(See Part 1 before reading Part 2) The old woman paused before speaking. During that brief pause, I looked past her sitting across from me at the table in the sun room and out to my own garden. It was very early in spring and I could see off in the distance a few yellow daffodils blooming in small clumps scattered here and there. The first hints of green looked like fuzzy halos around some of the trees. Further out in the garden, the vegetable garden was a newly created blank slate, and I … [Read more...] about The Old Woman At The Door: Part 2
Secrets
The Old Woman At The Door: Part 1
I was somewhat startled when I heard the doorbell ring and was tempted to ignore it. I wasn’t expecting anyone, which meant it was probably someone who was going to invite me to their church or tell me about a candidate I simply had to vote for. Maybe it was a little kid selling candy or cookies? Why don’t they ever sell plants door to door? In spite of my instinct to just ignore whoever was there, I soon found myself opening the door and exchanging greetings with an old woman in a … [Read more...] about The Old Woman At The Door: Part 1
Timing is Everything: A Reader Visits
Anemone blanda 'White Splendor' Timing, they say, is everything. In life, in the garden, in taking pictures, and in sharing information. When I found out earlier this week that some information I was given should be shared with others on the first Friday of April, I was concerned that no one would believe it. Why? The first Friday of April this year is April 1st. Sigh. It all started in 2006, when I wrote about discovering a new plant growing in my compost bin. There were some people who … [Read more...] about Timing is Everything: A Reader Visits
New Crop Announcement at May Dreams Gardens
Broom corn seed packet Did you know that in addition to the first five secrets to achieving happiness in your garden that I wrote about last winter around this time, and the additional five secrets that I wrote about later in the year, that I have discovered another 20 secrets? But forget I wrote that. The only secret I am revealing on this, my second anniversary of joining SGAFO, is the new crop I’m growing in the vegetable garden this summer. Without further delay, taunting, or … [Read more...] about New Crop Announcement at May Dreams Gardens
Wrapping Up the Secrets to Achieving Happiness In Your Garden
Finally, I had discovered all the secrets to achieving happiness in your garden, including the sixth through tenth secrets. After I found the tenth and final secret, I felt as though I could relax. No longer would I have to pick up every stray piece of paper to see if a secret was written on it, or read between the lines in magazines, or examine every object I found for signs of something scrawled on it. Winter was arriving and I would have time to review each one carefully. Now I would have … [Read more...] about Wrapping Up the Secrets to Achieving Happiness In Your Garden
Achieving Happiness In Your Garden: The Tenth Secet
Once upon a time, I was sitting on a bench on my porch, thinking about the various flowers and vegetables and trees and shrubs that I had planted over the years when suddenly a bunny came up to me and began to speak. “Carol, what do you think of your garden?” I was speechless. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Rabbits don’t talk! But the rabbit, unfazed, followed up with an answer to his own question. “I think you think it is nice enough, but there are parts you would like to … [Read more...] about Achieving Happiness In Your Garden: The Tenth Secet
