Country Roads

It’s been a rule that I don’t start planting flowers until after Mother’s Day, so this week is like being at a traffic light and all of a sudden the light switches to green. You take off and there is no holding back.

After looking at what’s missing in the flower beds, and what’s needed in the containers, it means there has to be trips to favorite garden centers and greenhouses.

Recently something was shared on social media that fit. “Be safe on the roads out there! My car just slid into the garden center again! No true flower gardener can just make one visit to a garden center or greenhouse. It may take at least three or four stops. It’s almost like being a “Flower Holic.” You just can’t seem to stop. It can go as far as the imagination can take it.

There are fellow flower gardeners who have found their favorite garden center and share how much they enjoy their favorite place. Then there is a further temptation when they invite you to go with them to visit this place. You agree to go and after the visit there, that place is added to your own list of great flower shopping places. The list continues to grow.

At each garden center and greenhouse, you drool seeing the healthy, colorful flower plants. It seems to be love at first sight seeing so many varieties. It’s like shopping for groceries, a planned written list in hand may keep the purchases at bay. It must be remembered how many pots needs to be filled, and how many in the flower beds are needed and no more! Yet, somehow while looking around and seeing all the flowers that are available, the provided boxes are soon filled, and another box is grabbed ready to be filled.

While checking out, reality sets in. The planned budget somehow has been sent out the window. An employee helps carry the filled boxes and carefully places them in the trunk of the car. The second reality check comes when getting home, opening the trunk and figuring out how long it will take to get all of the purchased flowers planted. The additional unplanned flower purchases will call for another container or two to be found.

Somehow the flowers all get planted, and then there starts the maintenance of caring of the precious flowers. Yet, in a month, the filled and growing containers and flower beds will be a showcase of colorful blooms. So rewarding to the soul!