Earlier today, I was working on a post for one of my other blogs I entered into the challenge. (I have 12 total entered. The one to which I am referring right now is Montessori Writer.) I was reflecting on the color tablets that we use in Montessori education, to help children discern not only between colors, but between variations within a color family. I don't remember using them much as a Montessori child, but I know I must have. I was the kid who always had to have the 64 box of crayons. I recognized at an early age that red flowers have many shades of red within each petal, not just that primary shade we all associate with the word. My flower drawings often included every pastel color I could squeeze in all at once. I still prefer to look at colors that way, and teach my students to do the same.
When I put together my garden every year, I like to include as many colors as I can. I start my spring with all kinds of blooming bulbs among the forget-me-nots.
In the summer, I spend hours at the nurseries, assembling plants in various combinations for pots. I make sure that I have one six-pack of every single color available in each annual. I require a multicolor row of impatiens to line my north shaded bed. I need all colors of lobelia and petunias in between the daylilies in the narrow bed on the side. I must mix all of the vibrant shades of portulaca in between my peonies. All of my roses are of different colors, and not necessarily organized by color, either. And I grow multicolored food!
I love having different colors and shapes of foliage throughout the garden, as well. The more mixed up, the better, I say!
Some people like to have a manicured garden that follow a theme in color. Yes, those are beautiful. I am just not capable of doing that. I need the different colors like the flowers need the sun and rain.
The garden can truly be your oasis. It's a place to relax and rejuvenate. Admire the beauty that you create. Breathe in the flowers, the dirt, and the warm winds blowing. Close your eyes and imagine those blooms while you conduct deep breathing and let go of all your worries.
It's harder to do that right now, in the cold season. I had grandiose plans of starting to clear mine out some more, but alas woke up to snow on the ground. I could really use some time in the dirt and just relaxing. I know it is coming soon. Until then, I shall just visualize my favorite flowers and dream...
This is one of my pictures from last summer. My father bought me this rose bush when I moved into the house. It's a gorgeous rusty color and has a magical scent. I love to go out every morning to inhale it. Ahhhhhh....
April is here again, which is a great time for me to dream of flower and plants via the A to Z Challenge. I think that is almost the only time of the year at which I update this blog. Thank you to those of you who stick it out and visit, anyway!
Upstate NY is yet again taunting us. Today is April Fool's Day. After a gorgeous weekend in which I was sitting outside writing, while starting to enjoy the spring blooms, Mother Nature's evil trick was to send us some more snow.
Not funny.
I ran around on Saturday, in the glorious sunshine, taking pictures of some of my flowers. I love to do that, and to share them all online. I love flowers. I love photography.
Ahhhh, isn't that picture just the essence of springtime happiness? It evokes all kinds of thoughts of getting my hands dirty and creating new things of beauty and raising some of my own food to eat. To share Nature's bounty.
And then we get stupid snow. And rain. And wind. And cold. Even the flowers were huddling today.
I keep reminding myself that this is all a part of the cycle of the seasons. It is a necessary evil to achieve the beauty and bounty of summer. It just seems to take too long at times, especially when one is on Spring Break and is aching to get out there and get busy!
What are your plans for gardening this year?
