Here in north Georgia, it is hotter than usual for this time of year. With June coming on tomorrow, I see the signs of nature confirming that summer is upon us. One of the things I look for are the lightening bugs or the embroidered term "fire flies". Two evenings ago I thought I saw one but since I was indoors I was not positive. Then last evening, sure enough, there they were everywhere, blinking all over the yard in front of my house.
The cool of the morning and the cool of the evening are the best times for me to observe things in the plant world. Early morning is the best time to do some watering and it is paying off nicely. I am seeing little green tomatoes on my plants. This morning I spied something I had been working for, tiny yellow crookneck squash on the plants. Since I was watering them slowly I saw my old enemy, the squash bug coming out of the soil around the plants. I was able to catch four of them and destroy them. They keep showing up, so, I will keep watching for them when I soak the soil.
The blue lake pole beans are starting to bloom so they got some extra water to encourage them to keep on keeping on.
The one chore I had on my calendar that I was able to take care of, is propagating kiwi. I am not doing this for myself, rather my primary care doctor. She loves my kiwi and wanted some plants for herself, exactly like mine. Last year I got a male and a female plant for her, but somehow they died after I gave them to her. So, I was waiting for June to do some propagating for her. I printed instructions from an online source and loaded my golf cart with the necessary tools to do the job. Four quart size plastic pots filled with Miracle Gro potting soil well watered, a jar of Root Tone, hand shears freshly disinfected with rubbing alcohol, a trowel and a permanent pen for marking which is male and which is female. My plan was to try for two of each. Now they are sitting on my back porch in the shade, and up off the brick porch so the sow bugs and other crawling critters will not reach them. This will be an interesting experiment for me. I have tried to propagate them before without success, but this time I think I may have gotten it right. Time will tell. And I will be sure to report the results whether positive or negative.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Gardening Stories
This morning I went down early to my raised beds to pick lettuce. I ended up with a large plastic continer of three different kinds of lettuce, some green, tinged with purple, some purple with oak tree type leaves and some just oval shaped green. Using my golf cart I went promptly up to the house to give the leaves a three step water bath, then ligthly folded them in a big white feed sack cloth and put in the fridge for later use.
Next early morning chore, was to go back to the beds and do some watering. I had left the hose on slow mode at one of the tomato plants. I moved it to the squash hills (three of them), the water was moving very slowly and I put it down on the ground. It was then that I noticed two bugs coming up out of the ground near the base of the plants. I picked them up and realized they must be squash bugs I took them over to the wall and using a brick, put an end to them. I went back and saw another one emerging from the ground. He met the same end. Apparently the water was forcing them to come topside.
This was a new garden experience for me. I went to all of the squash plants and repeated this same action until I had collected and disposed of around 12 of those squash bugs. Usually I discover them after they have done their damage. Hopefully I have saved my yellow crookneck squash for this year. Also I have learned a new trick. Flush out the bugs with a slow flowing water hose.
I share this story in case any of my online friends are not familiar with this safe way of ridding the garden of squash bugs. I do not know if it was just a happy coincidence that I found them at this stage of growth. In any event I will file this experience away to use another year. Of course, if you are averse to picking bugs with your bare hands, this may not be your cup of tea. As for me I would rather do that then lose my crop of yellow squash to a 1/2 inch bug.
Next early morning chore, was to go back to the beds and do some watering. I had left the hose on slow mode at one of the tomato plants. I moved it to the squash hills (three of them), the water was moving very slowly and I put it down on the ground. It was then that I noticed two bugs coming up out of the ground near the base of the plants. I picked them up and realized they must be squash bugs I took them over to the wall and using a brick, put an end to them. I went back and saw another one emerging from the ground. He met the same end. Apparently the water was forcing them to come topside.
This was a new garden experience for me. I went to all of the squash plants and repeated this same action until I had collected and disposed of around 12 of those squash bugs. Usually I discover them after they have done their damage. Hopefully I have saved my yellow crookneck squash for this year. Also I have learned a new trick. Flush out the bugs with a slow flowing water hose.
