave it.

Eden

If you're going to have a flower garden and you're going to have a rose bush then you must have "Eden". I personally think that you haven't seen a rose until you've seen this one. She is a true English Cabbage Rose, layer upon layer upon layer. Her petals swirl and twirl in a ruffled ballerina skirt of a bloom. She starts out pink and softens to blush. She flirts outrageously by nodding at you whenever you walk by. Even though I had The Rose Garden I wouldn't necessarily say that roses were my favorite flower, I love so many. However of the roses, "Eden" has my heart. I love the pink fairies that I rooted from Granddaddy's roadside but that's a sentimental love. Mentioning them, I now have them all along my drive and they will be blooming soon. I may mix in some knock-outs. They are a little too "new" for my tastes but the bloom period does impress me.