A tradition we have in our family is the hostess gift. I thought this was an American tradition, but evidently not. Anyway, if we stay at someone's house, especially for an extended period, we offer a hostess gift. Sometimes it's cookies or something for the family pet. Sometimes it's a decorative item. This time, for me, it was flowers.
If you're a dedicated reader of my blog, you know I planted a vegetable container garden last April. I was very excited about it, but it turns out "vegetable" and "container" are never supposed to go together. I want to adamently note that the plants were all alive (I did not kill them!), they just weren't growing. I had planted too late, and the containers were just too small. Needless to say, the 3 in. tall cucumber plants, and spindly green onion shoots were rather a sad sight.
So when my Grandma saw my pitiful attempt at gardening, she determined I needed new plants--and this time, full-grown flowers that were made for containers. Here is the result:
Isn't it beautiful? Sweet potato vine, zinnias, marigolds, vinca, and impatiens, flanked by two beautiful crape myrtles! It's so colorful, I've seen butterflies, and today, a cardinal! It looks like a real garden.
Inspired by such a generous gift, I filled another pot with some flowers as well. John and Karen gave me the pot, and the two green leaves poking of the dirt weren't doing it justice. So now, hibiscus to match the pot!
Yay for flowers! God knew what he was doing when he made things beautiful.
Yay for grandmothers! Yay for flowers! Your grandmother told me what my mystery flowers were. I have petunias and zinnias. I am trying hard to keep them alive. Sadly, the hydrangea is struggling.
ReplyDeleteYou know, we have crape myrtles too. And since I found out what those are, I've seen them EVERYWHERE! From small bush-like to large tree-like. I've been told that they're popular because they're hardy plants that bloom big, bold, and beautiful.
Crape myrtles are everywhere! I didn't notice until I had two of my own! I want mine to grow tree-like. I think those are the prettiest. And it's a good sign that they're everywhere. Surely that means I can grow them! The only difference is that mine are still in containers, but Grandma says they'll grow just fine for a few years in them.
ReplyDeleteI'd like a hyndrangea someday. I'm sorry yours isn't doing too well. I'm intimidated by the alkaline level. Having to think about that just seems to make it too complicated for me. I think I'll wait until I see everyone and their neighbor with a hyndrangea, kind of like crape myrtles.
Alkaline level? What the heck? Maybe that's why my hydrangea is dying. Girl, you are way better at this than I am. Your mom said she liked my yellow flowers on the front porch... then she realized they were fake! (But the point is, she liked them before she knew.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know! I think it has something to do with what color the flowers turn! :) I don't know if it has to stay a certain level or not.
ReplyDeleteIf you can get away with fake flowers, that might just be the way to go! I'm telling you, I know nature does it every day, but this whole growing flowers thing is tricky!
The hibiscus is beautiful in that pot! I'm glad you were inspired to continue gardening. :)
ReplyDeleteI think that hibiscus is pink or blue depending on if the soil is alkaline or basic. So either way you go, you will have a pretty color flower. I love them, I think they are great! They are even green right when they first bloom I think. Love the new garden Lydia. I bet the kitties like watching the new wildlife that has been visiting. I want to come see it!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work
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