I share this story in case any of my online friends are not familiar with this safe way of ridding the garden of squash bugs. I do not know if it was just a happy coincidence that I found them at this stage of growth. In any event I will file this experience away to use another year. Of course, if you are averse to picking bugs with your bare hands, this may not be your cup of tea. As for me I would rather do that then lose my crop of yellow squash to a 1/2 inch bug.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
A Good Tired
Right now I am almost aching from working outdoors. Jim was up here today and he worked so much more than I did, but still, I feel tired, however, it is a good feeling.
I probably have twenty azaleas here near the house and down the hill and in front of the old barn. This is the first year they have been pruned in a long time. Down the hillside the English Ivy, grapevines, and wild honeysuckle have almost taken over. Jim attacked it all with a fury, cutting, pulling, raking, just to get to the azalea bushes. I worked on the opposite side of the railroad tie walk. This is the walk that Jim and Bruce put in for me around twenty years ago as a Mothers Day surprise. I found some azaleas at the foot of the hill which had never been pruned. They had grown up and some trees had grown down and where they met is where I pruned. A huge grape vine had been twisting and running through the trees for so long it was about 1.5 inches in width. That one Jim had to come over to cut. I look forward to seeing those azaleas in bloom next spring when I enter the property and drive toward the house.
Jim dug up so many jonquil bulbs that I lost count as we cut the dried leaves off and put them in mesh bags to hang until fall. I suppose we had one hundred and we hardly scratched the surface. Next week we will tackle the rest of them. But first I have the job of softening the ground by using a hose on the area. Some that he dug, we have decided are Blue Scilla. The bloom resembles the allium. I think they must be used mostly in the north where they favor the cold temperatures.
Repairs around here are a given. The door on the shed had slipped down and it was almost impossible to close it, so that was one repair this visit. I really dislike seeing bugs indoors so now I should only see dead ones. Jim used a special kind of spray to put boric acid powder behind the light switches and other places suspected of hiding those crawly creatures.
It is all in a days work, as they say. I will be like a child who has played hard all day, I will sleep soundly, and wake to another day of pulling weeds and watering tomatoes, etc. It is a hobby I chose so I am not complaining. I much prefer the out of doors than walking the city sidewalks.
I probably have twenty azaleas here near the house and down the hill and in front of the old barn. This is the first year they have been pruned in a long time. Down the hillside the English Ivy, grapevines, and wild honeysuckle have almost taken over. Jim attacked it all with a fury, cutting, pulling, raking, just to get to the azalea bushes. I worked on the opposite side of the railroad tie walk. This is the walk that Jim and Bruce put in for me around twenty years ago as a Mothers Day surprise. I found some azaleas at the foot of the hill which had never been pruned. They had grown up and some trees had grown down and where they met is where I pruned. A huge grape vine had been twisting and running through the trees for so long it was about 1.5 inches in width. That one Jim had to come over to cut. I look forward to seeing those azaleas in bloom next spring when I enter the property and drive toward the house.
Jim dug up so many jonquil bulbs that I lost count as we cut the dried leaves off and put them in mesh bags to hang until fall. I suppose we had one hundred and we hardly scratched the surface. Next week we will tackle the rest of them. But first I have the job of softening the ground by using a hose on the area. Some that he dug, we have decided are Blue Scilla. The bloom resembles the allium. I think they must be used mostly in the north where they favor the cold temperatures.
Repairs around here are a given. The door on the shed had slipped down and it was almost impossible to close it, so that was one repair this visit. I really dislike seeing bugs indoors so now I should only see dead ones. Jim used a special kind of spray to put boric acid powder behind the light switches and other places suspected of hiding those crawly creatures.
