GROUND COVERS

The good thing about ground covers is that they cover the ground. The bad thing about ground covers is that they cover the ground. Ground covers can be real thugs, climbing over barriers, working their way outside their boundaries into places I don't want them to go. Most ground covers are very attractive...perfect examples of "looks can be deceiving".

Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever purchased a ground cover. They have been shared by well meaning friends. I'm sure I was very appreciative (at first). Okay, I might be a little negative right now, I spent a couple of hours today digging out an eight by ten plot of Lamium (dead nettle). Guess what, one of my neighbors has volunteered to take all the Lamium I dig out. I did warn him. This Lamium has very pretty variegated leaves and is especially pretty when it blooms in early spring.

My favorite ground cover, however, is Sweet Woodruff with it's dainty white spring flowers. It's perfect for filling shady spots but it's easy to pull out if I want to plant something else in it's place. Also, it's an herb. It was used in days of old to make a spring tonic. Lily of the Valley is another shade loving ground cover. It's in bloom right now and the flowers smell wonderful. Sun loving Sedum is about to bloom. Purple leaf Ajuga will bloom soon with a flower that is a beautiful shade of purple. Vinca has been blooming off and on since April. Hmm, maybe it's the flowers that make me tolerant of all those thuggish ground covers.

Decoupage Vases

A good time was had by all!! I can enthusiastically say that about our horticultural therapy session today. Today was one of the few times we had at least one volunteer to work with each of the medical care residents. There was lots of laughter and lots of interaction as the residents and volunteers chose tissue paper colors, and embellishments for their decoupage vases. The volunteers had brought lilacs, ferns, lily of the valley, honeysuckle, and money plants to make bouquets. Once the vases were completed, the residents chose the flowers they wanted to fill their creations. The flower filled vases were so unique and so beautiful many of the nurses came in to take a look and exclaim, "wow".

BACK TO DOW GARDENS

In April I purchased a season pass to Dow Gardens and promised myself I would visit often. Today was my third visit. I could hardly believe the changes. The tulips that were barely sending up leaves my last visit were now in full bloom. Beautiful pink flowers traced the graceful structure of the Red Bud . The delightful fragrance of Lilacs was everywhere. Crab apples were overloaded with blooms and the Rhododendrons were about to open. Enjoy some of the highlights of my walk in the Garden.

90th BIRTHDAY

I feel blessed. I was able to help my mother celebrate her 90th birthday. Her birthday was actually in February but her 13 children, nearly 50 grand and great grandchildren and about 200 other family members and friends gathered on Mothers Day eve to celebrate our matriarch.

My mother looked majestic in a long black taffeta dress, a perfect contrast to her short, beautifully coifed white hair. The theme of the party was "My Mama's Story". (My sister, Mikki, wrote the poem, "My Mama's Story" last Mothers Day to honor our mama.) Mikki read this tender biographical poem during the program. My cousin, Adrianne, sang "The Wind Beneath My Wings" and "There's a Hero". Mom's children pre-recorded special tributes and memories which were shown during the program. Birthday proclamations were read and some of Mom's volunteer organizations presented her with plaques. The program concluded with the grandchildren bringing their grandmother flowers and gold-wrapped "Werthers" candy(Mom's favorite) along the "yellow brick road". It was a fun and wonderful celebration and a magical evening, full of family love and friendship. I'm sure my mother enjoyed every minute of it.

A WALK IN THE WOODS

I wish you could have joined me for my spring walk in the woods. It was a perfect day, sunny and warm. It was a perfect setting, an old Michigan farm with a stone house, a stone out-building, a windmill, a stream, ponds, marshes, animals, and to my particular delight, a woods full of beautiful spring flowers. I was fascinated. Every few steps I stopped to take pictures of trillium, dutchmans breeches, mayapples, marsh marigolds, troutlilies, and even skeletal leaves. Everything I saw was picture-worthy. Digital cameras are wonderful aren't they! You can shoot as many pictures as you like, that is, until your battery dies. Next week I'll resume my walk with a recharged camera battery.