Spring Bulb DISPLAY

One of the marketing companies I get info from suggested putting a spring bulb flyer in the August Statement, which just went out.  (Without a flyer because I don't have any yet).  But it is time for all of us to start thinking about our spring displays.  

We have lots to think about, because in addition to our own properties, we have to consider the guerilla garden triangle.  Tulips are out because the deer practically have ownership of that area of town.  Do you think we could plant daffodils deep enough that the salt and stuff wouldn't get them?  And what is a garden without allium?  We have to plant allium to ASSURE we do not get a garden club award next year.  That's my current drug induced theory - its the allium.  It could be you know.  No garden on main street that had allium in it got an award.  If allium pops up in  all the main street gardens next year - that would be a great guerilla gardening feat.  

Here's a website to check out www.springdisplays.com for some ideas(login spring and password displays).  I especially like the tulip "blends" section. 

Now, I lied in the last post because I also feel very strongly about spring bulbs, so you really don't want to get me started on this topic.  You all need them and it needs to be a DISPLAY a la 139 Main.  Thats the dirty girl official company policy.   

Happy planning! 

I promise not to talk about the Iraq war while I am on steriods

Here it is!  The moment we have all been waiting for in this drama : the specialist appointment!  Now in this scene, I go to the doctor who is moved by the horrible plight of my "lost summer".  Like the hero that he is, he says "I know just what is wrong and I will make it all go away with my magic prescription pad".  Then i get a new, great pill that makes everything ALL better.  

Of course, someone forgot to send him MY script. You mean I don't control THIS either???  What exactly am I in control of then? (BTW, as an aside, I apparently am not even in control of my own behavior.  Sir prednisone has taken control of that.  I have been saying ALL of these strong angry things that I really don't mean, with curse words even.  I just want you to know, I REALLY DON"T CARE about any of these subjects I have been angry about.  Really.  I have no strong feelings about anything except the specialist appointment and not controlling everything. REALLY.)

Well, the specialist was the star though.  He was like President Bush(I know, its so disappointing, but I told you I don't control everything). We have a new plan of attack along the lines of "operation iraqi freedom"and "the surge".  Its called operation "resolve/evolve".  In this plan of attack we are still sticking with steriods.  STILL.  Like the war in Iraq, it just has a new name.  In case its not clear we are hoping for "resolve" not "evolve".  

So my new mantra is "resolve".  If you say it in a whispery voice it really can be a mantra.  I would like to just go back to believing I control everything, that mantra worked for a really long time.  But I hear I can't go back, so I am EVOLVING to be RESOLVING.  Sorry I couldn't resist.  At least it made ME laugh.

A Fairy Tale

The dastardly demon, Ra, who has stolen my life force and imprisoned it in his dungeon, succumed to the power of my knights yesterday, long enough for me to reclaim my life force for a trip to le gardin boutanique. My champion, the valiant knight prednisone, fought side by side with the knight naprocin and banished the evil Ra for several hours. During this repreve, Le Roi Lee (as opposed to Leroy) accompanied me to the garden. Yes, that does make me Queen Terri (ah, queen of the earth I believe is the translation), as if you hadn't guessed that at one point I would reveal my true identity.

Le Gardin Boutanique in Montreal is one of the finest botanical gardens I have visited. After Roi Lee and I walked through the rose garden, we arrived at the Chinese Garden (Gardin Chine). The entire garden was built in China and imported by boat and is believed to be the largest chinese garden outside of china. The incredible sacred lotus was in bloom. There were so many interesting plants that it was hard to change focus from the details of the garden to the structural elements which made this huge garden so impressive. My guess is that the chinese garden covered more than an acre and a half.

As we left the chinese garden in search of the japanese garden, we stumbled upon the "flowering feilds". A winding collection of english style borders centered on a small stream which was actually the watering runoff of the alpine garden, the flowering feilds were completely in bloom. The garden was created with a remarkable small palette of plants (for the most part, peonies, bearded iris, lilies, daylily and sedum - all my favorites:) I thought this area of le gardin botanique would be an inspiration for a garden I would like to create in my side yard. I have to get permission from the prince and princess to remove some play space, however.

I was really interested to see the contrast between the Chinese garden and the Japanese garden, but on the way, the feindish demon Ra, returned to fight some more. The knight prednisone was able to keep him at bay for a short visit to the Japanese garden where there was a remarkable contrast in style. The japanese garden was more manicured, more open and a bit more contrived as opposed to naturalistic. Is naturalistic even a word? whatever. The contrast may have been exaggerated, however, because the japanese garden for the most part was a sun garden and the chinese garden was shadier.

The king and i really had a great visit, it was encroyable. Unfortunately, it ended with the trimumph of the evil demon, no happy ending to this fairy tale yet. The good news is that the valant knights were able to reconquer Ra for a long dinner (4 and a half hours -no kidding!) in which the 20.000 courses could have easily fit onto one regular dinnerplate. I wish i had some pictures of that.

I'll post some gardin botanique pictures when we get home - I have some really good ones - so check back!

Jesus approves

This packaging from Ralph Lauren completely made my day!  It was complementary -even for my sale items.  

I really don't know why gift boxes, tissue paper and ribbons make me so glad - but I would have to place this gift box second only to tiffany's packaging.  

And of course Jesus said "ye of little faith" but who would have thought packaging this good would be free?

For Laurie

SERENDIPITY

1.  the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident - American Heritage Dictionary

2.  good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries - Wordnet

We had a perfect example of serendipity yesterday thanks to Trish.  Co and I stopped at the pharmacy to get a new pinky ball because his was lost in a particularly aggressive game of bounce back (Lee was playing -imagine that.)  Colonial didn't have pinky balls!  Colby was pretty bummed because he uses his ball against the garage almost every day especially when I am sleeping.

But the serendipity was that we parked next to trish, who was running errands and she happened to have a pinky ball at 139 main, which she had purchased to send to Colby at camp!  How weird is that?!

I love the word serendipity, because it sounds just like what it means.  It also reminds me of frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity in NYC, which was serendipitously located two blocks from the hospital  I had to spend two weeks at when I was 17.

What is serendipitous in your life?

So what's up with the euthanizing of our language.  If you change the name you call something does it really change what it is, or just your perception of what it is?

Yes, you got it it - I am talking about the DEVIL RAYS.  Of course we can't call them just the "rays"(said with a smile and a cute tilt of the head) especially when they are 2 and half games up.   Why did they have to drop the devil from their name - its so lame now.  "The Rays" - what is that? rays of sunshine?  Its certainly not a devil ray or a manta ray or anything you would want to name your team after.  Rays of sunshine lose in every matchup of mascots.  

Also on the list is the TRAFFIC CIRCLE.  Roundabout? Never.  Its always going to be the Traffic circle.  Maybe Jacks could do a new slogan - meet me at the traffic circle.  

On a darker note - how about "Ethnic Cleansing".  Lets just call that what it really is - SLAUGHTER.

And if we turn to KING CORN, there are a myriad of possibilities.  "Processed Food" = JUNK FOOD.  "Hfcs" = "TCBY" 

And finally, how about "partly cloudy" which really is "WE HAVE NO IDEA".

I am sure you have some good examples of this, tell me your favorites.

This doesn't suck

It doesn't suck to come home from work and see this on the porch.  Its the wilcox version of a crop circle.  And a great reuse of Allium (2008 plant of the year for the Dirty Girl Association).

And look at that mandevilla....its going crazy (that is a nominee for 2009 plant of the year).  Too bad they don't give garden club awards on KMR.