It is all in a days work, as they say. I will be like a child who has played hard all day, I will sleep soundly, and wake to another day of pulling weeds and watering tomatoes, etc. It is a hobby I chose so I am not complaining. I much prefer the out of doors than walking the city sidewalks.
Monday, May 16, 2011
A cup of Tea
Several years ago I was visiting my sister in Ohio. She lived in a very nice retirement facility. We had our meals in a huge dining room. Waiters came around with carts loaded with items for each course. While there I began to enjoy Lemon Lift tea, from a little white tea pot. I had it for every meal for a week. When I left to go home, the manager gave me one of the little tea pots. It is used here, by me, a lot.
My neighbor will call me occasionally and ask if she can come over for a cup of tea. It is not a regular event but we do get to have a face to face on those occasions. There is something about a cup of tea which is soothing as a balm on frayed nerves. It must be sipped slowly to enjoy, thus slowing the pace of the day. You just cannot rush around when having a cup of tea.
I think the British have a charming custom of tea time in the afternoon. If I lived in that climate I would fall into that custom easily. I am not sure what crumpets are but it just sounds like it should be served with tea. Actually, from Websters description crumpets sound rather bland, "a small, unsweetened batter cake baked on a griddle; usually toasted before serving". I believe they usually serve jam with them.
In a book called "Three Cups of Tea", the author tells about the people of Afghanistan serving a tea which is quite different from the tea we drink. It is heavy with fats and if you are not accustomed to having that in your diet, it might upset your system. This happened to a friend when he was in Tibet. However, it is the custom there, that after you have tea three times with someone, you are considered friends. I can see how that would be true.
Years ago when we lived in Baltimore, we had new neighbors, just come from Ireland. I did not know them very well but they had a baby and we kept the baby while they went to midnight mass at Christmas. She had a teapot and kept a tea cozy over it. It had been knitted with woolen yarn. That sounds about right for the climate in Ireland.
My mother was known for her frugality. One example was the way she used a tea bag over for a second cup of tea. She may have enjoyed it more had she used a small tea pot for that second cup. Since I lived a long distance from her most of my adult life I do not recall if she had a tea pot. I have several and even one I made myself in a pottery class. Being able to pour from the spout without getting a drip on the end, is my description of a good tea pot.
One of my favorite tea pots came from Aunt Martha, not my aunt but the aunt of my friend Betty McNutt Bray. It was brown and I got it on a trip with her to Alabama. She went to settle the estate of Aunt Martha and Uncle Earl. The last time I saw Betty, was here at my house. I told her that I felt the tea pot belonged to her if she wanted it. She did and she took it home that day.
Choosing which tea to buy at the market could be a daunting task, as there are so many choices on the shelves. Some of the choices are always the same, while others are constantly changing. Just when I try one of the caffeine free teas, and find it pleasing, it is not there the next time I shop. One made by Twinings has a blend of three flavors, ginseng, chamomile and Tahitian vanilla (as best I recall). I have looked for it every time I go shopping but have never found it again.
It is rather amazing that a few dried leaves steeped in fresh boiling water can sooth and calm so well. I am aware that coffee drinkers have their own favorite drinks to get them going in the mornings. I would never try to change their minds, nor would I want to exchange drinks with them. A cup of tea is good for me.
My neighbor will call me occasionally and ask if she can come over for a cup of tea. It is not a regular event but we do get to have a face to face on those occasions. There is something about a cup of tea which is soothing as a balm on frayed nerves. It must be sipped slowly to enjoy, thus slowing the pace of the day. You just cannot rush around when having a cup of tea.
I think the British have a charming custom of tea time in the afternoon. If I lived in that climate I would fall into that custom easily. I am not sure what crumpets are but it just sounds like it should be served with tea. Actually, from Websters description crumpets sound rather bland, "a small, unsweetened batter cake baked on a griddle; usually toasted before serving". I believe they usually serve jam with them.
