May | 2024 | Deanna Greens and Garden Art

Memorial Day weekend golf ball-size hail dropped from the dark thunder clouds above causing some major damage. We were on the other side of the state emptying Dean’s parent’s house getting it ready to be put on the market. Kansas City had some strong winds and damage, too. At home green leaves were knocked down by the hail and they were scattered all over the lawn and rooftops. It looked like autumn except the leaves were green instead of red, orange, and yellow. Our elephant ear plant looks like a palm tree now with its split leaves. My potted annuals lost a lot of blooms and leaves. One of our kitchen windows has a crack in it. One of the bird feeder domes was fractured and had a big hole in it. I am sure a few critters were knocked unconscious if not killed from those ice balls. That kind of hail could kill a person if hit in the head hard enough. Fortunately, we put our vehicle under the carport. But many auto dealer lots are having hail damage sales with their inventory. More weather is coming tonight and hope that it is not severe. Ready to take shelter. Weather, be nice to our plant life and critters, please!

“All I really need is a song in my heart, food in my belly, and love in my family.” ~ Raffi

Summertime pleasures such as a cup of cherry tea, a bowl of delectable dark cherries, Peter Rabbit brick garden art, an ice cream cone, and a new friend to get to know are wonderful distractions from the storms and the dumpster full of 50-years’ worth of papers, rusty tools, and broken furniture pieces. It took several weekends before this Memorial Day weekend as well as 10 adults working for the 3-day weekend to empty most of the home’s contents. I promise my children and grandchildren I will not leave this much “stuff” behind when I leave this world. Repurpose, throw away, and/or giveaway the excess now. The family gathering did give us an opportunity to look at old photos and reminisce. This summer I hope to finish my memoir, a collection of poems, short stories, and recipes that tell my life’s story. I cannot believe I have almost 100 recipes, most my own culinary creations that have been favorites amongst my family, friends, and students over the years.

What will you leave behind? What do you want to be remembered for?

The Herbs, Flowers, and Birds Amongst Us

This past weekend Dean and I brought out our perennials from their winter shelter and into the wilds of Missouri springtime. The air has been warm, but the wind brutal these past few days. The young sprouts on our 6-year-old lantana plant were wind whipped, so I trimmed that back hoping it comes to bloom beautifully like it does each year. My herbs from last year did not make it through the winter in their basement home. Therefore, we made a trip to purchase fresh herb plants from the neighborhood greenhouse. Tai and Genovese basils, lemon thyme, broad leaf and pineapple sages, oregano, chives, and mojito mint now grace the porch pots this growing season.

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

The pineapple sage has a vivid red bloom, is a salvia family member. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. More will be purchased to add to the huge backyard planter with the Mexican sage plant. I trust last year’s Mexican sage plant wintered okay. I love being good to the earth and attracting the pollinators. The pineapple sage leaves can be eaten in salads, chopped and added to make flavorful bread, and muddled into a delightful summertime tea sweetened with golden honey. Cannot wait.

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind.” ~ Luther Burbank

Yesterday I saw our first hummingbird on our dogwood bush. We have two sugar water-filled feeders hanging now to keep these tiny, feathered wonders well fed. They entertain us, so let the territorial dances begin. The three backyard birdhouses are homes to wrens and Eurasian tree sparrows. Nesting twigs and leaves peek out of the entry holes like the little birdies will soon. Eggs have been laid and one fledging has been spotted already. Our backyard flowers are growing wildly in the sunlight and rains. Several varieties of irises, peonies, columbines, and tiny wildflowers add color to the gardens. Today’s blooms are tomorrow’s teas, tinctures, vignettes, filled vessels, and creative arts n’ crafts of natural beauty. The herbs, flowers, and birds amongst us have my full attention.