The language of flowers -

The symbolic language of flowers has been recognized for centuries in many

countries throughout Europe and Asia. Flower meanings have fascinated people

 for centuries. The special symbolism of flowers became a very popular pastime in

 Victorian homes of the 1800's where, alongside a Bible, they often had guidebooks

to decipher the 'language' of flowers. 

You of course know the red rose was used to openly express feelings of

 love - but did you know the pink rose represents grace, happiness and gentleness?

Today my pale pink New Dawn rose is blooming on the back fence and I must

admit its grace is certainly bringing me happiness.

The Victorians believed the human quality associated with the peony was

 'bashfulness', a gentle old fashioned word, but sadly not heard so much

 these days.

Rain and storms seem to have disappeared from the weather forecast.

An amazing week ahead is showing days of abundant sunshine, perfect 

daytime temperatures in the sixties and seventies, with cooler nights once again.

I planted my dahlia tubers yesterday - a first for me - and am so hoping they 

grow and bring summer color later.

The tomatoes are doing OK and I think the naughty rabbits have moved

 on to another neighbor's garden!

I scrubbed the last of the pollen off the deck furniture, blew the 

cobwebs out of the gazebo to enjoy warm evening suppers without spiders!

The front porch is clean and bright and providing our outdoor seating

throughout the day - waving to passing walkers - enjoying a drink. . . . .until

 the beastly mosquitoes arrive!

  Growing and blooming should be continuing with assistance from the

 garden hose. . . . . . . and what's more enjoyable than being outside

surrounded by beauty, blooms and birds at this time in the world!

Clambering up the arbor, a story continues . . . . . . .

The flowers are beautiful right now - seemingly a deeper blue than in other years.

My one and only wisteria, dancing in the Spring breezes, the blooms so fragrant.

The leaves are now opening. . . . .eventually they will envelope the little arbor we built

 for this once very tiny potted plant which I inherited from a long ago dear friend.

Note the thick pollen covering the roof of the gazebo - sneezing has reached

 its peek here in the southeast!

Flowers on a newly planted wisteria can be a long time coming, often up

to seven years!  Patience definitely is a virtue, followed by pruning

to keep this wandering, often invasive, vine in check.

HERE is the story of my wisteria, a most beautiful memory

 of my special friend Julie. 

If you are a gardener you've probably received pass-along plants from

 friends and neighbors. 

I'd love to hear stories of your special gifts which are popping up in this new

 and lovely season of the year.

I'm really having quite a terrible fun time downsizing!  

Yes, trying to remain positive whilst saying au revoir to half my clothes and such.
This week several bags were transported to Retails, the local thrift shop I 
support - they use their profits for animal welfare and spay/neuter programs in the area.  
Also, the clean out of the potting shed last week ended up being a
positive experience. A neighbor's caregiver, when driving by, asked to take
 several items we had piled at the curb for city pickup, for her son to repair and
 paint. We happily loaded them into her car!

Remember, after grabbing the lovely Marie Kondo's newest book Spark Joy

 while buying wine at Costco HERE - in January - I made myself a promise that

this is the year I would start sorting through, re-organizing, and finally letting go
 of stuff which didn't 'spark joy' in my life.

It will be a slow process, perhaps because we actually are tidy, and are not

 true hoarders, so if you came to visit you would not be shocked, or tripping

 over things, well I hope not!  But, in a small home with limited space,

we do need to cut back on storing more than we can use, be it paper 

towels, black socks, or bottles of wine!

We do not live in the countryside isolated from modern life.

We have so many malls, shopping centers, grocery stores, big box stores,

garden centers within a short drive, some within a 10 minute walk, that anything

 we might suddenly need is almost on the doorstep.

Raleigh is close to the top of every 'best place to live' list - you can see the list

HERE and yes, we'll welcome you if you decide to move here along with the 

thousands of new residents arriving annually . . . . .be prepared for great
living and true southern hospitality.