In a book called "Three Cups of Tea", the author tells about the people of Afghanistan serving a tea which is quite different from the tea we drink. It is heavy with fats and if you are not accustomed to having that in your diet, it might upset your system. This happened to a friend when he was in Tibet. However, it is the custom there, that after you have tea three times with someone, you are considered friends. I can see how that would be true.
Years ago when we lived in Baltimore, we had new neighbors, just come from Ireland. I did not know them very well but they had a baby and we kept the baby while they went to midnight mass at Christmas. She had a teapot and kept a tea cozy over it. It had been knitted with woolen yarn. That sounds about right for the climate in Ireland.
My mother was known for her frugality. One example was the way she used a tea bag over for a second cup of tea. She may have enjoyed it more had she used a small tea pot for that second cup. Since I lived a long distance from her most of my adult life I do not recall if she had a tea pot. I have several and even one I made myself in a pottery class. Being able to pour from the spout without getting a drip on the end, is my description of a good tea pot.
One of my favorite tea pots came from Aunt Martha, not my aunt but the aunt of my friend Betty McNutt Bray. It was brown and I got it on a trip with her to Alabama. She went to settle the estate of Aunt Martha and Uncle Earl. The last time I saw Betty, was here at my house. I told her that I felt the tea pot belonged to her if she wanted it. She did and she took it home that day.
Choosing which tea to buy at the market could be a daunting task, as there are so many choices on the shelves. Some of the choices are always the same, while others are constantly changing. Just when I try one of the caffeine free teas, and find it pleasing, it is not there the next time I shop. One made by Twinings has a blend of three flavors, ginseng, chamomile and Tahitian vanilla (as best I recall). I have looked for it every time I go shopping but have never found it again.
It is rather amazing that a few dried leaves steeped in fresh boiling water can sooth and calm so well. I am aware that coffee drinkers have their own favorite drinks to get them going in the mornings. I would never try to change their minds, nor would I want to exchange drinks with them. A cup of tea is good for me.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Daylilies Anyone?
If you have ever planted daylilies, then you know how prolific they are. If you have never planted them, just try one in a small area and watch what happens. If they like the spot they are planted in step back, because they are going to increase in number faster than you can imagine. The name daylily identifies the length of the bloom, one day. The roots have little growths on them which probably have a biological name, but they look like elongated peanuts and may be called buds. This is their progeny and they seek to leave home more than any disconteded teen ager. They do not go far, they spread all around the mother plant. I happen to have a huge number of them which are double orange. A few years ago I filled the trunk of my car with bags of them to take to a county agent who grows them, possibly at his farm. Even with all I took to him, they are all back again. If not divided every few years, they are not happy and stop blooming. Maybe some inner clock says, no more children.
Today I had a great helper, my son-in-law, Jim. With a shovel and strong arms and some doubt he began to dig these plants for me. I have a curved stone wall at a turn in my road. I had planted daylilies, along with other plants inside of the stone wall which circumscribes this garden bed. Now, their children had left home and spread all outside the rocks, too close to the road. Jim was afraid if he dug them it would undermine the rock wall. I had a different view, so he plunged ahead and in a very short time we had a huge pile of day lilies, along with some iris which like to do some traveling of their own. I put them in a large yellow plastic tub and also in some plastic garbage bags. My daughter wanted to plant them in their garden in Norcross. Jim is a most accomidating husband so he will be digging a new home for these plants where his wife wants them.
Oh, if only the work stopped there. Now, I have the chore of weeding inside of this bed. A lot of Black Eyed Susans are experiencing too much growth so they need room to spread around. Unfortunately the wild honeysuckle likes the inside of this bed. So, it is up to me to show who is in charge of this garden bed. Somewhere in there is a Cherokee Rose bush, whose future depends upon my work.
I hope I have not discouraged anyone from planting daylilies. There are so many different varieties of them and each one is prettier than the next. They really are a joy to own, even if they tend to need some dividing every few years. Any that Jim did not take home, I can always take to the church rummage sale as freebies for folks coming to buy.
