Peach blossoms against a Carolina blue sky belie the darkness of these times, when everyone everywhere lives under the fear of COVID-19.
My chief therapy these days is sticking my hands in dirt and making plants grow and bloom. And wow is it paying off.
This petunia was a volunteer that wintered over beautifully, unlike my Jamaican cherry, which is now just a sad, dead twig. Be that as it may, many of the plants I started from seed in February are coming up nicely.
The little seed pots I made from toilet paper rolls got all jumbled during the rain and wind, so I've lost track of what's where, but in these fabric pots I've got four o'clocks, zinnias, armeria maritima, mignonette, moonflower, sunflower, Texas winecups, tomatoes, and hopefully wild iris. In addition, last fall I directly sowed batchelor's buttons (cornflowers) beside the cottage, and they've taken off.
I love this old-timey plant with its rich blue, fragrant blooms. When the day lilies behind them decide to come up, I'm hoping that clipping the cornflowers short will encourage a second shorter, bushier wave of flowering beneath the yellow day lilies.
In addition to these, the two lantanas I planted last fall by the side of the cottage have both taken root and are sprouting, along with a little confederate rose mallow.
Then there are the old friends in the garden, who are always a welcome sight.
White Ginger
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| Old Salem Pink Primroses |
Spiderwort
Mint
Azalea
Elderberry
Spirea Vanhouttei
My Grandmother's Sweet Pea
Oregano and Stone Crop
Garlic Chives
Baby Peach Tree
Brown Turkey Fig
Since we don't know how long the pandemic will be raging, my brother and I are turning over the prospects of growing more of our own food. To this end, some plants that are already established may come in handy: the fig tree, peach trees, elderberry trees, cornflowers, mint, thyme, oregano, even day lilies and a weed in our yard, Florida Betony. More on that later.
