Here we have one of the many beds of a jungle's worth of crocosmia that live in my yard. And look closely- can you see what I see?
A bloom! One bloom in that whole mess and if I get two more, I'll be shocked. But one bloom is better than no blooms. I should pick that thing and bring it in, put it in a vase and carry it around with me until it dies to get the most possible enjoyment out of it.
I was busy today. No need to go into great detail but I had to do some of the things that make me anxious for no discernible reason. Things that involve money and mail and contracts, etc. Not big deal things either. But it takes a lot of my bandwidth to do these things. I took the trash and then went by the post office to mail what I needed to mail. Mr. Moon asked me to buy stamps and the only two kinds they had were either American flag stamps or Purple Heart stamps.
What?
What?
I got a page of the Purple Heart ones. Glen keeps the Purple Heart his daddy was awarded in WWII on his dresser. But come on. Where are the bird stamps, the flower stamps, the Harriet Tubman stamps, the Pete Seeger stamps? Not in Lloyd, I guess.
And then, because I had made up my mind to do it, I put that trowel and some gloves in my pocket and walked down to where the roses bloom.
Y'all- it is so hot already. And it's affecting both me and Mr. Moon more every year. He said to me this morning, "What are we going to do this summer?"
"Stay inside, I guess," I said.
Neither one of us is really a stay-inside sort of person. There's the garden and he always has projects like working on cars that are done outside or in the garage which is definitely not air-conditioned. And of course working in the yard is part of my life, as is taking walks but in this heat and humidity, I simply cannot do those things. I keep thinking about all the Floridians who get second houses in the North Georgia mountains or in North Carolina and I totally understand it now. A little cabin on a creek situated under a broad canopy of trees in a cool mountain valley sounds like heaven right now. Except for how I feel about mountains which is not that positive.
Y'all- it is so hot already. And it's affecting both me and Mr. Moon more every year. He said to me this morning, "What are we going to do this summer?"
"Stay inside, I guess," I said.
Neither one of us is really a stay-inside sort of person. There's the garden and he always has projects like working on cars that are done outside or in the garage which is definitely not air-conditioned. And of course working in the yard is part of my life, as is taking walks but in this heat and humidity, I simply cannot do those things. I keep thinking about all the Floridians who get second houses in the North Georgia mountains or in North Carolina and I totally understand it now. A little cabin on a creek situated under a broad canopy of trees in a cool mountain valley sounds like heaven right now. Except for how I feel about mountains which is not that positive.
It's about time for us to start making our semi-regular trips to the Wacissa. Nothing else in this world can cool us off like the water in a spring-fed river.
But. Back to the rose.
So I discovered that I know nothing about roses. Well, I was already aware of that but now I'm even more sure. That rose I found is a sucker rose which means that the plant sends out thick root-like things from which other plants grow. So when you dig up one of the plants, you have to try and get the ones that have rooted. But they're still going to have the long, long suckers. I should have taken my clippers too.
So I discovered that I know nothing about roses. Well, I was already aware of that but now I'm even more sure. That rose I found is a sucker rose which means that the plant sends out thick root-like things from which other plants grow. So when you dig up one of the plants, you have to try and get the ones that have rooted. But they're still going to have the long, long suckers. I should have taken my clippers too.
Live and learn.
But I dug up three different plants and brought them home, soaked with sweat and completely red-faced.
Realizing that I had no idea how to propagate a sucker rose, I asked Google about the subject, which told me to watch a little video, which I did. I liked it because it was short and sweet and got right to the point. I felt confident after watching it and also, slightly hysterical because of what the closed captions said at the end of it. Let me show you.
But I dug up three different plants and brought them home, soaked with sweat and completely red-faced.
Realizing that I had no idea how to propagate a sucker rose, I asked Google about the subject, which told me to watch a little video, which I did. I liked it because it was short and sweet and got right to the point. I felt confident after watching it and also, slightly hysterical because of what the closed captions said at the end of it. Let me show you.
"So if you have any further questions on suffering, please leave them below the video."
I have so many questions on suffering, mainly, why do I feel such a deep need to do it?"
I left no comments.
But I did go to the GDDG and buy some potting soil because we are all out, as well as some half-and-half to make squash soup with tonight.
But I did go to the GDDG and buy some potting soil because we are all out, as well as some half-and-half to make squash soup with tonight.
I came home and did my best to follow the directions from the video. Here we are.
Two of those three plants have roots already. I think they will do well. We shall see about the third.
After I did that, I watered all the porch plants and threw out some more zinnia seeds in the kitchen garden bed and watered those in as best I could.
After I did that, I watered all the porch plants and threw out some more zinnia seeds in the kitchen garden bed and watered those in as best I could.
And then I did a thing that I've been wanting and needing to do for awhile which, again, for one reason or another was causing me some anxiety although this was not a really bad kind but more of a slight feeling of oh, please, I want to get this right. But I did it.
Here are the tops of the suckers I cut off the roses today. I might try to root them too but for now, I am just enjoying them as they are.