Today I had a great helper, my son-in-law, Jim. With a shovel and strong arms and some doubt he began to dig these plants for me. I have a curved stone wall at a turn in my road. I had planted daylilies, along with other plants inside of the stone wall which circumscribes this garden bed. Now, their children had left home and spread all outside the rocks, too close to the road. Jim was afraid if he dug them it would undermine the rock wall. I had a different view, so he plunged ahead and in a very short time we had a huge pile of day lilies, along with some iris which like to do some traveling of their own. I put them in a large yellow plastic tub and also in some plastic garbage bags. My daughter wanted to plant them in their garden in Norcross. Jim is a most accomidating husband so he will be digging a new home for these plants where his wife wants them.
Oh, if only the work stopped there. Now, I have the chore of weeding inside of this bed. A lot of Black Eyed Susans are experiencing too much growth so they need room to spread around. Unfortunately the wild honeysuckle likes the inside of this bed. So, it is up to me to show who is in charge of this garden bed. Somewhere in there is a Cherokee Rose bush, whose future depends upon my work.
I hope I have not discouraged anyone from planting daylilies. There are so many different varieties of them and each one is prettier than the next. They really are a joy to own, even if they tend to need some dividing every few years. Any that Jim did not take home, I can always take to the church rummage sale as freebies for folks coming to buy.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Long Live She Bear
Driving a long way to pick up some heirloom tomato plants seemed like a reasonable jaunt for me, so that is what I did. Taking my neighbor along with me, we headed out with directions she had scribbled on a scrap piece of paper. She had been there before and had told me a lot about this lady whom she has known for years. They both worked at the North Georgia Medical Center years ago. Last year I mailed this lady, whom I had not met, some seeds for heirloom tomatoes. I next met her at the funeral for her husband of almost fifty years. So, she was not a complete stranger. Also I had heard a lot about her and had seen some remarkable things she had made on her sewing machine. With all of this information under my belt, I headed out to see her for a brief visit, or so I thought.
There were a few bobbles on the way but we finally pulled up in her driveway. She was waiting for us barefoot and in denim capri pants. She won my heart the moment I saw those bare feet. No pretenses here at all. When I opened the car door I saw a Kousa dogwood beside her drive. I asked Diana if that was what it was, and she said, "Yes, most people do not know what it is". It was in bloom and a beautiful specimen plant. Next my eyes fell on another plant, partly concealed by the green blades of some kind of bulb, already finished with blooming. These turned out to be something I had wanted for a long time, annuals called "Sweet William". I asked if she had grown them from seed. Yes, she had. Now I know I must find seeds for them and plant them! I remember my mother having those in her garden, fifty years ago.
As we entered her home we were greeted by a barking Spaniel with hair as red as the hair of our hostess. She called him Little Red. His left hip had been shaved which gave him a slightly mottled look. It seems that he had surgery on his hip, thus the shaved area. Diana took us through her home and an interesting tour it was. First off, a tall, almost five feet, Cacti plant. For once, a real plant that did not look real. She told us it was over one hundred years old. Diana offered one to me. I could not take it as the responsibility of keeping it alive was just too great a task. A friend of hers was breaking up house keeping and could not take it with her, possibly she will return for it one day.
Near the plant up high up on the wall were two trophy heads of beautiful deer. Her husband had been a hunter and supplied them with venison for most of their married lives. In her dining area was a beautiful cherry table inlaid with contrasting wood grain. This had belonged to her mother. Along the wall a huge cupboard which almost reached to the ceiling. A friend had bought it at an auction and after getting it home realized it was too big for her house. She had paid $35 for it and gave it to her just for the taking. As we went through her house Diana pointed out interesting things, like the century old iron bed which had been in her family. She had painted it a burnished gold. I certainly remember having those iron beds in our home, as a child. Some of her watercolor paintings are on her walls and also some charcoal and pastel drawing. They were all lovely pictures.
