Without Pain


These past few months are the first time that I’ve gardened and cooked without pain. It feels amazing.

When I eighteen years old, I was injured in a car accident and despite medical care, didn’t heal properly.  After a decade of doctor visits, casts, injections, exercises and surgeries--I gave up and accepted the pain as permanent.  

But then, three years ago, late season blight hit my twenty six tomato plants in My Victory Garden.  I was devastated and even the grade school counselor walking by couldn’t console me.  I had to take a season off from growing tomatoes in my own garden, so I signed up for a community garden plot at Haagen Park.

That summer, I walked loops around the park after I worked in the plot and my back spasms wouldn’t stop.  So, I went to go see My Pirate’s physical therapist, Kelly, and she correctly diagnosed the problem and had a solution.  She was the first person to validate my nineteen years of pain, numbness and frustration.  And I sobbed with relief on the drive home.

You see, my body had healed wrong after the accident and over the years, layer upon layer of scar tissue had built over the original injury until my body twisted and the scar tissue had hardened like body armor.   And it’s taken two years of physical therapy, deep tissue massage, a PRP injection, exercise, and lots of ice to heal.  Through it all, Kelly and Marlena have given me hope, encouragement, entertaining stories, and laughter.  

In August, I’m turning 40 years old and I’ve never felt better.  While my friends complain about getting older, I feel like I have a strong new body and I’m moving into a new era filled with possibilities.   Even running.  Life is only getting better and I no longer plan my day around my pain tolerance.  I am free. And grateful. 

If you are in pain, I highly recommend scheduling an appointment with Kelly at Lifestyles Physical Therapy. They book quickly, so don't delay.  Plus, you can go plant shopping at Xera Plants Retail Store afterwards.
  
Lifestyles Physical Therapy
916 SE Hawthorn Blvd.
(503) 235-3386

Barnaby's First Plant Attack

 Well, it finally happened.
  I knew it would.  I've been bracing myself against the inevitability of Barnaby munching on some of my prized plant foliage.  
After helping me remove sod all afternoon...he walked in front of the wheelbarrow and chewed on the wooden handles when I stopped.  He got grumpy and settled into a new planting of variegated Japanese Forest Grass (I only paid 75 cents per plant!) and grazed on it like a discontent cow.

I grabbed my camera to capture the moment.  He wasn't very impressed.  And thankfully, he still prefers bacon.

Update on Poetry Post Plantings

Petasites Japonicas 'giganteus' in the morning light


I think that My Pirate is slowly becoming a gardener.  Last year at the Rare Plant Sale he impulsively bought a Japanese Coltsfoot, Petasites Japonicas 'giganteus'.  We cut the plant into three sections and planted it in the Shock and Awe Bed.  (Although lately, we're referring to it as the Shockingly Awful Bed.)  It's the place in the front where I plant fun plants.  We added our new poetry post to the area this spring.    
Petasites Japonicas 'giganteus' leaf
 The Japanese Coltsfoot is a beautiful thug.  In one years time it has covered a ten by ten foot area.  It's over four feet tall and the leaves are over two and a half feet wide and they are still growing.
I also planted a Tetrapanax papyrifera 'Steroidal Giant' in the front corner.  Pure insanity.  
 And those leaves are over three feet wide now.  
Tetrapanax papyrifera 'steroidal giant' leaf 
My Pirate keeps complaining about how big the Shock and Awe Bed has become.  The other day, I offered to rip out the Japanese Coltsfoot for him, and he said, "Look at those leaves, it's too beautiful to rip out.  We'll just move it."

And I laughed.  He sounded just like me.

My Garden at Dawn and Bloom Day


Sleep was elusive last night.  So, I eagerly awaited the dawn.  My garden has many moods and dawn is my new favorite.  The birds murmur and call as a soft thin white light pulls the colorful sunrise into the sky.  Then there is a flurry of activity from the birds and squirrels and I feel like every leaf is shaking itself off and stretching. 

I stood outside with my camera aimed at the fog-smudged garden while my neighbor swept her sidewalk at 5 am.  Fishermen drove by pulling their boats with their coolers filled with snacks and gave me a quiet nod.  That is all that is needed from others at 5 am, a simple nod of acknowledgment.  The hummingbirds and The Assistant accompanied me through the garden while My Pirate and Barnaby slept snuggled in our bed.  A French press of coffee steeped while I explored the damp morning.

The mock orange is covered with fragrant white blossoms.
 A pea blossom has wandered into the potatoes.
 Borage volunteers are beginning to bloom.

 Gold cape fuchsias are popular with the hummingbirds.

And so are the fuchsia cape fuchsias.
And so is the Husker Red Beard-Tongue Penstemon. 
 The last Royal Wedding Oriental Poppy Blossom decided to open today, but it still looks like crumpled tissue paper at dawn.
 The Wild Spice Rugosa Rose blooms will continue to bloom until fall.  I'm charmed by how the blooms close up at night.
 The bears breeches, Acanthus Mollis, blooms are beginning to open on long spikes.
 The hosta blooms are opening.  I love to use them in bouquets.
 The meadowsweet, filipendula, flowers are beginning to open.
 Another hosta bloom.
The hardy fuchsia is over six feet tall and blooming it's heart out.  A hummingbird went after Barnaby yesterday when he went to close to the fuchsia.
 The masterwort, Astrantia Major,  flowers keep attracting my camera lens.
 The honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica 'Purpurea', fills the backyard with its sweet fragrance.  My favorite.
Thanks for stopping by.  Please don't forget to visit our lovely hostess, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Now, I must go.  My Pirate rented a sod cutter, so I can fit more plants in the yard.  Have I mentioned how much I love this man?  Have a wonderful weekend!

Golden Oregano in the Garden


My Princess Victoria Louise Oriental Poppies flopped over in the rain and now the blooms are opening on top of the golden oregano.  A charming combination that I didn't plan.  Golden oregano is one of my favorite herbs to add to ornamental beds.  I keep digging up starts and trying them out in different places.  It's tough and thrives on my sloping front bed.
Plus, golden oregano is a delicious herb that is a workhorse in my kitchen and I use the oregano blooms in bouquets.  But it's those chartreuse leaves that thrill me.