Yes, I knew it was getting late in the season and the weather was not going to hold much longer. I had over estimated my energy level when buying all those bulbs. Somehow when you are standing there in the garden center it's easy to get carried away buying all those pretty flowering bulbs. I bought 50 Tulipa Darwin Hybrid ' pink impressions' , 20Tulipa 'don quichotte', 20 Tulipa 'mata hari', and 12 Tulipa 'angelique'. Then Rose and I split an order from a spring bulb catalog. I had 10 'pink charm' daffodils, 5 'replete' daffodils and 10 'triplet lilies'. (Can you tell I like pink?) Maybe that doesn't sound like many but the thought of digging all those holes seemed daunting to me. So I used my brain rather than my brawn. I called the kids and offered to fix supper if they would plant my bulbs.
Bless their hearts they came, they dug, they planted! And I am sure I will have no straight lines, Carol. In fact, I'm pretty sure I will have quite a mix of blooms as even some of the grandkids helped. It was a fun afternoon and we had a great spaghetti supper afterwards.
Now do you think I can use the same ploy to get those leaves raked?
Our 41st anniversary was last week and we both had to work that day. Hubby was in Michigan-he drives a semi truck-so we didn't get to celebrate til the weekend. We went to one of our favorite restaurants 'Italian Patio'. It is just a little place with lots of quaint charm and wonderful food. 
I love the decor! It was a very enjoyable evening. The company was wonderful even after all these years.
I show you this bed so that you will not think I have all my fall chores done. Pitiful isn't it?! Hey, I wonder if the kids would like lasagna for supper one night next week....
*Thank you all for your kind words and all your caring. It helped me so much to be able to share Andrea's story with all of you.
**My rash is slowly strating to get better.
Hope You get all you fall garden projects done before the snow flies!
35 comments:
Imagine how beautiful that sea of pink will be in the Spring. You'll have to host another celebratory spaghetti supper and take a picture of your family of planters beside the blooms.
Great idea. I think I'll try that to get these leaves raked up. Hopefully they'll bring the dinner with them, too.
Beth, that's a great idea! The little grands are wanting them to bloom already. Have a great weekend!
Flydragon, I didn't think they would go for bringing their own supper. But if you can-go for it! Hope you hace a good weekend.
You clever lady. This was definitely worth making dinner. Yep I think a leaf raking dinner is in order.
Congratulations to you and S. Fortyone years...Wow, has it been that long??? Unbelievable, just goes to show how time flies.
Thanks Lisa, Yep we've been married more than 2/3rds of our lives. As S. says, "Can't remember when I wasn't married!" But he loves it. The kids did a great job and I really appreciated their help. Did you get much rain? We had about 1/2 inch and now it's a lot colder. Have a great weekend!
41 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!! THAT is SO awesome! Hats off to you Beckie! And have fun planting those bulbs. Can't wait to see them all in the spring. I can tell you like pink:)
I can't wait to see the results next spring.
Oh, and if you need anything else planted, I work for spaghetti dinners too;)
Marnie
Beckie, I bow to your superior intelligence:) Now why didn't I think of that! Now you will be surprised at everything that comes up and where. I actually got a little "anal" when planting mine--I made little maps of where everything was planted. Of course, that was mostly so I wouldn't forget from one day to the next where I had planted them:)
I actually have a few bulbs left--I've run out of room, can you believe that?
A belated Happy Anniversary; so glad you were able to celebrate this weekend.
Just saw Marnie's comment--maybe we could invite her down some time: you fix spaghetti one night, and I'll make lasagna the next:)
By the way, I really like your new avatar.
Congratulations on your 41st! That's wonderful and of course it's great you are still enjoying the "company".
Aren't you a smart girl getting those kids to do all that work! I bet they would enjoy a lasagna dinner.
Can't wait to see your display next spring. It's going to be gorgeous! Have a wonderful weekend Beckie!!
Another reason to look forward to spring! I can't wait to see your beautiful blooms, especially the pink tulips!
Congratulations on your anniversary!
Tina, it's been a long wonderful life with my dear hubby. :0 It should be very interesting to see how the bulbs come up.
Marnie, I wouldn't receommend planting bulbs like that if you are very particular, But I'm not so it will be a pleasant surprise to see how they come up. about the supper-read Rose's comment below. :)
Dear Beckie....how wonderful that your family came and helped, just what you needed.......
As for raking leaves, I always clear the worst areas but let dear mother nature do the rest......when the winds blow they carry them away from my garden.....remember to leave some around the edges for the insects to hibernate in and with a bit of luck the worms will pull the leaves down during the winter making your soil easier to work......
I have carried you and your daughter in my heart these last few days.......we never know anothers pain......
Congrats on your 41st wedding anniversary......glad you had a wonderful evening.......have you any Italian blood.....I ask because I can tell you have a love affair with pasta........
Have a great weekend.........
Rose, it was despatration more than anything else! But the kids were great sports about it. After all Mom"s getting old. :) I will have to take pictures of all the different combinations of flowers. Maps might not be a bad thing-especially if you have some bare spots next year. I can't believe you ran out of room. Have Mr. P make another flower bed for you. LOL!! Marnie would be surprised if we did get her down here! Avatar-is that what it's called. I had no idea. I finally found one I liked.
Susie, we do enjoy each other's company still. The kids were really good to come over and help. They all love lasagna...maybe for the leaves. You have a great weekend too!
Robin, thanks. I am loking forward to spring too. It will be very interesting to see what combinations were palnted. Oh well, it was a fun afternoon.
Cheryl, the kids are really good t help me out now and then. I try not to ask to much and always do something for them in return. It was a fun afternoon.
