How Mary's Garden Grows: May 2006

Gardening Widower's Lament

She dug the plot on Monday
The soil was rich and fine,
She forgot to thaw out dinner
So we went out to dine...

She planted roses Tuesday
She says they are a must,
They really are quite lovely,
But she quite forgot to dust...

On Wednesday it was daisies
They opened up with the sun,
All whites and pinks and yellows
But the laundry wasn't done...

The poppies came on Thursday
A bright and cheery red,
I guess she really was engrossed
She never made the bed...

It was violets on Friday
In colors she adores,
It never bothered her at all
All the crumbs upon the floors...

I hired a maid on Saturday
My week is now complete,
My wife can garden all she wants
The house will still be neat!

It's nearly lunchtime Sunday
And I cannot find the maid,
Oh No! I don't believe it!
She's out there WITH THE SPADE!

Author Unknown

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I thought that was cute. Fortunately, (or unfortunately), I have no lamenting spouse, although it would be nice to have a maid!

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Pink things

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Rose - 'William Baffin' climber ***

Peony - can you see the ant? ***

Rose - 'Double Delight' hybrid tea

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And for some not-so-attractive pink things, if you're feeling brave you're welcome to view my latest bout with poison ivy. Click here to see my unblemished left arm for comparison, and then my hideous right arm by contrast.

A couple years ago I waxed eloquent about the benefits of the very expensive Zanfel for poison ivy treatment. I've been a bit frustrated with it this time, and have resorted to a more homeopathic home remedy that my sister taught me about -- lye soap, in the form of Colgate's Octagon bar soap, which can be found in the laundry aisle at my local supermarket. You lather up with it and then let the lather dry right on the affected skin. It seems to stop the itching fairly well, and although it doesn't cure the poison ivy immediately, (nothing can), it does seem to help dry up the blisters some, stop their weeping, and help stop new ones from forming. Another thing that helps with itching -- put affected skin under the hottest running water you can stand for as long as you can stand it, without burning yourself. That takes the itch away fairly well and it stays away for hours.

File my latest poison ivy bout in the "no good deed goes unpunished" category. Serves me right for actually getting in the garden and doing some weeding. At least I wore gloves this time so that I didn't get the poison ivy on my hands. Next time I think I'll wear garbage bags on both arms, with gloves on the ends. I'm not kidding.

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Inspired

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I took this picture back in June of 2004, but am inspired to post it today in honor of a local knit-blogger I read regularly named Courtney, who recently taught herself how to dye yarn. Her latest attempt is just beautiful, and inspired me to look through my garden pictures for something reminiscent of the colors she used.

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