Leading off her dining area we went out onto a second story deck. looking out we were surrounded by sky high trees. A black walnut, a pecan, and some native Sweet Gum trees. This lady had two rain barrels at the back corners of her house, in anticipation of a dry summer. It was such a woodsy area that you did not notice about one acre away was busy I 85 which goes south to Atlanta and north to Greenville, S.C.
At this point our hostess said she wanted to take us for lunch to a quaint little restaurant nearby. I asked her to drive my car since she knew the way. Without a moments hesitation she got into my car, backed out onto her street and off we went. She took us to a neat, fenced in house, with tables and chairs out front, apparently for customers to sit and enjoy the day. The inside was eye popping. The dining room inself had only eight tables to seat four. I could see an additional back dining area, but we were seated in this first area and I was happy about that. You see, all of the walls were painted with a colorful mural of tree trunks, and pots of flowers. It gave you a feeling of eating outdoors. The menu had so many choices of good wholesome food. She said they were known for fresh creamed corn, so that is one thing I ordered. When our food had been served these two friends automatically held hands and reached for mine as this charming lady offered a blessing before our meal. We had such a delightful lunch, exchanging ideas and news. When it was time to go I really hated to leave.
Once back at her home she took us down to see her raised beds, four of them. She had planted a wide variety of summer vegetables. I saw tomatoes in one bed, asparagus in one along with eggplant, squash, pimentoes, green peppers, cucumbers, early peas and possibly some I have forgotten. All of them thriving in beds Diana had made with wooden sides, on a flat area, beside the back of her house. Then she pulled out the tomatoes she had for me. Six plants, Rutgers red, Yellow Pear, German Queen, and Mr. Stripy heirloom. This generous variety was for me and my neighbor - who was her friend first.
Diana is a hard working nurse at a nearby hospital. She went to night school while holding down a full time job in order to get a degree in nursing. I happen to know that she is a writer as well. I heard a poem that she wrote for her husband. This poem was read at his funeral service. She was instrumental in publishing a cookbook when her sister graduated from nursing school. This was in dedication to the GTC R.N. Class of 2011 and their instructors. They were the first graduation class from this technical school in Lawrenceville, Ga. One interesting facet of the book is the symbols which guide you in your selections. As one might expect, throughout the book are paintings of different flowers, lilies, tulips, poppies, sunflowers, water lilies, and daffodils. On the cover is a picture of the ladies who studied and worked hard to become nurses as the first graduating class at this school.
As you can tell, I admire Diana very much. She never had children of her own, but her life is full of joy and accomplishments. I wish her a continued, purposeful life filled with all her heart desires. She has made an impact on many whom she nursed over the years. No doubt they could tell they were in capable hands without ever knowing that everything else she did, was done with capable hands and heart as well. Our visit turned out to be much more than brief, it was a fun filled jaunt which will stay with me for a long, long time. One other thing, her email address has "she bear" in it. I would like to know the story behind the name. I can bet it is a good story.
There were a few bobbles on the way but we finally pulled up in her driveway. She was waiting for us barefoot and in denim capri pants. She won my heart the moment I saw those bare feet. No pretenses here at all. When I opened the car door I saw a Kousa dogwood beside her drive. I asked Diana if that was what it was, and she said, "Yes, most people do not know what it is". It was in bloom and a beautiful specimen plant. Next my eyes fell on another plant, partly concealed by the green blades of some kind of bulb, already finished with blooming. These turned out to be something I had wanted for a long time, annuals called "Sweet William". I asked if she had grown them from seed. Yes, she had. Now I know I must find seeds for them and plant them! I remember my mother having those in her garden, fifty years ago.
As we entered her home we were greeted by a barking Spaniel with hair as red as the hair of our hostess. She called him Little Red. His left hip had been shaved which gave him a slightly mottled look. It seems that he had surgery on his hip, thus the shaved area. Diana took us through her home and an interesting tour it was. First off, a tall, almost five feet, Cacti plant. For once, a real plant that did not look real. She told us it was over one hundred years old. Diana offered one to me. I could not take it as the responsibility of keeping it alive was just too great a task. A friend of hers was breaking up house keeping and could not take it with her, possibly she will return for it one day.
