Summer is Here

I was a zone leader again this year for Spring Fever, Bloom and Grow Garden Society’s huge fund raiser. My cohorts and I arrive at 5:45 AM, so vendors can begin offloading and setting up from 6:00-7:00. Last year, we were freezing. This year it was 76° to start and got hotter. My SF t-shirt and high-viz vest were more than enough. Technically opening at 9:00, by 8:00 a lot of the vendors were ready to sell, and customers were there to buy.

I cruised all the booths along Plant Street, talking to the several native plant sellers, a vendor with carnivorous plants, and the artist from whom I’d bought a piece last year. I liked the ceramic orchid pots at one booth. Nothing for me today, although the $85 cat sculpture did call to me. Perhaps I’ll grab something when I come back Sunday when I oversee my zone’s closing. Other people were filling their carts, wagons, and pet strollers with plants, mostly the pretty flowering ones.

The last 17 days, since Grant’s fall, have stressed me. More than the double duty of household chores, more than helping him put on his compression socks and other physical activities outside my body’s usual existence, it is the smack in my face knowledge that I have to push myself to keep in shape and be as strong as possible. This is for me to be able to help him when he is hurt and also for my not being a burden when it’s my body that is giving out. Mostly it is my need for control which will not be part of the equation. So I’ve gotten back in my habit of exercising my shoulders in the morning and added riding the stationary bike in the afternoon. I’ve avoided alcohol, mostly to cut out its calories, since my extra 10 pounds from our cruise and bird trip are still with me. 

I also realized I am worried about his falling, which is silly since he is steadier than ever by using the walker. Which brings up my unpleasant feelings that I’m really not interested in caring for an invalid nor being one myself. This getting old really sucks.

On the other hand, I’ve pretty much dug out the sunshine mimosa that took over my north garden bed. It is so cute, but doesn’t play well with others. CC planted some out on the swale where it can grow in peace and not get back to my yard. The tomatoes are starting to ripen, especially the heritage Cherokee ones. The Seminole pumpkins are growing in their pots. My potatoes have worms. I’ve picked off those I can find and am debating spraying with Sevin. Organic is good but lots of work. The onions have grown, but they are spring onion size. Perhaps need fertilizer, which I am going to do to all the beds. The roses I transplanted are blooming. I can’t see them from the porch, since the tomato ring is in the way. That will be moved as soon as the tomatoes are finished. 

So although a condo occasionally seems a good idea, today I’m happy in my little house. Soon I’ll start swimming, or at least floating in our pool. The nights are getting warm enough to take the chill off the water.