Re: [gardeners] Glorious Spring

jaime (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 12 Mar 1998 07:10:32 -0400

Liz,

Thank you.  We've had a few warmish days but not one like this 
yet.  One thing that was truly wonderful about this note is the 
hope it engendered.  While I was in the middle of reading it I 
let Ratchet back in and glanced at the thermometer.  It is a 
balmy 8 degrees after yesterday's 2 degrees at this hour.  
Brrrr.

And reading your writing is a pleasure as well.  I'm saving it 
as an example of how one can revel in something without the 
mush.  :)

Jaime
> Today we had incredible weather -- the sort of day that one dreams 
> about in the gray of winter.  The temperature soared into the 
> mid-sixties pressing people and plants to shake off the winter 
> doldrums.  Everyone on our block that worked raced home at the end of 
> the day to putter around in the garden or tidy up the lawn.  Those of 
> us who sit home eating bonbons while watching soaps all day spent the 
> day roaming up and down the street in an unofficial spring garden 
> party.  A few weeds were pulled and the last bit of "gee, I was going 
> to do that in October" work was finished.  
> 
> Two falls ago I planted a circle of crocus about 3 feet in diameter 
> in the lawn in front of the house where we had a tree stump ground 
> out.  Last year it looked "okay".  This year it's literally stopping 
> traffic!  The grass has filled in the circle and is a nice shade of 
> green and the crocus have multiplied.  I think that this fall I'll 
> take up a few strips of grass and toss out more crocuses.  These are 
> all giant crocuses planted in pie slices of color -- white, purple, 
> yellow and the pickwick purple and white stripes.
> 
> Over in the side bed are the blue pearl crocuses and they have put on 
> quite a show again this year.  They've doubled in the year they've 
> been in the ground -- I really should dig them and divide them this 
> fall.  They are still my favorites but require a bit of quiet 
> contemplation in order to be appreciated -- something that isn't true 
> of there larger relatives.  There is a subtle, sophisticated beauty 
> about these tiny flowers.  They have a unique, ethereal glow -- 
> almost as if someone made champagne glasses of translucent mother of 
> pearl and set them on a light table.  The thin, brilliant yellow 
> cross inside is the perfect contrasting note.  I sat on the ground 
> near them and really looked at their beauty today.  They're time is 
> almost over now and I will miss them when they are gone.
> 
> There's a double flowering plum blooming somewhere  behind my house.
> At unexpected moments the scent would be carried to my nose.  Plum 
> blossoms are among my most favorite scents -- this counted as a real 
> treat.
> 
> I hope you guys are having or will soon have one of these perfect 
> days.  Today was a 10.3.  I'll take it.
> 
> Liz
> 
> 
> 
> 
jknoble@warwick.net
Smart is forever, beauty is not.