#145

 Gardening has always been a part of my life.  My Grandmother had a rose garden which she loved working in, and grew beautiful roses. My stepfather grew a vegetable garden every year.  Oh what fond memories I have of picking fresh peas and eating them right out of the pod.  Or fresh tomatoes picked right off the vine, still  warm from the sun.  Fresh corn.. We would get the water boiling before he would go out and pick it.. Fresh from the stalk to the pot. Cooked all yummy with butter and a little salt and pepper.
  One of the first houses I rented when my children were small, an elderly lady had lived there until she was no longer able to take care of herself and had to move in with her children.  Prior to that she had worked in her garden hours a day... The result was a yard that had beautiful flowers growing from February to mid novemember.  I loved going out and picking fresh flowers to put in a vase on my dinner table. 
  Today was a rough day.  It started early, with a full schedule.  Only to be made worse by an incident where shall I say... there was conflict.  But, I made it through the morning, and in the afternoon I got a little reminder about putting things in perspective, and life is to short to worry about the small stuff, when I had the opportunity to meet a very nice gentleman who just found out he has stage 4 renal cancer.  He had such a positive attitude,  and an I am going to beat this mindset.   Wow.
  By the time I got home I was exhausted emotionally.  I just had to spend some time in my garden.  This time of year it is not uncommon for me to visit my garden before even going in the house.  It grounds me, calms me.  Reminds me there  is a greater power out there watching over us.

                                                   Bachelor Buttons

                                                                Lavendar
                                     
                                                               Ice Plant

My squash have come up and the tomatoes are recovering from their transplanting.  Spring is moving into summer, just as it should.  And so I bring you part #2 of my late spring flowers.