Winter Past

Wow, that sure flew by. Winter was but a whimsy. I spent some of the season snapping photos of some of my favorite winter scenes, much of which was Woodstock Park. I might have over done it, but, the park was a huge part of almost every winter day, for both my dog and for me.
I did manage to catch some lovely winter landscapes. Unfortunately, only one will upload! I will leave you with it, a picture of a brave little calendula, burnished strawberry plants, and tight buds of cosmos, all of whom lived in my garden until this past December. x

Lost Month and Voodoo Vine

I don't know what happened but I have the distinct feeling of having just woke up from a frustrating dream. Writer's block, combined with a healthy dose of hopelessness, can do that to a woman.
Spring sprung long ago around here, but my own sense of rootlessness has kept me out of the garden. I've been swamped with gardening mags galore, lusting shamelessly over the latest purple or copper leaf, the Suessian plant shapes that are bred year after year. I must work the earth, but I can't put too much of myself into my latest patch of dirt...it hurts too much to leave and I may well have to leave this particular house soon.
Nonetheless, this gardener weeds and digs on.
I'm going to dabble heavily in annuals this year. Having owned a home for a decade, I kind of abandoned most annuals except ones with colorful leaves that are easy to propagate. Now I'm all turned on my the idea of purple/black ruffled annual poppies, mahogany and cream colored nasturtium intertwining, lime green zinnia and nicotiana. I've divided and planted all of my strawberries and moved the impolite but generous dahlias that came up like weeds last summer. Sigh. One day at a time. Moving plants around makes me feel creative and productive, two very essential qualities.
And so, as the communist psychologist said in "The Manchurian Candidate", always with a little humor, comrade...I leave you with the Voodoo VIne man at the east side VooDoo Doughnuts here in Portland. Cheers!