Stripping away the rose colored glasses of denial concerning my reality. Getting in touch with truth. Reaching out to others in empathy concerning their reality and their walk to truth.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

The Last Frost ~ Stephen King guest post (Just kidding **)

















In the yard yesterday afternoon, I thought I smelled spring. The smell of the warm sun on the driveway - are you sure that was spring? A chipmunk took a quick hip hop across my shoes. Yes! He popped out of his hole and in his zeal to bound to the yard, hit the tops of my shoes. It was amazing. I'm not sure who it surprised more... him or me?

Is it too soon to begin digging? Can I put away the shovel and take out the trusty spade?  In this city one never knows when the old "false spring" will occur. I've watched many years, as things begin to build buds and blooms, were suddenly disrupted or killed by the last frost. "The last frost," has the old Stephen King ring, huh?

Deep in the heart of the south, Miss Lily made the slow walk around the azaleas. Her hands lovingly placed the pine needles around each plant, as she whistled a happy tune. Overhead birds were singing one minute, and then suddenly stopped. Miss Lily didn't take notice at first, humming now, and at the end of the pine needle bundle, she stood back to have a look. Blood! Around every outer circle of needles, flowed blood! What in the world was going own? She began retracing her steps to the first bush. The blood was rising deeper with each plant she passed. She'd regather them and placed them in the wheel barrow, to be returned to the greenhouse. Something was terribly wrong with those pine needles. Such an expense and waste of time, she felt deflated.

She thought to sit for a moment on the new concrete bench her son purchased. Breathing out a sigh, she looked at the sun overhead, and a now dark cloud taking shape over the azaleas. She removed her sunglasses in time to realize it was no dark cloud, but a huge wave of red blood. What was it her Facebook friends were always commenting? Oh, yeah... OMG!!! **

The new owners settled in just as spring was breaking. Such a lovely home with the reddest azaleas they'd ever seen. How could such a beautiful, quiet place sit empty for three years? They were especially impressed by the kindness of their neighbor, who ran the greenhouse. She had dropped off a bundle of pine needles with a business card, stating: "Be sure and mulch the azaleas; they love pine needles. Gives them that healthy red glow." **

20 comments:

  1. What a nice post, but Stephen, I prefer Dixie. Sorry.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Uh-oh, and I don't think he gardens either :)
      Thank you, Janie, I think.

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  2. I'm glad I never mulched my azaleas. How can hints of spring make you think of such a horrid tale?

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    1. Jo, I have no idea. I was sat here and started typing away...Looked outside and it's raining and chilly, again! Enter Stephen ~

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  3. It's currently about 16*C here, which is pure spring, the tulips, daffodils are peaking through the soil and hellebores are in full bloom, but they announced under 5*C for Friday and possible snow... so you never know with Mother Nature

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    1. Oh dear, Dezz... no! Maybe Stephen King will guest post at your house next.

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  4. Yesterday was really nice. Our weather is forecast to be really mild the next few days and then they predict it will nose dive again tomorrow with the threat of ice followed by snow and 8ยบ on Thursday night. So, as spring-like as it feels I have no plans yet to do any planting. I like to wait until mid-April to begin. By then frost isn't normally an issue, but who knows what this spring will bring!

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    1. Oh, Cathy, sounds like it should be rather nice. Do you use pine needles?

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  5. This teeter totter weather is really annoying, and the delicate blossoms of spring are in the balance here in Texas. It's going to freeze again tomorrow night, so we are covering what we can. It just keeps misting rain, but we need every drop we can get!

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    1. Linda Kay, I really want the rain, but could do without such coldness. We might get snow - it's such a crazy city.

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  6. Ugg, no sense of spring here at all. Still have snow piled up over my head in some spots.

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    1. What, Pat? I thought you lived on a tropical island? Well, another bubble has burst!

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  7. Hmm. That neighbor with those "helpful" pine needles sounds a bit creepy.
    I hope spring stays for you!

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    1. Tyrean, Thank you. From you, I consider that comment a compliment! (smile)

      I know - stay spring!

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  8. If it stays spring-like for more than a week, I think you're safe to keep digging in the garden.

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    1. Oh no, Kate, not here. We had three weeks of spring last year, then wham-mo, the late frost killed azalea buds, and tulips. And then I thought of Stephen King....

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  9. The onset of Spring is always a joy year after year. I do miss my wildlife and plants, but Spring is coming so one must look forward.
    Great post Dixie.

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    1. Hi Yvonne - I hope you got a chuckle from this. I know the frosts are all done for the year. (smile)

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  10. Spring is right around the corner. I can't believe it.

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    1. I guess March 21st? I'm ready, I think.
      Thank you, Chrys.

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