Memorial Day around our house is a day of getting the gardens planted and sprucing up the perennial plants that make their appearance every year. My roses are a favorite as they put forth their first blooms. I gather blossoms to dry for everlasting bouquets that I enjoy year-round.
We just harvested the last of the English peas. They require cool weather, and our warm southern spring is already taking their toll on them. This was the first year we planted a tiny plot in the corner of a flower bed to see if we could actually be successful with this crop. So, we will have one serving each and enjoy every bite.
I have one section of my flower garden that we can see from our breakfast table. I try to plant a mixture of things so that something will always be in bloom. I was just horrified to look out last year and see my tall red-hot poker flowers falling like trees being cut. I jumped up and ran out only to find a fat little bunny munching away on my prized flowers. Beauty to me is salad to bunnies.
Neal designed our potting shed last year, and this will be the first full season we get to enjoy it. We had leftover stone and brick from other projects, so the stone mason just mixed everything up. Our ferns made it through the winter inside alongside the kumquat tree. But the cottage needs a spring cleaning.
The hydrangeas are beginning to bud, and they make their showy blue appearance in a few weeks. I plant to root cuttings in the shed as summer progresses. These dry beautifully too and will be added to my dried roses in arrangements.
After our requisite flower garden duties are done, Neal will grill some great burgers, and we will have homemade ice cream. Memorial Day is a time of remembrance for us. I am thankful to be an American and to live in this wonderful country. Many lives were sacrificed so that we can have the life we live today. I am grateful. Have a wonderful holiday.