Near the plant up high up on the wall were two trophy heads of beautiful deer. Her husband had been a hunter and supplied them with venison for most of their married lives. In her dining area was a beautiful cherry table inlaid with contrasting wood grain. This had belonged to her mother. Along the wall a huge cupboard which almost reached to the ceiling. A friend had bought it at an auction and after getting it home realized it was too big for her house. She had paid $35 for it and gave it to her just for the taking. As we went through her house Diana pointed out interesting things, like the century old iron bed which had been in her family. She had painted it a burnished gold. I certainly remember having those iron beds in our home, as a child. Some of her watercolor paintings are on her walls and also some charcoal and pastel drawing. They were all lovely pictures.
Leading off her dining area we went out onto a second story deck. looking out we were surrounded by sky high trees. A black walnut, a pecan, and some native Sweet Gum trees. This lady had two rain barrels at the back corners of her house, in anticipation of a dry summer. It was such a woodsy area that you did not notice about one acre away was busy I 85 which goes south to Atlanta and north to Greenville, S.C.
At this point our hostess said she wanted to take us for lunch to a quaint little restaurant nearby. I asked her to drive my car since she knew the way. Without a moments hesitation she got into my car, backed out onto her street and off we went. She took us to a neat, fenced in house, with tables and chairs out front, apparently for customers to sit and enjoy the day. The inside was eye popping. The dining room inself had only eight tables to seat four. I could see an additional back dining area, but we were seated in this first area and I was happy about that. You see, all of the walls were painted with a colorful mural of tree trunks, and pots of flowers. It gave you a feeling of eating outdoors. The menu had so many choices of good wholesome food. She said they were known for fresh creamed corn, so that is one thing I ordered. When our food had been served these two friends automatically held hands and reached for mine as this charming lady offered a blessing before our meal. We had such a delightful lunch, exchanging ideas and news. When it was time to go I really hated to leave.
Once back at her home she took us down to see her raised beds, four of them. She had planted a wide variety of summer vegetables. I saw tomatoes in one bed, asparagus in one along with eggplant, squash, pimentoes, green peppers, cucumbers, early peas and possibly some I have forgotten. All of them thriving in beds Diana had made with wooden sides, on a flat area, beside the back of her house. Then she pulled out the tomatoes she had for me. Six plants, Rutgers red, Yellow Pear, German Queen, and Mr. Stripy heirloom. This generous variety was for me and my neighbor - who was her friend first.
Diana is a hard working nurse at a nearby hospital. She went to night school while holding down a full time job in order to get a degree in nursing. I happen to know that she is a writer as well. I heard a poem that she wrote for her husband. This poem was read at his funeral service. She was instrumental in publishing a cookbook when her sister graduated from nursing school. This was in dedication to the GTC R.N. Class of 2011 and their instructors. They were the first graduation class from this technical school in Lawrenceville, Ga. One interesting facet of the book is the symbols which guide you in your selections. As one might expect, throughout the book are paintings of different flowers, lilies, tulips, poppies, sunflowers, water lilies, and daffodils. On the cover is a picture of the ladies who studied and worked hard to become nurses as the first graduating class at this school.
As you can tell, I admire Diana very much. She never had children of her own, but her life is full of joy and accomplishments. I wish her a continued, purposeful life filled with all her heart desires. She has made an impact on many whom she nursed over the years. No doubt they could tell they were in capable hands without ever knowing that everything else she did, was done with capable hands and heart as well. Our visit turned out to be much more than brief, it was a fun filled jaunt which will stay with me for a long, long time. One other thing, her email address has "she bear" in it. I would like to know the story behind the name. I can bet it is a good story.
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