Thank you all for encouraging me to go get those plants. If I get served with a warrant for theft, I will not cite any of you as co-conspirators in my crime.
I promise.
I promise.
Love...Ms. Moon
Well, Missy ... I hope your swiped roses take root and thrive!!
ReplyDeleteMake sure you are staying hydrated in your heat and humidity ... I could not handle that! Colorado has a dry heat and that is oppressive as well!
Yes. I lived in Denver for a summer and was surprised at how different a "dry" heat feels than a humid one does. Same with the cold, really. Humidity seems to increase the "feels like" factor of both.
DeleteI've been reading about rooting everything in potatoes, but I haven't googled it to see more about it. As for suffering and comments, I'll bet you a rooting potato he means plant suffering. You do a lot of that.
ReplyDeleteI think he said "suckering" but the caption translation got lost into "suffering." I just thought it was funny.
DeleteThe rose plants in your pots look excellent. They are not wilting or drooping. I think you are off to a great start. Does your new rose have a delicate scent?
ReplyDeleteIt does not have much of a scent at all which surprised me.
DeleteAfter all the heartburn you went through about those roses, they better flourish for you. I have less tolerance for heat now, too. Also cold! Also humidity! Always something to complain about.
ReplyDeleteAs I am so fond of saying when people ask me how I'm doing, "Can't complain and yet...I do."
DeleteBeing a sucker rose, does that mean it will send out roots all over and you'll have roses popping up in all corners of the yard?
ReplyDeleteThis thought has crossed my mind.
DeleteRiver raises a valid point. A couple years from now, will you find yourself looking at your roses with the same frustration as you look at your bamboo or your crocosmia?
ReplyDeleteIf you find yourself needing to go on the lam, you can come stay at my house. For as long as you want. It's not supposed to hit 70 for a while. You might want to bring your sweaters.
Okay. I'll let you know if I need a safe hideaway. I appreciate your offer.
DeleteAnd you are right- River does have a valid point, one which I, too, have considered.
And thus begins your life of crime! (Not!) My mother traveled with plastic bags and a tiny trowel in her purse. Just in case. And she had no shame. I, too, would want to escape the summer heat and humidity. We don’t have the extremes here that you experience.
ReplyDeleteOh my. Now I'm wondering where I can get a tiny trowel. I used to always carry one of those fold-up latrine shovels that you could buy at the military surplus supply place in my trunk. I had forgotten that! I guess I've been criming longer than I thought.
DeleteI could do without the temperature extremities.
Most hardware stores here sell child sized gardening tools.
DeleteRiver:
DeleteThat’s exactly the kind of trowel my mother had. I had a fold-up latrine shovel. That would have been much to heavy for her to keep in her purse.
MsMoon:
You may have been criming for a while, but I’ll bet you never climbed into the back of a delivery truck outside a hotel and then loaded your car with towels. My mother and her sister did that -- both married and in their 20s.
I've never stolen a towel out of a hotel in my life. Your mother never met a towel she didn't want to steal, did she?
DeleteWe get maybe a month of over 100° heat here, but a few months in the 90s (and no air con at home). Those are the times I take maybe three cold showers a day. I could never live in your heat (but I guess that's got more to do with growing up in England). You're lucky to have the ocean so close though, but you should give the mountains a try. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, especially in the heat of the summer!
ReplyDeleteOh, I've been in the mountains and I know for sure and without doubt that I am not a mountain girl. They make me anxious.
DeleteWild roses for a wild woman:) Good on you.
ReplyDeleteI have many questions about suffering that perhaps that young man could answer. Is it necessary, the suffering I mean? Can we avoid it?
Yes! Such good questions! I wonder if he has answers.
DeleteRoses are so intriguing, I am most fond of the ramblers until we hot a point where rambling turns into taking over all of the space.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were young we lived and worked in some very VERY hot parts of the world. What we had to learn was to do as the locals, which in all parts, humid equatorial Africa, dry Indian desert or drought stricken Spain, always involved spending most of the time after midday more or less motionless either indoors or in deepest shade until sunset which is when life erupts again. Teaching and working started at 6:30 am and sort of fizzled out by midday.
You HAVE lived in some hot places! I long ago noticed in Mexico that the work crews definitely took siestas during the day, often in hammocks that they strung wherever the could on the site they were working on, and then worked late into the night under lights. You just CANNOT work when it's so terribly hot.
DeleteWell, I missed your whole post yesterday I am sorry to say. Too busy running around all day. Glad you decided to go back for those roses and I hope they thrive!
ReplyDeleteI would hate it being so hot and having to run my A/C all of the time. Maybe you can garden in the evening - is it cooler then? Of course, you know best having lived south for most of your life. What do I know being a Midwesterner?!?
It does get a tiny bit cooler in the late afternoon but not a whole lot. Also, that's when the mosquitoes come out to feed. Yes. I live in hell in the summer.
DeleteGetting up really early would be the answer here but I'm lazy so that's on me.
She never met a towel she wouldn’t steal... nor an ash tray, toothpick holder, bathroom trash can...
ReplyDelete