I don't get too carried away with raking. Just enough so the leaves don't kill the grass. And I leave them in the flower beds to help mulch for winter. My yard seems to be a collection area for all the neighbors' leaves. :)
Thank you for thinking of me. It means so much.
I could eat pasta 7 days a week! But no Italian blood-mostly German. Isn't that odd. :) Have a great weekend dear friend!
Beckie, I think it is wonderful that your kids came to plant bulbs for dinner. It will be so much fun to see how it looks this spring...something to look forward to, and who knows, they may do groupings you would never have thought of on your own! Congrats on your 41st anniversary! Now that is a milestone! I'll rake leaves for lasagna (Hint, hint)! LOL!
beckie,
How did I miss this post yesterday! Congratulations on 41 years of marriage (so wonderful) and for your cleverness in convincing the kids to plant your bulbs! Bribes never worked with my son!
Spring is going to bring you some pleasant surprises!
Gail
Congratulations on your 41st anniversary, that is so awesome! Great idea about bribing the kids with food to help out with the gardening. :) If it worked once I would definitely try it again. ;)
It's funny how we have to plan a couple seasons ahead. There's no rest for the weary.
Morning Glory, the kids are pretty good about helping out. I try not to ask much, but when I do I always try to do something back for them. I am lookin forward to the groupings. At least the colors are all in the same family. :) I could get a Tom Sawyer thing going with saghetti and lasagna! Have a great weekend!
Gail, have you tried Guilt? A mother's secret weapon. :) All in all I would marry him again-he's a pretty good guy most of the time. Hope you have a good weekend and the frost misses you again.
Racquel, I have used bribery a time or two. :) Usually when I ask them over for supper yjey want to know what I need done. But They are really good about helping out. 41 years-I can't believe it either. Of course I got married when I was 2. LOL!
Robert, thanks for visiting! I always enjoy hearing from new people and will check out your blog. Planning ahead is a gardener's lot. Or at least it should be. I don't always get it done though.
Congratulations on your anniversary! 41 years! I'll bet they've flown by! Nice to get away to a favourite restaurant. It does look charming.
I can't wait to see all those bulbs blooming in the spring. Terrific idea of cooking dinner for your kids in exchange for help in the garden. But I know, you would have cooked for them anyway. And they would have planted for you anyway. Don't we just love having our kids back home?
Hugs - and have a wonderful weekend.
I bet the flowers will look great in the spring :)I'm glad you are starting to feel a little better. At least you can see a difference with the new meds.
We gardeners are always advised to plant tons of bulbs for a big impact, but I'm always conscious of the impact on my wrists. I'm glad you found a solution to that problem. I remember every fall going to my grandparents' summer house near Lake Geneva, WI, to rake their leaves. It's good for young people to help out their elders.
Wendy, thank you! It's a charming little restaurant with wonderful food. I am always happy to have he ids here. I love a big noisy gathering. Hope your weekend is a good one.
Laurie and Chris, yes the new meds seem to be working. I took my second dose last night and hope to see a big diffrence this coming week.
MMD, Elders is right!! :) I prefer age challenged. You'd think they coukd come up with a really easy tool for bulb planting. I an looking forward to my new bulbs blooming.
I just read the post below about your Andrea and want to tell you I am so sorry for your loss. My heart aches with yours. I have lost a child too. I understand the empty, longing need to hold them.
God bless you and give you peace.
I don't know what kind of tree that is on the top of the page but it is just gorgeous!
I have been planting some bulbs too. I got in a few bags of Daffodils and some crocus last month and have two more bags of King Alfred's to plant but it has been so wet and cold I am a chicken about going out in it. Maybe I should make a spaghetti dinner too. LOL
I don't bother to rake leaves here, The winds will blow them away before long.
We have a lot of Dragonflies here. I think they are beautiful and fun to watch too. My little grandma used to tell us they would sew our mouth shut if they got too close. I think she believed it too. Hee-hee-hee
Bev, thankyou for your kind words and caring. I can't imagine a pain any greater than losing a child. And no matter the age, they are still your children. I am so sorry ofr your loss. W never get over the loss, but we learn to go on.
I'm not sure what the tree is either, but have seen several that color this year. It is gorgeous isn't it? Wow, you have been busy! and suggest spaghetti to help you finish. :) As for the leaves, they all seem to end up in my yard-blowing in from all the neighbors. Oh well, they provide some mulch for my gardens.
Beckie, Maybe that doesn't sound like many -- are you kidding me? That sounds like a whole bunch. I always group my bulbs in one big hole, but having helpers solves the problem, too! Good idea!
~ Monica
Happy Anniversary!40 some years together is a milestone for sure!
Smart cookie having the teens do the planting!I know how one can get overwhelmed when we buy all those bulbs and then reality sets in..it's COLD and the bulbs need to be planted!! I'm still trying to warm up the bones after getting down and dirty to plant my bulbs!
Hi Beckie! What a great idea to get the whole family involved in planting the bulbs. I still remember the year my mother broke a toe and was in terrible pain, and there were all the tulip bulbs that needed planting. I planted them for her and really enjoyed the task, and they have continued to bloom and multiply many years later. Every spring my mother points at those tulips and asks, "Remember when I broke my toe...."
I was so sorry to read about the loss of your wonderful daughter. I can't imagine how that must feel - nothing scares me more than the thought that I could lose one of my children.
Can't wait to see your spring photos showing the results of all your hard work.
Congrats on your anniversary. 41 years is a long time.
Aiyana
Heck yeah that's a lot of bulbs! I planted over 70 and thought I did something, you go girl. Nice to bribe the kids to help, for spaghetti you might have got me to help too.
What a fun way to spend a day! It will be fun to see the area in bloom in the spring. I like the idea of taking more pics of the family, too.
Post a Comment