Garden & Gracie
"Here's to Dogs and Digging"
 |
| Tall, swordlike green stalks with pink and burgundy flowers are gladiolus. |
I pull out the laptop and click on the Google + icon showing "1" message. I click on it, having no idea what to expect. Somehow, Google created a movie with a Christmas video (which I didn't even think was downloaded onto here). I sit, looking at the sleepy faces of my children, full of surprise, who look so different, now that they're grown...and whose sweetness has become more complex as they're maturing as teenagers. And then IT happens....my Modo - my sweet grandmother, my best friend on earth, the one person who really made my world 100 times bigger and brighter and yet 100% more intimate and cozier - appears. And THERE SHE IS...her last Christmas in physical form and she is sitting in the exact same spot where I have plopped down to write this post.
I cry. Of course. And cry some more because sometimes you don't realize how much you miss someone until you see them again. This post is dedicated to you, Modo! ILYVM! And she would appreciate this because she loved flowers.
Okay, now to gladiolus and Gracie...
Remember how Gracie had Jay over last week. Well, the week before that my mom, aka "Gma from Alabama," was visiting. It's a long story, but my mom lived within 2 hours of us for the past 14 years, since my son was born. And she was, in my mind and heart, as integral to our family as both my husband and I. With her here, we were a three legged stool from Ikea (that's just the image that I always associate with it, no logic) and now we are two legged and well, unless balanced very gently, a two legged stool doesn't offer much support. (You following the metaphor???)
But back to my mom. On her short, lovely visit she got some love from Gracie. Actually, Gracie got some love from my mom - called 'ssages - pronounced (sah jeez). And Gracie always appreciates them.
 |
| Gracie and Gma! This will go on as long as Gma allows for it to. |
Gracie's spoiled. In fact, when Gma is here she sleeps right on the couch with her instead of spooned against my husband's calf.
Now, while Gracie is cute...gladiolus are beautiful! They are a bulb, planted in spring after all danger of frost has passed. In our zone, they typically bloom in July and last for a few weeks. Their long and slender stalks get about 3 feet tall, which is why it's important to plant the bulbs about 3 to 4 inches deep. Otherwise, you end up with stalks that droop and don't really support the flowers. Many directions will recommend spacing the bulbs, but I have always had success digging a trough-shaped hole and placing the bulbs right next to each other. It creates a fuller look. Gladiolus are common cut flowers. They do best in well-drained soil and a bright, sunny spot.
See the top photo to view stalk. These are bloom close-ups.
I hope this inspires you to take a walk when stressed; have a cry when remembering a loved one; take photos of your cute pet, and consider adding gladiolus to your garden.
Please SHARE YOUR COMMENTS about any of this with me. Would love to hear from you!
Here is some further information on gladiolus: https://www.garden.org/articles/articles.php?q=show&id=2064
Until next time...
Those are great coping skills Monica! Taking a walk can really clear your head. Also, I have gone to a good deal of grief training and worked with the grieving. I learned that often people avoid the topic of a deceased person because they do not want to upset the survivors. However, we often want to talk about and fondly remember the deceased. And that is also a great coping skill.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, jksbrogue. With all the money and time I've invested in therapy, I've learned some things. However, we never know the pain of the loss of a loved one...that real gripping pain...until it happens, do we? Thanks so much for pat on the back and for reading my blog!!
ReplyDelete