A visit with Dr. Hortfreud, my therapist for all things gardening.

Hello, Carol. I’m pleased to see you… what’s on your mind today?

Hello, Dr. Hortfreud. Not much on my mind today. Just thought I’d stop by for a friendly visit.

Oh, well, in that case, do you mind if I refer to my notes and ask you a few questions?

Um, okay.

Carol, I see that you’ve recently become obsessed—more obsessed—than usual with violas and all members of the Viola genus.

Define obsessed, Dr. Hortfreud.

Well, Carol, did you actually designate your garden a Violatum to recognize it as a sanctuary for violas, violets, and pansies?

Well, I don’t think I called it a sanctuary. I think I called it a collection. Yep. Collection. That’s what I called it.

Oh, I see. So why don’t you tell me about the picture above, Carol?

It’s a little viola seedling that came up in that planter so I left it there to grow and flower. Isn’t it pretty?

It is charming, Carol. But the fact that you refused to pull it out of that container indicates you have a deep-seated desire to provide it with a safe place to grow. Not to mention, I saw other viola seedlings come up in the cracks of the patio and you left those too.

And, your point, Dr. Hortfreud?

Well, looking around at all the violets you’ve left to grow throughout the garden, the other violas you are desperately trying to over-summer, and those viola seeds you’ve been buying, I’m going to go out on a limb and say your garden is more of a sanctuary for anything Viola, and not necessarily a collection.

But it is a collection, Dr. Hortfreud! I even have labels on some of the violas to remember what they are!

Carol, what are you planning to do today?

Um, I was going to go to the local greenhouse to find out when they are going to have fall pansies in and insist that they call me as soon as they have them.

So, let’s go back and talk about obsessions, shall we…